US 6,554,320 B2 · Quick connect/disconnect coupling

Abstract

A quick connect/disconnect coupling assembly includes: (a) a female coupling member including a cavity opening onto its receiving end, where the cavity has an annular groove; (b) a male coupling member including an annular rib, where the rib has a tapered leading edge, a trailing edge and a maximum diameter between the leading and trailing edges; (c) a diametrically expandable locking ring carried in the annular groove of the female coupling member, where the locking ring has an unexpanded inner diameter that is less than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member, and where the locking ring is diametrically expandable to have an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member; (d) a dial carried for rotation in the male coupling member; and (e) a mechanical actuator carried on the male coupling member operatively coupled to the dial such that the mechanical actuator extends radially outwardly with respect to the male coupling member upon rotation of the dial in a first direction, to a radial height at least approximately equal to a radial height of the annular rib at a maximum diameter of the annular rib, and retracts inwardly with respect to the male coupling member upon rotation of the dial in an opposite direction. Accordingly, upon insertion of the male coupling member into the cavity of the female coupling member, the tapered leading edge of the annular rib on the male coupling member contacts an inner surface of the locking ring, which causes the locking ring to diametrically expand as the annular rib passes through the locking ring. Upon passing the trailing edge of the annular rib, the locking ring contracts again and is maintained in a locking position between the trailing edge of the annular rib and the receiving side edge of the annular groove. The male coupling member may be removed again from the female coupling member by rotating the dial in the first direction so that the mechanical actuator projects radially outwardly and contacts the inner surface of the locking ring, causing the locking ring to diametrically expand again so that the annular rib of the male coupling member may pass again by the locking ring.

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Drawings

Claims57

Dependent claims

A coupling assembly comprising:

a female coupling member, having a receiving end and a distal end, and including a cavity opening onto the receiving end, the cavity having an annular groove, the annular groove having a receiving-side edge and a distal-side edge;
a male coupling member, having a leading end and a trailing end, and including an annular rib, the rib having a tapered leading edge, a trailing edge and a maximum diameter between the leading and trailing edges, the male coupling member being sized for insertion into the cavity of the female coupling member so that the trailing edge of the annular rib is able to pass the receiving-side edge of the annular groove in the female coupling member;
a diametrically expandable locking ring carried in the annular groove of the female coupling member, the locking ring having an un-expanded inner diameter that is less than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member, and the locking ring being diametrically expandable to have an inner diameter that is at least slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member;
at least one mechanical actuator, carried on the male coupling member, on a trailing end side of the annular rib, adjacent to the trailing edge of the annular rib, and operable to project radially outwardly to a radial height at least equal to a radial height of the annular rib at the maximum diameter of the annular rib, said mechanical actuator including at least one lever operable to splay radially outwardly;
said at least one lever including:
i). a carrier mounted for rotation on the male coupling member on a trailing end side of the annular rib and axially spaced form the annular rib;
ii). an outer cam surface of the male coupling member positioned axially between the trailing edge of the annular rib and the carrier, and extending in a circumferential direction from a minimum diameter that is substantially radially recessed with respect to the annular rib to an end diameter that approximates the maximum diameter of the annular rib;
iii). a plurality of pins extending axially from a substantially fixed radial point on the carrier, approximate the minimum diameter, extending over at least a portion of the outer cam surface, pivotally received within the carrier, allowing the pin to pivot radially with respect to the carrier, and uniformly distributed about a circumference of the male coupling member;
the mechanical actuator capable of being actuated with the assistance of a tool;
whereby upon insertion of the male coupling member into the cavity of the female coupling member, the tapered leading edge of the annular rib on the male coupling member coupling member, the tapered leading edge of the annular rib on the male coupling member contacts an inner surface of the locking ring, causing the locking ring to diametrically expand as the locking ring advances towards the trailing edge of the annular rib, and upon passing the trailing edge of the annular rib, the locking ring contracts again and is maintained in a locking position between the trailing edge of the annular rib and the receiving side edge of the annular groove;
and
whereby the male coupling member may be removed again from the female coupling member by actuating the mechanical actuator to project radially outwardly and contact the inner surface of the locking ring causing the locking ring to diametrically expand again so that the annular rib of the male coupling member may pass again by the locking ring.

9 more elements

A coupling assembly comprising:

a female coupling member, having a receiving end and a distal end, and including a cavity opening onto the receiving end, the cavity having an annular groove, the annular groove having a receiving-side edge and a distal-side edge;
a male coupling member, having a leading end and a trailing end, and including an annular rib, the rib having a tapered leading edge, a trailing edge and a maximum diameter between the leading and trailing edges, the male coupling member being sized for insertion into the cavity of the female coupling member so that the trailing edge of the annular rib is able to pass the receiving-side edge of the annular groove in the female coupling member;
a diametrically expandable locking ring carried in the annular groove of the female coupling member, the locking ring having an un-expanded inner diameter that is less than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member, and the locking ring being diametrically expandable to have an inner diameter that is at least slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member;
a dial carried for manual rotation on the male coupling member and adapted for engagement by a tool for assisting in the manual rotation;
a mechanical actuator carried on the male coupling member operatively coupled to the dial wherein the mechanical actuator extends radially outwardly with respect to the male coupling member upon rotation of the dial in a first direction to a radial height at least approximately equal to a radial height of the annular rib at the maximum diameter of the annular rib, and retracts radially inwardly with respect to the male coupling member upon rotation of the dial in an opposite direction;
whereby upon insertion of the male coupling member into the cavity of the female coupling member, the tapered leading edge of the annular rib on the male coupling member contacts an inner surface of the locking ring, causing the locking ring to diametrically expand as the locking ring advances towards the trailing edge of the annular rib, and upon passing the trailing edge of the annular rib, the locking ring contracts again and is maintained in a locking position between the trailing edge of the annular rib and the receiving side edge of the annular groove;
and
whereby the male coupling member may be removed again from the female coupling member by rotating the dial in the first direction so that the mechanical actuator projects radially outwardly and contacts the inner surface of the locking ring causing the locking ring to diametrically expand again so that the annular rib of the male coupling member may pass again by the locking ring.

5 more elements

A coupling assembly comprising:

a female coupling member, having a receiving end and a distal end, and including a cavity opening onto the receiving end, the cavity having an annular groove, the annular groove having a receiving-side edge and a distal-side edge;
a male coupling member, having a leading end and a trailing end, and including an annular rib, the rib having a tapered leading edge, a trailing edge and a maximum diameter between the leading and trailing edges, the male coupling member being sized for insertion into the cavity of the female coupling member so that the trailing edge of the annular rib is able to pass the receiving-side edge of the annular groove in the female coupling member;
a diametrically expandable locking ring carried in the annular groove of the female coupling member, the locking ring having an un-expanded inner diameter that is less than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member, and the locking ring being diametrically expandable to have an inner diameter that is at least slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the annular rib on the male coupling member;
at least one mechanical actuator, carried on the male coupling member, on a trailing end side of the annular rib, adjacent to the trailing edge of the annular rib, and operable to project radially outwardly to a radial height at least equal to a radial height of the annular rib at the maximum diameter of the annular rib;
the mechanical actuator capable of being actuated with the assistance of a tool;
whereby upon insertion of the male coupling member into the cavity of the female coupling member, the tapered leading edge of the annular rib on the male coupling member contacts an inner surface of the locking ring, causing the locking ring to diametrically expand as the locking ring advances towards the trailing edge of the annular rib, and upon passing the trailing edge of the annular rib, the locking ring contracts again and is maintained in a locking position between the trailing edge of the annular rib and the receiving side edge of the annular groove;
and
whereby the male coupling member may be removed again from the female coupling member by actuating the mechanical actuator to project radially outwardly and contact the inner surface of the locking ring causing the locking ring to diametrically expand again so that the annular rib of the male coupling member may pass again by the locking ring.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,080 words

Summary2,167 words

#The present invention is directed to a quick connect/disconnect coupling, and more specifically, to a quick connect/disconnect hydraulic or pneumatic hose coupling that utilizes a diametrically expandable locking ring (such as a split ring) within a female coupling member to maintain a locking arrangement between the male and female coupling members, and a release mechanism that is designed to be easily actuated.

#It is known to provide a hydraulic or pneumatic hose coupling assembly that includes a male coupling member and a female coupling member, where the male and female coupling members extend along a central axis and where a leading end of the male coupling member is adapted to be inserted and locked within the female member. Each of the male and female members includes an axial passage extending therethrough for the passage of fluids.

#The male member includes an annular rib having a ramped leading edge and a trailing edge. The female member includes an annular groove positioned within its receiving cylindrical cavity with a tapered receiving-side edge. Within this annular groove is carried a split ring of spring metal material. Upon insertion of the male coupling member into the cavity of the female coupling member, the ramped leading edge of the annular rib on the male coupling member contacts the inner surface of the split ring, which causes the split ring to slide up upon the ramped leading edge and diametrically expand as the annular rib of the male coupling member advances through the split ring. Upon passing the trailing edge of the annular rib, the locking ring contracts again and is thus maintained in a locking position between the trailing edge of the annular rib and the receiving side edge of the annular groove in the female coupling member. To remove the male coupling member again from the female coupling member, a release sleeve, having an outer diameter larger than the maximum diameter of the annular rib, is axially slid between the male coupling member and the split ring to thereby diametrically expand the split ring again so that the rib of the male coupling member may pass again by this expanded split ring.

Brief description of the drawings18 figures

#FIG. 1 is an elevational and partially cross-sectional view of the first exemplary embodiment of the quick connect/disconnect mechanism of the present invention, illustrating the male and female coupling members in a coupled configuration;

#FIG. 1A is a magnified view of the section of FIG. 1 identified as 1A;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the quick connect/disconnect mechanism of the present invention, illustrating the male and female coupling members in a decoupled configuration;

Detailed description3,460 words

#As shown in FIGS. 1-10, an exemplary embodiment of a quick connect/disconnect mechanism according to the present invention is a hydraulic hose fitting assembly 20 designed and dimensioned to meet the SAE J517-Series 100R12 pressure standard. Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the assembly 20 includes a male coupling member 22 adapted for fitting a hydraulic hose (not shown) thereon and a female coupling member 24 adapted to be attached to a hydraulic fluid source, receptacle or passage. The male coupling member 22 includes a generally cylindrical body 26 having a cylindrical conduit or passage 28 extending completely therethrough along a central axis 30 of the male coupling member 22. Mounted to the trailing end 32 of the generally cylindrical body 26 is a ferrule 34 of conventional design which is adapted to attach a hydraulic hose (not shown) to the trailing end 32 of the cylindrical body 26.

#The female coupling member 24 also includes a conduit 36 extending completely therethrough along a central axis 38 thereof for providing passage of the hydraulic fluid therethrough. The distal end 40 of the female coupling member is threaded for mounting the female coupling member 24 to a hydraulic fluid source, receptacle or passage as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Between the receiving end 42 and the distal end 40 of the female coupling member is provided a plurality of circumferentially distributed flats 44 that define a hexagonal cross section for engagement by an appropriate tool, such as a wrench, to install the female coupling member 24 to the appropriate hydraulic fluid receptacle, source or passage.

#As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the generally cylindrical body 26 of the male coupling member 22 includes a tapered leading edge 46 immediately trailed by a cylindrical surface 48 that includes a circumferential groove 50 provided therein for receiving appropriate seals, such as an O-ring 51 and backup washer 53. The cylindrical surface 48 is trailed by an annular rib 52 that includes a ramped leading edge 54, immediately trailed by a substantially cylindrical surface 56 at its maximum diameter and a trailing edge shoulder 58 that is substantially perpendicular to the flat surface 56. The ramped leading edge 54, in this exemplary embodiment, is angled with respect to the axis 30 at a 10° angle. It will be apparent that alternate angles are possible for this ramped leading edge 54, however, it is preferred, but not required, that the ramped leading edge 54 be angled with respect to the axis 30 at an angle ranging from 8° to 20°. Trailing the annular rib 52 is a cam segment 60 and a cylindrical bearing segment 62. The cam segment 60 is a cylindrical segment having a plurality of flats 64 cut or formed therein, where each flat 64 is substantially tangential to the cylindrical bearing segment 62. As will be discussed in further detail below, each of the flats 64 acts as a cam surface or a fulcrum for the release actuator of the quick connect/disconnect mechanism 20.

Quick connect/disconnect coupling

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Quick connect/disconnect coupling

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims57

Description6,080 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,080 words