US 4,007,909 AGranted

Full flow valved fitting

AssigneeAeroquip Corporation

InventorsRichard A. Buseth, Russell L. Rogers

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Abstract

A coupling for handling liquids, gases, or a combination thereof characterized by its ability to convey high volumes with low flow resistance through valve elements. The coupling includes a pair of clam shell type valve elements pivotal between closed and open positions by the nose of the male coupling half during coupling of the halves and recesses defined in the valve elements receive the coupling nose so that the engagement between valve elements and coupling nose does not produce a flow restriction. The valve elements are provided with bonded resilient sealing edges and include a homogeneous bumper for absorbing shocks during coupling. A double action latch system is also disclosed having a sequence of operation which significantly reduces the likelihood of inadvertently uncoupling the coupling halves.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A valved coupling characterized by its ability to convey high fluid capacities with low flow resistance comprising, in combination, a first body half having a passage defined therein having an inlet end and a connecting end, a second body half having a passage defined therein having an outlet end and an inlet end, said second body half including an annular tubular nose concentric with its associated passage inlet end receivable into said first body half passage connecting end and having a cylindrical passage, connecting means defined upon said body halves interengaging upon said body halves being coupled, a plurality of valve elements pivotally mounted in said first body half passage pivotal between open and closed positions, pivot means pivotally supporting said valve elements on said first body half, each of said valve elements comprising an arcuate cross-sectional segment having an inner surface of a substantially cylindrical configuration of a radius substantially equal to the radius of said nose cylindrical passage, a nose abutment recess defined in each of said valve elements adjacent the associated pivot means and radially inwardly spaced therefrom, said second body half nose engaging and being received within said recesses upon said body halves being coupled maintaining said valve elements in said open position whereby said second body half cylindrical passage and valve element inner surfaces define a substantially cylindrical nonrestricted flow passage through the coupling.

In combination, first and second coupling halves adapted to be coupled and uncoupled upon relative axial movement to each other, a first latch mounted upon said first half axially movable between coupled and uncoupled positions, first manual graspable means defined on said first latch for manual operation thereof, said first latch including a first detent engaging said second half to maintain said halves coupled when fully interconnected, first abutment means defined on said first half engaging said first latch at said coupled position, a safety latch mounted upon said first half axially movable between safety and release positions, second manual graspable means defined on said safety latch for manual operation thereof, second abutment means defined on said first half engaging said safety latch at said safety position, said safety latch including a second detent selectively engaging said first latch preventing movement thereof from said coupled position to said uncoupled position when in said safety position and permitting such movement when in the release position, and spring means biasing said safety latch toward said safety position, the direction of movement of said first latch from said coupled to said uncoupled positions being opposite to the direction of movement of said safety latch from said safety to said release positions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.