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Rapid connection coupling

  • US 20050167981A1
  • Filed: 03/27/2002
  • Published: 08/04/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A rapid connection coupling for transferring high-pressure fluids, including filling a high-pressure, mobile gas cylinder with oxygen, comprising:

  • a. a housing having a longitudinal axis, an inlet, and an outlet;

    b. an outer sliding sleeve encircling and slidably mounted relative to said housing to move along the longitudinal axis between a coupled and uncoupled position of the rapid connection coupling;

    c. a plurality of locking members extending from said housing, said locking members capable of spreading radially, said locking members having an engagement profile for connection to a correspondingly formed connection nipple, said sleeve sliding over said locking members, and said sleeve being sized so that said sleeve pushes against said locking members to urge said locking members to couple with the nipple when said sleeve is in the coupled position;

    d. a piston sliding along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing for engagement with the connection nipple, said piston guiding the connection nipple along the longitudinal axis during a process of coupling the connection nipple to the rapid connection coupling, said piston biased to engage said locking members in the uncoupled position of the rapid connection coupling to hold said locking members in an open position, said piston being slidably mounted to move during the process of coupling the connection nipple to the rapid connection coupling to free the engagement of said piston with said locking members, thereby permitting said sleeve to urge said locking members to couple with the nipple;

    e. a first pin sliding along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing, said first pin biased against toward a seal, thereby forming a check valve to selectively block a flow of fluid through the coupling between said inlet and said outlet; and

    f. a second pin sliding along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing, said second pin positioned such that during the process of coupling the connection nipple to the rapid connection coupling, an end of said second pin is accepted into a bore in the connection nipple, said second pin forms a seal inside the bore of the connection nipple, and said second pin engages a portion of the connection nipple so that movement of the connection nipple causes said second pin to slide relative to said housing, said second pin further positioned relative to said first pin so that during the process of coupling the connection nipple to the rapid connection coupling, movement of the connection nipple causes movement of said second pin along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing, which forces said first pin against its bias, thereby opening said check valve, permitting a flow of fluid to flow from the inlet, through an orifice in said first pin, and through an orifice in said second pin into said connection nipple.

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