Fluid coupling plug

• US 6,450,545 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: LeMay, Paul Edward, Glodowski, Blaine, Hackett, Troy Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M.
• Application Number:
  US09/790,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 285/93, 285/316
• US Class Current: 285/93
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/00 Special arrangements for pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/10 Indicators for correct coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0887 with an axially movable separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0982 with a separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/914 Irreversible

Abstract

A fluid coupling includes various features. One feature is a disconnect tool that may expand a lock ring from engagement with a lock shoulder to permit the male half and female half to be separated. Another feature is to utilize geometry and structure whereby a leak would occur to indicate the condition of wear within the coupling while the coupling halves remain mechanically coupled. A further feature is to provide connection verification structure to assure that a complete connection of the male and female halves has been made. A still further feature is to provide an anti-rotational sleeve which would selectively prevent and permit relative rotation between the male half and the female half.

Claims

1. A fluid coupling comprising a female half and a male half, said female half having a longitudinal bore extending completely therethrough for the passage of fluid through said female half, a sealing ring peripherally mounted at the inner surface of said bore of said female half, a split lock ring biased to a closed position mounted in a peripheral groove in said inner surface of said bore of said female half and longitudinally spaced from said sealing ring, said male half including a longitudinal bore extending comnpletely therethrough in flow communication with said female half bore when said female half and said male half are coupled together, said male half having a nipple at its forward end for insertion into said bore of said female half, said nipple having an outer surface, a peripheral portion of said outer surface being a sealing surface for being peripherally contacted by said sealing ring when said female half and said male half are coupled together, an outwardly extending barb on said outer surface of said nipple, a tapered forward ramp at one end of said barb for expanding said lock ring when said nipple is inserted into said bore of said female half to permit said lock ring to ride up said forward ramp and over said barb during insertion movement of said nipple into said female half, said barb having a locking shoulder remote from said forward ramp for engagement by said lock ring when said lock ring has passed over said barb to lock said male half to said female half, at least one hole being in said female half in radial communication with said groove for said lock ring, an indicator member mounted in said hole, said indicator member being in contact with said lock ring, said indicator member being urged by said lock ring to extend partially beyond an outer surface portion of said female half when said lock ring is located at an outer surface between said ramp and said shoulder of said barb, said indicator member extending no further than said outer surface portion of said female half when said lock ring is against said locking shoulder in a locking condition, a verification sleeve slidably mounted on said female half, said indicator member being selectively in the path of motion of said verification sleeve whereby said indicator member acts as a stop for said verification sleeve when said indicator member partially extends beyond said outer surface portion of said female half to indicate that said female half and said male half are not coupled together, and said indicator member permitting said verification sleeve to pass over said indicator member when said lock ring is in its locking condition with said indicator member not extending beyond said outer surface portion of said female half to indicate that said female half and said male half are coupled together.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said holes are in said female half, an indicator member being in each of said holes, and said indicator members being in the form of spherical balls.

3. The coupling of claim 2 wherein said male half includes a detent for receiving the lead edge of said verification sleeve when said coupling is in its pressurized position.