Two-part coupling structure having cooperating parts effecting fluid flow upon connection an mutual resealing upon disconnection

A two-part coupling structure comprising:

• a female coupling part having a tubular cap member defining a through bore which forms a first fluid flow path for communicating with a vessel;
• and a plug member defining a wall portion for spanning and closing said through bore;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a first axial force so that said plug member wall closes fluid communication through said cap member and for disengaging from one another in response to an oppositely directed second axial force to free said plug member from said cap member allowing fluid flow through said first fluid flow path of said cap member bore;
• a male coupling part having a elongate tubular probe member sealingly receivable axially into said through bore of said cap member, said probe member defining a second fluid flow path therein and a lateral opening from said second fluid flow path on an exterior surface of said probe member for communicating fluidly with said vessel, said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction and of a higher level than said first axial force, so that in response to forceful axial insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member engages with and attaches to said plug member prior to said plug member detaching from said cap member, and in response to axial withdrawing movement of said probe member from said cap member said plug member reattaches to said cap member prior to disengaging from said probe member;
• a sleeve member which is carried on said probe member and sealingly engageable within said cap member, said sleeve member sliding along said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral opening of said second flow path and a second position opening said second flow path;
• said sleeve member and said probe member defining cooperating frictional means for retaining said sleeve member in each of said first and said second positions;
• and said sleeve member and said cap member defining cooperating means for sliding said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part to open said flow path communication with said vessel, and for sliding said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part.

A male coupling part having a elongate tubular probe member, said probe member being sealingly receivable axially into a through bore of a cap member of a female coupling part which defines a first fluid flow path communicating with a chamber of a fluid-storage vessel, said probe member defining a second fluid flow path therein and a lateral opening from said second fluid flow path on an exterior surface of said probe member near a forward end thereof for communicating fluidly with the vessel, a plug member of the female coupling part sealingly attaching removably to the cap member to close the fluid flow path therein in response to a first axial force, the plug member being detachable from the cap member to open fluid flow communication with the vessel in response to an oppositely-directed second axial force, said probe member and the plug member defining cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction as and of a higher level than said first axial force, so that in response to forceful axial insertion of said male coupling part into the female coupling part said probe member engages with and attaches to the plug member prior to the plug member detaching from said cap member, and in response to axial withdrawing movement of said probe member from the cap member the plug member reattaches to the cap member prior to disengaging from said probe member;

• said male coupling part including a sleeve member which is carried on said probe member and sealingly engageable within the cap member, said sleeve member sliding along said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral opening of said second flow path and a second position opening said flow path of said probe member;
• said sleeve member and said probe member defining cooperating frictional means for retaining said sleeve member in each of said first and said second positions;
• and said sleeve member defining an abutment surface for engaging the cap member to slide said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into the female coupling part thus to open said flow path communication with the vessel, and said sleeve member outwardly defining means for cooperating with said cap member to slide said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part.

A two-part coupling structure having a female coupling part and a male coupling part each with a respective fluid flow path therein, said coupling parts being removably engageable with one another for establishing fluid flow communication of said respective fluid flow paths, and being disengageable to both discontinue said fluid flow communication and also to mutually close fluid flow communication between ambient and each of said respective fluid flow paths;

• said two-part coupling structure comprising:
• said female coupling part including:
• a female cap member having a through bore defining a part of said respective fluid flow path;
• a disk-like plug member having a wall portion for spanning said through bore of said cap member to close said respective fluid flow path;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for sealingly engaging one another to close said respective fluid flow path of the cap member with said wall portion of said plug member, and also defining second cooperating means for removably attaching together and detaching from one another in response to respective oppositely-directed first and second axial forces;
• said male coupling part including:
• an elongate probe member having an axial passage defining said respective fluid flow path, and a wall portion closing said axial passage adjacent a forward end of said probe member, said probe member defining a stepped outer diameter with an enlarged-diameter forward flange portion cooperating with a smaller-diameter portion of said probe member to define a rearwardly-disposed shoulder, said probe member defining a lateral aperture opening outwardly from said axial passage on said smaller-diameter portion rearwardly of and adjacent to said shoulder;
• a sleeve member carried slidably on said smaller-diameter portion of said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral aperture and a second position at least partially rearwardly of and opening said lateral aperture, said sleeve member having an elongate cylindrical outer surface portion of a size to be received closely into said through bore of said cap member, said sleeve member having a forwardly-disposed circumferential end edge surface engageable in said first position of said sleeve member with said rearwardly-disposed shoulder of said probe member;
• said sleeve member and said cap member defining third cooperating means for abutting one another to slide said sleeve member from said first position to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part;
• said probe member and said plug member defining fourth cooperating means for removably attaching together and detaching from one another in response to respective oppositely-directed third and fourth axial forces, which third axial attaching force is less than said second axial force so that upon insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member first sequentially attaches with said plug member and then disengages said plug member from said cap member for movement of said plug member inwardly of said female coupling part along with said inserting probe member, said sleeve member abutting said cap member and moving to said second position thereof relative to said inserting probe member to uncover said lateral aperture and to open fluid flow communication between said respective flow paths;
• and which fourth axial force is greater than said first axial force so that upon withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part said probe member first sequentially re-engages said plug member with said cap member followed by said probe member detaching from said plug member;
• one of said cap member and said male coupling part including for cooperation with said sleeve member fifth cooperating means for moving said sleeve member forwardly along said probe member to said first position thereof in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from within said female coupling part to re-close said lateral aperture, and said rearwardly-disposed shoulder of said enlarged-diameter flange portion of said withdrawing probe member engaging said sleeve member to remove said sleeve member axially outwardly from within said cap member of said female coupling part.

A two-part coupling structure comprising:

• a female coupling part having a tubular cap member defining a through bore which forms a first fluid flow path for communicating with a vessel;
• and a plug member defining a wall portion for spanning and closing said through bore;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a first axial force so that said plug member wall closes fluid communication through said cap member and for disengaging from one another in response to an oppositely directed second axial force to free said plug member from said cap member allowing fluid flow through said first fluid flow path of said cap member bore;
• a male coupling part having a elongate tubular probe member sealingly receivable axially into said through bore of said cap member, said probe member defining a second fluid flow path therein and a lateral opening from said second fluid flow path on an exterior surface of said probe member for communicating fluidly with said vessel, said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction and of a higher level than said first axial force, so that in response to forceful axial insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member engages with and attaches to said plug member prior to said plug member detaching from said cap member, and in response to axial withdrawing movement of said probe member from said cap member said plug member reattaches to said cap member prior to disengaging from said probe member;
• a sleeve member which is carried on said probe member and sealingly engageable within said cap member, said sleeve member sliding along said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral opening of said second flow path and a second position opening said second flow path;
• said sleeve member and said probe member defining cooperating frictional means for retaining said sleeve member in each of said first and said second positions;
• and said sleeve member and said cap member defining cooperating means for sliding said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part to open said flow path communication with said vessel, and for sliding said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part;
• wherein said first cooperating means for removably attaching said tubular cap member and said plug member to one another in response to a first axial force so that said plug member wall closes fluid communication through said cap member and for disengaging from one another in response to an oppositely directed second axial force to free said plug member allowing fluid flow through said first fluid flow path of said cap member bore comprises said plug member defining an axially extending ring portion, said ring portion having an outer circumferential ridge defined by the cooperation of a forwardly and a rearwardly tapering surfaces, said cap member having an end portion and said bore of said cap member having a radially inwardly opening groove for receiving said ridge of said plug member ring portion, said cap member groove having a rearwardly tapering wall surface, whereby said forwardly tapering surface of said plug member ring portion engages said end portion to resiliently deflect into said cap member bore upon application of said first axial force, and said rearwardly tapering surface of said plug member ring portion engages said rearwardly tapering wall surface of said cap member to retain said plug member ring portion within said cap member bore until said second axial force is applied to said plug member.

A two-part coupling structure comprising:

• a female coupling part having a tubular cap member defining a through bore which forms a first fluid flow path for communicating with a vessel;
• and a plug member defining a wall portion for spanning and closing said through bore;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a first axial force so that said plug member wall closes fluid communication through said cap member and for disengaging from one another in response to an oppositely directed second axial force to free said plug member from said cap member allowing fluid flow through said first fluid flow path of said cap member bore;
• a male coupling part having a elongate tubular probe member sealingly receivable axially into said through bore of said cap member, said probe member defining a second fluid flow path therein and a lateral opening from said second fluid flow path on an exterior surface of said probe member for communicating fluidly with said vessel, said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction and of a higher level than said first axial force, so that in response to forceful axial insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member engages with and attaches to said plug member prior to said plug member detaching from said cap member, and in response to axial withdrawing movement of said probe member from said cap member said plug member reattaches to said cap member prior to disengaging from said probe member;
• a sleeve member which is carried on said probe member and sealingly engageable within said cap member, said sleeve member sliding along said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral opening of said second flow path and a second position opening said second flow path;
• said sleeve member and said probe member defining cooperating frictional means for retaining said sleeve member in each of said first and said second positions;
• and said sleeve member and said cap member defining cooperating means for sliding said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part to open said flow path communication with said vessel, and for sliding said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part;
• wherein said second cooperating means for removably attaching said probe member and said plug member to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging said probe member and said plug member from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction and of a greater level than said first axial force includes said plug member including a ring portion defining an inner circumferential groove defined by the cooperation of respective forwardly and rearwardly tapering surfaces, said probe member having an enlarged-diameter flange portion receivable into said ring portion of said plug member, and said probe member flange portion having an outer rib defined by the cooperation of respective forwardly and rearwardly tapering surfaces, upon engagement of said flange portion of said probe member with said ring portion of said plug member the forwardly tapering surfaces of said probe member engaging said ring portion to allow said rib to enter said inner groove with application of said third axial force, and said rearwardly tapering surfaces of said probe member and said plug member ring portion engaging one another to retain said plug member upon said probe member until said fourth axial force is applied in a disengaging direction.

A two-part coupling structure comprising:

• a female coupling part having a tubular cap member defining a through bore which forms a first fluid flow path for communicating with a vessel;
• and a plug member defining a wall portion for spanning and closing said through bore;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a first axial force so that said plug member wall closes fluid communication through said cap member and for disengaging from one another in response to an oppositely directed second axial force to free said plug member from said cap member allowing fluid flow through said first fluid flow path of said cap member bore;
• a male coupling part having a elongate tubular probe member sealingly receivable axially into said through bore of said cap member, said probe member defining a second fluid flow path therein and a lateral opening from said second fluid flow path on an exterior surface of said probe member for communicating fluidly with said vessel, said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction and of a higher level than said first axial force, so that in response to forceful axial insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member engages with and attaches to said plug member prior to said plug member detaching from said cap member, and in response to axial withdrawing movement of said probe member from said cap member said plug member reattaches to said cap member prior to disengaging from said probe member;
• a sleeve member which is carried on said probe member and sealingly engageable within said cap member, said sleeve member sliding along said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral opening of said second flow path and a second position opening said second flow path;
• said sleeve member and said probe member defining cooperating frictional means for retaining said sleeve member in each of said first and said second positions;
• and said sleeve member and said cap member defining cooperating means for sliding said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part to open said flow path communication with said vessel, and for sliding said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part;
• wherein said cooperating means defined by said sleeve member and said cap member for sliding said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part to open said flow path communication with said vessel includes said sleeve member defining an outwardly radially extending flange portion which upon insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part engages said cap member to stop further inserting movement of said sleeve member, and to slide said sleeve member to said second position thereof relative to said probe portion upon further inserting movement of said male coupling part into said female coupling part;
• and
• wherein said cooperating means defined by said sleeve member and said cap member for sliding said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part includes said sleeve member carrying outwardly thereon a resilient sealing and retention member, said cap member defining a radially inwardly opening groove for receiving said resilient sealing and retention member, said retention member expanding radially into said groove of said cap member and resisting removal therefrom until a determined level of axial force is applied to withdraw said male coupling part from said female coupling part.