Rapid-connect coupler with vent stop

• US 10,208,877 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered Controls International LLC (Engineered Controls International Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Controls International LLC (Engineered Controls International Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Konishi, Howard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US15/932,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20180187812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/40 for special environments
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/12 using hooks, pawls or other movable or insertable locking members F16L37/084 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/18 Joints tightened by eccentrics or rotatable cams
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/36 with two lift valves being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/07 Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining apparatus for draining F16T

Abstract

A rapid connect coupler can include a housing, a probe configured to translate within the housing, a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing body, a stop assembly configured to selectively arrest the translation of the probe. The stop assembly can include: a pawl configured to occupy both an active position and an inactive position, wherein the inactive position arrests the translation of the probe; a catch fixed to the housing and configured to hold the probe in the inactive position; a lever configured to engage the pawl; a spring fixed to both the housing and the lever and configured to bias the pawl to the inactive position via the lever; and a cam configured to disengage the pawl from the catch and cause the pawl to occupy the active position.

Claims

1. A fluid coupler comprising:

a housing;

a probe slidably disposed in the housing between a coupled position and an uncoupled position; and

a stop assembly connected to the housing and configured to;

in an active position, catch the probe at a venting position as the probe moves from the coupled position to the uncoupled position;

selectively move from the active position to an inactive position to release the probe to move from the venting position to the uncoupled position; and

permit the probe to move freely from the uncoupled position to the coupled position; and

a reset cam connected to the probe and configured to move the stop assembly from the inactive position to the active position as the probe moves from the uncoupled position to the coupled position.

2. The fluid coupler of claim 1, wherein the stop assembly has a pawl rotatably connected to the housing and catches the probe via the pawl.

3. The fluid coupler of claim 2, wherein the housing defines a slot and the pawl engages the probe via the slot.

4. The fluid coupler of claim 2, wherein the reset cam engages the pawl when the probe is in the coupled position.

5. The fluid coupler of claim 2, wherein the probe includes a flange, and the pawl engages the flange to catch the probe.

6. The fluid coupler of claim 5, wherein the pawl comprises a front edge and a rounded rear face, and the pawl engages the flange via the front edge in the venting position, and the flange slides past the pawl via the rounded rear face as the probe moves from the uncoupled position to the coupled position.

7. The fluid coupler of claim 2, wherein the stop assembly comprises a resilient catch to urge the pawl away from the probe when the stop assembly is in the inactive position.

8. The fluid coupler of claim 7, wherein the pawl includes a latch pin;

and the catch engages with the pawl via the latch pin.

9. The fluid coupler of claim 2, wherein the stop assembly includes a lever engaged with the pawl to selectively rotate the pawl away from the probe to release the probe.

10. The fluid coupler of claim 9, wherein the lever is rotatably connected to the housing.

11. The fluid coupler of claim 10, further comprising a lever spring to urge the lever and the pawl toward the active position.

12. The fluid coupler of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a lever shaft, the lever rotates about the lever shaft, and the lever spring is disposed about the lever shaft.

13. The fluid coupler of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed in the housing and about the probe urging the probe toward the uncoupled position.

14. The fluid coupler of claim 13, wherein the probe includes a flange and the spring engages the probe via the flange.

15. A fluid coupler comprising:

a housing;

a probe slidably disposed in the housing and comprising a flange;

a pawl rotatably connected to the housing and configured to catch the flange as the probe moves in a first direction and permit the probe to slide freely in a second direction;

a lever engaged with the pawl to selectively rotate the pawl away from the flange to release the probe; and

a reset cam to rotate the pawl toward the probe as the probe moves in the second direction.

16. The fluid coupler of claim 15, further comprising a resilient catch to retain the pawl when the lever rotates the flange away from the probe.

17. The fluid coupler of claim 16, wherein the reset cam overcomes the resilient catch to rotate the pawl toward the probe.

18. The fluid coupler of claim 15, further comprising a lever spring engaged with the lever and the housing to urge the lever and the pawl toward the probe.

19. The fluid coupler of claim 15, wherein:

the pawl comprises a front edge and a rounded rear face;

the pawl catches the flange via the front edge as the probe moves in the first direction; and

the flange slides past the pawl via the rounded rear face as the probe moves in the second direction.

20. A fluid coupler comprising:

a sleeve;

a ball cage slidably disposed in the sleeve;

a housing connected to the ball cage;

a probe having a flange, slidably disposed in the housing, and connected to the sleeve such that;

when the probe moves in a first direction, the ball cage extends from the sleeve; and

when the probe moves in a second direction, the ball cage retracts into the sleeve;

a pawl rotatably connected to the housing and configured to catch the flange as the probe moves in the first direction, selectively release the flange, and permit the probe to slide freely in the second direction; and

a reset cam to rotate the pawl toward the probe as the probe moves in the second direction.