Quick connect coupler with pneumatic release

A female coupler for engaging a stud having a stud head and an annular groove formed in the stud between the stud head and a stud body, the female coupler comprising:

• a) a female coupler body having a tubular stud receiver formed on a front end thereof and having a stud receiving bore extending axially into said female coupler body from said front end thereof and a fluid passageway extending into said female coupler body and connecting to said stud receiving bore proximate a rear end of said female coupler body;
• at least one ball receiving bore extending through said tubular stud receiver and connecting to said stud receiving bore;
• a first pin guide slot extending through said tubular stud receiver and connecting to said stud receiving bore;
• b) a ball positioned in each ball receiving bore for engaging said stud and connecting said female coupler to said stud when said stud is positioned in said stud receiving bore;
• c) an outer locking sleeve slidably mounted on said tubular stud receiver and having an annular recess formed on an inner surface of said outer locking sleeve;
• d) an inner blocking sleeve slidably mounted in said stud receiving bore and having a plunger receiving bore extending axially into said inner blocking sleeve;
• a second pin guide slot extending through said inner blocking sleeve and connecting to said plunger receiving bore;
• e) a plunger including a plunger head and a plunger shaft;
• said plunger head frictionally engaging said stud receiving bore rearward of said inner blocking sleeve and said plunger shaft slidably secured within said plunger receiving bore of said inner blocking sleeve;
• f) a spring positioned between said plunger head and said inner blocking sleeve and biasing said inner blocking sleeve forward relative to said plunger;
• said spring biasing said inner blocking sleeve across said ball receiving bore into blocking engagement with said ball within said ball receiving bore when said stud is withdrawn from said stud receiving bore;
• g) a pin extending through said first and second pin guide slots and connecting said plunger to said outer locking sleeve such that said outer locking sleeve slides with said plunger;
• h) said inner blocking sleeve, said plunger, said spring, and said outer locking sleeve cooperating in such a manner that said stud head, upon reception within said female coupler body, engages said blocking sleeve and urges said blocking sleeve out of blocking engagement with said ball;
• engagement of said stud head with said plunger causes said locking sleeve to urge said ball into engagement with said annular groove in said stud;
• and said spring, through said pin, urges said locking sleeve toward retaining said ball in said engagement with said annular groove in said stud to thereby retain said stud within said female coupler;
• and
• i) said inner blocking sleeve, said plunger, said spring, and said outer locking sleeve cooperating in such a manner that movement of said plunger and said locking sleeve toward said stud aligns said annular recess of said locking sleeve with said ball, unlocking said ball from said groove of said stud and engagement of said blocking sleeve with said stud head enables said spring to urge said blocking sleeve to follow said stud head upon movement of said stud out of said female coupler and back into blocking engagement with said ball.