COUPLING WITH AUTOMATIC SEAL
First Claim
1. A conduit coupling for a fluid comprising:
- a first portion having a first biasing member positioned to bias a movable channel member positioned within a first fluid chamber, the movable channel member including a first plug portion and a seal connected to the first plug portion;
a second portion having a second biasing member positioned to bias a movable wall member, the movable wall member having a seal connected to an outer surface of the movable wall member; and
the first portion being releasably connectable to the second portion wherein when the first portion and the second portion are disconnected, the first biasing member biases the movable channel member to a position such that the seal connected to the first plug portion is aligned with a first interior wall and the second biasing member biases the movable wall member to a position such that the seal connected to the outer surface of the movable wall member is compressed against a contact surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conduit coupling can have a male portion and a female portion, with each portion having an internal biasing member. When the male portion is disconnected from the female portion, the internal biasing member in the male portion can cause a seal on a moveable plug to be biased against a lip of a stationary wall member to seal liquid from leaking out of the male portion. Also, the internal biasing member in the female portion can cause a lip of a moveable wall member to be biased against a seal that is connected to a stationary plug and can simultaneously cause a seal on the movable wall member to be biased against a wall of the female portion, to simultaneously seal liquid from leaking out of the female portion at two separate contact locations.
45 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A conduit coupling for a fluid comprising:
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a first portion having a first biasing member positioned to bias a movable channel member positioned within a first fluid chamber, the movable channel member including a first plug portion and a seal connected to the first plug portion; a second portion having a second biasing member positioned to bias a movable wall member, the movable wall member having a seal connected to an outer surface of the movable wall member; and the first portion being releasably connectable to the second portion wherein when the first portion and the second portion are disconnected, the first biasing member biases the movable channel member to a position such that the seal connected to the first plug portion is aligned with a first interior wall and the second biasing member biases the movable wall member to a position such that the seal connected to the outer surface of the movable wall member is compressed against a contact surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A conduit coupling for a fluid comprising:
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a male portion having a first fluid chamber; a first coil spring disposed within an internal wall of the first fluid chamber; a movable channel member adjacent an end portion of the first coil spring; a moveable plug portion connected to the movable channel member; a seal connected to a circumferential perimeter of the moveable plug portion; a female portion releasably connectable to the male portion and including a second fluid chamber; a stationary hollow shaft forming part of the second fluid chamber, the hallow shaft being concentrically disposed within a second coil spring; a stationary plug portion connected to the hollow shaft; a movable wall member disposed adjacent an end portion of the second coil spring, the moveable wall member being movable relative to the stationary hollow shaft when biased by the second coil spring; and an annular seal connected to an outer wall of the moveable wall member, the annular seal being wedged between a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall, the second lateral wall extending radially further than the first lateral wall. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of sealing liquid within portions of a disconnectable conduit coupling, the method comprising:
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providing a first coupling portion having a first biasing member; compressing the first biasing member in the first coupling portion to connect the first coupling portion to a second coupling portion by pressing a stationary plug of the second coupling portion flush against a movable plug of the first coupling portion that is movable in relation to the first coupling portion; compressing a second biasing member in the second coupling portion to connect the second coupling portion to the first coupling portion by pressing a surface of the first coupling portion against a moveable wall of the second coupling portion, the moveable wall being slidable in relation to the second coupling portion; and disconnecting the second coupling portion from the first coupling portion, and maintaining flush contact between the movable plug and stationary plug until a seal member connected to an outer surface of the movable wall is compressed against a contact surface on the second coupling portion and until a seal member connected to the movable plug portion is compressed against an inside wall of the first coupling portion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification