Quick-releasable connectors for flexible plastic pipes

An apparatus for supplying air under pressure for actuation of a pneumatic device comprising a support cable disposed tautly between laterally spaced rigid support members, a carriage movably mounted on the cable for traversing the space between said rigid support members, a first self-storing tubing connected at one end to said carriage and at its opposite end to a source of air under pressure, said first tubing being adapted to expand and contract in length as the carriage moves on the cable, and a second self-storing tubing connected at one end to the carriage associated with said first tubing for flow of compressed air between the said first and second tubings, said second tubing being connected to said pneumatic actuated device, for flow of air under pressure to the said pneumatic actuated device, said end of the first tube which is connected to a source of air under pressure and the said end of said second tube which is connected to said carriage being connected by a quick-release coupling device comprising a connector body having first, second, third and fourth concentric bores, a collar retained in said first bore having an inner surface inclined to the axis of said bores, a clamping member disposed about a pipe within the collar arranged for axial movement relative thereto, said clamping member comprising a plurality of flexible jaws and means cooperating with the inclined surface of the collar for moving the jaws inwardly to clamp the pipe within the coupling device upon relative movement between the collar and clamping member, means in the second bore for forming a seal between the outer surface of the pipe and the wall of the second bore, said pipe being disposed in the first, second and third bores, and annular clamping means fixed to the collar for guiding the pipe into the coupling device having an abutment member for the end of the clamping member;

• the improvement wherein a separate pusher element is provided at the end of the coupling device opposite said body and surrounding the pipe and arranged for longitudinal sliding movement and spaced from the clamping member and having a locking member releasable holding the pusher element in a position slightly spaced from the clamping member, so that upon removing the locking member the pusher element may be moved along the pipe into engagement with the clamping member, thereby releasing the clamping member from the pipe and permitting ready withdrawal of the pipe from the coupling device.