Safety system for cam lock couplings
OwnerJeff Caudellinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A female coupling component for a cam and groove coupling, consisting of a chamber mounted to or built into the exterior of the female coupling component, containing a latching member to be used as a safety lock when used in conjunction with a male coupling component. The latching member will interlock with a radial groove on a male coupling component. To unlock the female coupling component, an intentional movement including pushing, twisting, and/or pulling, etc. of the latching member is applied such a way as to allow the male component to be inserted or removed. The female cam and groove coupling will work on any like-sized male coupling component (i.e., 3″ female to 3″ male) without any modifications necessary to the male coupling required.
Claims6
A female coupling component for a cam and groove coupling joint, comprising:
- a female coupling component having a cylindrical outer surface configured for use with a male coupling component, the male coupling component having a hollow interior to convey fluid or gas, the female coupling component adapted to secure the male coupling component in close fitting engagement by a plurality of cam arms positioned on the female coupling half engaging a radial groove of the male coupling half,
- each cam arm being
- pivotally connected to the female coupling component;
- and
- being pivotable between
- a first unlocked position wherein the male coupling half is insertable and removable from the female coupling component and
- a second locked position wherein the male coupling half is securable in close fitting engagement with the female coupling component;
- an external case member which contains a chamber containing a latching member is partially built into or affixed to an outside circumferential surface of the female coupling component intermediate at least two cam arms and perpendicular to the axis of the female coupling component;
- the latching member is held within the chamber by a set screw inserted into the chamber perpendicular to the axis of the female coupling component;
- the latching member is partially located outside the cylindrical outer surface of the female coupling component and that is movable between a latched position wherein the latching member is positionable within the radial groove of a male coupling half within the female coupling half, and an unlatched position in which the latching member is not within the radial groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.