Two-way uncoupling valve assembly

A two-way uncoupling valve assembly for use in a fluid line, the folow of fluid generally being in a downstream direction, the coupling assembly comprising:

• (a) a female coupling member having a front end and a back end, said female coupling member defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough;
• (b) a male coupling member having a front end and a back end and defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough, said male coupling member including a first tubular portion proximate the front end and a second tubular portion proximate the back end, said first tubular portion being constructed and arranged for removable insertion into the front end of said female coupling member, said female coupling member defining an axial tubular bore for concentrically receiving said first tubular portion, said first tubular portion including a seal about its circumference near the front end thereof for providing a fluid type seal between the outside surface of said first tubular portion and the inside surface of said tubular bore of said female coupling member upon insertion of said first tubular portion into said tubular bore;
• (c) coupling means including a threaded nut member slideably mounted on said second tubular portion of said male coupling member and an axially extending threaded portion proximate the front end of said female coupling member for removably coupling said male coupling member to said female coupling member in a coupled state, said coupling means enabling said first tubular portion of said male coupling member to be slideably positioned in said female coupling member for movement between a first position and a second position while in said coupled state, said male coupling member including stop means proximate the front and back ends of said second tubular portion for limiting the axial movement of said threaded nut member along said second tubular portion;
• (d) a valve assembly adapted for reciprocating longitudinal axial movement within said female coupling member between a closed position wherein fluid flow is prohibited and an open position wherein fluid flow is enabled, said valve assembly being constructed and arranged for engaging said male coupling member upon insertion of said male coupling member into said female coupling member beyond a predetermined distance, said first tubular portion causing said valve assembly to move into said open position upon movement of said first tubular portion into said first position and further causing said valve assembly to move into said closed position upon movement of said first tubular portion into said second position;
• (e) a locking means mounted on said female coupling member for releasably locking said male coupling member in position when said valve assembly is in said open position;
• (f) spring biasing means adapted for biasing said valve assembly into the closed position;
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• (g) release means interconnected with said locking means for deactivating said locking means, whereby said valve assembly is forced into said closed position by said spring biasing means, said valve assembly forcing said first tubular portion of said male coupling member into said second position.

A two-way uncoupling valve assembly for use in a fluid line, the flow of fluid generally being in a downstream direction, the coupling assembly comprising:

• (a) a female coupling member having a front:
• end and a back end, said female coupling member defining a fluid flow path for the flow of fluid therethrough, said fluid flow path including an axially directed tubular bore proximate the front end of said female coupling member, said female coupling member including a valve assembly adapted for reciprocating longitudinal axial movement within said female coupling member between a front end position and a back end position, said valve assembly including seal means for sealing off the fluid flow path through said female coupling member when said valve assembly is in said front end position, said valve assembly being configured to enable fluid flow through said female coupling member when in said back end position, said valve assembly including biasing means for biasing said valve assembly into said front end position, said female coupling member further including an axially directed threaded portion proximate the front end thereof;
• (b) a male coupling member having a front end and a back end, the front end of said male coupling member facing the front end of said female coupling member, said male coupling member defining a path for the flow of fluid therethrough, said male coupling member including a first hollow tubular portion proximate the front end thereof and a second hollow tubular portion downstream from said first hollow tubular portion, said first hollow tubular portion being constructed and arranged for being slideably and concentrically received by said axially directed tubular bore of said female coupling member, said first tubular portion including a seal about its circumference providing a fluid-tight seal between said first tubular portion and said axially directed bore of said female coupling member;
• (c) a threaded nut member interconnected to said male coupling member, said threaded nut member cooperating with said threaded portion of said female coupling member to enable said male coupling member to be removably connected to said female coupling member in a connected state, said threaded nut member being slideably mounted on said second tubular portion to enable axial movement of said male coupling member when in said connected state with said female coupling member, said male coupling member including stop means for cooperating with said threaded nut member to limit axial movement of said male coupling member between first and second positions when in said connected state with said female coupling member, said tubular portion of said male coupling member engaging and forcing said valve assembly of said female coupling member into said back end position when in said first position whereby fluid flow is enabled;
• (d) locking means mounted on said female coupling member for releasably locking said male coupling member in said first position;
• and
• (e) release means for releasing said locking means, said biasing means cooperating with said valve means to force said male coupling member towards said second position upon release of said locking means, whereby said valve assembly is moved into said front end position, thereby shutting off the flow of fluid.