Farm coupling including a vent valve

• US 5,937,899 A
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc. (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Zeiber, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/037,461
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.04, 137/614.05, 137/614.03, 137/614, 251/149.6, 285/924
• US Class Current: 137/614
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/32 at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• 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: Y10S 285/924 Vented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87925 Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Abstract

A coupling comprising a male portion and a female portion wherein the female portion comprises: a housing, an inner body member positioned within the housing and slidable relative thereto, a relief valve positioning member, a piston residing intermediate the relief valve positioning member and the inner body member and slidable relative to the positioning member and the inner body member, and a valve. The housing includes a first port and a second port. The inner body member includes a port communicating with the first port of the housing. The relief valve positioning member includes a relief valve. The piston includes an interior, an exterior, and a passageway interconnecting the interior of the piston and the exterior of the piston. The valve slidably engages the piston and seats against the inner body member. The male portion of the coupling engages the inner body of the female portion. A chamber is formed between the piston and the relief valve positioning member which, when pressurized, results in the movement of the positioning member when the inner member is moved leftwardly during coupling with the male portion. Movement of the inner body of the female portion moves the relief valve positioning member axially away from the male member opening the relief valve and venting the female member through the second port of the housing of the female member.

Claims

1. A coupling comprising a male half and a female half;

said female half includes a body and a movable inner body member;

a relief valve positioning member affixed to said inner body member;

a vent valve in said relief valve positioning member;

said male half urging said movable inner body, said positioning member and said vent valve rearwardly;

said vent valve engaging said body of said female half and venting said female half of said coupling enabling coupling of said male and female halves of said coupling.

2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vent valve is a tire valve.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 further comprising locking means for locking said male and female halves of said coupling together.

4. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said female half includes a locking sleeve;

said inner body member includes apertures;

a locking ball;

said locking balls residing partially in said apertures;

a spring operable between said body of said female half and said locking sleeve urging said locking sleeve frontwardly;

said locking sleeve movable rearwardly along with said inner body member when venting said female half of said coupling after said coupling is coupled.

5. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 further comprising cam means for venting said female half of said coupling.

6. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said female half further includes a cam;

a rotating arm;

said cam affixed to said rotating arm; and

said cam engageable with said vent valve.

7. A coupling comprising a male half and a female half;

said female half includes;

a body and an inner body member, said inner body member movable within said body member, a vent valve positioning member affixed to said inner body member;

a vent valve in said vent valve positioning member, a movable piston, a spring spacer, a first spring operable between said spring spacer and said vent valve, a second spring operable between said spring spacer and said piston, a chamber formed between said piston and said relief valve positioning member, said piston includes a passageway, a female valve movable relative to said piston, and, said body includes an inlet port and a vent port;

said male half of said coupling engages and urges said inner body member and said relief valve positioning member rearwardly; and

, said vent valve engages said body of said female member and vents said chamber permitting said female valve to open and said piston to move rearwardly.

8. A coupling as claimed in claim 7 wherein the female half further comprises locking means for locking said male and female halves together.