Threaded coupling with flow shutoff

• US 20070102051A1
• Filed: 11/05/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilkins, Steve, Zeiber, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/614.50
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/04 with a cut-off device in each of the two pipe ends, the cut-off devices being automatically opened when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Abstract

A thread to connect coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half is disclosed and claimed wherein the male coupling half includes a recess in the exterior of the male body which extends circumferentially therearound. The female coupling half includes a valve, a female body, and a female body extension affixed to the female body. The female body further includes a sliding sleeve movable with respect to the valve between a first position abutting and closing the valve and a second position opening the valve. The male body interengages the sliding sleeve and moves therewith during coupling and uncoupling. During uncoupling, the sliding sleeve is reliably positioned sealingly against the valve because the sliding sleeve is interlocked with the male body such that as the male body is withdrawn from the female body the sliding sleeve comes with the male body. Separation of the coupling halves requires that an outer sleeve release a second set of detents which acts as a permissive to uncoupling. The coupling halves may not be separated by vibrating the threaded surfaces of the respective coupling halves apart.

Claims

1. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half, comprising:

a valve;

a body and a body extension affixed to said body;

said valve affixed to said body;

a sliding sleeve movable with respect to said body, said body extension and said valve thus opening and closing said valve; and

a closing mechanism for insuring that said sliding sleeve is returned to said closed position when said coupling half is uncoupled.

2. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body and said body extension are substantially concentric and said sliding sleeve resides substantially radially intermediate said body and said body extension.

3. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 2 wherein said closing mechanism includes a first set of locking detents.

4. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 3 wherein said closing mechanism includes a second set of locking detents.

5. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closing mechanism includes a spring operable between said body and said sliding sleeve.

6. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 2 wherein said closing mechanism includes a spring operable between said body and said sliding sleeve.

7. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 3 wherein said closing mechanism includes a spring operable between said body and said sliding sleeve.

8. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 4 wherein said closing mechanism includes a spring operable between said body and said sliding sleeve.

9. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first set of locking detents is carried by said sliding sleeve.

10. A coupling half for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half as claimed in claim 4 further wherein said second set of locking detents is carried by said body extension.

11. A coupling, comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half;

said male coupling half comprises;

a male body;

said male body of said male half of said coupling includes an exterior;

said exterior of said male body of said male half includes a recess therein which extends circumferentially around said exterior;

said female coupling half comprises;

a valve;

a female body;

a female body extension affixed to said female body;

a sliding sleeve movable with respect to said female body, said female body extension and said valve;

said sliding sleeve movable between;

a first position abutting said valve and closing said valve, and, a second position not abutting said valve thus opening said valve; and

, a sliding sleeve and valve closing mechanism;

said male body of said male coupling half interengaging said sliding sleeve of said female coupling half during engagement therewith moving said sliding sleeve from said first closed position to said second open position; and

, said sliding sleeve and valve closing mechanism uniting said sliding sleeve of said female coupling half and said male body of said male coupling half insuring that said sliding sleeve is returned to said first position when said male and female coupling halves are uncoupled from each other.

12. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 11 wherein said female body and said female body extension are substantially concentric and said sliding sleeve resides substantially radially intermediate said female body and said female body extension.

13. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 11 wherein said closing mechanism includes a first set of locking detents.

14. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 11 wherein said closing mechanism includes a second set of locking detents.

15. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 11 wherein said closing mechanism of said female coupling half includes a spring operable between said female body and said sliding sleeve.

16. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 12 wherein said closing mechanism of said female coupling half includes a spring operable between said female body and said sliding sleeve.

17. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 13 wherein said closing mechanism of said female coupling half includes a spring operable between said female body and said sliding sleeve.

18. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 14 wherein said closing mechanism of said female coupling half includes a spring operable between said female body and said sliding sleeve.

19. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 13 wherein said first set of locking detents is carried by said sliding sleeve.

20. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 14 wherein said second set of locking detents is carried by said female body extension.

21. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half, said female coupling half and said male coupling half being alternately coupled and uncoupled;

said male coupling half comprises;

a male body;

said male body of said male coupling half includes an exterior;

said exterior of said male body of said male half includes a recess therein which extends circumferentially around said exterior;

said female coupling half comprises;

a valve;

a female body;

a female body extension affixed to said female body of said female coupling half;

a sliding sleeve movable with respect to said female body, said female body extension and said valve;

said sliding sleeve movable between;

a first position abutting said valve and closing said valve, and, a second position not abutting said valve thus opening said valve;

said male body of said male coupling half interengaging said sliding sleeve of said female coupling half during engagement therewith moving said sliding sleeve from said first closed position to said second open position;

said sliding sleeve of said female coupling half includes a first set of detents carried therewith;

said first set of detents of said sliding sleeve of said female coupling interengaging said circumferentially extending recess in said exterior of said male body during coupling of said coupling halves; and

, said first set of detents being released from interengagement with said circumferentially extending recess in said exterior of said male body of said male coupling half during uncoupling said halves each from the other and after said sliding sleeve is moved to said first position abutting said valve of said female coupling half.

22. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 21 wherein;

said female body extension of said female coupling half includes a second set of detents therein;

said sliding sleeve of said female coupling half includes an exterior having a circumferentially extending recess therein; and

, wherein said second set of detents interengages said recess in said exterior of said sliding sleeve during coupling of said coupling halves.

23. A coupling comprising:

a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 22 wherein;

said female body extension includes an inner surface and an outer surface and said inner surface interengages and locks said first set of detents interengaging said recess in said male body of said male coupling half during coupling; and

, said female coupling half includes a locking ring having an inner surface and an outer surface, said locking ring resides radially outwardly of said female body extension of said female coupling half, and said inner surface of said locking ring being in sliding engagement with said female body extension of said female coupling half during coupling locking and interengaging said second set of detents interengaging said recess in said exterior surface of said sliding sleeve valve of said female coupling half.

24. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 23 wherein:

said female coupling half includes an outer sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a shoulder thereon; and

, during uncoupling, said shoulder on said inner surface of said outer sleeve engaging said locking ring moving said locking ring releasing said second set of detents from said recess in said exterior surface of said sliding sleeve which in turn releases said sliding sleeve enabling movement of said sliding sleeve to said first closed position abutting said valve and releasing said first set of detents of said female coupling half.

25. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 24 wherein said female body extension includes a recess in said inner surface thereof and said first set of detents is released when said first set of detents carried with said sliding sleeve is positioned adjacent said recess in said inner surface of said female body.

26. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 25 wherein:

said male coupling half includes a locking sleeve having an interior and an exterior, said interior of said locking sleeve having threads thereon; and

, said female body extension includes threads on said exterior thereof which interengage said threads of said interior of said locking sleeve of said male coupling half during coupling of said halves each to the other.

27. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 21 wherein a first spring is operable between said body and said sliding sleeve urging said sliding sleeve longitudinally outwardly.

28. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 23 wherein:

a first spring is operable between said body and said sliding sleeve urging said sliding sleeve longitudinally outwardly; and

, a second spring is operable between said body and said locking ring urging said locking ring longitudinally outwardly locking said second set of detents in said exterior recess of said sliding sleeve.

29. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 24 wherein:

a first spring is operable between said body and said sliding sleeve urging said sliding sleeve longitudinally outwardly; and

, a second spring is operable between said body and said locking ring urging said locking ring longitudinally outwardly locking said second set of detents in said exterior recess of said sliding sleeve.

30. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 21 wherein said valve of said female coupling half includes a passageway for breaking vacuum between said sliding sleeve and said body of said female coupling half.

31. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 21 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

32. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 22 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

33. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 23 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

34. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 24 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

35. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 25 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

36. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 26 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first set and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

37. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 27 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

38. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 28 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.

39. A coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half as claimed in claim 29 wherein:

said male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting said coupling halves; and

, said threaded surfaces do not traverse said first and second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling.