Coupling assembly with valves
AssigneeSelf-Energising Coupling Company Limited
InventorMatthew Joseph Readman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly comprises male and female coupling members that are connectable by inserting a probe of the male member into a socket of the female member. A fluid passageway within the female member has an aperture within the socket that is open and closed by a first closing member that moves within the socket. A fluid passageway within the male member has an aperture on the probe that is open and closed by a second closing member. When mated fluid flows between the two fluid passageways. The female member includes a first cage. During insertion of the probe into the socket, the first cage releasably locks the first closing member to the probe such that the cage carries any separation forces created due to the pressure of the fluid within the passageways.
Claims12
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a male member including a probe with at least one first fluid passageway, wherein each first fluid passageway has at least one exit aperture on a side face of the probe;
- and
- a female member including a socket for receiving the probe of the male member, the socket having at least one second fluid passageway wherein the or each second fluid passageway has at least one exit aperture arranged on an internal side face of the socket, at least one first closing member that is freely moveable between an open position in which the or each exit aperture is at least partially unobstructed and a closed position in which the or each exit aperture is fully obstructed, and a first securing means for releasably securing the first closing member to the probe in order to restrict relative movement between the first closing member and the probe;
- wherein the male member includes a second closing member arranged about the probe that is movable between an open position in which each exit aperture of the probe is at least partially unobstructed and a closed position in which the or each exit aperture of the probe is fully obstructed, and wherein the female member includes a second securing means for releasably securing the socket to the second closing member in order to restrict relative movement between the socket and the second closing member, and wherein the first securing means or the second securing means comprises two or more parts wherein at least one part of each securing means is pivotal towards or away from the other in order to engage and disengage the probe or second closing means respectively.
A female coupling member which, with a male coupling member, forms a valve assembly comprising:
- a socket for receiving a probe of the male coupling member;
- at least one fluid passageway having at least one exit aperture arranged on an internal side face of the socket;
- a first closing member that is freely moveable between an open position in which the at least one exit aperture is at least partially unobstructed, and a closed position in which the at least one exit aperture is fully obstructed;
- and
- a first securing means for releasably securing the first closing member to the probe in order to restrict relative movement between the first closing member and the probe, and a second securing means for releasably securing the socket to a second closing member of the male coupling member in order to restrict relative movement therebetween, wherein the first or second securing means is secured relative to the first closing member or the socket respectively in order to move therewith;
- wherein the female coupling member comprises a constant internal surface, the internal surface being fixed relative to the socket, and the securing means having a section that includes a varying outside surface, wherein as the securing means is moved relative to the internal surface, the internal surface contacts a different part of the varying outside surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.