US 5,573,279 A · Quick connect coupling

Abstract

A quick connect coupling for tubing. The coupling includes a tubular male connector member adapted to be telescopically received within a tubular female connector member assembly. The female assembly includes a first member defining a seal bore and a cylindrical socket portion forwardly of the seal bore. A second female member includes a cylindrical portion which plugs into the socket of the first member and is held in position relative to the first member by sonic welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced feet on the inner end of the second member are positioned proximate the seal to hold the seal in the seal bore and further engage the outer periphery of the pilot portion of the male member to minimize cocking of the male member relative to the female assembly. The second member also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient finger portions which snap into position in engagement with the rear annular face of the bead of the male member as the front annular face of the bead seats against the feet portions of the second member. The seal includes an annular main body portion, a plurality of axially spaced annular internal rib portions for sealing engagement with the pilot portion of the male member, and a plurality of axially spaced external rib portions providing an interference fit of the seal in the seal bore.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A quick connect coupling comprising:

a tubular male connector member including a front end pilot portion and an external annular bead defined at the rear end of the pilot portion;
a first female connector member defining a capture bore sized to slidably receive the pilot portion, a seal counterbore positioned forwardly of the capture bore, and a further counter bore extending forwardly from the seal counter bore and having a substantially constant diameter and cross-sectional configuration;
an annular elastomeric seal positioned in the seal counterbore and defining a forward annular edge;
and
a second female connector member including a main body annular portion having a substantially constant diameter and cross-sectional configuration corresponding generally to the diameter and cross-sectional configuration of the further counterbore and positioned telescopically and fixedly in said further counterbore, a plurality of resilient finger portions extending rearwardly and radially inwardly from the front end of the main body portion and defining free rearward ends for engagement with the rear annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation, and seal retainer means extending radially inwardly from the rear end of the main body portion and defining a rear face coacting with the forward annular edge of the seal to maintain the seal in the seal counterbore and a front face seating against the front annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation.

2 more elements

A quick connect coupling comprising:

a tubular male connector member including a front end pilot portion and an external annular bead defined at the rear end of the pilot portion;
a first female connector member defining a capture bore sized to slidably receive the pilot portion of the tubular male connector member, a seal counterbore positioned forwardly of the capture bore, and a forward annular portion defining a cylindrical counterbore extending forwardly of the seal counterbore;
an annular elastomeric seal positioned in the seal counterbore, having an axial length approximating the axial length of the seal counterbore, and defining a forward annular edge proximate the forward end of the seal counterbore;
and
a second female connector member fixedly secured to the first female connector member and including a cylindrical main body portion positioned telescopically and snugly within the forward annular portion of the first female connector member with its cylindrical outer surface substantially contiguous with the cylindrical counterbore, retainer lip means extending radially inwardly from the rearward edge of the main body portion and defining a rear face means coacting with the forward annular edge of the seal to retain the seal in the seal counterbore, and front face means seating against the front annular face of the male connector member bead with the members in coupled relation, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient finger portions extending rearwardly and radially inwardly from the front end of the main body portion and latchingly coacting at their free rearward ends with the rear annular face of the bead with the members in coupled relation.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Quick connect coupling

Life of this patent

Quick connect coupling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28