Rigid mount, breakaway coupling

• US 6,283,151 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Hiser, Nicholas R., Countryman, Kevin E., Magnuson, Ruel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/783,483
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.05, 137/614.06, 137/614, 137/614.04, 137/614.03, 285/1
• US Class Current: 137/614.04
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/413 the lift valve being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve being telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87925 Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87973 Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator

Abstract

A coupling includes a male half and a female half, where the female half has a fitting rigidly fixed to a stationary member such as an agricultural tractor. The male half can be coupled within the female half. When the male and female halves are coupled together, a valve assembly in the female half allows fluid flow through the coupling. When the male half is pulled out of the female half, the male half automatically disconnects from the female half. When the male half is removed, the valve assembly closes to prevent fluid flow through the coupling. The male half also automatically disconnects when the fluid pressure in the fluid system increases above a predetermined amount. In either case, a coupler body within the fitting moves against a centering spring to allow the male half to be removed from the female half. The selection of an appropriate centering spring determines the breakaway and overpressure release force. The male half can also be uncoupled from the female coupling half by manual manipulation of a locking collar.

Claims

1. A female coupling half, comprising

i) a fitting having a cylindrical body and attachment means at a rear end of the body for rigidly attaching the fitting to a stationary device, ii) a locking collar axially moveable relative to the fitting at a front end of the fitting body, the locking collar including a ball groove formed on an inner surface that can receive locking balls, iii) a collar spring urging the locking collar forwardly in the fitting, iv) a cylindrical coupler body axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the fitting body, said coupler body having a series of locking ball openings toward a front end, v) a series of locking balls received in the locking ball openings in the coupler body, vi) a centering spring urging the coupler body rearward in the fitting such that the ball groove in the locking collar is normally axially aligned with the locking balls and the locking balls are received in the ball groove, and vii) a valve assembly axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the coupler body;

the valve assembly moveable rearwardly in the female half, and the locking balls, when the valve assembly is moved rearwardly, moveable radially inward by the locking collar; and

the coupler body moveable against the centering spring such that the locking balls can become axially aligned with the ball groove in the locking collar and the locking balls can be urged radially outward into the ball groove in the locking collar.

2. The coupling half as in claim 1, wherein said coupler body includes an annular flange at one end defining a first spring stop for the centering spring.

3. The coupling half as in claim 2, wherein a retaining ring is provided internally to the fitting and defines a second spring stop for the centering spring.

4. The coupling half as in claim 3, wherein the retaining ring also defines a spring stop for the collar spring.

5. The coupling half as in claim 1, wherein the valve assembly has an annular flat iron face.

6. A female coupling half, comprising:

i) a fitting having a cylindrical body and an attachment device at a rear end of the fitting, ii) a locking collar axially moveable relative to the fitting at a front end of the fitting body, the locking collar including a ball groove formed on an inner surface that can receive locking balls, iii) a collar spring urging the locking collar forwardly in the fitting, iv) a cylindrical coupler body axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the fitting body, said coupler body having a series of locking ball openings toward a front end, v) a series of locking balls received in the locking ball openings in the coupler body, vi) a centering spring urging the coupler body rearward in the fitting such that the ball groove in the locking collar is normally axially aligned with the locking balls and the locking balls are received in the ball groove, vii) a face sleeve axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the coupler body, said face sleeve including a cylindrical body with a front face engageable with a male coupling half, viii) a sleeve spring urging the face sleeve forwardly in the fitting, ix) a retainer sleeve received in the face sleeve, the retainer sleeve having a cylindrical body fixed relative to the fitting, x) a sealing sleeve axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the retainer sleeve, and xi) a valve body received in the sealing sleeve and also fixed relative to the fitting, the valve body having a front end normally in sealing engagement with the sealing sleeve;

the face sleeve moveable rearwardly in the fitting and cooperating with the sealing sleeve to move the sealing sleeve rearwardly in the fitting and out of sealing engagement with the valve body, and the locking balls, when the face sleeve is moved rearwardly, moveable radially inward by the locking collar; and

the coupler body moveable against the centering spring such that the locking ball openings can become axially aligned with the ball groove in the locking collar and the locking balls can be urged radially outward into the ball groove in the locking collar.

7. The coupling half as in claim 6, wherein said coupler body includes an annular flange at one end defining a first spring stop for the centering spring.

8. The coupling half as in claim 7, wherein a retaining ring is provided internally to the fitting and defines a second spring stop for the centering spring.

9. The coupling half as in claim 8, wherein the retaining ring also defines a spring stop for the collar spring.

10. The coupling half as in claim 6, wherein the face sleeve has an annular flat front face.

11. A coupling having a male half and a female half,

the male half including a cylindrical valve with a flat front face, and a locking groove formed on an outer surface of the cylindrical valve toward the front face;

and

the female half including i) a fitting having a cylindrical body and attachment means at a rear end of the fitting for rigidly attaching the fitting to a stationary device, ii) a locking collar axially moveable relative to the fitting at a front end of the fitting body, the locking collar including a ball groove formed on an inner surface that can receive locking balls, iii) a collar spring urging the locking collar forwardly in the fitting, iv) a cylindrical coupler body axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the fitting body, said coupler body having a series of locking ball openings toward a front end, v) a series of locking balls received in the locking ball openings in the coupler body, vi) a centering spring urging the coupler body rearward in the fitting such that the ball groove in the locking collar is normally axially aligned with the locking balls and the locking balls are received in the ball groove, and vii) a valve assembly axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the coupler body, said valve assembly engageable with the front face of the male half when the male half is inserted into the female half;

the male half moving the valve assembly rearwardly in the female half when the male half is inserted into the female half, and the locking balls, when the valve assembly is moved rearwardly, becoming axially aligned with the locking groove in the cylindrical valve such that the locking balls can be urged radially inward by the locking collar into the locking groove in the cylindrical valve to couple the male half to the female half; and

the male half, when pulled outwardly from the female half, moving the coupler body against the centering spring such that the locking ball openings become axially aligned with the ball groove in the locking collar and the cylindrical valve of the male half urging the locking balls radially outward into the ball groove in the locking collar such that the male half is uncoupled from the female half and can be removed from the female half.

12. The coupling as in claim 11, wherein said coupler body includes an annular flange at one end defining a first spring stop for the centering spring.

13. The coupling as in claim 12, wherein a retaining ring is provided internally to the fitting and defines a second spring stop for the centering spring.

14. The coupling as in claim 13, wherein the cylindrical valve has an annular flat front face, and the cylindrical valve has a corresponding annular flat front face.

15. The coupling as in claim 11, wherein the retaining ring also defines a spring stop for the collar spring.

16. A coupling having a male half and a female half,

the male half including a cylindrical valve with a front face, and a locking groove formed on an outer surface of the cylindrical valve toward the front face;

and

the female half including i) a fitting having a cylindrical body and an attachment device at a rear end of the fitting, ii) a locking collar axially moveable relative to the fitting at a front end of the fitting body, the locking collar including a ball groove formed on an inner surface that can receive locking balls, iii) a collar spring urging the locking collar forwardly in the fitting, iv) a cylindrical coupler body axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the fitting body, said coupler body having a series of locking ball openings toward a front end, v) a series of locking balls received in the locking ball openings in the coupler body, vi) a centering spring urging the coupler body rearward in the fitting such that the ball groove in the locking collar is normally axially aligned with the locking balls and the locking balls are received in the ball groove, vii) a face sleeve axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the coupler body, said face sleeve including a cylindrical body with a front face engageable with the front face of the male half when the male half is inserted into the female half, viii) a sleeve spring urging the face sleeve forwardly in the fitting, ix) a retainer sleeve received in the face sleeve, the retainer sleeve having a cylindrical body fixed relative to the fitting, x) a sealing sleeve axially moveable relative to the fitting received in the retainer sleeve, and xi) a valve body received in the sealing sleeve and also fixed relative to the fitting, the valve body having a front end normally in sealing engagement with the sealing sleeve;

the male half moving the face sleeve rearwardly in the fitting when the male half is inserted into the female half, the face sleeve cooperating with the sealing sleeve and moving the sealing sleeve rearwardly in the fitting and out of sealing engagement with the valve body when the male half is inserted in the female half, and the locking balls, when the face sleeve is moved rearwardly, becoming axially aligned with the locking groove in the cylindrical valve such that the locking balls can be urged radially inward by the locking collar into the locking groove in the cylindrical valve to couple the male half to the female half; and

the male half, when pulled outwardly from the female half, moving the coupler body against the centering spring such that the locking balls become axially aligned with the ball groove in the locking collar and the cylindrical valve of the male half urging the locking balls radially outward into the ball groove in the locking collar such that the male half is uncoupled from the female half and can be removed from the female half.

17. The coupling as in claim 16, wherein said coupler body includes an annular flange at one end defining a first spring stop for the centering spring.

18. The coupling as in claim 17, wherein a retaining ring is provided internally to the fitting and defines a second spring stop for the centering spring.

19. The coupling as in claim 18, wherein the retaining ring also defines a spring stop for the collar spring.

20. The coupling as in claim 16, wherein the cylindrical valve has an annular flat front face, and the face sleeve has a corresponding annular flat front face.