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US 2026/0177178 A1Published application
Fluid handling couplings
AssigneeColder Products Company
InventorsSamuel C. Buck, Blake M. Harris, Emma N. Miller, Grant A. Wilhelm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fluid couplings described herein are designed be assembled efficiently and economically. In example embodiments, the fluid couplings are designed with minimal component parts so that the fluid couplings are additionally economical to produce. In some embodiments, the fluid couplings described herein include internal valve components. Some such fluid couplings are designed to prevent spillage of fluid when connecting and disconnecting the couplings.
Claims20
A fluid coupling comprising:
- a main body defining an internal space and a longitudinal axis, the main body comprising a first end configured to couple with another fluid coupling and a termination end opposite of the first end, the first end defining an opening leading to the internal space;
- a spring disposed in the internal space;
- and
- a valve member comprising:
- a front face;
- a seal groove portion defining a seal groove;
- a post extending from the seal groove portion;
- and
- multiple deflectable elements extending from the seal groove portion and positioned radially around the post, wherein the deflectable elements are radially deflectable between:
- (i) a compressed configuration in which an outer diameter of the deflectable elements is less than an inner diameter of the opening and (ii) a relaxed configuration in which the outer diameter of the deflectable elements is greater than the inner diameter of the opening,
- wherein the valve member is longitudinally movable within the internal space between:
- (i) an open position in which a fluid flow path through the fluid coupling is defined and (ii) a closed position in which the fluid flow path is blocked by the valve member, and
- wherein an end portion of the spring is disposed between the post and the deflectable elements to prevent the deflectable elements from moving from the relaxed configuration to the compressed configuration.
10 more elements
A method of assembling a fluid coupling, the method comprising:
- inserting a spring through an opening leading to an internal space defined by a main body, the main body comprising a first end configured to couple with another fluid coupling and a termination end opposite of the first end, the opening defined at the first end;
- inserting a valve member through the opening leading to the internal space defined by the main body to compress the spring such that the spring becomes fully positioned within the internal space, wherein the valve member comprises multiple deflectable elements extending from a seal groove portion of the valve member and positioned radially around a post of the valve member, wherein the multiple deflectable elements radially deflect to a compressed configuration in which an outer diameter of the multiple deflectable elements is less than an inner diameter of the opening during the inserting of the valve member through the opening;
- and
- positioning the valve member fully within the internal space defined by the main body such that the multiple deflectable elements radially deflect from the compressed configuration to a relaxed configuration in which the outer diameter of the multiple deflectable elements is greater than the inner diameter of the opening, wherein an end portion of the spring becomes disposed between the post and the multiple deflectable elements when the multiple deflectable elements radially deflect from the compressed configuration to the relaxed configuration.
1 more element
A fluid coupling comprising:
- a main body defining an internal space and a longitudinal axis, the main body comprising a first end and a second end opposite of the first end, the first end defining an opening leading to the internal space;
- a spring disposed in the internal space;
- and
- a valve member comprising:
- a seal groove portion defining a seal groove;
- a post extending from the seal groove portion;
- and
- at least one deflectable element extending from the seal groove portion and positioned outward of the post, wherein the at least one deflectable element is deflectable between:
- (i) a relaxed configuration in which an open space between the at least one deflectable element and the post is defined and (ii) a compressed configuration in which the open space between the at least one deflectable element and the post is not defined,
- wherein an end portion of the spring is disposed between the post and the at least one deflectable element in the relaxed configuration to prevent the at least one deflectable element from moving from the relaxed configuration to the compressed configuration.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.