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US 6,206,040 B1Granted
Undersea hydraulic coupling
AssigneeNational Coupling Company, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Smith, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An undersea hydraulic coupling having a stepped internal bore dimensioned to increase the flow rate through the coupling is disclosed. The coupling allows an increased flow rate without increasing the size or weight of the coupling, by positioning the poppet valve in the body section, rather than in the probe section, of the male coupling member.
Claims11
An undersea hydraulic coupling comprising:
- (a) a female member having a first end and a second end, a receiving chamber adjacent the first end, a central bore extending between the receiving chamber and the second end, a poppet valve in the central bore for controlling fluid flow therethrough, the poppet valve having an actuator extending from the poppet valve, and at least one radial seal positioned in the receiving chamber;
- and
- (b) a male member having a first end and a second end, a cylindrical body adjacent the first end, a probe section extending between the cylindrical body and the second end, the probe section dimensioned to fit in the receiving chamber while the cylindrical body is completely outside the receiving chamber, a first bore extending through the cylindrical body and a second bore extending through the probe section, a poppet valve in the first bore having a body section that is outside the receiving chamber when the probe section is in the receiving chamber, an actuator extending into the second bore, the male member poppet valve having an external diameter larger than the diameter of the probe section, the poppet valve actuator of the female member entering the second bore of the male member when the probe section is in the receiving chamber.
An undersea hydraulic coupling comprising:
- (a) a male coupling member having a central bore extending from a first end to a second end thereof, the male coupling member having a body with a larger diameter adjacent the first end and a smaller diameter adjacent the second end, a conical valve seat intermediate the central bore, and a poppet valve slidable in the central bore in the first end of the male coupling member and having a conical face dimensioned to seal against the conical valve seat when the poppet valve is in the normally closed position, a spring urging the poppet valve to the normally closed position, and a valve actuator extending from the conical face into the stepped central bore adjacent the second end;
- (b) a female coupling member having a receiving chamber dimensioned to receive the smaller diameter of the male member therein, the poppet valve of the male member remaining outside the receiving chamber, the female coupling member having a valve actuator configured to enter the second end of the male coupling member through the central bore of the male coupling member and urge the poppet valve of the male member open;
- and
- (c) a radial seal positioned in the receiving chamber and sealing between the receiving chamber of the female coupling member and the male coupling member.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.