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Title:
QUICK COUPLING SPHERICAL JOINT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/087594
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
The spherical joint consists of two hemispheric shells (2 fig.1) and two ferrules of the coupling quick (1 fig.1), respectively screwed to the two shells through two fixing flared screws M6 (3 fig.1). Each of these ferrules with his half shell, they are anchored, will be the semi joint, can rotate 25 with the half shell. It has established a ZERO position for the ring-nut in line with the inclusion of linear bumps of it (7 fig. 4) on the grooves cut on the shell (5 fig. 3). The release of the two semi joints is obtained by making again rotations of ferrules in the opposite direction and returning to the configuration of ZERO. This invention essentially allows for a coupling between the two semi-joints making a simple insertion and rotation similar to those that we do in the screw coupling_nut, while avoiding the difficulties and costs to realize that.

Inventors:
GRIFONI RINALDO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2009/050034
Publication Date:
July 16, 2009
Filing Date:
January 07, 2009
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GRIFONI RINALDO (IT)
International Classes:
E04B1/19; F16B7/18
Domestic Patent References:
WO1994013895A11994-06-23
Foreign References:
EP0413235A21991-02-20
EP0278939A11988-08-17
Download PDF:
Claims:

CLAIMS

1. The spherical joint consists of two hemispheric shells (2 fig.1 ) and two ferrules of the coupling quick (1 fig.1 ), respectively screwed to the two shells through two fixing flared screws M6 (3 fig.1 ). Each of these ferrules with his half shell, they are anchored, will be the semi joint, can rotate 25 ° with the half shell. The two semi joints can be assembled to form the joint using four conical connections (1 fig.2), the next rotation of the two ferrules in the opposite direction (2 fig. 2) , respectively 3.2-degree angle allows the coupling of the two semi joints.

2. Structure according to claim 1 in which the two hemispheric semi joints are achieved through the assembly of a hemispheric shell and a ring through a metric flared screw M6 .

3. Structure according to claim 1 in which on the flat top surface of the shell there are four frustum protuberances angled 90 degrees respectively, two rotated 180 degrees respectively provide the female seat (2 fig. 3) and the other two frustum male elements (1 fig. 3) are always angled respectively 180 degrees.

4. Structure according to claim 1 in which the ferrules have four spokes (1 fig. 4) and each of the four spokes has a protruding sear (3 fig. 4).

5. Structure according to claims 2 and 4 in which the ferrules have grooves (6 fig.4) and linear protuberances (5 fig.4) in the sears of the spokes, rotated of 90 degrees which are respectively to gear in the upper and lower ferrules in a position ONE (OFF) by closing the joint.

6. Structure, according to all previous claims, in which the ferrule of superior semi- joint is assembled rotated 90 ° respect the ferrule of lower semi-joint. In essence the linear protuberances will be on the left of the male cone for the higher semi joint (3 fig. 8) and the right for the male cone lower semi joint (3 fig. 9).

7. Structure according to claims 1 , 3 and 4 where the shell at the flat surface presents four seats in the shape of a sector of a circle with opening angle of 40 ° rotated by 90 degrees and depth of 2mm (3 fig. 3). These do duty for the housing of the spokes of the ferrule, bounding the rotation to a maximum of 25 degrees.

8. Structure according to claims 1 , 3 and 7 where on the flat surface of the shell, at the bottom of the four seats of the spokes, four linear grooves are drawn (5 fig. 3) .

9. Structure according to claims 1 , 4 and 5 in which there are four linear protuberances in the lower races surface (7 fig. 4), turned 90 °.

10. Structure by all previous claims in which the four linear protuberances gear with their grooves on the half shell (5 fig. 3) when the ferrule is in a position ZERO (ON).

11. Structure according to claims 1 , 4 and 5 in which the ferrule has an exterior toothed surface (4 fig. 4) that facilitates the taking of the operator during the rotation.

12. Structure according to claims 1 , 4 and 5 in which The ring has a flared hole useful for the housing of the fixing screw M6.

13. Structure according to claims 1 , 3 and 7 where the shell has four pockets (7 fig. 3) and four holes (9 fig. 3) serving for the housing of pipes with their mounting pins

(1.fig.7).

14. Structure according to claims 1 , 3, 7 and 13 in their pockets and holes could be also different from number or form in respect of the situation above described, depending on the type of application and type of use of the joint.

15. Structure according to claims 1 , 3 and 7 where in the top of the hemisphere in opposite position of the threaded hole there is a hole of 14mm (8 fig. 3), useful for gear cylindrical guides. The rotation of one of the ferrules may be less than 3.2 °,

but in this case the rotation of the other ferrule will be greater than 3.2 °, so that the sum of the angles of rotation is equal to 6.4 degrees.

16. Structure according to claims 1 , 4, 5 and 10 that after the relative rotation of 3.2° of ferrules from the zero position, means that the two sears are respectively on notch in relation to the coupling of the two semi joints.

17. Structure claims 1.3 seconds, e7 where, If the shell was designed in plastic material, the threaded hole will be achieved through the inclusion of a brass threaded metric M6 bushing (Fig. 6), the bush has grooves and notches that prevent the translation (1 fig. 6 ) and the rotation (2 fig. 6) of it.

18. The two main components, the shell (do not consider matching holes in the pockets of the shell that may not be present depending on the type of application) and the ring have respectively a division plan for which they don't present the extraction notches, so both are achievable for gravity moulding or die-casting of any printable material providing the necessary draft angles.

19. This is of general use and could be achieved in any material and any field of use, is essentially a pair of general use such as to screw-nut but as easier to achieve.

20. With the joint is realized a coupling that, unlike a screw-nut, block the rotation of shells around the assembling axis.

Description:

SPHERICAL JOINT QUICK HOOKING DESCRIPTION

This invention was necessary because, at the moment, although there are joints, there is not yet a joint that had an integrated system for quick and easy fixing of the two semi-joints.

In fact currently, we use some provisional elements, as some flexural springs or pins difficult and inconvenient to use. Moreover these elements, as they are not integrated with the joint, are frequently lost during the use.

The spherical joint is obtained by rapid insertion of the two semi joints through four couplings male-female conical (1 fig. 2) and the stable hooking of these happens through the next rotation of the two ferrules (2 fig. 2).

The two hemispheric semi joints are achieved through the assembly of a hemispheric shell and a ring through a metric flared screw M6 (3 fig. 1).

The M6 screws have a ending race of tightening obtained by the accomplishment in the shell of a female thread shorter than that of the screw. This avoids the tightening of the ring on the shell allowing the rotation.

The ring has almost a cylindrical form with two concentric circles joined by four central spokes (1 fig. 4), each of these has a protruding sear (3 fig. 4) that, after the connection of the two semi joints through the four conical seats, allows, through a rotation of 3.2 °, the anchor between the two ferrules. In fact , following the rotation ferrules , the two sears are respectively on notch in relation to the coupling of the two semi joints.

The ferrule has an exterior toothed surface (4 fig. 4) that facilitates the taking of the operator during the rotation.

The ferrule has a flared hole useful for the housing of the fixing screw M6.

There are grooves (6 fig.4) and linear protuberances (5 fig.4) in the sears of the spokes, rotated of 90 degrees which are respectively to gear in the upper and lower ferrules in a position (OFF) by closing the joint.

In order for this to happen the coupling of grooves and protuberances linear sears, it's necessary that the ferrule of superior semi joint is assembled rotated 90 ° respect the ferrule of lower semi-joint. In essence the linear protuberances will be on the left of the male cone for the higher semi joint (3 fig. 8) and the right for the male cone lower semi joint (3 fig. 9).

There are four linear protuberances in the lower spokes surface (7 fig. 4), turned 90 ° which gear in a position ZERO (ON) of the ring with their grooves on the half shell (5 fig. 3). The shell has a hemispheric shape, at the flat surface were obtained four seats in the shape of a sector of a circle with opening angle of 40 ° (3 fig. 3) rotated by 90 degrees and depth of 2mm that fit the spokes of the ring, bounding the rotation to a maximum of 25 degrees. On the flat top surface of the shell there are four frustum protuberances angled 90 degrees respectively, two rotated 180 degrees respectively provide the female seat (2 fig. 3) and the other two frustum male elements (1 fig. 3) are always angled respectively 180. This means that the two hemispheric semi-shells, properly rotated, can be easily overlook on flat surfaces including the four frustum male in the four frustum female. On the flat surface of the shell, at the bottom of the four seats of the spokes, four linear grooves are drawn (5 fig. 3) that do duty as coupling of the protuberances drawn in the ring in his ZERO (ON) position.

On the shell is made a hole metric M6 (4 fig. 3) which will be screwed the anchor screw of the ring. If the shell was designed in plastic material, the threaded hole will be achieved through the inclusion of a brass threaded metric M6 bush (Fig. 6), the bush has grooves and notches that prevent the translation (1 fig. 6 ) and the rotation (2 fig. 6) of it . Each shell has four pockets (7 fig. 3) and four holes (9 fig. 3) serving for the housing of pipes with their mounting pins (1.fig.7).

The pockets and holes could be also different from number or form in respect of the situation above described, depending on the type of application and type of use of the joint. On the top of the semi shell, in opposite position of the threaded hole, there is a hole of 14mm (8 fig. 3), useful for gear cylindrical guides.

The invented spheric joint simplifies , comparing what already exists, the anchor of the two semi joints, in fact the operator can match the two semi joints using the frustum guides (1 fig. 2) and then make a simple rotation (2 fig. 2 ) of the two opposing and integrated ferrules into their semi joints. It avoids then, compared what already exists, the use of flexural springs or anchor temporary pins , uncomfortable and easy to lose. The invented turns out to be of easy and economic construction as the shell and the ring present division plains that avoid the notches during the extraction along the normal direction. In the substance the invented allows for a coupling between the two semi joints making a simple insertion and rotation similar to those that we do in the screw coupling, nut, avoiding the difficulties of implementation and costs to realize that. With the joint we realize a coupling that, unlike the screw-nut, block the rotation of the shells around the axis of insertion.