Abstract: A ball coupling comprising a male tubular endpiece (2) provided with an outer annular collar (4), a female tubular endpiece (3) having a ball-retaining cage fixed axially thereon, the cage having slots (10) for receiving balls (12), and a thimble (13) disposed coaxially about the cage (6) and mounted thereon via guide means (14, 15) for guiding the thimble to turn about the longitudinal axis (1) of the coupling so as to enable the thimble to turn through a turn angle (&agr;) relative to the cage between a first position and a second position, the is thimble having for each ball, a first recess (16) extending in register with the corresponding slot for the first position of the thimble to form an abutment for holding the corresponding ball in a position in which it projects into the inside of the cage, and a second recess (17) connected to the first recess via a sloping wall (18) and offset relative to the first recess by an angle corresponding to the turn angle (&agr;) so as to receive the corresponding ball

Abstract: The invention provides means for connecting a pipe to a tubular body having an end arranged to receive an end of the pipe. The connection means comprise a sleeve subdivided into first and second portions in axial succession that are provided with means for connecting said portions in leakproof and releasable manner respectively to the end of the tubular body and to the pipe. The means also comprise a removable abutment ring provided with means for locking it axially on the pipe set back from the end thereof to constitute an abutment shoulder on engagement of the pipe in the tubular body and an axial abutment shoulder between the second portion of the sleeve and the pipe.

Abstract: A fluid-flow module comprising a support plate having two parallel opposite edges and at least one body fixed to the support plate, the body having a main duct extending substantially parallel to the support plate and having first and second ends respectively provided with a quick coupling and with a connection endpiece for engaging such a quick coupling, the quick coupling and the connection endpiece extending parallel to said opposite edges of the support plate and at least one of the quick coupling and the connection endpiece extending at least in part beyond the support plate.

Abstract: A coupling device has a female part secured to a rigid endpiece. A stepped bore is provided that presents a large diameter section beyond an axial latch that is movable between two positions. A banding ring is housed in a removable manner inside the large diameter section and fitted on its inside surface with at least one retaining projection. The projection is used to axially link the tube to the banding ring by biting into the outside surface of the tube. An axial latch has two positions: one opposing axial displacement of the banding ring away from the rigid endpiece, the other releasing the banding ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quick-coupling device for coupling a tube to a rigid element (50) having a bore, the device comprising a tubular insert (1) having means (7) enabling it to be anchored in the bore of the rigid element (50), declutchable tube retaining means (11), and a slide (13) mounted to move in translation in the tubular insert (1) to declutch the retaining means (11) when it is pushed into the tubular insert (1). The declutching slide (13) possesses a rear portion which projects outside the tubular insert (1) and which presents a shoulder surface (23) situated facing an end surface (24) of the tubular insert (1) and co-operating with said end surface to define a groove in which a removable intermediate ring (25) is received to oppose pushing in of the declutching slide (13).

Abstract: A junction device for joining a tube (3) to the body of a part (2) including a cylindrical endpiece (1) belonging to the part and defining a end face (6), and a coupling sleeve (11) having a first section (12) including releasable fastener means (13) for co-operating with corresponding means (5) on the coupling endpiece (1) and having a second section (14) axially adjacent to the first section (12) and including means (15) for opposing extraction of an end of the tube (3) placed in the sleeve (11) and in abutment against the end face (6) of the endpiece (1), in which the sleeve (11) is internally fitted with a guide ring (19) for guiding the end of the tube (3), the inside diameter (D) of the ring being substantially equal to the outside diameter of the tube (3), the ring possessing a first portion (20) mounted to slide in the second section (14) of the sleeve (11) and a second portion (21) projecting axially into the first section (12) of the sleeve (11), and the endpiece (1) being provided with a groove (7)

Abstract: A quick connector comprising a female part (1) having a bore (8, 11), a male part (2) having an outer collar (6) suitable for being inserted in the bore, and a locking ring (3) mounted to slide radially in a housing (10) of the female part, which housing subdivides the bore into an inlet section (8) and a main section (11), the ring (3) being movable between a first position in which it is eccentric relative to the bore and a second position in which it is substantially coaxial with said bore, said ring being integral with a resilient member in the form of at least one tongue (12, 13) co-operating with the housing (10) to urge the ring (3) into its first position, wherein the ring (3) includes a thrust platen (9) adjacent to the inlet section (8) of the bore and projecting beside the tongue (12, 13), at least the free end portion of the tongue being of a width (L) that is less than the thickness (E) of the ring (3) minus the thickness (e) of the platen (9) measured in the same axial direction.

Abstract: A quick-coupling device in the form of an insertable cartridge for coupling a tube within a cylindrical housing, the device comprising a tubular insert having external means for anchoring it inside the housing and internal means for retaining the tube, together with a gasket; wherein the tubular insert has a nose of outside diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the means for anchoring the tubular insert and has a protection ring of inside diameter close to the outside diameter of the nose, said ring being mounted on the free end of the nose and being held axially relative to the nose by weak locking means in an axially projecting position relative to the nose for internally receiving the gasket.

Abstract: A quick coupling device comprising a female part (1) secured to the rigid endpiece (2) and in which a stepped bore is provided that presents a large diameter section (13) beyond an axial latch (15) that is movable between two positions, together with a banding ring (14) housed in removable manner inside the large diameter section (13) and fitted on its inside surface with at least one retaining projection (25) forming mechanism for axially linking the tube (7) to the banding ring (14) by biting into the outside surface of the tube, the axial latch (15) in one of its two positions opposing axial displacement of the banding ring (14) away from the rigid endpiece (2), and in its other position, releasing the banding ring.

Abstract: The device for connecting a length of duct to a coupling endpiece of an apparatus or a member includes at least one tubular sleeve having two portions in axial succession, the first portion being internally fitted with components of an instant connection coupling for the end of a length of duct, the second portion including means for sealably and releasably covering the coupling endpiece, the end face of the endpiece forming an axial abutment at the end of the length engaged in the first portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: A coupling device for a tube, the device comprising a body provided with a bore for receiving the end of said tube, and means for retaining the tube in the bore, which means are constituted by an elastically deformable washer that is substantially frustoconical in shape whose inside circumference is of a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the tube and which is subdivided into a plurality of teeth, the outside portion of the washer being disposed in a groove formed in the bore. Each tooth possesses a short root portion which, at rest, extends in a radial plane, and an active portion that is inclined relative to the radial plane of the root, and each tooth is connected to the teeth adjacent thereto via small section peripheral link portions of length not less than the length of each tooth.

Abstract: A gasket for a claw or clamp quick-connection coupling, the gasket being constituted by a circularly symmetrical annular body defined by two parallel radial faces, an outer cylindrical surface surmounted by a partially toroidal bulge centered on the midplane of the gasket parallel to the radial faces, a partially toroidal inner surface also centered on the midplane, and connected to each of the radial faces via a respective chamfer-forming conical surface.

Abstract: A controlled valve comprising a substantially hollow and elongate body fitted at its longitudinal ends with means for coupling to a pipe that is to be closed, the body including a transverse partition with a central channel formed therethrough, and also including a closure element that is movable parallel to the fluid flow between a closed position in which a zone of said element is in contact with a stationary bearing surface formed on the transverse partition and an open position in which said zone is at a distance from said bearing surface, in which the closure element is in the form of a piston having two end heads slidably mounted in two respective chambers that are coaxial with the channel and that are situated inside the body on opposite sides of the transverse partition, and the sum of the projections in a transverse plane of the surface areas of the element exposed to the pressure that exists in the pipe upstream from the zone of contact between the closure element and the bearing surface and that fa

Abstract: A network for distributing a fluid under pressure. The network has a substantially horizontal main pipe situated at an upper level, with horizontal or vertical secondary pipes branching therefrom. The junction between the main pipe and a secondary pipe is provided by a branch clamp having a zone for covering at least one orifice formed in the top half-cylinder of the wall of the main pipe, into which zone there opens out a first end of a branch duct internal to the clamp, the other end of the duct being fitted with a coupling for coupling the clamp to the secondary pipe. The axis of the first end of the branch duct and the axis of the coupling form an angle a which is obtuse when measured between the axes in the flow direction of fluid flowing along the branch duct.

Abstract: An improved releasable coupling for a tube is disclosed. The coupling contains a socket with at least four stepped bores. Located within the first bore is a compresion means (such as a collar) which has an inner surface inclined to the axis of first bore. A collet is mounted within the compression means and is so configured that, when the collet is caused to move inwardly, the inclined surface of the compression means causes the jaws of the collet to move inwardly. The coupling also contains a tube support located within the second bore. At least four sealing means are disposed within the third bore: a first O-ring is contiguous with a first washer, which in turn is contiguous with a second O-ring, which in turn is contiguous with a second washer.

Abstract: The invention discloses a controlled connector-adjuster permitting two different speeds in the same stroke of a double-acting pneumatic pressure cylinder.In the absence of a control signal at the orifice (13) of the apparatus, the escape pressure from the cylinder (30) effecting its rod extension stroke, finds the return valve (14) closed and holds the piston (2) against the stop (9) whose adjustment defines a first flowrate between the needle valve (15) at the end of the piston and its seat (16), which flowrate corresponds to the high speed. The arrival of a pressure signal into the chamber (6) causes piston (2) to move until it abuts on a second screw (7) whose adjustment permits a second smaller flowrate than the first one and which thus determines the second speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning fluid lines is disclosed. This apparatus contains a fluid manifold, a valve, and a line connecting said fluid manifold and said valve. The valve used in the apparatus contains at least two input ports, at least two output ports, means responsive to fluid pressure for closing off the flow of liquid from a first of said ports, and means responsive to fluid pressure for opening the flow of liquid from a second of said ports.

Abstract: The invention provides a box for the passage of pressurized liquid through masonry work of small thickness, particularly dividing walls, the box (1), firmly secured to a plastic sheath (4), also embedded in the masonry work (2), allowing plastic material pipes (5) to be installed for pressurized liquids. Said pipe (5) passes through the case and the sheath with radial clearance, which makes it possible to change it for maintenance purposes, the parallelepipedic shaped box having a large opening on which a lid (3) is placed, this lid carrying the connection of the pipe (5) formed by holding means and sealing means.

Abstract: The connection consists of a module (2) for connecting a pipe-line, free to swivel around a hollow screw (1) comprising a flap valve which is loaded by a weak return spring (5) to close against its sitting (3a) which constitutes the main passage of fluid flow through the apparatus. The flap valve (3) is integral with a rod (4), the free end of which is guided in the bore (10) of a plug (9), beyond a seal (6). The hollow screw also comprises means for conveying a small flow of fluid tapped from the sitting (3a) in order to fill an installation downstream of the apparatus, after which the flap valve (3) is opened by the effect of pressure. The apparatus is designed in two versions, one admitting pressure to the network via the module (2) and the other via the end of the hollow screw (1). Applications for pneumatic engineering.