MECHANICAL COUPLING

• US 3,782,840 A
• Filed: 10/05/1971
• Issued: 01/01/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alexander R. Brishka
• Original Assignee: Alexander R. Brishka
• Inventors: Brishka, Alexander R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Application Number:
  US05/186,667
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 285/316,322 339/91R,91P,74R 287/119R 24/211R,211L
• US Class Current: 403/361
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/10 Details of socket shapes
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/00 Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections F16B11/008, F16B17/00 take precedence; umbrella frames A45B25/02; welding or soldering of connections B23K; vehicle connections in general B60D; railway couplings B61G; bicycle frames B62K; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; couplings for tubes conveying fluids F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/133 using flexible hooks F16L37/1215 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/045 Coaxial joints

Abstract

A mechanical coupling which locks into place without relative rotation of the male and female components. The device may include hydraulic conduits, electrical multi-connectors or a high frequency coaxial line. An annular groove in the male component or plug is engaged by an annular bead formed on the inside surface of a set of fingers secured to the female component or socket. The fingers are locked in place by locking ring formed integral with an outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is moved in an axial direction when the components are attached or separated.

Claims

1. A mechanical coupling including a plug and a socket combination arranged for manual operation comprising:

a plug of general cylindrical shaPe including an annular groove formed in its outer surface;

a socket including a main cylindrical body and a plurality of resilient tines secured to said body in a circular arrangement for surrounding said plug, each of said tines formed with an inwardly extending bead for engagement by the groove, and an outwardly extending rim for aiding in the locking operation; and

a sleeve slidably mounted on the outer surface of said socket, said sleeve including an interior retaining ring and an inwardly extending rim for cooperating with the outwardly extending rims on the tines to maintain the tine beads in said plug groove when in a normal locked position, spring means mounted on either side of the retaining ring for resiliently positioning the sleeve in its normal position, and wherein said interior retaining ring is a separable component and is fitted into an annular slot formed in the interior surface of the sleeve.

2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending rims are each adjacent to the inwardly extending beads.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inwardly extending rim on the sleeve is formed integral with the sleeve and is positioned at the tine end of the sleeve.

4. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring means on either side of the retaining ring are washer type springs formed with corrugations around their peripheries.

5. A coupling as claimed in claim 4 wherein said washer type springs are mounted between the sides of the retaining ring and the outwardly extending rims formed on the tines and an annular ridge on the main socket body respectively.

6. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed with an outwardly extending rim adjacent to a rim on the main socket body for convenient manual engagement by an operator.

7. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tines are engaged by a ring spring at their extremities for resiliently urging the springs to make contact with the plug surface when the components are being joined.

8. A coupling as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tines are formed with a shoulder adjacent their free ends for retaining the ring spring in its operating position.