Release collar for coupling assembly
AssigneeInternational Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorsKenneth R. Seymour, II, Daniel W. Jensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for of reliably separating the male and female members of a coupling that may be used in high pressure conditions. A release collar (201) has an actuator (301), a release sleeve flange (303), and a ring (305). The actuator (301) is thinner than those utilized in known release sleeves, and may be advantageously located in closer proximity to the male member (101) than to the female member (103), such that the actuator may radially expand between the male and female members. The actuator (301) may be comprised of a cylindrical annulus and/or fingers disposed in a circular pattern. The ring (305) may have a lip (307) that allows the release collar (201) to remain with the female member (103).
Claims28
A release collar utilizable with a coupling including a female member and a male member, the release collar comprising:
- a ring comprising a first axial end and a second axial end;
- an actuator comprising a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein the actuator is disposable between a radially outermost surface of a rib of the male member and the female member while the male member is withdrawn from the female member, and wherein the actuator is in closer proximity to the male member than to the female member when the male member, the female member, and the release collar are engaged, such that the second axial end of the actuator is radially expandable within an actuator cavity;
- a flange operably engaging the first axial end of the actuator and the first axial end of the ring;
- wherein the release collar is disposed on the female member when the male member and the female member are not engaged.
A release collar utilizable with a coupling including a female member, a male member, and an actuator cavity, the release collar comprising:
- a flange comprising a first diameter and a second diameter;
- an actuator comprising a first axial end, a second axial end, and a thickness, wherein the first axial end of the actuator is disposed near the first diameter of the flange, and wherein the actuator is radially expandable between a rib of the male member and the female member such that the rib of the male member is withdrawn along the actuator while the male member is withdrawn from the female member;
- a ring comprising a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein the first axial end of the ring is disposed near the second diameter of the flange;
- wherein the release collar is disposed on the female member when the male member and the female member are not engaged.
A release collar utilizable with a coupling including a female member, a male member, and an actuator cavity having a radial distance between an inner release surface of the female member and an outer release surface of the male member, the release collar comprising:
- an annular flange comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter;
- an actuator comprising a first axial end, a second axial end, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a thickness, wherein the first axial end of the actuator is disposed near the inner diameter of the annular flange, wherein the thickness of the actuator is substantially less than the radial distance, wherein the actuator is disposable between the male member and the female member, and wherein the actuator is in closer proximity to the outer release surface of the male member than to the inner release surface of the female member when the male member, the female member, and the release collar are engaged, such that the second axial end of the actuator is radially expandable within the actuator cavity;
- a ring comprising a first axial end, and a second axial end, wherein the first axial end of the ring is disposed near the outer diameter of the annular flange, and wherein the second axial end comprises a lip that extends radially inward such that the release collar is retained on the female member when the male member and the female member are not engaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.