Quick disconnect coupling

• US 5,603,353 A
• Filed: 11/17/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Essman Screw Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Essman Screw Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Paxton, Russell, Clark, Eddie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/560,103
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.03, 137/614.04, 137/614.05, 137/614.06, 137/614.01, 251/149.6, 251/149.9
• US Class Current: 137/614.01
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/36 with two lift valves being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87933 Common joint and valve seat faces, or sections joined by closing members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Abstract

A coupling contains a valve that can be opened or closed to allow refrigerant to pass therethrough. The coupling can be installed onto an air conditioning charging port by sliding a quick disconnect sleeve to a release position along a first end of a valve body. Inside of the valve body is a valve stem that moves between open and closed positions. The valve stem is moved by an actuator sleeve located on a second end of the valve body. The actuator sleeve has a circumferential slot therein. The valve stem cannot be inadvertently opened by fluid pressure because the translational movement of the actuator sleeve and the valve stem is limited by a hose fitting extending through the slot and engaging stop surfaces therein. When the quick disconnect sleeve is in the release position, the actuator sleeve is unable to move the valve stem from the closed position to the open position. When the valve stem is in the open position, the quick disconnect sleeve is prevented from moving to a release position by the actuator sleeve. Thus, the coupling valve cannot be removed from or installed onto a charging port while the valve stem is open.

Claims

1. A quick disconnect coupling for attachment to a charging port, comprising:

a) a valve body having first and second ends, the valve body having a cavity located at the first end, the cavity having a seal, the cavity being structured and arranged for receiving the charging port therein;

b) the first end of the valve body having means for quickly connecting and disconnecting the coupling onto the charging port, the means for quickly connecting and disconnecting having a quick disconnect sleeve located around the first end of the valve body, the quick disconnect sleeve sliding on the valve body between a secure position and a release position, wherein when the quick disconnect sleeve is in the secure position, portions of valve detent balls are forced into the valve body cavity, and when the quick disconnect sleeve is in the release position, the valve detent balls can exit the valve body cavity;

c) the valve body having a bore therein that communicates with the cavity;

d) the valve body having a fluid port therein that communicates with the bore;

e) a conduit coupled to the valve body and extending radially therefrom, the conduit being in communication with the fluid port;

f) a valve stem located in the bore, the valve stem being moveable along a longitudinal axis of the bore, the valve stem having a first end that is located in the cavity and a second end that exits the valve body second end;

g) an actuator sleeve located around the second end of the valve body and being coupled to the second end of the valve stem, the actuator sleeve being slidable along the valve body from the valve body second end, where the actuator sleeve is in a closed position, toward the first end, where the actuator sleeve is an open position, wherein when the actuator sleeve is in the closed position, the valve stem prevents communication between the fluid port and the cavity through the bore, and when the actuator sleeve moves to the open position, the valve stem moves toward the cavity and allows communication between the fluid port and the cavity through the bore;

h) the actuator sleeve having a slot therethrough, the slot receiving a portion of the conduit, the slot having stop surfaces that prevent nonrotational movement of the actuator sleeve between the open and closed positions, the slot extending between the stop surfaces so as to allow the actuator sleeve to be rotated about the valve body and moved between the open and closed positions;

i) a first stop located on the quick disconnect sleeve, which first stop contacts the actuator sleeve when the quick disconnect sleeve is in the release position and the actuator sleeve is moved from the closed position toward the open position, thereby preventing the movement of the actuator sleeve to the open position;

j) a second stop located on the actuator sleeve, which second stop contacts the quick disconnect sleeve when the actuator sleeve is in the open position and the quick disconnect sleeve is moved from the secure position toward the release position, thereby preventing the movement of the quick disconnect sleeve to its release position.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the bore is of a smaller diameter than a diameter of the cavity.

3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the conduit is a hose fitting.

4. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the actuator sleeve has first and second ends, with the second end of the actuator sleeve being adjacent to the second end of the valve body, the second end of the actuator sleeve having an end wall that couples to the valve stem.

5. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the means for quickly connecting and disconnecting comprises a spring that biases the quick disconnect sleeve in the secure position, the spring being located around the valve body and extending between the quick disconnect sleeve and a shoulder on the valve body.

6. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the valve stem is a one piece valve stem.