Quick connect air-conditioning coupling

A coupling for joining together opposing ends of a pair of refrigerant flow lines comprising:

• (a) a housing extending in an axial direction generally parallel to the joined flow lines from a first axial end to a second axial end, a web extending laterally across said housing, said web having first and second passageways aligned with said flow lines;
• (b) a pair of first valve assemblies, one positioned in each of said first and second passageways, each of said first valve assemblies including,
• (i) a body member slideably positioned in one of said first and second passageways for movement from a retracted position to a forward position closer to said housing first axial end, said body member having (1) a central passageway extending from an attachment end communicating with a refrigerant fluid flow line in the vicinity of said housing second axial end to a forward end, said central passageway having an internal cylindrical wall surface extending to said forward end and (2) an exterior sealing surface adjacent said central passageway forward end;
• (ii) a sleeve having a first portion positioned in said body member forward end in contact with and axially slideable relative to said internal cylindrical wall surface and a second portion extending out of said body member, said second portion including an exterior cylindrical surface and an inwardly facing sealing surface tapering outwardly;
• (iii) a stem valve positioned in said central passageway and extending from a rear end to a forward end having a face, said stem valve having a head with an outwardly facing sealing surface tapered for sealing engagement with said sleeve sealing surface, said stem valve mounted on said body member for movement therewith from said retracted position to said forward position;
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• (iv) a spring within said central passageway yieldingly urging said sleeve away from said attachment end and into sealing engagement with said stem valve outwardly facing sealing surface;
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• (c) a second valve assembly releasingly engageable with said housing at said first end, said second valve assembly including
• (i) a support member having an inner end positioned within said housing when engaged thereto, a pair of flow passages each of which is axially aligned with one of said central passageways, said support member having, for each flow passage, an inwardly facing sealing surface adjacent said inner end positioned to be engaged by said body member exterior sealing surface when said body member is in said forward position, an annular shoulder positioned to be engaged by said sleeve second portion when said body member is in said forward position, an annular elastomeric sealing ring between said inwardly facing sealing surface and said shoulder, said elastomeric sealing ring sized to sealingly engage said sleeve exterior cylindrical surface;
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• (ii) a pair of valves mounted on said second valve assembly, with one valve in each of said flow passages and aligned with one of said stem valves, said valves being yieldingly moveable from a closed position to an open position upon engagement by and movement of said stem valve to said forward position;
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• (d) a rigid plate mounted laterally on said housing for reciprocating movement in an axial direction, said body members engaged to said plate for movement therewith, movement of said plate toward said housing first end causing said body members and their stem valves to move axially while axial movement of said sleeve is prevented by said support member annular shoulder thereby opening said stem valves and said aligned pair of valves of said second valve assembly, each of said sleeve exterior surfaces sealingly engaging each of said annular elastomeric sealing rings and thereafter each of said body member exterior sealing surfaces engaging each of said support member inwardly facing sealing surfaces in metal-to-metal sealing relationship.

A coupling for joining together opposing ends of a pressurized flow line comprising:

• (a) a housing extending along an axis from an open first end to a second end, a connector adjacent said first end for releaseably connecting a structure in said open first end;
• (b) a first valve extending from an outbound end engaged to one of said flow line ends to an inbound end positionable in said housing first end and having,
• (i) an engagement abutment engageable with said housing connector;
• (ii) a passageway extending along said axis and defined in part by an inwardly tapering surface in the area of said inbound end;
• (iii) a sealing surface adjacent said inbound end;
• (iv) a shoulder positioned inwardly toward said axis from sealing surface;
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• (v) a valve head yieldingly moveable along said axis from a closed position engaged to said inwardly tapering surface when in a first axial position to an open position when moved toward said outbound end;
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• (c) a second valve positioned in said housing, said second valve including,
• (i) a body member slideably positioned in said housing for movement from a retracted position to a forward position closer to said housing open first end, said body member having a central passageway extending from an attachment end communicating with the other of said flow line ends to a forward end, said central passageway having an internal cylindrical wall surface extending to said forward end;
• (ii) a sleeve positioned in said body member forward end and having an exterior cylindrical surface in contact with and axially slideable relative to said internal cylindrical wall surface, said sleeve having a forward end extendable out of said body member and a trailing end;
• (iii) a stem valve positioned in said central passageway and extending through said sleeve from a rear end to a forward end, said stem valve having a head with an outwardly extending surface sized for sealing engagement with said sleeve in the area of said forward end, said stem valve mounted on said body member for movement therewith from said retracted position to said forward position;
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• (iv) a spring within said central passageway yieldingly urging said sleeve away from said attachment end and into sealing engagement with said stem valve outwardly extending surface;
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• (d) a rigid plate mounted laterally on said housing for reciprocating movement in an axial direction, movement of said plate toward said housing first end causing said body member and its stem valve to move axially while axial movement of said sleeve is prevented by said first valve shoulder thereby opening said stem valve and said aligned valve head of said first valve.

A coupling for joining together a first valve assembly engaged to one end of a pressurized flow line and a second valve assembly engaged to an opposing end of a said flow line,

• (a) said first valve assembly including
• (i) an outer structure extending from a first end joined to said flow line one end to a second end and defining (1) a flow passage extending between said first and second ends along an axis, (2) an inwardly facing tapered sealing surface adjacent said second end, (3) a first shoulder spaced from and axially inwardly from said tapered sealing surface, (4) a resilient annular seal between said tapered sealing surface and said shoulder and (5) a second shoulder tapering outward away from said axis in a direction toward said first end;
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• (ii) a valve mounted on said outer structure within said flow passage, said valve being yieldingly movable axially from a forward position sealingly engaged to said second shoulder to a rear, open position, said coupling comprising;
• (b) a housing extending from an open first end for releaseably receiving said first valve assembly to a second end;
• (c) said second valve assembly including
• (i) a body member slideably positioned in said housing for movement from a retracted position to a forward position closer to said housing open first end, said body member having (1) a central passageway extending from an attachment end joined to said opposing end of said flow line to a forward end, said central passageway having an internal cylindrical wall surface extending to said forward end and (2) an exterior sealing surface adjacent said central passageway forward end sized to engage, when in said forward position, said inwardly faced tapered sealing surface of said first valve assembly;
• (ii) a sleeve having a first portion positioned in said body member forward end in contact with and axially slideable relative to said internal cylindrical wall surface and a second portion extending out of said body member, said second portion including an exterior cylindrical surface, said sleeve second portion sized to engage said first shoulder of said first valve assembly;
• (iii) a stem valve positioned in said central passageway and extending from a rear end to a forward end having a face, said stem valve having a head with an outwardly facing annular seal for sealing engagement with said sleeve, said stem valve mounted on said body member for movement therewith from said retracted position to said forward position;
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• (iv) a spring within said central passageway yieldingly urging said sleeve away from said attachment end and into sealing engagement with said stem valve annular seal;
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• (d) a rigid plate mounted laterally on said housing for reciprocating movement in an axial direction, movement of said plate toward said housing first end causing said body member and its stem valves to move axially while axial movement of said sleeve is prevented by said first valve assembly first shoulder thereby opening said stem valve and said aligned valve of said first valve assembly, said sleeve exterior surface sealingly engaging said resilient annular seal and thereafter each of said body member exterior sealing surface engaging said inwardly facing tapered sealing surface of said first valve outer structure.

A coupling for joining together opposing ends of a pair of fluid flow lines in which at least one of said ends is maintained under pressure at the time of joining comprising:

• (a) a housing extending in an axial direction generally parallel to the joined flow lines from a first axial end to a second axial end, a web extending laterally across said housing, said web having first and second passageways aligned with said flow lines;
• (b) a pair of first valve assemblies, one positioned in each of said first and second passageways, each of said first valve assemblies including,
• (i) a body member slideably positioned in one of said first and second passageways for movement from a retracted position to a forward position closer to said housing first axial end, said body member having a central passageway extending from an attachment end communicating with a fluid flow line in the vicinity of said housing second axial end to a forward end, said central passageway having an internal cylindrical wall surface extending to said forward end;
• (ii) a sleeve positioned in said body member forward end and having an exterior cylindrical surface in contact with and axially slideable relative to said internal cylindrical wall surface, said sleeve having a forward end extendable out of said body member and a trailing end;
• (iii) a stem valve positioned in said central passageway and extending through said sleeve from a rear end to a forward end, said stem valve having a head with an outwardly extending surface sized for sealing engagement with said sleeve in the area of said forward end, said stem valve mounted on said body member for movement therewith from said retracted position to said forward position;
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• (iv) a spring within said central passageway yieldingly urging said sleeve away from said attachment end and into sealing engagement with said stem valve outwardly extending surface;
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• (c) a second valve assembly releasingly engageable with said housing at said first end, said second valve assembly including
• (i) a support member;
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• (ii) a pair of valves mounted on said support member, with one valve of said pair in each of said flow passages and aligned with one of said stem valves, said valves being yieldingly moveable from a closed position to an open position upon engagement by and movement of said stem valve to said forward position;
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• (d) a rigid plate mounted laterally on said housing for reciprocating movement in an axial direction, said body members engaged to said plate for movement therewith, movement of said plate toward said housing first end causing said body members and their stem valves to move axially while axial movement of said sleeve is prevented by said second valve assembly thereby opening said stem valves and said aligned pair of valves of said second valve assembly, each of said sleeves in the area of said forward end sealingly engaging said second valve assembly and thereafter each of said body members sealingly engaging said second valve assembly.

A coupling for joining together opposing ends of a fluid flow line in which at least one of said ends is maintained under pressure at the time of joining comprising:

• (a) a housing extending in an axial direction generally parallel to the joined flow line from a first axial end to a second axial end, said housing having a passageway aligned with said flow line;
• (b) a valve assembly position in said passageway, said valve assembly including,
• (i) a body member slideably positioned in said housing passageway for movement from a retracted position to a forward position closer to said housing first axial end, said body member having (1) a central passageway extending from an attachment end communicating with a fluid flow line in the vicinity of said housing second axial end to a forward end, said central passageway having an internal cylindrical wall surface extending to said forward end and (2) an exterior sealing surface adjacent said central passageway forward end;
• (ii) a sleeve having a first portion positioned in said body member forward end in contact with and axially slideable relative to said internal cylindrical wall surface and a second portion extending out of said body member, said second portion including an exterior cylindrical surface and an inwardly facing sealing surface tapering outwardly in a direction away from said body member;
• (iii) a stem valve positioned in said central passageway and extending from a rear end to a forward end having a leading face, said stem valve having a head with an outwardly facing sealing surface tapered for sealing engagement with said sleeve sealing surface, said stem valve mounted on said body member for movement therewith from said retracted position to said forward position;
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• (iv) a spring within said central passageway yieldingly urging said sleeve away from said attachment end and into sealing engagement with said stem valve outwardly facing sealing surface;
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• (c) a second valve assembly releasingly engageable with said housing at said first end, said second valve assembly including
• (i) a support member having an inner end positioned within said housing when engaged thereto, a flow passage axially aligned with said central passageway, said support member having an inwardly facing sealing surface adjacent said inner end positioned to be engaged by said body member exterior sealing surface when said body member is in said forward position, an annular shoulder positioned to be engaged by said sleeve second portion when said body member is in said forward position, an annular elastomeric sealing ring axially positioned between said inwardly facing sealing surface and said shoulder, said elastomeric sealing ring sized to sealingly engage said sleeve exterior cylindrical surface;
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• (ii) an axially extending valve mounted on said second valve assembly in said flow passage and aligned with said stem valve, said axially extending valve being yieldingly moveable from a closed position to an open position upon engagement by and movement of said stem valve to said forward position;
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• (d) a rigid plate mounted laterally on said housing for reciprocating movement in an axial direction, said body member engaged to said plate for movement therewith, movement of said plate toward said housing first end causing said body member and its stem valve to move axially while axial movement of said sleeve is prevented by said support member annular shoulder thereby opening said stem valve and said aligned axially extending valve of said second valve assembly, said sleeve exterior surface sealingly engaging said annular elastomeric sealing ring and thereafter said body member exterior sealing surface engaging said support member inwardly facing sealing surface in metal-to-metal sealing relationship.

A coupling for joining together opposing ends of a pair of fluid flow lines comprising:

• (a) a housing extending in an axial direction from a first axial end to a second axial end, a web extending laterally across said housing, said web having first and second passageways aligned with said flow lines;
• (b) a pair of first valve assemblies, one positioned in each of said first and second passageways, each of said first valve assemblies including,
• (i) a body member slideably positioned in one of said first and second passageways for movement from a retracted position to a forward position closer to said housing first axial end, said body member having a central passageway extending from an attachment end communicating with a fluid flow line in the vicinity of said housing second axial end to a forward end, said central passageway having an internal cylindrical wall surface extending to said forward end;
• (ii) a sleeve positioned in said body member forward end in contact with and axially slideable relative to said internal cylindrical wall surface from a retracted position to a forward position and having a rearward end and a leading end, said leading end extending out of said body member when said sleeve is in said forward position;
• (iii) a stem valve positioned in said central passageway and extending from a rear end to a forward end having an enlarged head and terminating in a face, said head being sealingly engageable with said sleeve, said stem valve mounted on said body member for movement relative thereto from said retracted position to said forward position;
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• (iv) a spring within said central passageway yieldingly urging said sleeve away from said attachment end and into sealing engagement with said stem valve enlarged head;
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• (c) a pair of second valves releasingly engageable with said housing at said first end, each of said second valves aligned with one of said stem valves, said second valves being yieldingly moveable from a closed position to an open position upon engagement by and movement of the aligned one of said stem valves to said forward position, each of said second valves having a shoulder positioned to be engaged by said sleeve leading end when said body member is in said forward position;
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• (d) means for causing said body members and their stem valves to move axially, said shoulders stopping axial movement of said sleeves while permitting movement of said body members and stem valves to thereby open said stem valves and said aligned pair of second valves.

A coupling for joining together opposing ends of a fluid flow line comprising:

• (a) a housing extending along an axis from a first end to a second end;
• (b) a first valve received in said first end and mounted for axial movement relative to said housing, said first valve including a stem valve having an enlarged head, an annular sleeve encircling said stem valve and moveable relative thereto from a closed position engaged to said enlarged head to an open position spaced from said enlarged head and a spring yieldingly urging said sleeve toward said closed position, said first valve engaged to one of said opposing ends;
• (c) a second valve releaseably received in said second end, said second valve including a body having outwardly facing engagement means and a passage communicating with the other of said opposing ends, said passage having an annular sealing abutment, a valve stem with an enlarged sealing head yieldingly urgable from a closed position engaged to said sealing abutment to an open position spaced from said sealing abutment;
• (d) a release sleeve engaged to said housing for axial movement relative thereto, from a retracted position permitting the engagement and disengagement of said second valve with said housing to an extended position for retaining said second valve engaged to said housing;
• (d) spring means acting to both
• (i) urge said release sleeve toward said housing second end;
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• (ii) urge said first valve toward said housing first end;
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• (e) a cam actuatable following engagement of said second valve to said housing to urge said first valve toward said housing second end and into engagement with said second valve, said annular sleeve abutting said second valve while continued movement of said first valve toward said second valve moves said enlarged head to an open position while causing said second valve enlarged sealing head to move to said open position.