Rapid coupling
AssigneeHans Oetiker AG Maschinen- und Apparatefabrik
InventorsUlrich Meier, Hans Greminger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a rapid coupling, an end section of a pipe nipple engages in a through-hole of a sleeve. A groove provided on the pipe nipple serves to engage a resilient locking ring formed in the sleeve in order to lock the coupled state. The locking ring is located in an annular recess formed close to the insertion end of the sleeve. If the pipe nipple is not inserted into the bush to such an extent that the locking ring latches in the groove, the pipe nipple is pushed outward by a compression spring provided in the through-hole of the sleeve, so that the groove is readily visible outside the sleeve. The groove thus serves not only for locking in the properly coupled state but also as an indicator for indicating a state which is not properly coupled.
Claims7
1-7. (canceled)
A rapid coupling comprising
- a sleeve having an inner stop and an insertion end;
- a pipe nipple having an insertion end adapted to be inserted into the sleeve's insertion end and having an outer surface formed with an engagement section;
- a locking element provided in the sleeve at the insertion end of the sleeve, the
- locking element, upon engagement with the engagement section, retaining the nipple in the sleeve to constitute a coupled state of the coupling;
- a compression spring disposed between the inner stop of the sleeve and the insertion end of the nipple;
- and in an uncoupled state of the coupling, the compression spring pushes the nipple out of the sleeve to such an extent that the engagement section is outside the sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.