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Coupling apparatus

  • US 5,645,302 A
  • Filed: 04/26/1995
  • Issued: 07/08/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A coupling apparatus comprising a pair of couplers that are to be coupled to each other, wherein:

  • said pair of couplers have substantially the same structure and are complementary to each other;

    said couplers respectively comprising cylindrical bodies having distal end faces that are abutted against each other when said couplers are coupled to each other;

    said cylindrical bodies each including a locking member and a to-be-locked member, said locking member projecting axially from each cylindrical body towards the to-be-locked member of the other cylindrical body when said couplers are in a coupled state, said to-be-locked member being supported for radial movement relative to the respective cylindrical body and being biassed radially inwards to a locking position, said locking members and said to-be-locked members being axially opposed to one another in an arrangement in which in said coupled state said distal end faces of said cylindrical bodies are brought into abutment against each other, said locking members radially displace said to-be-locked members against the radial bias thereof after which said to-be-locked members are biassed radially inwards to said locking positions thereof; and

    disengaging mechanisms on said couplers for displacing said to-be-locking members radially outwards to disengage said to-be-locked members from said locking members and enable the couplers to be uncoupled;

    and wherein said locking members are movable in the axial direction with respect to said cylindrical bodies and comprise elastic means for biasing said locking members to move backward in a direction away from distal ends of said cylindrical bodies; and

    when said couplers are in an uncoupled state, said locking members are moved to a retreat position by said elastic means and distal end portions of said locking members are retained adjacent to said cylindrical bodies; and

    when said pair of couplers are in said coupled state, said locking members are moved forward against a biasing force of said elastic means and engage said to-be-locked members.

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