# US 9,434,119 B2 · Quick-connect coupling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,119 B2 - Document ID: US9434119B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/449,770 - Filed: 2012-04-18 - Published: 2012-12-20 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-16 - Assignees: Von Arx AG - Applicants: Beat Schweizer; Martin Moritz - Inventors: Beat Schweizer; Martin Moritz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434119B2 ## CPC - B30B 15/026: {Mounting of dies, platens or press rams} - B23B 31/1071: {Retention by balls (balls acting as jaws B23B31/22)} - B23B 31/263: {by means of balls} - B23B 2260/022: Balls - Y10T 279/17145: Ball or roller - Y10T 279/17196: Ball or roller - Y10T 279/17752: Ball or roller jaws - Y10T 279/17811: Reciprocating sleeve - B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)} - B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A quick-connect coupling for connecting an exchangeable head to a pressing device has balls K1 with a diameter D1, which are radially movably disposed in a ball-holding part on the pressing device. Balls K1 being held radially fixed in a groove on the head with a depth N1 by a locking ring in the connected state. The head has a further peripheral groove with a depth N2. The further groove is designed to hold part of further balls K2 with a diameter D2, wherein the balls K2 are likewise disposed in a radially movable manner in the ball-holding part and wherein the diameter D2 is greater than the diameter D1. The diameter D1 is the same or smaller than the difference between the diameter D2 and the groove depth N2. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A quick-connect coupling for connecting an exchangeable head to a pressing device, the quick-connect coupling comprising: a first plurality of balls, each ball of the first plurality of balls having a diameter D1; a ball-holding part located on the pressing device, the first plurality of balls radially movably disposed therein; a locking ring movably attached to the ball-holding part in an axial direction, the locking ring having a locked position and an unlocked position; a first peripheral groove in a shaft part of the exchangeable head, the first peripheral groove having a depth N1 to partially hold the first plurality of balls and the shaft part at the first peripheral groove having a shaft radius R1 when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position; a second plurality of balls, each ball of the second plurality of balls having a diameter D2 greater than D1; and a second peripheral groove in the shaft part of the exchangeable head disposed closer to the pressing device in an axial direction than the first peripheral groove, the second peripheral groove having a depth N2 to partially hold the second plurality of balls radius when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position; the shaft part at the second peripheral groove having a shaft radius R2 less than R1; wherein the diameter D1 of the first plurality of balls is equal to or less than a difference of the diameter D2 of the second plurality of balls and the depth N2 of the second peripheral groove so that the first plurality of balls are positionable to move away from the shaft and are not fixable in the second peripheral groove such that no fixed connection can be made between the exchangeable head and the pressing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 1, wherein structural form of the quick-connect coupling meets a condition of R1−N1+D1=R2−N2+D2. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 1, wherein structural form of the quick-connect coupling meets a condition of D1≦D2−N2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of balls and the second plurality of balls includes a total of at least 12 balls. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 4, wherein the first plurality of balls are disposed angularly offset in the first peripheral groove compared to the second plurality of balls in the second peripheral groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 4, wherein the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove each have a base surface G and side faces S and the balls of the first plurality of balls and the balls of the second plurality of balls have contact points with the base surface G and the side faces S in the connection position, in which the contact points with the side faces S are made at half depth of the first peripheral groove and at half depth of the second peripheral groove when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 6, wherein the side faces S are divided into a plurality of sections or into a plurality of curved sections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of balls are disposed angularly offset in the first peripheral groove compared to the second plurality of balls in the second peripheral groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 8, wherein the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove each have a base surface G and side faces S and the balls of the first plurality of balls and the balls of the second plurality of balls have contact points with the base surface G and the side faces S in the connection position, in which the contact points with the side faces S are made at half depth of the first peripheral groove and at half depth of the second peripheral groove when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 9, wherein the side faces S are divided into a plurality of sections or into a plurality of curved sections. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 1, wherein the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove each have a base surface G and side faces S and the balls of the first plurality of balls and the balls of the second plurality of balls have contact points with the base surface G and the side faces S in the connection position, in which the contact points with the side faces S are made at half depth of the first peripheral groove and at half depth of the second peripheral groove when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 11, wherein the side faces S are divided into a plurality of sections or into a plurality of curved sections. ### Claim 13 A quick-connect coupling for connecting an exchangeable head to a pressing device, the quick-connect coupling comprising: a first plurality of balls, each ball of the first plurality of balls having a diameter D1; a ball-holding part located on the pressing device, the first plurality of balls radially movably disposed therein; a locking ring movably attached to the ball-holding part in an axial direction, the locking ring having a locked position an unlocked position; a first peripheral groove in a shaft part of the exchangeable head, the first peripheral groove having a depth to partially hold the first plurality of balls and the shaft part at the first peripheral groove having a shaft radius R1 when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position; a second plurality of balls, each ball of the second plurality of balls having a diameter D2 greater than D1; and a second peripheral groove in the shaft part of the exchangeable head disposed closer to the pressing device in an axial direction than the first peripheral groove, the second peripheral groove having a depth to partially hold the second plurality of balls radius when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position; the shaft part at the second peripheral groove having a shaft radius R2 less than R1; wherein the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove each have a base surface G and side faces S and the balls of the first plurality of balls and the balls of the second plurality of balls have contact points with the base surface G and the side faces S in the connection position, in which the contact points with the side faces S are made at half depth of the first peripheral groove and at half depth of the second peripheral groove when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the unlocked position; and wherein the diameter D1 of the first plurality of balls is equal to or less than a difference of the diameter D2 of the second plurality of balls and the depth of the second peripheral groove so that the first plurality of balls are positionable to move away from the shaft and are not fixable in the second peripheral groove such that no fixed connection can be made between the exchangeable head and the pressing device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 13, wherein the first plurality of balls and the second plurality of balls includes a total of at least 12 balls. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 13, wherein the first plurality of balls are disposed angularly offset in the first peripheral groove compared to the second plurality of balls in the second peripheral groove. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 13, wherein the side faces S are divided into a plurality of sections or into a plurality of curved sections. ### Claim 17 A quick-connect coupling for connecting an exchangeable head to a pressing device, the quick-connect coupling comprising: a first plurality of balls, each ball of the first plurality of balls having a diameter D1; a ball-holding part located on the pressing device, the first plurality of balls radially movably disposed therein; a locking ring movably attached to the ball-holding part in an axial direction, the locking ring having a locked position and an unlocked position; a first peripheral groove in a shaft part of the exchangeable head, stopping surfaces of the locking ring radially fixing the first plurality of balls in the first peripheral groove when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the locked position such that a fixed connection is formed between the exchangeable head and the pressing device; a second plurality of balls, each ball of the second plurality of balls having a diameter D2 greater than D1; and a second peripheral groove in the shaft part of the exchangeable head disposed closer to the pressing device in an axial direction than the first peripheral groove, the stopping surfaces of the locking ring radially fixing the second plurality of balls in the second peripheral groove when the exchangeable head and the pressing device are in a connected position and the locking ring is in the locked position such that a fixed connection is formed between the exchangeable head and the pressing device; wherein the diameter D1 of the first plurality of balls is equal to or less than a difference of the diameter D2 of the second plurality of balls and the depth N2 of the second peripheral groove so that the first plurality of balls are positionable to move away from the shaft and are not fixable in the second peripheral groove such that no fixed connection can be made between the exchangeable head and the pressing device; wherein when the locking ring is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position the first plurality of balls move away from the exchangeable head such that the fixed connection between the exchangeable head and the pressing device is broken. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The quick-connect coupling according to claim 17, wherein the first plurality of balls and the second plurality of balls includes a total of at least 12 balls.