Quick connect/disconnect coupling apparatus

A device for coupling a tube to a pump inlet fitting of a pump, the quick-connect coupler comprising:

• a body having an outer annular groove;
• a sliding member configured to be slidable in a channel of the pump inlet fitting to engage the outer annular groove in a locked position to lock the quick-connect coupler to the pump inlet fitting and to disengage from the outer annular groove in a release position to release the quick-connect coupler from the pump inlet fitting;
• and
• a spring biasing the sliding member toward the locked position;
• wherein the sliding member comprises a shaft having an enlarged portion which is biased by the spring to slide to a position to engage the outer annular groove in the locked position, the enlarged portion being disengaged from the outer annular groove in the release position by sliding the shaft to move the enlarged portion away from the outer annular groove;
• and
• wherein the shaft is biased by the spring outward from the body to slide to the locked position, the enlarged portion being disengaged from the outer annular groove in the release position by pushing the shaft in toward the body.

A device for coupling a tube to a pump inlet fitting of a pump, the quick-connect coupler comprising:

• a body having an outer groove;
• a sliding member configured to be slidable in a channel of the pump inlet fitting to engage the outer groove in a locked position to lock the quick-connect coupler to the pump inlet fitting and to disengage from the outer groove in a release position to release the quick-connect coupler from the pump inlet fitting, the sliding member comprising a shaft having an enlarged portion which is slidable to a position to engage the outer groove in the locked position, the enlarged portion being disengaged from the outer groove in the release position by sliding the shaft to move the enlarged portion away from the outer groove;
• and
• a spring biasing the sliding member toward the locked position
• wherein the shaft is slidable generally tangentially relative to the outer groove to the position to engage the outer groove in the locked position.

An apparatus for connecting a fluid source to a pump having a pump inlet fitting, the apparatus comprising:

• a tube;
• a fluid source connector coupled to an end of the tube and configured to releasably connect to the fluid source;
• and
• a quick-connect coupler coupled to another end of the tube and configured to releasably connect to the pump inlet fitting of the pump, the quick-connect coupler including a spring-loaded member being biased by a spring toward a locked position to lock the quick-connect coupler to the pump inlet fitting and being movable to a release position to release the quick-connect coupler from the pump inlet fitting, wherein the quick-connect coupler comprises a body having an outer groove, and wherein the spring-loaded member is configured to be slidable in a channel of the pump inlet fitting to engage the outer groove in the locked position to lock the quick-connect coupler to the pump inlet fitting and to disengage from the outer groove in the release position to release the quick-connect coupler from the pump inlet fitting;
• wherein the spring-loaded member comprises a shaft having an enlarged portion which is biased by the spring to slide to a position to engage the outer groove in the locked position, the enlarged portion being disengaged from the outer groove in the release position by sliding the shaft to move the enlarged portion away from the outer groove;
• and
• wherein the shaft is slidable generally tangentially relative to the outer groove to the position to engage the outer groove in the locked position.

A device for coupling a tube to a pump inlet fitting of a pump, the quick-connect coupler comprising:

• a body having an outer annular groove;
• a sliding member configured to be slidable in a channel of the pump inlet fitting to engage the outer annular groove in a locked position to lock the quick-connect coupler to the pump inlet fitting and to disengage from the outer annular groove in a release position to release the quick-connect coupler from the pump inlet fitting;
• and
• a spring biasing the sliding member toward the locked position;
• wherein the sliding member comprises a shaft having an enlarged portion which is biased by the spring to slide to a position to engage the outer annular groove in the locked position, the enlarged portion being disengaged from the outer annular groove in the release position by sliding the shaft to move the enlarged portion away from the outer annular groove;
• and
• wherein the shaft is slidable generally tangentially relative to the outer annular groove to the position to engage the outer annular groove in the locked position.