Couplings

• US 4,039,213 A
• Filed: 03/08/1976
• Issued: 08/02/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tom Walters
• Original Assignee: Tom Walters
• Inventors: Walters, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin, G. V.
• Application Number:
  US05/665,109
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 285/13, 285/14, 285/305, 285/308, 285/313, 285/317, 285/404, 403/106
• US Class Current: 285/317
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 33/04 Supports or clamps for fire hoses
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/086 by means of latching members pushed radially by spring-like elements

Abstract

A fluid conducting pressure locking O-ring element sealed hose coupling with automatic cocking/locking straight thrust insertion couple features and a push button couple release and safety vent innovation usable after the discharge of pressure within the coupled unit. Said coupling unit consists of tubular conduits that are swivelly coupled to each other by axially overlapping conduits that are axially directionally locked by a hook type flanged abutment pin slidably received radially by a positioning square opening within a fulcrum contained within a boss on the female member and maintained radially slidable by positioning square configurations and spring coils with outward extending arms. Said coils are received and maintained between said pin flanges. A slidable operating cap member is positioned and maintained by a retaining sleeve secured to said boss of the female member to where said spring arms are retained operable between the operating cap member and the fulcrum ring of the female member in a manner that when the male member is inserted within the female member at the couple procedure said pin is wedgingly forced radially outward by the bevelled configurations of the pin and the male member further deforming said attached spring coil arms until the engaging configurations of the male member passes under said pin. Then the spring deformed arms reacting forces return the pin radially inward to its seated normal station and locking abutment position of the interlocking parts. Then the subsequent uncouple procedure, when the force of pressure within the coupling is absent and the male member is further inserted into the female member to disengage the couple locking configurations, is accomplished by the operating cap being pushed radially inward to activate a cantilever action with said spring arms across the fulcrum ring to lift the locking pin radially outward to permit withdrawal of the coupled members one from the other.

Claims

1. In combination with a pair of axially overlapping conduit members with "O"-ring seal element at the seal area between the members and a safety drain opening on the outer member, where said conduit members are adapted to be rotatable relative to each other about a common axis, a coupling assembly with conduit and the like attachment ends comprising a lock pin element slidably positioned radially within a square opening within a standing fulcrum ring configuration recessed within a boss upon the outer conduit member where said lock pin protrudes radially inward through said opening to subsequently engagingly interlock an axially outward annular hook upon the inner member, facing the threaded conduit attachment end of said member, which is formed by an annular groove axially positioned to face said threaded end wherein said hook and said groove form the interlocking configuration that projects radially outward from the inner member, a pair of coil/cantilever springs, with centrally positioned coils having outward extending arms for the subsequent cantilever unit uncouple action, guided by their centrally positioned coils yoked to said lock pin while said spring arms extend radially outward over said fulcrum ring of said boss where said spring arms'"'"' outer ends are guided and limited by an outwardly crowned operating cap, having a flange ring extending outward at the inner face of said cap that is positioned and radially slidably maintained within a retaining sleeve which is secured to said boss where said operating cap flange upon contacting said spring coil arms compressingly deform same at said securement whereupon said spring arms'"'"' reacting forces normally maintain said operating cap to its radially outward limits against said retaining sleeve and in operating position as well as said reacting forces normally maintaining said lock pin to its radially inward limits due to the spring coils being yoked to said pin, whereupon the insertion of the inner conduit member into the outer conduit member wedges said lock pin radially outward momentarily after which the interlocking configurations of said pin and said inner member are engaged, providing a coupled position of the conduit members, whereupon uncoupling the conduit members is accomplished when said lock pin'"'"'s interlock with said inner member is disengaged by further insertion of said inner member into said outer member by said operating cap being pushed radially inward in push button fashion so said spring coil arms are forced across said fulcrum ring exerting cantilever reaction force upon the coil centers of said springs yoked to said pin, lifting said pin radially outward out of lock position to permit the withdrawal of said inner member at uncoupling the assembly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner conduit member includes an annular outward conical bevel section providing the configuration to cause the radially outward movement of said lock pin upon the insertion of said inner member into the outer conduit member providing a straight axial thrust insertion automatic couple action.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock pin includes a locking groove and hook formation for said engaging interlock with the hook and groove formation of the inner conduit member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock pin is slidably positioned within a square opening of the outer conduit member said lock pin includes a square shank adapted to be fitted within said opening to guide and maintain other parts of its configurations functionally positioned, such as its groove and hook formation.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock pin includes a retaining and positioning flanged hub to maintain said spring coils in a manner so their extending arms are positioned with reacting forces upon the operating cap flange.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock pin includes an inward bevelled end to aid in wedging said lock pin radially outward against the springs'"'"' reacting force at the thrust insertion couple action at coupling said members.

7. The combination of claim 1 where said interlocking engagement of said lock pin and said inner conduit member includes opposed hook and groove/ groove and hook configurations that will be further engagingly tightened as pressure is induced within the coupled assembly due to an axial column end force created by said pressure which tends to axially separate the coupling members while said interlocking engagement withstands said force, providing the coupled unit with a pressure locking safety feature.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock pin provides an axial containment abutment for said inner conduit member to normally prevent said member'"'"'s withdrawal from the coupled position.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said interlocking engagement withstands said force whereupon said interlocking engagement of said lock pin and said inner conduit member provides the configurations to prohibit said lock pin'"'"'s outward radial movement while the coupled assembled unit contains appreciable pressure and like directional separating axial forces.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring coil/arms include angular configurations that transmit reacting forces radially outward at said spring arms'"'"' outer ends that maintain the operating cap to its normal radially outward limit at couple procedures.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coils/arms include angular configurations that transmit reacting forces radially inward at said centrally positioned coils that due to the spring coils being yoked to said lock pin return said lock pin to its normal radially inward limits at the finish of the couple action.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring arm outer ends include configurations permitting said ends to slide laterally at said cap flange providing the easement for said springs compression rate changes necessary during couple and uncouple actions.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said springs include coil/arms configurations permitting the outer ends of said spring arms to be moved radially inward where said arms are forced across said fulcrum ring to provide cantilever reacting force upon said spring coil centers where said coils are yoked to said lock pin lifting said pin radially outward to uncouple position.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein said safety drain opening on the outer member includes an outer piping connection that provides a safety drain discharge that functions in conjunction with said seal element which is secured about the lapped member that upon withdrawing the lapped member from the coupled position said seal element maintains the seal between said overlapping members against leakage of possible slight pressure within a valved off section of hose, wherein said pressure is conceivably created by hot sun and other conditions heating a hose containing a film of volatile liquids, at said lapped member withdrawal up to said safety drain opening whereupon said pressure is directed through said safety drain and attached blow off piping as desired in a tattle tale manner.

15. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock pin'"'"'s interlock with said inner member is disengaged by further insertion of said inner member into said outer member prior to the subsequent uncoupling of the inner and outer conduit members whereupon said insertion requires a premeditated maneuver by the operator where said operator is further restrained from unsafely performing said insertion should the coupled assembled unit contain appreciable internal pressure creating axial forces tending to separate said unit because these forces are used to significantly prohibit said further insertion.

16. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring coils include configurations for said springs reacting force control of the lock pin'"'"'s alignment during said pin radially outward movement to provide an important aid in the automatic couple operation of the lapped conduit member insertion within the overlapping conduit member.

17. The combination of claim 1 wherein said springs coils include configurations for said springs reacting force control of the lock pin alignment during said pin'"'"'s subsequent radially inward movement providing an important aid in the automatic couple operation of the lapped conduit member insertion within the overlapping conduit member.

18. the combination of claim 1 wherein said lock pin includes an abutment face limiting said pin'"'"'s inward radial movement providing radial positioning for said pin at the automatic couple locking of the coupling assembly.

19. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hook and groove formation of the inner conduit member includes an annular recess to receive the lock pin hook and permit said lock pin to annularly move within said recess providing a swivel action of the coupled conduit members.