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Anti-leak quick action coupler

  • US 5,967,491 A
  • Filed: 10/01/1998
  • Issued: 10/19/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A coupler for receiving a nipple, said coupler comprising a cylindrical body with a first end for receiving a conduit and a second end for receiving a nipple, a partition fluidly separating the first end from the second end and defining first and second cavities, a first radial passage through the body at a first axial location into the first cavity and a second radial passage through the body at a second axial location into the second cavity, a series of locking balls disposed in circumferentially-arranged radial holes in the body toward the second end for engaging and retaining the nipple,a locking sleeve surrounding said coupler body, said locking sleeve including a channel extending circumferentially around an inside surface of said sleeve for receiving the locking balls, said sleeve being axially moveable between a first position where said locking balls are allowed to move radially outward into the channel, and a second position where said locking balls are urged radially inward by said sleeve and can engage the nipple,a spring disposed between a shoulder projecting radially outwardly from the coupler body and a shoulder projecting radially inwardly from the sleeve for normally biasing said sleeve into the first position and for allowing the sleeve to be manually manipulated into said second position,a cylindrical slide valve also surrounding said cylindrical body of said coupler, said slide valve including a channel extending circumferentially around an inside surface of the valve, the valve being axially moveable between a first position where said channel is radially aligned with only the first radial passage and not the second passage to prevent fluid flow through the coupler, and a second position where said channel is radially aligned with both the first and second radial passages to allow fluid flow through the coupler, said slide valve, when in said second position, being engaged by the sleeve when the sleeve is manually manipulated from the second position to the first position to also move said slide valve into the first position.

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