Quick connection coupling valve assembly

• US 5,494,074 A
• Filed: 03/24/1994
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colder Products Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Colder Products Company (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Meyer, David W., Ramacier, Patrick J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin L.
• Application Number:
  US08/217,453
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 251/284, 251/285, 251/60, 251/149.6, 137/614, 137/614.02, 137/614.03, 137/614.04, 137/614.05, 285/317, 156/73.5
• US Class Current: 137/614.04
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0841 by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/32 at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other

Abstract

A quick connection coupling valve assembly having a poppet member in both a male coupling member and female coupling member, a fluid passageway defined therethrough is opened by engaging the poppet members of the male and female coupling members with each other, the fluid passageway is closed by releasing a spring member to disengage the poppet members from each other. A plurality of longitudinal stops are disposed on an inside wall of the male and female coupling members. The stops limit movement of the poppet members.

Claims

1. A quick connection coupling valve assembly, comprising:

a male coupling member having a front end and a back end, the male coupling member including a housing which reciprocally receives a first poppet member therein and defines a fluid passageway therethrough, the first poppet member being axially movable between an open position and a closed position, the first poppet member having a tip end normally projecting from a front end of the housing when in the closed position, a spring member being compressedly disposed between a back end of the housing and the first poppet member to bias the first poppet member into the closed position, the back end of the male coupling member being connectable to a fluid conduit;

a female coupling member having a front end and a back end, the female coupling member including a housing defining a fluid passageway therethrough having first and second housing portions, the first housing portion reciprocally receiving a second poppet member and the second housing portion receiving the first end of the male coupling member, the second poppet member being axially movable between an open position and a closed position, said second poppet member having a tip end normally projecting from a front end of the first housing portion when in the closed position, a spring member being compressedly disposed between a back end of the first housing portion and the second poppet member to bias the second poppet member into the closed position, the back end of the female coupling member being connectable to a fluid conduit;

a first o-ring is disposed on an outer surface at a front end of the first poppet member and forms a fluid tight seal between the first poppet member and the male coupling housing when the male coupling member is disengaged from the female coupling member;

a second o-ring is disposed on an outer surface at a front end of the second poppet member and forms a fluid tight seal between the second poppet member and the female coupling housing when the male coupling member is disengaged from the female coupling member;

the first and second o-rings forming a maximum diameter at the tip end of the first and second poppet members over which fluid flow is guided; and

clip means proximate the front end of the female coupling member for releasably locking the male coupling member in the female coupling member.

2. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second poppet members each further includes a cylindrical portion where the spring member is received, the spring member being disposed in each of the first and second poppet members such that fluid flow is only through the center of the spring member.

3. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first adaptor is welded to the back end of the housing of the male coupling member, and a second adaptor is welded to the back end of the first housing portion of the female coupling member, at least one flash trap is disposed between one end of the first adaptor and the back end of the male coupling member, and at least one flash trap is disposed between one end of the second adaptor and the back end of the female coupling member the major mating surfaces of the adaptors and the coupling members being bevelled to facilitate movement of flash to the trap.

4. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the clip means includes a one piece clip member and a clip spring member which is disposed between a surface of the female coupling member and a bottom surface of a tab portion of the clip member, the clip spring member being enclosed by the tab portion and at least one vertical wall of the female coupling member.

5. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein the clip member is made of a plastic material.

6. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the clip member includes a lower edge having an inclined surface on a side facing the male coupling member and a vertical surface on a side facing away from the male coupling member, the male coupling member having a circumferential flange having an inclined surface on a side facing the female coupling member and a vertical surface on a side facing away from the female coupling member.

7. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tip end of the first poppet member of the male coupling member is aligned with the tip end of the second poppet member of the female coupling member.

8. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein the tip ends of the first and second poppet members are engageable with each other to open fluid passageways of the male coupling member and the female coupling member when the valve assembly is locked by the clip means.

9. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein the tip ends of the first and second poppet members are disengaged from each other to close the fluid passageways of the male coupling member and the female coupling member when the male coupling member is disconnected from the female coupling member.

10. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a third o-ring is disposed on an outer surface at the front end of the male coupling member and forms a fluid tight seal between the male coupling member and the female coupling member.

11. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including a spring activated clip.

12. A quick connection coupling valve assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first poppet member and the second poppet member each including a truncated member disposed on a back side end, the truncated member tapering axially away from the back side end.