Hose coupling unit for refrigerant system
First Claim
1. A coupling unit adapted for connecting a flexible evacuation hose and/or refrigerant supply hose to an air conditioning or refrigeration system having a valve fitting enclosing a normally closed movable valve stem, said coupling unit comprising a body defining a chamber and having an axis, manually actuated coupler means for releasably connecting said body to the valve fitting, a valve member supported within said chamber for axial movement, said valve member being movable between a retracted position and an extended position where said valve member is effective to open the valve stem within the valve fitting when said body is connected to the fitting, a manual actuating lever supported by said body for movement between a released position and a locked position, means connecting said actuating lever to said valve member and effective to move said valve member between said retracted and extended positions in response to movement of said actuating lever between said released and locked positions, said actuating lever including spaced side portions receiving said body therebetween, a pair of opposing cam members rotatably supported by said body and having corresponding eccentric cam portions engaging said valve member, and interlock means for blocking operation of said coupler means when said actuating lever is in said locked position to avoid disconnecting said coupling unit from the valve fitting when said valve member is in said extended position and the valve stem is open.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One end section of a three section tubular coupling body is connected to a flexible hose, and the opposite end section supports a manually actuated coupler for releasably locking the body to a valve fitting of an air conditioning or refrigeration system. A valve member is supported within the body for axial movement between an extended open position and a retracted closed position. In its extended position, the valve member opens a valve stem within the fitting and opens a flow valve within the body. In its retracted position, the valve member closes the fitting valve and the flow valve. A manually actuated lever is connected by rotary cam members to move the valve member and is effective to block disconnection of the coupler when the valve member is in its extended open position and to lock the valve member in its retracted closed position.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A coupling unit adapted for connecting a flexible evacuation hose and/or refrigerant supply hose to an air conditioning or refrigeration system having a valve fitting enclosing a normally closed movable valve stem, said coupling unit comprising a body defining a chamber and having an axis, manually actuated coupler means for releasably connecting said body to the valve fitting, a valve member supported within said chamber for axial movement, said valve member being movable between a retracted position and an extended position where said valve member is effective to open the valve stem within the valve fitting when said body is connected to the fitting, a manual actuating lever supported by said body for movement between a released position and a locked position, means connecting said actuating lever to said valve member and effective to move said valve member between said retracted and extended positions in response to movement of said actuating lever between said released and locked positions, said actuating lever including spaced side portions receiving said body therebetween, a pair of opposing cam members rotatably supported by said body and having corresponding eccentric cam portions engaging said valve member, and interlock means for blocking operation of said coupler means when said actuating lever is in said locked position to avoid disconnecting said coupling unit from the valve fitting when said valve member is in said extended position and the valve stem is open.
- 7. A coupling unit adapted for connecting a flexible evacuation hose and/or refrigerant supply hose to an air conditioning or refrigeration system having a valve fitting enclosing a normally closed movable valve stem, said coupling unit comprising a tubular body defining a chamber having an axis, manually actuated coupler means for releasably connecting said body to the valve fitting, means forming an annular valve seat within said body at one end of said chamber, a valve member supported within said chamber for axial movement, said valve member being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, said valve member having a projecting pin portion effective to open the valve stem within the valve fitting when said body is connected to the fitting and said valve member is in said extended position, a manual actuating member supported by said body for movement between a released position and a locked position, means connecting said actuating member to said valve member and effective to move said valve member between said retracted and extended positions in response to movement of said actuating member between said released and locked positions, said valve member defining an axially extending fluid passage connected to said chamber by a plurality of radially extending ports located adjacent a rearward end portion of said valve member, said valve seat including a resilient washer-like member supported by said body, said rearward end portion of said valve member engaging said resilient member when said valve member is in said retracted position and said actuating member is in said released position to prevent flow through said chamber, and interlock means for blocking operation of said coupler means when said actuating member is in said locked position to avoid disconnecting said coupling unit from the valve fitting when said valve member is in said extended position and the valve stem is open.
- 11. A coupling unit adapted for connecting a flexible evacuation hose and/or refrigerant supply hose to an air conditioning or refrigeration system having a valve fitting enclosing a normally closed movable valve stem, said coupling unit comprising a tubular body having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion and defining a chamber having an axis, manually actuated coupler means on said forward end portion of said body for releasably connecting said body to the valve fitting, said rearward end portion of said tubular body defining an axially extending passage for receiving a fluid line, means forming an annular valve seat within said rearward end portion of said body around said passage, an elongated tubular valve member supported within said chamber for axial movement, said valve member being movable axially between a retracted position and an extended position, said valve member having a forwardly projecting pin portion effective to open the valve stem within the valve fitting when said body is connected to the fitting and said valve member is in said extended position, a manual actuating member supported by said body for movement between a released position and a locked position, means extending through said body and connecting said actuating member to said tubular valve member and effective to move said valve member axially between said retracted and extended positions in response to movement of said actuating member between said released and locked positions, said tubular valve member defining an axially extending fluid passage and having a rearward end portion with port means connecting said passage to said chamber, and said rearward end portion of said valve member engages said valve seat when said valve member is in said retracted position and said actuating member is in said released position to prevent flow through said passages and said chamber.
- 14. A coupling unit adapted for connecting a flexible evacuation hose and/or refrigerant supply hose to an air conditioning or refrigeration system having a valve fitting enclosing a normally closed movable valve stem, said coupling unit comprising a tubular body defining a chamber having an axis, manually actuated coupler means for releasably connecting said body to the valve fitting, a valve member supported within said chamber for axial movement, said valve member being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, said valve member having a projecting portion effective to open the valve stem within the valve fitting when said body is connected to the fitting and said valve member is in said extended position, a manual actuating lever having spaced side walls receiving said body therebetween and movable between a released position and a locked position, a pair of cam members supported for rotation by said body and connected to said side walls of said actuating lever, said cam members having eccentric portions engaging said valve member, and said cam members being effective to move said valve member between said retracted and extended positions in response to rotation of said cam members and movement of said actuating lever between said released and locked positions.
Specification