CONNECTING MEMBER FOR A PUMP

ELEMENT DE RACCORDEMENT POUR POMPE

English Abstract

A connector for connecting a pump to a portable engine. The engine being
connected to the pump through a shaft extending along a central axis and
adapted to be mechanically connected to the engine. The connector
includes a first and second coupling members designed to be attached
together. The first coupling member including a first contact surface having
a plane perpendicular to the central axis, a first sleeve projecting outwardly
from the first contact surface. The first sleeve having a radius larger than
the radius of the shaft. The first coupling member further including at least
one flange projecting inwardly from the sleeve. The flange defines at least
one opening. The second coupling member is coaxial to the central axis
and is adapted to be installed on the other one of the pump and the engine.
The second coupling member comprises a second contact surface
complementary to the first contact surface, a second sleeve projecting
outwardly from the second contact surface. The second sleeve having a
radius larger than the radius of the shaft. The second coupling member
comprises at least one tooth projecting outwardly from the second sleeve.
The tooth is designed to fit in the at least one opening of the first sleeve.
The connector is designed so that when the first and second sleeves are
brought together, the at least one tooth is in registry and is adapted to fit
within the at least one opening of the first sleeve so to allow rotational
engagement between the first and second coupling members and thereby
frictionally engage and connect the first and second coupling members
together.

Claims

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CLAIMS
1. A connector for connecting a pump to a detachable engine, the engine
being connected to the pump through a shaft extending along a central
axis and adapted to be mechanically connected to the engine and the
pump, the connector comprising:
- a first coupling member adapted to be installed on any one of the
pump and the engine, the first coupling member extending along an
axis that is coaxial to the central axis, the first coupling member
comprising
- a first contact surface having a plane perpendicular to the
central axis;
- a first sleeve projecting outwardly from the first contact
surface and having a radius larger than the radius of the
shaft, and
- at least one flange projecting inwardly from the sleeve, the
flange defining at least one opening, the at least one
flange defining an inner radius smaller than the radius of
the first sleeve but larger than the radius of the shaft,
- a second coupling member coaxial to the central axis and
adapted to be installed on the other one of the pump and the
engine, the second coupling member comprising:
- a second contact surface complementary to the first contact
surface,
- a second sleeve projecting outwardly from the second
contact surface, and having a radius larger than the radius of
the shaft but smaller than the inner radius of the first sleeve,
and
- at least one tooth projecting outwardly from the second
sleeve, the at least one tooth designed to fit in the at least
one opening of the first sleeve,

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wherein, when the first and second sleeves are brought together, the at
least one tooth is in registry and is adapted to fit within the at least one
opening of the first sleeve so to allow rotational engagement between the
first and second coupling members and thereby frictionally engage and
connect said first and second coupling members together.
2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling member
comprises three flanges projecting inwardly from the first sleeve, the
three flanges defining three openings.
3. A connector according to claim 2, wherein the second coupling member
comprises three teeth projecting outwardly from the second sleeve, the
three teeth being spaced apart so to be in registry with the three
openings on the second coupling member when the first and second
coupling members are brought together.
4. A connector according to claim 3, wherein each flange comprises an
inclined bottom surface designed to form a cam and adapted to receive
a corresponding bottom surface of the corresponding tooth so that upon
rotation of the first coupling member relative to the second coupling
member, said first and second coupling members are tightly fastened.
5. A connector according to claim 4, further comprising a shock absorber
for preventing loosening of the first and second coupling members
caused by vibration during operation of the engine, the shock absorber
being secured between the first and second contact surface when the
first and second coupling members are fastened together.
6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein the shock absorber is an
O-ring made of a suitable material.

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7. A connector according to claim 1, further comprising a lock for locking
the first and second coupling members together.
8. A connector according to claim 7, wherein the lock comprises a pin
designed to be inserted in two holes located on the first and second
coupling members, the holes being placed so to be aligned when the
first and second coupling members are engaged.

Description

CA 02325173 2000-11-03
1
CONNECTING MEMBER FOR A PUMP
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention broadly relates to the field of pumping
apparatuses. More precisely, the invention is concerned with a connector
for connecting a portable pump to an engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known in the art is Canadian patent no. 563.438, which concerns an
internal combustion engine and a pump which are so linked together that
they can be set up quickly at the point of use. The engine has a housing
which includes a collar extending axially outwardly about its drive shaft.
The pump has a housing including a collar extending axially outwardly
about its impeller drive shaft. The respective collars have abutting portions
adapted to register with each other, with an outwardly extending flange.
Clamping means are provided for clamping the respective collars together,
so that the pump body is removably connected to the engine. The
clamping means comprise a split-ring adapted to encircle the mating
flanges. One end of each split ring is connected to the adjacent end of the
other split ring by an adjustable screw connection, so that the
circumference of the entire ring can be adjusted. The other ends of the split
rings are connected together by a toggle link controlled by a clamping lever,
whereby these ends can be drawn together after the device has been put in
place to encircle the mating flanges of the pump and engine.
Although quite successful, this linkage suffers from a number of
drawbacks, such as difficulty in clamping, jamming of the mechanism,

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fatigue, and length of time required to unclamp the collar, change one part
or the other of the pump, and then reclamp both components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for
connecting a pump to an engine that is easy to manipulate and that may
allow the pump to be readily detachable from the engine.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a connector that will
not jam when connecting a pump to an engine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a connector
that is simple in structure thereby rendering it simple to manufacture.
In accordance with the invention, these objects are achieved with a
connector for connecting a pump to a detachable engine, the engine being
connected to the pump through a shaft extending along a central axis and
adapted to be mechanically connected to the engine and the pump, the
connector comprising:
- a first coupling member adapted to be installed on any one of the
pump and the engine, the first coupling member extending along an
axis that is coaxial to the central axis, the first coupling member
comprising
- a first contact surface having a plane perpendicular to the
central axis;
- a first sleeve projecting outwardly from the first contact
surface and having a radius larger than the radius of the
shaft, and
- at least one flange projecting inwardly from the sleeve, the
flange defining at least one opening, the at least one

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flange defining an inner radius smaller than the radius of
the first sleeve but larger than the radius of the shaft,
- a second coupling member coaxial to the central axis and
adapted to be installed on the other one of the pump and the
engine, the second coupling member comprising:
- a second contact surface complementary to the first contact
surface,
- a second sleeve projecting outwardly from the second
contact surface, and having a radius larger than the radius of
the shaft but smaller than the inner radius of the first sleeve,
and
at least one tooth projecting outwardly from the second
sleeve, the at least one tooth designed to fit in the at least
one opening of the first sleeve,
wherein, when the first and second sleeves are brought together, the at
least one tooth is in registry and is adapted to fit within the at least one
opening of the first sleeve so to allow rotational engagement between the
first and second coupling members and thereby frictionally engage and
connect said first and second coupling members together.
An advantage provided by such connector is that it is designed to
quickly set up the pump and the engine as well as to quickly release the
pump from the engine when needed so. This connector also
advantageously allows a user to disconnect the pump from the engine
without requiring the use of any tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector in a closed

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position and mounted on a pump and an engine which are seen in doted
lines.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 1, in an
open position.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 2 in a
closed position.
Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the connector of Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in Figure 1, the connector 1 according the invention is
adapted to be installed on a portable pumping apparatus. An engine 50 is
connected to the pump 40 through a shaft 3 which extends along a central
axis. The shaft 3 is adapted to mechanically connect the pump 40 to the
engine 50. The connector 1 comprises a first coupling member 21 and a
second coupling member 31. In the illustrated embodiment, the first
coupling member 21 is adapted to be installed on one end of the pump 40
and the second coupling member 31 is installed on the end of the engine
50 that is facing the pump 40.
Referring now to Figure 2, the first coupling member 21 comprises a
first contact surface 23. The first contact surface is defined by an edge
which is perpendicular to the central axis of the connector. The edge is
designed to receive a corresponding end of the second coupling member
33. The first coupling member 21 also comprises a first sleeve 25 projecting
outwardly from the first contact surface 23. The first sleeve 25 has a radius
larger than the radius of the shaft. The first coupling member 21 further
comprises at least one flange 27 projecting inwardly from the sleeve 25.
The flange 27 defines at least one opening 29. The flange 27 also defines

CA 02325173 2000-11-03
an inner radius that is smaller than the radius of the first sleeve 25 but
larger than that of the shaft 3.
The second coupling member 31 is coaxial to the central axis and is
5 adapted to be installed on the engine 50. As mentioned hereinabove, the
second coupling member 31 is installed on one of the ends of the engine 50
that is opposite to the end of the pump 40 where the first coupling member
21 is installed. The second coupling member 31 comprises a second
contact surface 33 which is complementary to the first contact surface 23. It
also comprises a second sleeve 35 which projects outwardly from the
second contact surface 33. The second sleeve 35 has a radius larger than
the radius of the shaft 3 but smaller than the inner radius of the first
sleeve
25. The second coupling member 31 further comprises at least one tooth
37 projecting outwardly from the second sleeve 35. The tooth 37 is
designed to fit in the at least one opening 29 of the first sleeve 25.
The connector 1 is designed so that when the first and second
sleeves 25,35 are brought together, the at least one tooth 37, on the
second sleeve 35, is in registry and is adapted to fit within the at least one
opening 29 of the first sleeve 25 so to allow rotational engagement between
the first and second coupling members 21,31 and thereby frictionally
engage and connect the first and second coupling members 21,31 together.
As further seen in Figure 2, the connector 1 comprises three flanges
27 projecting inwardly from the wall of the first coupling member 21, thereby
producing three openings. Accordingly, the second coupling member 31
comprises three corresponding teeth 37 projecting outwardly therefrom.
The teeth 37 are set so that in the open position, when the first and second
coupling members 21,31 are brought together, the teeth 37 are in registry
with the three openings 29 of the first coupling member 21. This allows the
second coupling member 31 to be inserted in the first coupling member 21

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and upon rotation of the latter relative to the former, they are tightly
fastened together as shown in Figure 3.
As best seen in Figure 4, each flange 27 comprises an inclined
bottom surface designed to form a cam. The flange 27 is adapted to receive
a corresponding tooth 37 so that upon rotation of the first coupling member
21 relative to the second coupling member 31, both coupling members are
secured together.
The connector 1 according to the present invention may also
comprise a shock absorber (not shown) to prevent loosening between the
first and second coupling members 21,31 caused by vibration during
operation of the engine 50. The shock absorber is secured between the first
and second contact surfaces 23,33 of the first and second coupling
members 21,31 when they are engaged in the closed position. Preferably,
the shock absorber is an O-ring made of nitrite.
As seen in Figures 2 to 4, the connector 1 may further comprise a
lock for locking the first and second coupling members 21,31 together. In
the illustrated embodiment, the lock may comprise a pin 61 that is designed
to be inserted in a set of hole 63 provided on the first and second contact
surfaces 23,33. The holes 63 located on the first and second contact
surface are positioned so that when the first and second coupling members
21,31 are engaged together in the closed position, they are aligned.
Although the present invention has been explained herein above by
way of preferred embodiment thereof, it should be pointed out that any
modification to this preferred embodiment within the scope of the present
description is not deemed to alter or change the nature and scope of the
invention.

Representative Drawing