Coupling device

• US 6,183,020 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Luft, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US09/154,004
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 285/39, 285/93, 285/321, 285/308
• US Class Current: 285/93
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/10 Indicators for correct coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/80 Dust covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0887 with an axially movable separate member for releasing the coupling

Abstract

This invention relates to a coupling device to connect two tubular elements, preferably a hose with a tube, with one male coupling element (3) and one female coupling element (5) that are formed so that they can be inserted in one another and can be locked by means of an expandable split clip (33). An axially movable release device (35) interacts with the split clip to release the lock. The invention is characterized by the fact that the release device (35) has an indicator element which indicates a connection between the two coupling elements (3, 5).

Claims

1. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another and by the fact that said indicator element includes at least one indicator pin which is held by said release device and axially displacable relative thereto upon connection of said male and female coupling elements, said indicator pin contacting with said end surface of said female coupling element.

2. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another and by the fact that said indictor element comprises an indicator ring located in a defined position on said male coupling element positioned to be axially displaced from said defined position by said release device upon connection of said male and female coupling elements.

3. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another and said indicator element comprises a marking provided on the end surface of said female coupling element, said marking positioned to be least partly covered by said annular sealing element when said male and female coupling elements are connected.

4. A coupling device as claimed in claim 3, characterized by the fact that said marking is a color marking which is a different color from said sealing element or said end surface.

5. A coupling device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that said marking is in the form of a rind on the end surface of said female coupling element.

6. A coupling device as claimed in claim 3, characterized by the fact that said marking is an insert located in a groove formed in said end surface.

7. A coupling device as claimed in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the groove is in the form of a snap-ring groove.

8. A coupling device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized by the fact that said insert is in the form of a plastic part.

9. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another and said indicator element comprises an indicator ring located in a groove of said male coupling element positioned so that said indicator ring is axially displaced from said groove by said release device upon connection of said male and female coupling elements.

10. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another and said indicator element comprises an indicator ring located in a groove of said male coupling element positioned so that said indicator ring is axially displaced from said groove by said release device and said second sealing element is in a seal-creating radial contact with said groove upon connection of said male and female coupling elements.

11. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another, said release device having a first segment with an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said female coupling element and a second longitudinal segment with an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the female coupling element, said second longitudinal segment having a projection that extends radially and interacts as a snap-in element with a groove provided in the female coupling element so that said the sealing element is pressed against the end surface of said female coupling element.

12. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another, said release device having a first segment with an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said female coupling element and a second longitudinal segment with an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the female coupling element, said second longitudinal segment being expandable radially.

13. A coupling device comprising a male coupling element and a female coupling element having an open end sized to receive said male coupling element and an end surface adjacent said open end, an expandable split clip for locking said male coupling element in engagement with said female coupling element and an axially moveable release device which interacts with the split clip to release said male coupling element from said engagement, said release device including an indicator element which indicates a connection between the male and female coupling elements characterized in that said release device comprises an annular sealing element which engages said end surface of the female coupling element when said male and female coupling elements are connected to one another, said release device having a first segment with an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said female coupling element and a second longitudinal segment with an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the female coupling element, said second longitudinal segment having slots that run in the axial direction.