# US 2014/0150907 A1 · Hydraulic Coupling Member With Pressure-Relieving Poppet Valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150907 A1 - Document ID: US20140150907A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/173,694 - Filed: 2014-02-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-25 - Assignees: National Coupling Company, Inc. - Applicants: National Coupling Company, Inc. - Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150907A1 ## CPC - F16K 17/02: opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side (check valves F16K15/00) - F16K 17/168: combined with manually-controlled valves, e.g. a valve combined with a safety valve - F16L 37/34: at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve being telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall - F16L 37/413: the lift valve being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve being telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall - Y10T 137/7837: Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type] - Y10T 137/7927: Ball valves - Y10T 137/87917: Flow path with serial valves and/or closures - Y10T 137/87957: Valves actuate each other - Y10T 137/8803: Also carries head of other valve - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A poppet valve for a hydraulic coupling member has an internal, spring-loaded check valve (which may be a ball check valve) in fluid communication with a bleed passage. The check valve may be configured as a pressure-relief valve which bleeds off excess hydraulic fluid pressure within the coupling member to a preselected value. A poppet valve according to the invention may be used in female coupling members and/or male coupling members. Certain embodiments of the invention may be retrofitted to coupling members of the prior art. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A poppet valve for a hydraulic coupling comprising: a poppet valve body having a first, sealing portion in the shape of a conical frustum and a second, generally cylindrical portion adjacent the first portion and having a stepped outer diameter comprising a first section having a first outer diameter, a second section adjacent the first section and having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, a third section adjacent the second section and having a third outer diameter less than the second outer diameter, a first shoulder between the first section and the second section, and a second shoulder between the second section and the third section; at least one through hole in the second section open at a first end to the first shoulder and open at a second, opposing end to the second shoulder; a central axial cavity in the poppet valve body that is substantially closed at a first end thereof and open at an opposing second end; and, a pressure-relief valve within that portion of the central axial cavity that is situated in the second, generally cylindrical portion of the poppet valve body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 wherein the pressure-relief valve is a ball check valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The poppet valve recited in claim 2 wherein the pressure-relief valve is a spring-loaded ball check valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 wherein the pressure-relief valve is configured to open at a predetermined fluid pressure differential between the first end of the poppet valve body and the second end of poppet valve body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 further comprising a valve actuator connected to the first end of the poppet valve body and having a fluid passageway connecting the exterior of the valve actuator to the central axial cavity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The poppet valve recited in claim 5 wherein the valve actuator is substantially cylindrical and the fluid passageway is open to the cylindrical side surface of the valve actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 wherein the valve sealing portion of the poppet valve body comprises a metal-to-metal seal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 wherein the valve sealing portion comprises an annular polymer seal retained on the exterior of the first section of the valve body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The poppet valve recited in claim 8 wherein the polymer seal comprises an elastomer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 wherein the poppet valve body is configured for sliding engagement within the central cavity of a hydraulic coupling member against a helical compression spring retained between the poppet valve body and a spring seat retained within the hydraulic coupling member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 wherein the first outer diameter is substantially equal to the third outer diameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of through holes in the second section said through holes open at a first end to the first shoulder and open at a second, opposing end to the second shoulder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one radial fluid passageway in the poppet valve body in fluid communication with the exterior surface of the poppet valve body and the central axial cavity in the poppet valve body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 further comprising a filter in fluid communication with the pressure relief valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 further comprising a threaded portion of the central axial cavity and spring seat in threaded engagement with the central axial cavity which spring seat comprises a first end configured to receive a poppet valve actuator spring and an opposing second end having a ball valve seat and a fluid passageway connecting the first end to the ball valve seat. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The poppet valve recited in claim 15 wherein the ball valve seat comprises a frusto-conical section of the fluid passageway. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The poppet valve recited in claim 15 further comprising a spring-loaded ball actuator sized and configured to slide longitudinally within the central axial cavity and bear against a ball on the ball valve seat. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The poppet valve recited in claim 17 further comprising at least one fluid passageway connecting one axial end of the actuator to an opposing axial end of the actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The poppet valve recited in claim 15 further comprising a seal adjacent the threaded portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The poppet valve recited in claim 1 further comprising: a fourth section adjacent the first section in spaced-apart relation to the second section and having a fourth outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter; a fifth section adjacent the fourth section and having a fifth outer diameter less than the fourth outer diameter; a third shoulder between the fifth section and the fourth section; a fourth shoulder between the fourth section and the first section; and, at least one through hole in the fourth section open at a first end to the third shoulder and open at a second, opposing end to the fourth shoulder. ### Claim 21 A female hydraulic coupling member comprising: a generally cylindrical body having a central, axial bore; a receiving chamber at a first end of the central axial bore configured to receive the probe member of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member; fluid connection means at an opposing second end of the central axial bore configured to connect to a hydraulic fluid conduit; and, a pressure-relieving poppet valve within the central axial bore intermediate the first end and second end thereof that comprises; a poppet valve body having a first, sealing portion in the shape of a conical frustum and a second, generally cylindrical portion adjacent the first portion and having a stepped outer diameter comprising a first section having a first outer diameter, a second section adjacent the first section and having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, a third section adjacent the second section and having a third outer diameter less than the second outer diameter, a first shoulder between the first section and the second section, and a second shoulder between the second section and the third section; at least one through hole in the second section open at a first end to the first shoulder and open at a second, opposing end to the second shoulder; a central axial cavity in the poppet valve body that is substantially closed at a first end thereof and open at an opposing second end; and, a pressure-relief valve within that portion of the central axial cavity that is situated in the second, generally cylindrical portion of the poppet valve body. ### Claim 22 A male hydraulic coupling member comprising: a generally cylindrical body having a central, axial bore; a probe member at a first end of the generally cylindrical body configured to engage the receiving chamber of a corresponding female hydraulic coupling member; fluid connection means at an opposing second end of the generally cylindrical body and in fluid communication with the central axial bore configured to connect to a hydraulic fluid conduit; and, a pressure-relieving poppet valve within the central axial bore intermediate the first end and second end thereof that comprises; a poppet valve body having a first, sealing portion in the shape of a conical frustum and a second, generally cylindrical portion adjacent the first portion and having a stepped outer diameter comprising a first section having a first outer diameter, a second section adjacent the first section and having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, a third section adjacent the second section and having a third outer diameter less than the second outer diameter, a first shoulder between the first section and the second section, and a second shoulder between the second section and the third section; at least one through hole in the second section open at a first end to the first shoulder and open at a second, opposing end to the second shoulder; a central axial cavity in the poppet valve body that is substantially closed at a first end thereof and open at an opposing second end; and, a pressure-relief valve within that portion of the central axial cavity that is situated in the second, generally cylindrical portion of the poppet valve body.