Fluid-conveying pipe connector

Claim 1

A connector forming a junction between the free ends of two ducts one of which communicates with a source supplying a fluid under pressure, said connector comprising a first part fitting the free end of the duct connected to said source and a second part mounted on the free end of the second duct, said first part comprising a main valve having a seat closing off said free end of the first duct and urged upon closing against its seat by the action of the fluid feed pressure prevailing in the first duct, said first part further comprising a second auxiliary valve having a seat also closing off said end of the first duct and which is also urged upon closing against its seat by the action of the fluid feed pressure prevailing in said first duct, said seat of said auxiliary valve having a reduced section as compared with that of said main valve, said second connector part co-operating with control members for the opening of said valves which are so arranged that when both connector parts are drawn near each other for connecting the same together said second part will at first open said auxiliary valve while allowing a small fluid flow rate to pass from said first duct to the second duct at the beginning of the coupling step of said connector and then will open said main valve, said main and auxiliary valves including biasing springs returning said valves to their closing position, said auxiliary valve comprising a piston rod forming the head of the valve, said piston rod being coaxial with said main valve, said seat of said auxiliary valve being formed within the head of said main valve, said piston rod passing through said seat, said second connector part comprising a central portion and an annular portion, said central portion being caused to push back said piston rod of said auxiliary valve thereby actuating the same for the opening thereof, said annular portion portion being caused to push back said head of said main valve thereby actuating the same for opening thereof, said central portion and said annular portion being so disposed that said auxiliary valve is actuated for opening before said main valve, a fluid-tight seal mounted on said head of said main valve to co-operate with said seat of said main valve, said head having passages for the flow of said fluid therethrough when said head is not applied against its seat, said head being provided with a central aperture forming said seat for said auxiliary valve, said piston rod of said auxiliary valve comprising first and second ends, said first end projecting towards said second connector part through said central aperture of said main valve and forming said head of said auxiliary valve, a fluidtight seal mounted on said first end for co-operating with said seat formed in said head of said main valve, a cap mounted so as to bear against said head of said main valve under the action of the biasing spring returning said main valve to the closing position, said cap having a passageway through which said second end of said piston rod is guided, a sleeve locating said first connector part and connectable to said free end of said first duct, an abutment on said sleeve, said biasing spring of the main valve being mounted between said cap and said abutment, said cap having further passageways for allowing the ingress of said fluid towards said auxiliary valve.