IP Library Granted Patent US 12669199
Granted Patent B2
US 12669199 · App. 18/872,200 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Coupling device

Inventor: Martin Koch (Neuenburg, DE)
Assignee: FLECOTEC AG
F16L33/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12669199
App. No.
18/872,200
Filed
Dec 5, 2024
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3679
USPC
285/328
Abstract

A coupling device, having at least one coupling part which has an actuating device which actuates a closure part, wherein a flexible line part having a free cross section can be connected to the coupling part. The closure part, in its actuated position, opens up the free cross section of the line part and, in a further actuated position, closes said cross section, wherein the closure part has a flexible diaphragm.

Claims (27)

1 . A coupling device, having at least one coupling element which comprises an actuating device that actuates a closure part, wherein

a flexible conduit portion comprising a free cross-section can be connected to the coupling element;

the closure part, in a first actuated position, releases the free cross-section of the conduit portion and closes this cross-section in a further actuated position;

the closure part comprises a flexible membrane; and wherein

the free cross-section of the conduit portion is cylindrical in the connection region with the coupling element in one actuating position and, in the other actuating position, using the actuating device, it assumes a closed shell shape, in which the wall portions of the conduit portion lie on top of another.

2 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane can be actuated by the actuating device from the first actuated position after passing in a waveform manner through the inside of the coupling element into the further actuated position, which lies opposite the first actuated position.

3 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the actuating device comprises at least one lever drive, which at least partially passes through the coupling element at one point and which comprises a fixing element that is pivotally articulated on the coupling element, said fixing element fixing the membrane on one free end thereof.

4 . The coupling device of claim 3 , wherein a second free end of the membrane is fixed on the inner circumferential side of the coupling element or on a further fixing element, which can be actuated in a pivotable manner with respect to the coupling element using a further lever drive, which at least partially passes through the coupling element.

5 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling element is configured as a hollow cylinder, wherein two recesses are provided in the cylinder wall, through each of which a hand lever of the actuating device passes in each actuating position, said lever being connected to an assignable plate-shaped fixing element, and wherein the two hand levers can be pivoted in opposition to move the membrane into both opposite actuating positions.

6 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane protrudes over a free end face of the coupling element in one direction to fix the conduit portion.

7 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the free cross-section of the conduit portion in the connection region with the coupling element in the other actuating position assumes a half-shell shape.

8 . The coupling device of claim 2 , wherein the length of the membrane is selected such that it lies flat on the inside of the cylindrical coupling element in the respective actuated position after passing through the waveform.

9 . A coupling system having two coupling devices; wherein

each coupling device has at least one coupling element, which comprises an actuating device that actuates a closure part; wherein

a flexible conduit portion comprising a free cross-section can be connected to the coupling element;

the closure part, in a first actuated position, releases the free cross-section of the conduit portion and closes this cross-section in a further actuated position;

the closure part comprises a flexible membrane; and wherein

the free cross-section of the conduit portion is cylindrical in the connection region with the coupling element in one actuating position and, in the other actuating position, using the actuating device, it assumes a closed shell shape, in which the wall portions of the conduit portion lie on top of another.

10 . The coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the two coupling devices are detachably held onto one another in a sealed manner using a coupling ring that can be opened and closed.

11 . The coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the two coupling devices are identically configured.

12 . The coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the flexible membrane of at least a first of the two coupling devices can be actuated by the actuating device from the first actuated position after passing in a waveform manner through the inside of the coupling element into the further actuated position, which lies opposite the first actuated position.

13 . The coupling system of claim 12 , wherein the length of the membrane of at least a first of the two coupling devices is selected such that it lies flat on the inside of the cylindrical coupling element in the respective actuated position after passing through the waveform.

14 . The coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the actuating device of at least a first of the two coupling devices comprises at least one lever drive, which at least partially passes through the coupling element at one point and which comprises a fixing element that is pivotally articulated on the coupling element, said fixing element fixing the membrane on one free end thereof.

15 . The coupling system of claim 14 , wherein a second free end of the membrane of at least a first of the two coupling devices is fixed on the inner circumferential side of the coupling element or on a further fixing element, which can be actuated in a pivotable manner with respect to the coupling element using a further lever drive, which at least partially passes through the coupling element.

16 . The coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the coupling element of at least a first of the two coupling devices is configured as a hollow cylinder, wherein two recesses are provided in the cylinder wall, through each of which a hand lever of the actuating device passes in each actuating position, said lever being connected to an assignable plate-shaped fixing element, and wherein the two hand levers can be pivoted in opposition to move the membrane into both opposite actuating positions.

17 . The coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the membrane of at least a first of the two coupling devices protrudes over a free end faces of the coupling element in one direction to fix the conduit portion.

18 . The coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the free cross-section of the conduit portion of at least a first of the two coupling devices in the connection region with the coupling element in the other actuating position assumes a half-shell shape.