Quick connect-disconnect couplings

A coupler for a quick connect-disconnect coupling,

• said coupler being adapted for connection with an adapter having an annular sealing surface at its outer end and an arcuate groove formed in its outer surface adjacent its outer end, the portion of said groove adjacent said outer end providing an undercut surface,
• said coupler comprising
• a tubular body member having a bore extending inwardly from the outer end thereof and adapted to receive the outer end portion of an adapter,
• said bore terminating intermediate the length of said body member,
• a gasket disposed at the inner end of said bore, and
• locking mechanisms respectively disposed on opposite sides of said body member, each locking mechanism comprising
• a cam member,
• a manually operable lever, and
• a link,
• said body member having, on opposite sides, slots therethrough, adjacent the outer end thereof,
• said cam members being disposed, respectively, in the body member slots and pivotally mounted relative to the body member for pivotal movement in a plane radial of the axis of said body member,
• each of said links being pivotally mounted, at one end, on the body member for pivotal movement in said radial plane, the center of pivotal movement therefor being spaced axially inwardly of the center of pivotal movement of the cam member relative to the body member,
• each of said levers being pivotally connected to a link and to a cam member, also for pivotal movement in said radial plane,
• said lever being displaceable between an open position in which it is angled outwardly from said body member and a closed position in which it is adjacent to and generally parallel to the body member,
• said cam member having a protruding portion extending beyond and inwardly of its pivotal connection with the body member, which portion is engageable with the undercut surface of an adapter when an adapter is telescoped into said bore,
• said protruding portion being disposed outside the outline of said bore when the lever is in its open position and responsive to movement of said lever towards its closed position to engage said undercut surface and displace the sealing surface of the adapter into engagement with said gasket,
• the point of contact between said cam portion and said undercut portion closely approaching a plane normal to the axis of said bore and passing through the axis of the pivotal connection of the cam member with the body member, as the lever nears its closed position, said point of contact passing to the opposite side of said plane when the lever is fully displaced to its closed position,
• whereby, the movement vector of the cam portion, at its point of engagement with said undercut portion is essentially axial and there is minimal relative movement between the cam portion and the undercut portion,
• the center of pivotal movement between said link and lever being disposed outwardly of a line between the center of pivotal movement between the link and body member and the center of pivotal movement between the cam member and the lever, in the open position of the lever,
• the center of movement between the link and lever moving towards said line as the lever is displaced towards its closed position, thereby providing an increasing mechanical advantage of lever force relative to the force which the cam member protruding portion exerts on the undercut surface of the adapter,
• whereby movement of the lever will exert a high sealing pressure by the sealing surface engaging and compressing said gasket, with a minimum of effort required to operate the lever.