Quick-connect fluid coupling

• US 4,900,065 A
• Filed: 10/31/1988
• Issued: 02/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DLH Industries Incorporated Canton Ohio
• Original Assignee: Dlh Industries Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houck, Douglas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Callaghan, Thomas F.
• Application Number:
  US07/264,347
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 285/137.1, 285/73, 285/71, 285/65, 285/319
• US Class Current: 285/73
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/098 by means of flexible hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/56 for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/005 for concentric pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/26 Refrigerant piping

Abstract

A quick-connect fluid coupling for fluid conduits includes first and second identical inter-fitting bodies (10, 10'"'"'). Each of said bodies includes barrel portions (14) and sleeve portions (16). The sleeve portions include barrel accepting recesses (34). Each body portion also has a forward projection (48) including an angled ramp (50) and a step (52) and an opposed U-shaped latch (54). The body also has tubing accepting bores (26, 42) which accept ends of fluid conduit tubes. First and second fluid passages (30,46) extend through the body to the barrel portion and barrel accepting recess respectively. When the bodies are joined in opposed inter-fitting relations, the barrel portions on the first body are accepted into the barrel accepting recesses on the second body and vice versa. The step on the forward projection on the first body catches in the U-shaped latch on the second body and vice versa to hold the bodies together. The bodies forming the coupling are readily separable by depressing the forward projections and pulling the bodies apart.

Claims

1. A coupling for simultaneously joining a plurality of fluid conduits including:

(a) first and second identical bodies, each of said bodies being an integral one-piece member having a base and at least two parallel hollow barrel portions extending outwardly in a first direction from a first side of said first base and at least two hollow sleeve portions formed on said base and having barrel accepting recesses on said first side of the base whereby on joining of the first and second bodies each of the barrel portions of said first body are accepted by a slip-fit engagement into a respective barrel accepting recess of said second body and each of said barrel portions of said second body are accepted into a respective barrel accepting recess of said first body by a slip-fit engagement for individually placing each of a first plurality of fluid conduits adapted to be connected to the base of the first body, in fluid connection through said coupling to individual fluid conduits of a second plurality of fluid conduits adapted to be connected to the base of the second body;

(b) a plurality of individual conduit accepting means formed on a second side of each of he bases of the first and second bodies, each of which is formed with an individual bore communicating with the respective barrel portion and sleeve portion on said base, to provide individual fluid paths through said bodies for each of the conduits;

(c) latching means formed integrally with the first and second bodies for holding the bodies together in interfitting relationship; and

(d) separate sealing means for sealing the barrel portions in their respective barrel accepting recesses in a fluid type relationship.

2. The coupling according to claim 1 wherein the sealing means is formed of a different material than that of the material of the first and second bodies.

3. The coupling according to claim 1 wherein said latching means comprises on each of said first and second bodies, a forward projection extending in said first direction on the first side of said body, and a projection accepting latch on the second side of said body, said second side of said body opposite said first side, whereby said forward projection on said first body is accepted into said latch on said second body and said forward projection on said second body being accepted into said latch on said first body.

4. The coupling according to claim 3 and further comprising a step on each of said forward projections on said first and second bodies, whereby said step extends through said latch to hold said bodies together in inter-fitting relation.

5. The coupling according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means in each of said bodies comprises an O-ring positioned in each of said barrel accepting recesses.

6. The coupling according to claim 5 and further comprising a slot in each of said barrel accepting recesses for holding said O-ring.

7. The coupling according to claim 1 wherein said barrel portions are aligned and in spaced relation along a first line, said first line intersecting and perpendicular to a first axis of each barrel portion;

and said sleeve portions being aligned and in spaced relation along a second line, said second line parallel of said first line, said second line intersecting and perpendicular of a second axis of each sleeve portion.

8. The coupling according to claim 7 wherein each barrel portion is aligned with a barrel accepting recess along a third line, said third line perpendicular to said first and second lines.

9. The coupling according to claim 1 wherein said barrel portions and said sleeve portions are of generally equal length.

10. The coupling according to claim 9 wherein said barrel portion is cylindrical and is surrounded by a clearance area, and said clearance area accepts said sleeve portion of said second body when said first and second bodies are in inter-fitting relation.

11. The coupling according to claim 1 wherein said bodies are made of vinyl plastic material.