Rapid-connect coupler
AssigneeEngineered Controls International, LLC
InventorHoward M. Konishi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rapid-connect gas coupler is shown and described herein. In an embodiment, the rapid-connect gas coupler includes a spring-loaded probe within a probe cavity, which is defined by a housing and one or more latch segment. The probe can engage with a gas connector, which causes the latch segment to engage and couple with the gas connector.
Claims21
A rapid-connect coupling apparatus for coupling a fuel source coupling to a fuel tank receiving connector, comprising:
- a housing defining a first ball cavity;
- a ball disposed in the first ball cavity;
- a latch segment defining a second ball cavity to receive the ball, the latch segment being pivotably engaged with the ball and comprising a first end and a second end, a latch lip being formed on the second end;
- and
- a sleeve disposed about and slidably engaged with the housing and with the latch segment and defining a latch-lip notch, the sleeve configured to engage the first end to pivot the latch lip into the latch-lip notch when the sleeve is translated in a first direction.
A rapid-connect coupling apparatus for coupling a fuel source coupling to a fuel tank receiving connector, comprising:
- a housing defining a probe cavity;
- a first ball slidably engaged with and extending through the housing;
- a probe disposed in the probe cavity and defining a ball cavity;
- a latch assembly comprising:
- a latch segment having a latch lip;
- and
- a second ball disposed in and rotatably engaged with the housing and with the latch segment;
- and
- a sleeve disposed about and slidably engaged with the housing and with the latch segment and defining a latch-lip notch configured to engage the latch lip when the sleeve is translated in a first direction, the sleeve to push the first ball into the ball cavity when the sleeve is translated in the first direction.
A rapid-connect coupling apparatus for coupling a fuel source coupling to a fuel tank receiving connector, comprising:
- a housing defining a first ball cavity;
- a ball disposed in the first ball cavity;
- an end fitting engaged with the housing;
- a latch segment defining a second ball cavity to receive the ball, the latch segment being pivotably engaged with the ball and comprising a latch lip;
- and
- a sleeve disposed about the housing and the latch segment, slidably engaged with the housing and the latch segment, captured between the end fitting and the latch segment, and defining a latch-lip notch to receive the latch lip when the sleeve is slid away from the end fitting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.