High pressure plug coupling
First Claim
1. A high pressure plug coupling, comprising:
- a generally hollow, exterior sleeve;
a hollow cylindrical piston slideably disposed within said exterior sleeve;
a split collet assembly connected to said piston and moveable therewith relative to the exterior sleeve, said split collet assembly including a distal end portion that is radially expandable and contractable, and an interior surface of said distal end portion being tapered;
an expansion pin moveably disposed within the collet assembly and the piston for expanding the distal end portion, said expansion pin including an end portion adjacent to said distal end portion, said end portion being engaged with said tapered interior surface when said distal end portion is radially expanded; and
actuating means for actuating said expansion pin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a high pressure plug coupling for providing a quick, fluid tight connection to a fluid port having internal threads. The high pressure plug coupling includes a generally hollow, exterior sleeve, with a hollow cylindrical piston slideably disposed within the exterior sleeve. A split collet assembly is connected to an end of the piston and is moveable therewith relative to the exterior sleeve. The split collet assembly includes a distal end portion that is radially expandable and contractable, with an interior surface of the distal end portion being tapered. An expansion pin is moveably disposed within the collet assembly and the piston for expanding the distal end portion. The expansion pin includes a frustum-shaped end portion adjacent to the distal end portion, with the frustum-shaped end portion being engaged with the tapered interior surface when the distal end portion is radially expanded. The frustum-shaped end portion of the expansion pin acts like a wedge, forcing the collets radially outward and into engagement with the internal threads of the fluid port. Further, since the frustum-shaped end portion is engaged with the tapered surface at the radially expanded state, the force of the pressurized fluid acting on the expansion pin is distributed between the expansion pin and the collets, thus achieving a more durable design and allowing higher pressures.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A high pressure plug coupling, comprising:
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a generally hollow, exterior sleeve; a hollow cylindrical piston slideably disposed within said exterior sleeve; a split collet assembly connected to said piston and moveable therewith relative to the exterior sleeve, said split collet assembly including a distal end portion that is radially expandable and contractable, and an interior surface of said distal end portion being tapered; an expansion pin moveably disposed within the collet assembly and the piston for expanding the distal end portion, said expansion pin including an end portion adjacent to said distal end portion, said end portion being engaged with said tapered interior surface when said distal end portion is radially expanded; and actuating means for actuating said expansion pin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A high pressure plug coupling, comprising:
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an exterior sleeve including a first end opposite from a second end, said exterior sleeve being generally hollow; a hollow cylindrical piston slideably disposed within said exterior sleeve, said piston being slideable relative to said exterior sleeve between a connected position and an activated position; a split collet assembly connected to said piston and moveable therewith relative to the exterior sleeve between the connected position and the activated position, said split collet assembly including a distal end portion extending outward from the first end of the sleeve and having a tapered interior surface, and the distal end portion of said split collet assembly further being radially expandable and contractable; an expansion pin disposed within the collet assembly and the piston, said expansion pin including an end portion adjacent to the distal end portion of said split collet assembly;
said expansion pin being operatively engaged with said piston so as to be moveable with said piston and said split collet assembly between the connected position and the activated position and to be moveable relative to said piston and said split collet assembly between the activated position and a disconnected position;
said end portion of the expansion pin being engaged with the tapered interior surface as said expansion pin moves between the connected and activated positions, and said end portion of the expansion pin being at least partially disengaged from the tapered interior surface when the expansion pin is at the disconnected position; andactuating means adjacent the second end of the sleeve, said actuating means being operatively engaged with said expansion pin to cause movement of said expansion pin from the connected position to the disconnected position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification