Coupling for a spray apparatus

• US 5,984,266 A
• Filed: 02/11/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Inventors: Kotake, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/021,836
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 251/149.1, 251/149.6, 251/143, 285/316
• US Class Current: 251/149.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/00 Joints with fluid cut-off means quick-acting joints with cut-off means F16L37/28

Abstract

A coupling disposed in a pneumatic hammer and for removably connecting a spray can to a plug body for connecting a fluid conduit is provided. The coupling is provided with a socket body having a first end portion, a second end portion and an axial hole open in the first and second end portions, a locking mechanism provided in the first end portion end of the socket body and releasably locking and engaging with the plug body, and a mounting member attached to the second end portion of the socket body in such a manner as to freely slide to an axial direction. The mounting member attaches the socket body to the spray can in a removable manner. Further, the coupling is provided with a pressing portion axially projecting from the second end portion of the socket body, the pressing portion being brought into contact with the front end portion of the nozzle when the spray can is axially pressed toward the second end portion of the socket body, thereby pressing the nozzle to the container portion end of the spray can.

Claims

1. A coupling for detachably connecting a plug body, being provided on a fluidic apparatus in order to connect the fluidic apparatus to a fluid tube, and having an outer peripheral groove and an axial hole, with a spray apparatus which includes a container portion for receiving a fluid, a nozzle having a front end portion projecting from the container portion and being urged toward the front end portion, a normally closed valve disposed in an open position for opening an inner portion of the container portion, and any fluid contained therein, to an outer environment through the nozzle when the nozzle is pressed toward the container portion, and a spray end portion projecting from the container portion adjacent said nozzle, the coupling comprising:

a socket body having a first end portion, a second end portion and an axial hole open in the first and second end portions;

a releasable locking mechanism provided in the first end portion of said socket body, for lockingly engaging through the groove of said plug body and communicating the axial hole in the socket body with the axial hole in the plug body;

a mounting member attached to the second end portion of said socket body in such a manner as to freely slide to an axial direction, said mounting member having a front end portion which projects in the axial direction from the second end portion of the socket body and engages with the spray end portion of said spray apparatus so as to attach the socket body to the spray apparatus in a removable manner; and

a pressing portion axially projecting from the second end portion of the socket body, said pressing portion being brought into contact with the front end portion of said nozzle when the spray apparatus is axially pressed toward the second end portion of the socket body, thereby pressing the nozzle to the container portion end of the spray apparatus.

2. A coupling according to claim 1, further comprising a spring attached to the second end portion of said socket body and urging said mounting member to the front end portion.

3. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said mounting member has at least one axially extending slit having substantially a cylindrical shape and capable of elastically changing a diameter of the front end portion and a locking projection portion projecting radially from the front end portion so as to be locked in the spray end portion of said spray apparatus.

4. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said pressing portion is provided with an outlet and inlet port communicating with said axial hole and having a circular cone surface, and the circular cone surface in the outlet and inlet port can be sealed and engaged with the front end portion of said nozzle in a fluid sealing manner.

5. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said socket body has a guide portion axially projecting from the second end portion and axially guiding the mounting member, and a stopper formed in the front end portion of the guide portion and locking the mounting member urged by the spring.

6. A coupling according to claim 5, wherein said stopper is disposed at a position in which the nozzle of the spray apparatus and the pressing portion are separated and the mounting member urged by the spring is locked.

7. A coupling according to claim 1, further comprising a seal member disposed within the socket body and sealing between the plug body and the socket body in a fluid sealing manner.

8. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said socket body comprises a cylindrical portion at the first end portion thereof, and said locking mechanism has at least one long hole formed in the cylindrical portion, at least one locking member capable of moving in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion through the long hole, and an operation sleeve attached on the cylindrical portion in such a manner as to axially move and preventing the locking member from moving outward in the radial direction when the locking member moves inward in the radial direction, and the inner end portion of the locking member in the radial direction can be fitted into the outer peripheral groove of the plug body.

9. A coupling according to claim 8, wherein said locking mechanism is attached on said cylindrical portion and has a lock ring preventing the operating sleeve from moving from a position preventing a movement of the locking member outward in the radial direction.

10. A coupling according to claim 8, wherein said locking mechanism is provided with an inner sleeve slidably disposed within the cylindrical portion, and the inner sleeve is disposed at a position in which the inner end portion of said locking member in the radial direction is prevented from projecting within the cylindrical member when the coupling is not attached to the plug body and can be moved from the position by the plug body.

11. A coupling according to claim 10, wherein said operating sleeve and the inner sleeve are urged toward the direction apart from the second end portion of the socket body.

12. A coupling according to claim 8, wherein said cylindrical portion is integrally formed with the socket body.