Low spill high flow quick coupling valve assembly

• US 6,161,578 A
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colder Products Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Colder Products Company (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Braun, Thomas Anthony, Blenkush, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US09/227,419
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.03, 137/614.04
• US Class Current: 137/614.03
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0841 by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/34 at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve is telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/35 at least one of the valves having an axial bore
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other

Abstract

A high flow low spill quick coupling valve assembly is used to connect to pressurized, large diameter fluid lines. The valve assembly includes a female coupling and a male coupling, each of which defines a fluid passageway. The female coupling fluid passageway is normally closed by a female coupling valve. The female coupling valve is normally biased into a close position by a female coupling spring which is isolated from the female coupling fluid passageway. The male coupling fluid passageway is normally closed by a male coupling valve. The male coupling valve is normally biased into a close position by a male coupling spring which is isolated from the male coupling fluid passageway. Both male and female coupling valves are fluid pressure balanced to minimize the connecting force and opening force. The male coupling is inserted into the female coupling and is engaged with the female coupling to open the fluid passageways. A vent conduit vents the internal air pressure between inside and outside of the coupling valve assembly. The fluid spillage or leakage is minimized. The male coupling further includes an insert seat which forms an internal groove. All spring members in the valve assembly are isolated from contact with the fluid media.

Claims

1. A coupling valve assembly, comprising:

a female coupling defining a female coupling fluid passageway therethrough, the female coupling including a female valve which is normally biased into a closed position by a female coupling spring so as to close the female coupling fluid passageway;

a male coupling defining a male coupling fluid passageway therethrough, the male coupling including a male valve which is normally biased into a closed position by a male coupling spring so as to close the male coupling fluid passageway;

a clip coupling/decoupling the male coupling and the female coupling so as to open/close the fluid passageways; and

a plurality of seals defining fluid pressurized areas, each of the plurality of seals having a sealing diameter, three of the seals being disposed in the female coupling, and two of the plurality of seals being disposed in the male coupling, the sealing diameter of one of the seals in the female coupling being the same as the sealing diameter of one of the seals in the male coupling, the sealing diameter of the other two seals in the female coupling being the same as the sealing diameter of the other one seal in the male coupling, the seals being arranged and configured such that a fluid pressure balance within the male and female couplings in a coupled state is provided.

2. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the female coupling spring is isolated from the female coupling fluid passageway.

3. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the male coupling spring is isolated from the male coupling fluid passageway.

4. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the clip, the female coupling, and the male coupling are made of plastic such that fluid flowing in the fluid passageway is not exposed to metal.

5. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a vent conduit passing through the male coupling to vent air pressure between inside of the coupling valve assembly and outside of the coupling valve assembly so that the air pressure between the outside and inside of the coupling valve assembly is equalized.

6. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a female coupling fluid conduit adaptor, which is mounted on the female coupling, to connect the female coupling to a fluid line.

7. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a male coupling fluid conduit adaptor, which is mounted on the male coupling, to connect the male coupling to a fluid line.

8. A coupling valve assembly, comprising:

a female coupling defining a female coupling fluid passageway therethrough, the female coupling including a female valve which is normally biased into a closed position by a female coupling spring so as to close the female coupling fluid passageway;

a male coupling defining a male coupling fluid passageway therethrough, the male coupling including a male valve which is normally biased into a closed position by a male coupling spring so as to close the male coupling fluid passageway;

a clip coupling/decoupling the male coupling and the female coupling so as to open/close the fluid passageways; and

a fluid pressure balance mechanism to reduce fluid pressurized areas on the male and female couplings, wherein the fluid pressure balance mechanism comprises;

the female coupling including a first movable piston, in an uncoupled state, the first movable piston being sealed by a first seal having a first sealing diameter and a second seal having a second sealing diameter which is smaller than the first sealing diameter, an internal fluid pressure exerting a force on a first annular area of the first movable piston which is defined between the first and second sealing diameters;

the male coupling including a second movable piston, in an uncoupled state, the second movable piston being sealed by a third seal having a third sealing diameter and a fourth seal having a fourth sealing diameter which is smaller than the third sealing diameter, an internal pressure exerting a force on a second annular area of the second movable piston which is defined between the third and fourth sealing diameters, and the first sealing diameter being the same as the third sealing diameter, the second sealing diameter being the same as the fourth sealing diameter; and

wherein when the female and male couplings are coupled in the coupled state, the first movable piston is sealed by the first seal and the third seal such that the first movable piston is pressure balanced under an internal fluid pressure, and the second movable piston is sealed by a fifth seal and the fourth seal such that the second movable piston is pressure balanced under the internal fluid pressure, the fifth seal has the same sealing diameter as the second seal.

9. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the female coupling includes a fluid passageway and a spring biased against the first movable piston of the female coupling, the first movable piston is movable in the fluid passageway, the spring is isolated from the fluid passageway.

10. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the male coupling includes a fluid passageway and a spring biased against the second movable piston of the male coupling, the second movable piston is movable in the fluid passageway, the spring is isolated from the fluid passageway.

11. A coupling valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of the seals is a quad-ring.