Bayonet connection for coupling bodies

Abstract

Fluid coupling formed as an assembly of a first body section having an end portion with studs and a second body section having an end portion configured to receive the end portion of the first body section and having grooves for receiving a corresponding one of the studs. Each of the grooves has an axial inlet section, and a blind section extending circumferentially from the inlet section to an end wall movable between a projecting position retaining the stud in the blind section and a retracted position allowing the stud to pass from the inlet to the blind section. Rotation of one of the body sections passes the studs in the retracted position of the groove end wall from the inlet section into the blind section, the studs being retained in the blind section in the projected position of the groove end wall to couple the body sections.

1 . A coupling for connecting a first component in fluid communication with a second component, the coupling comprising a generally tubular body having an internal channel therethrough, the body comprising:
 a generally tubular first body section extending axially between a first end portion couplable to the first component for connecting the first component in fluid communication with the body channel, and a second end portion having a circumferential outer surface including one or more studs projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the first body section having a first channel section extending axially therethrough from the first end portion to the second end portion;   a generally tubular second body section extending axially between a first end portion couplable to the second component for connecting the second component in fluid communication with the body channel, and a second end portion configured to receive the second end portion of the first body section coaxially therein and having a circumferential inner surface including one or more grooves defined therein for receiving a corresponding one of the studs of the first body section, each of the grooves having an inlet section extending axially from the second body section second end portion, and a blind section extending circumferentially from the inlet section to an end wall movable between a projecting position retaining the corresponding one of the studs in the blind section and a retracted position allowing the corresponding one of the studs to pass from the inlet section to the blind section,   whereby with the second end portion of the first body section being received coaxially in the second end portion the second body section with each of the studs of the first body section being received in the inlet section of a corresponding one of the grooves of the second body section, one of the first and the body section is rotatable relative to the other body section to pass each of the studs in the retracted position of the corresponding groove end wall from the groove inlet section into the groove blind section, each of the studs being retained in the groove blind section in the projected position of the corresponding groove end wall to permanently couple the first body section to the section body section to form the body with the internal channel thereof being comprised by the first channel section of the first body section and the second channel section of the second body section.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein each end wall is resiliently deformed from its projected position to its retracted position by the bearing of a corresponding one of the studs thereon as the stud is passed from the groove inlet section to the groove blind section. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein each end wall is inelastically deformed from its retracted position to its projecting position following the passing of a corresponding one of the studs from the groove inlet section to the groove blind section. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein each end wall has a moveable end adjacent the groove inlet segment and a stationary end adjacent the groove blind segment. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling of  claim 4  wherein each of the studs has a first shape and the moveable end of each end wall has a second shaped complementary to the first shape such that as retained in a corresponding groove blind section each of the studs is engagable with the moveable end of the corresponding end wall such that the end wall is urged towards its projecting position. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein each of the studs has a first shape and each end wall has a second shaped complementary to the first shape such that as retained in a corresponding groove blind section each of the studs is engagable with a corresponding end wall such that the end wall is urged towards its projecting position. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein:
 the outer surface of the second end portion of the first body section has a plurality of said studs; and 
 the inner surface of the second end portion of the second body section has a plurality of said grooves, 
 the studs and grooves being arranged symmetrically so as to allow the second end portion of the first body section to be received coaxially in the second end portion of the second body section in a plurality of different angular orientations. 
 
     
     
         8 . A first body part of a coupling for connecting a first component in fluid communication with a second component, the coupling comprising a generally tubular body having an internal channel therethrough, the body comprising the first body part and a second body part comprising a generally tubular first body section extending axially between a first end portion couplable to the first component for connecting the first component in fluid communication with the body channel, and a second end portion having a circumferential outer surface including one or more studs projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the first body section having a first channel section extending axially therethrough from the first end portion to the second end portion, the first body part comprising:
 a generally tubular second body section extending axially between a first end portion couplable to the second component for connecting the second component in fluid communication with the body channel, and a second end portion configured to receive the second end portion of the first body section coaxially therein and having a circumferential inner surface including one or more grooves defined therein for receiving a corresponding one of the studs of the first body section, each of the grooves having an inlet section extending axially from the second body section second end portion, and a blind section extending circumferentially from the inlet section to an end wall movable between a projecting position retaining the corresponding one of the studs in the blind section and a retracted position allowing the corresponding one of the studs to pass from the inlet section to the blind section,   whereby with the second end portion of the first body section being received coaxially in the second end portion the second body section with each of the studs of the first body section being received in the inlet section of a corresponding one of the grooves of the second body section, one of the first and the body section is rotatable relative to the other body section to pass each of the studs in the retracted position of the corresponding groove end wall from the groove inlet section into the groove blind section, each of the studs being retained in the groove blind section in the projected position of the corresponding groove end wall to permanently couple the first body section to the section body section to form the body with the internal channel thereof being comprised by the first channel section of the first body section and the second channel section of the second body section.   
     
     
         9 . The first body part of  claim 8  wherein each end wall is resiliently deformed from its projected position to its retracted position by the bearing of a corresponding one of the studs thereon as the stud is passed from the groove inlet section to the groove blind section. 
     
     
         10 . The first body part of  claim 8  wherein each end wall is inelastically deformed from its retracted position to its projecting position following the passing of a corresponding one of the studs from the groove inlet section to the groove blind section. 
     
     
         11 . The first body part of  claim 8  wherein each end wall has a moveable end adjacent the groove inlet segment and a stationary end adjacent the groove blind segment. 
     
     
         12 . The first body part of  claim 11  wherein each of the studs has a first shape and the moveable end of each end wall has a second shaped complementary to the first shape such that as retained in a corresponding groove blind section each of the studs is engagable with the moveable end of the corresponding end wall such that the end wall is urged towards its projecting position. 
     
     
         13 . The first body part of  claim 8  wherein each of the studs has a first shape and each end wall has a second shaped complementary to the first shape such that as retained in a corresponding groove blind section each of the studs is engagable with a corresponding end wall such that the end wall is urged towards its projecting position. 
     
     
         14 . The first body part of  claim 8  wherein:
 the outer surface of the second end portion of the first body section has a plurality of said studs; and 
 the inner surface of the second end portion of the second body section has a plurality of said grooves, 
 the studs and grooves being arranged symmetrically so as to allow the second end portion of the first body section to be received coaxially in the second end portion of the second body section in a plurality of different angular orientations. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a coupling for connecting a first component in fluid communication with a second component, the coupling comprising a generally tubular body having an internal channel therethrough, and the method comprises the steps of:
 (a) providing a generally tubular first body section extending axially between a first end portion couplable to the first component for connecting the first component in fluid communication with the body channel, and a second end portion having a circumferential outer surface including one or more studs projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the first body section having a first channel section extending axially therethrough from the first end portion to the second end portion;   (b) providing a generally tubular second body section extending axially between a first end portion couplable to the second component for connecting the second component in fluid communication with the body channel, and a second end portion configured to receive the second end portion of the first body section coaxially therein and having a circumferential inner surface including one or more grooves defined therein for receiving a corresponding one of the studs of the first body section, each of the grooves having an inlet section extending axially from the second body section second end portion, and a blind section extending circumferentially from the inlet section to an end wall movable between a projecting position retaining the corresponding one of the studs in the blind section and a retracted position allowing the corresponding one of the studs to pass from the inlet section to the blind section;   (c) receiving the second end portion of the first body section being received coaxially in the second end portion the second body section with each of the studs of the first body section being received in the inlet section of a corresponding one of the grooves of the second body section; and   (d) rotating one of the first and the body section is relative to the other body section to pass each of the studs in the retracted position of the corresponding groove end wall from the groove inlet section into the groove blind section, each of the studs being retained in the groove blind section in the projected position of the corresponding groove end wall to permanently couple the first body section to the section body section to form the body with the internal channel thereof being comprised by the first channel section of the first body section and the second channel section of the second body section.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein each end wall is resiliently deformed in step (d) from its projected position to its retracted position by the bearing of a corresponding one of the studs thereon as the stud is passed from the groove inlet section to the groove blind section. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein each end wall is inelastically deformed from its retracted position to its projecting position following the passing of a corresponding one of the studs from the groove inlet section to the groove blind section. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein each end wall of the second body section provided in step (b) has a moveable end adjacent the groove inlet segment and a stationary end adjacent the groove blind segment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each of the studs of the first body section provided in step (a) has a first shape and the moveable end of each end wall of the second body section provided in step (b) has a second shaped complementary to the first shape such that as retained in step (d) in a corresponding groove blind section each of the studs is engagable with the moveable end of the corresponding end wall such that the end wall is urged towards its projecting position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein each of the studs provided in step (a) has a first shape and each end wall of the second body section provided in step (b) has a second shaped complementary to the first shape such that as retained in step (d) in a corresponding groove blind section each of the studs is engagable with a corresponding end wall such that the end wall is urged towards its projecting position. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein:
 the outer surface of the second end portion of the first body section provided in step (a) has a plurality of said studs; and 
 the inner surface of the second end portion of the second body section provided in step (b) has a plurality of said grooves, 
 the studs and grooves being arranged symmetrically so as to allow the second end portion of the first body section to be received in step (c) coaxially in the second end portion of the second body section in a plurality of different angular orientations.