My attempt to make a better hose coupler

[Leveleer]

I've watched your videos, and am familiar with the intended function.

What I'm talking about is unintended tension on the hose. There is some amount of force which will cause any coupler, including yours, to either disconnect or mechanically fail. The question is whether or not that amount of force is low enough that someone could realistically cause it to happen by some strange confluence of events.

Personally, I wouldn't want to be selling couplers unless I knew that number.

Not trying to **** on your design- by all accounts it appears to function very well. It just occurred to me as something that, if I were in your shoes, I would want to know; and also something that you appear to not have considered testing.

If you took one of my prototype couplers and suspended it from the ceiling and attached a 200 Kilogram weight to the plug then the coupling would fail.
I don't need to test it because I know the yield stress will be exceeded.

Chances are, I won't be producing this design anyway as it would probably be too expensive to sell.

 

[toplessHO]

after finding the coilhose 5 in 1 safety coupler,a few years ago, Im done looking,and price of $15 each is not terrible

 

[Leveleer]

after finding the coilhose 5 in 1 safety coupler,a few years ago, Im done looking,and price of $15 each is not terrible

I tried one of these and was not impressed as shown in 2 of my earlier videos.
I find it too large, too heavy and awkward to use not to mention the fact that mine leaks continuously with no plug inserted.

 

[toplessHO]

never any leaks here
too heavy? are we talking milligrams difference?
Seems Im always getting something thats got a different coupler
and this solved that problem

 

[Leveleer]

I haven't only designed couplers but plugs also.
I am currently manufacturing a short run of quiet plugs that are compatible with the 1/4 industrial interchange standard.
I demonstrate an example of one in this video

 

[Qualitytools]

I haven't only designed couplers but plugs also.
I am currently manufacturing a short run of quiet plugs that are compatible with the 1/4 industrial interchange standard.
I demonstrate an example of one in this video

I too have been following your thread, have made comments and just saw your recent video on the nailer disconnect air line, very quiet! Very Impressive! Keep up the good work and Yes I am still interested in your products

 

[bsaint]

When can I buy one haha?

 

[Leveleer]

I too have been following your thread, have made comments and just saw your recent video on the nailer disconnect air line, very quiet! Very Impressive! Keep up the good work and Yes I am still interested in your products

Thanks for the kind words.
I first made some quiet plugs a couple of years ago. Although they worked fine as far as being quiet, they restricted the flow more then I found acceptable so I dropped it in order to work on my compressor design.
I recently found a way to improve the plug design so that it doesn't restrict the flow at all and am now producing a short run of about a thousand plugs.
Our feeling is that once you have one of them you will never find a conventional plug acceptable.

 

[Leveleer]

When can I buy one haha?

If you are referring to the quiet plug from my quiet plug demo then the answer is "very soon".

 

[Leveleer]

I recently had a lot of youtube views of my latest coupling prototypes from Illinois.
Milton Industries is in Illinois.
Coincidence, or should I be concerned?

 

[Leveleer]

I received some requests via PM but I am not sure that it is working.
I sent responses but can't tell if they were accepted or not.

To the member who asked if I could adapt my coupler to work with a Milton G style plug, the answer is yes I could but I won't.

Instead, I scaled my 1/4 high flow version to the same 3/8 orifice of the Milton G and find that my version is so much better and smaller then the Milton it's a joke to me.
My entire coupling plus inserted plug is about the same length as the Milton plug by itself.

 

[aczr2k]

This all is very interesting. I am always looking for easily coupled air connections, we use them on automation tooling. Currently I use Parker E-z-mate series. These couple and uncouple at zero pressure and are made from steel which holds up in an daily use industrial environment.

http://ph.parker.com/us/17559/en/qu...nge-iso-4414-e-z-mate-series-exhaust-couplers

 

[Leveleer]

This all is very interesting. I am always looking for easily coupled air connections, we use them on automation tooling. Currently I use Parker E-z-mate series. These couple and uncouple at zero pressure and are made from steel which holds up in an daily use industrial environment.

http://ph.parker.com/us/17559/en/qu...nge-iso-4414-e-z-mate-series-exhaust-couplers

A little off topic but your mention of automation and Parker made me think of it.
Back in the 80s I built a rotary transfer machine to do 2nd op on 316SS fittings that competed directly against Parker. Had lots of air lines and quick disconnects.
Last fall my great grand nephew came from Germany to intern with me.
He had just spent a year designing an automatic production machine for a German company based in the twin cities.

I do feel that the low connecting force and safe/quiet release of my design obviates the need to have a separate vent feature.

 

[aczr2k]

It sounds like you've been involved in many different aspects of machining/production he should be lucky to be working with you.


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[Leveleer]

For what it's worth, he did tell friends and family when he returned to Germany that he learned more in the month he worked for me then he did in the last 2 years in Engineering school. That made me feel good and also made me wonder about the school.

 

[ToddW2]

A timely subject for someone who is in the market for high-flow couplers and plugs. I am intrigued to learn more and possibly use your couplings in the future. I registered on this forum today to participate in this discussion.

If I may, I will add some constructive commentary:

1. 1. As a few others have commented, some of the video commentary is overly dramatic. Being startled and jumping back with a "wow" proves as much considering that you have represented that you have worked extensively with air fittings throughout your life.
2. 2. The term "explosive", whether used in video or print, has no objective value.
3. 3. Loose bolts claimed to be the result of the insertion force of the Milton V is no excuse for a test rig that is not bolted to the wall.
4. 4. Your test method appears to only include disconnecting the plug with the coupler facing the user. Your commentary is subsequently full of complaints regarding discharge air vented toward the user. It would be wise to consider that 50% (likely much more) of the time a tool is disconnected with the coupler facing away from the user.
5. 5. Your video demonstration titled Milton V vs Prevost S1 vs Stedlin does not have a controlled variable. Ideally you should include full removal and insertion of the plugs on each coupler type, preferably using a SINGLE hose. I understand that you are concealing the plug, but that leaves the viewer with unanswered questions about the test setup.
6. 6. Regarding the same video, "fair", "significant", and "extremely easy" are not objective evaluations of the insertion force and the grunting adds no value. It is drama. I've never grunted coupling a hose.

Finally, I will suggest another quantifiable measurement: The vent time for your coupler vs the competition. From the sound levels in the video, it would appear that your coupler takes considerably longer to vent as compared to the other fittings. Time that could be spent working. An analysis would be informative.

 

[Leveleer]

All comments are appreciated.
All these videos were shot with zero preparation and should not be taken too seriously.
Considering that they receive very few views, they could be considered irrelevant.
If you viewed my videos showing the insertion force as measured on a digital force gauge then you can see that the Milton I tested takes about 40 pounds of force to connect at 120 PSI. This is no doubt not a problem for some but for me it is.
My prototypes take no more then 12 pounds of force.

I now have a newer design that is superior to what I showed in the videos and unfortunately I can not demonstrate it publicly at this time.

 

[Zeke]

Keep up the good work.

 

[Toolfool]

Subscribed. Very impressed with your progress , and waiting to purchase.

 

[Leveleer]

Many thanks to those of you who have been helpful and supportive in this thread.
You are on the list of those eligible to receive free samples.
You know who you are.

 

[redmondjp]

All comments are appreciated.
All these videos were shot with zero preparation and should not be taken too seriously.
Considering that they receive very few views, they could be considered irrelevant.
If you viewed my videos showing the insertion force as measured on a digital force gauge then you can see that the Milton I tested takes about 40 pounds of force to connect at 120 PSI. This is no doubt not a problem for some but for me it is.
My prototypes take no more then 12 pounds of force.

I now have a newer design that is superior to what I showed in the videos and unfortunately I can not demonstrate it publicly at this time.

I can't say that I've been following every single post of this thread, but if you're showing your design to existing manufacturers, be very careful. Remember what happened to Robert Kearns when he showed his delay wiper invention to Ford Motor Company (who actually briefly employed him so they could steal his design). You may think that a patent will protect you, but it all comes down to whose money to pay the lawyers runs out first (and global corporations of course have a lot more than you do - both lawyers and money).

One manufacturing company (a major construction lift equipment maker) that I used to work for determined that it would cost them $250K - $400K to defend a patent (this was 15 years ago). So if they weren't going to lose at least that much if somebody stole an idea from them, they didn't even go through the effort of attempting to get a patent in the first place (this came as a complete surprise to me, but from an economic standpoint, it makes sense). I came up with a patentable idea while there so we were exploring pursuing a patent for about a year (which we dropped because it didn't meet the criteria above). YMMV

I'm intrigued by this, as I have more problems getting my couplers connected as I get older and don't have as strong of a grip.

 

[Leveleer]

I can't say that I've been following every single post of this thread, but if you're showing your design to existing manufacturers, be very careful. Remember what happened to Robert Kearns when he showed his delay wiper invention to Ford Motor Company (who actually briefly employed him so they could steal his design). You may think that a patent will protect you, but it all comes down to whose money to pay the lawyers runs out first (and global corporations of course have a lot more than you do - both lawyers and money).

One manufacturing company (a major construction lift equipment maker) that I used to work for determined that it would cost them $250K - $400K to defend a patent (this was 15 years ago). So if they weren't going to lose at least that much if somebody stole an idea from them, they didn't even go through the effort of attempting to get a patent in the first place (this came as a complete surprise to me, but from an economic standpoint, it makes sense). I came up with a patentable idea while there so we were exploring pursuing a patent for about a year (which we dropped because it didn't meet the criteria above). YMMV

I'm intrigued by this, as I have more problems getting my couplers connected as I get older and don't have as strong of a grip.

Thanks for the advice.
I have hated having to deal with patents since working on my first one back in the 1970s.

 

[ToddW2]

Truly interested in this. I am tired of junk fittings and wasted time replacing them.

Is the vent time comparable, or an order of magnitude longer?

 

[Leveleer]

Truly interested in this. I am tired of junk fittings and wasted time replacing them.

Is the vent time comparable, or an order of magnitude longer?

Regarding the vent time, the answer is "it depends". I am being deliberately vague as per instructions from patent attorney.
I have made numerous prototypes and they work differently. The only thing they all have in common is an extremely low insertion force.

 

[Leveleer]

Truly interested in this. I am tired of junk fittings and wasted time replacing them.

Is the vent time comparable, or an order of magnitude longer?

For what it's worth:
If you look at my first video from last December: Air hose coupler comparison,at about 47 seconds in, you will see that I extract the plug about 1 second or so after pulling the collar back. This is with a 25 foot long 3/8 hose.

 

[Leveleer]

I haven't had any time to devote to this project in a few months.
Here is a video I made of my latest prototype from a couple of months ago.
demo of latest version

 

[JOE.G]

Intrested as i am replacing fittings though out my shop.

 

[Leveleer]

Intrested as i am replacing fittings though out my shop.

My latest coupler design is not compatible with industry standard plugs.
I gave up making compatible couplers as I find the industry standard plug design flawed.

I would like to know of people who like the performance of mine enough to forgo compatibility.

In addition, my design requires closer manufacturing tolerances then are typical of standard couplers making mine more expensive to manufacture.

 

[Bellaireroad]

For what it's worth:

If you look at my first video from last December: Air hose coupler comparison,at about 47 seconds in, you will see that I extract the plug about 1 second or so after pulling the collar back. This is with a 25 foot long 3/8 hose.

Nice video, I have noticed the prevost couplers are much easier to use if you are pushing in a prevost fitting... the Milton fittings are pretty hard to push in for some reason... as shown on your video


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[Qualitytools]

What is the hissing sound I hear in the Video after the hose is disconnected, is it air escaping from the female coupler or remaining air in the line? I have used Automotive style couplers as I was told many decades ago use them as they tend not to leak due to the way the male coupler is designed.

 

[Leveleer]

What is the hissing sound I hear in the Video after the hose is disconnected, is it air escaping from the female coupler or remaining air in the line? I have used Automotive style couplers as I was told many decades ago use them as they tend not to leak due to the way the male coupler is designed.

The "hissing sound" is the air escaping from the hose at a controlled rate.
All plugs that I manufacture restrict the flow upon disconnection.
The camera's automatic gain control makes it sound much louder than it actually is.
As far as automotive plugs being less likely to leak, it's certainly not because of the plug design. Both designs typically seal on the very end face with a rubber gasket.In my experience most leaks ore caused by a combination of poor design and loose manufacturing tolerances.

 

[Qualitytools]

The "hissing sound" is the air escaping from the hose at a controlled rate.
All plugs that I manufacture restrict the flow upon disconnection.
The camera's automatic gain control makes it sound much louder than it actually is.
As far as automotive plugs being less likely to leak, it's certainly not because of the plug design. Both designs typically seal on the very end face with a rubber gasket.In my experience most leaks ore caused by a combination of poor design and loose manufacturing tolerances.

Thanks for clarifying, always learning!

 

[Leveleer]

Nice video, I have noticed the prevost couplers are much easier to use if you are pushing in a prevost fitting... the Milton fittings are pretty hard to push in for some reason... as shown on your video


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I have not seen a Provost plug but the only way I can see it being easier to push in is if the distance from the ball loading flank to the end is shorter.
If this is true, the Prevost plug would be more likely to leak in a Milton coupling.

 

[Bellaireroad]

Not sure , never used a prevost plug in a Milton fitting. How well does a Milton plug work in your fitting?


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[Leveleer]

Not sure , never used a prevost plug in a Milton fitting. How well does a Milton plug work in your fitting?


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My coupling is not compatible with the Milton. I created an entirely new standard plug design. (standard in my shop)
My plug design allows for more functionality then the international standard does.

 

[Bellaireroad]

My coupling is not compatible with the Milton. I created an entirely new standard plug design. (standard in my shop)

My plug design allows for more functionality then the international standard does.

It looks like it works great... very innovative... hats off to you


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[Leveleer]

It looks like it works great... very innovative... hats off to you


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Thank you. I designed a compatible coupling that had the potential to work like my proprietary one but found that the size variation of the industrial interchange plugs is too large for it to be practical.

 

[JOE.G]

So what is your plan? Are you going to produce them or is this just a cool project to keep you busy? I like your idea.

 

[Farmall450]

I'm sure i could make them last for the length of the warranty.
Thanks

I think if you want a legitimate project you should try a little harder than that.

 

[Leveleer]

So what is your plan? Are you going to produce them or is this just a cool project to keep you busy? I like your idea.

Good question.
I won't be producing them but my partners would like to do so eventually. We are currently prototyping other inventions of mine.