# US 2014/0191502 A1 · Quick connect coupling with a self-resetting retention mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191502 A1 - Document ID: US20140191502A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,040 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: The Gates Corporation - Applicants: The Gates Corporation - Inventors: Donald R. Gilbreath - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191502A1 ## CPC - F16L 37/0887: {with an axially movable separate member for releasing the coupling} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A quick connect coupling includes a male coupling and a female coupling. A stop may be associated with the male coupling and configured to prevent the male coupling from being inserted into a port of the female coupling beyond a predetermined depth. The stop may be axially slidable between a first position and a second position. The first position may be located between a leading edge of the male coupling and the second position. The stop may be biased towards the first position so that the stop substantially resets to the first position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A quick connect hydraulic coupling with a retention mechanism to prevent inadvertent disconnection, comprising: a female coupling with an external surface and an internal surface which defines a port; a male coupling having an external surface, an internal surface, a leading edge, a longitudinal axis, and a geometric profile adapted for insertion into said female coupling; and a stop mechanism disposed at least partially around the external surface of the male coupling and configured to prevent the male coupling from being inserted into said port of the female coupling beyond a predetermined position, the stop mechanism slidable relative to the longitudinal axis of the male coupling between a first position and a second position, the first position located between the leading edge of the male coupling and the second position, the stop mechanism biased towards the first position so that the stop mechanism resets to the first position upon removal of an insertion force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein when in the first position, the stop mechanism is incapable of sliding toward the second position without a repositioning of the stop mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The quick connect coupling of claim 2, wherein the external surface of the male coupling has an annular groove and the stop mechanism has an inner surface with a protrusion extending inwardly, wherein when the stop mechanism is in the first position, the protrusion is seated in the groove to substantially prevent axial movement of the stop mechanism relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein the stop mechanism is a discontinuous ring having two ends. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The quick connect coupling of claim 4, wherein the stop mechanism is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The quick connect coupling of claim 4, wherein at least one of the two ends includes a chamfered edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The quick connect coupling of claim 3, wherein the protrusion is formed on an opposite side of the stop mechanism relative to the two ends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The quick connect coupling of claim 3, wherein the protrusion extends radially inward from each of the ends. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein a portion of the stop mechanism is spaced laterally apart from an external surface of the male coupling to define a space between the stop mechanism and the male coupling. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The quick connect coupling of claim 9, wherein the stop mechanism is a discontinuous ring having two ends, and wherein the space is disposed on an opposite side of the stop mechanism relative to the two ends. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein the external surface of the male coupling includes an inclined surface disposed between the first position and the second position for biasing the stop mechanism towards the first position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein the inclined surface is substantially linear. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein the external surface of the male coupling includes a shoulder configured to substantially prevent the stop mechanism from sliding axially beyond the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The quick connect coupling of claim 13, wherein the shoulder is oriented in a substantially perpendicular plane relative to the longitudinal axis of said male coupling. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The quick connect coupling of claim 14, wherein when the stop mechanism is in the first position, the stop mechanism substantially abuts a port face of said female coupling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein when the stop mechanism is in the second position, the stop mechanism is configured to permit disconnection of the male and female couplings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein when the stop mechanism is in the second position, the stop mechanism is radially expanded relative to the first position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The quick connect coupling of claim 16, wherein the external surface of the male coupling includes an inclined surface disposed between the first position and the second position for biasing the stop mechanism towards the first position. ### Claim 19 A method for selectively engaging or disengaging of a metallic hydraulic coupling, comprising: providing a female coupling with an external surface, an interior surface and a leading edge which defines a port; providing a male coupling with an exterior surface, an internal surface which defines a flow path, and a leading edge sized for insertion into said port of said female coupling; a locking mechanism operably positioned proximate to said external surface of said male coupling and said internal surface of said female coupling and which can be selectively actuated and released upon the insertion and retraction of the male coupling within the female coupling; providing a stop positioned between the female coupling leading edge and a shoulder extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the male coupling, said stop having a first locking position which prevents any travel of the male coupling within the female coupling, and a second released position which allows the male coupling to travel further within said female port to disengage said locking mechanism and allow the removal of said male coupling from said female coupling. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein said stop has an inner surface with a protrusion extending inwardly, wherein when the lock is in the first locking position the protrusion is sealed in a groove in an outer surface of said male coupling to prevent axial movement of the stop relative to the longitudinal axis.