Fluid coupling plug

• US 6,969,093 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• 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: Glodowski, Blaine, Hackett, Troy Eugene, LeMay, Paul Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M.
• Application Number:
  US10/794,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 285/913, 285/914, 285/330, 285/331, 285/354, 285/86
• US Class Current: 285/86
• 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, said female half having an inner surface at said longitudinal bore, sealing structure at said inner surface of said female half, locking structure at said inner surface of said female half, said male half having a longitudinal bore extending completely therethrough in flow communication with said longitudinal bore of said female half when said female half and said male half are coupled together, said male half having a nipple on its lead end for insertion into said longitudinal bore of said female half, complementary sealing structure on said nipple for engagement with said sealing structure of said female half when said female half and said male half are coupled together to create a fluid tight seal between said female half and said male half, complementary locking structure on said nipple for interaction with said locking structure of said female half to maintain said female half and said male half coupled together, an anti-rotational sleeve slidably mounted on one of said female half and said male half, the other of said female half and said male half having a non-circular outer surface, said sleeve having an inner surface portion of a shape which acts as a stop structure to abut against said non-circular outer surface and prevent relative rotation of said female half and said male half when said sleeve is slid to a position where said sleeve inner surface portion is around said non-circular outer surface, and said sleeve being slidable to a position where said non-circular outer surface is free of said sleeve inner surface portion to thereby permit relative rotation.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said anti-rotational sleeve is mounted on said male half, said anti-rotational sleeve being of closed form, and said inner portion surface portion having a complementary shape to said non-circular outer surface of said female half.

3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said anti-rotational sleeve is mounted on said male half, said anti-rotational sleeve being of closed form, said inner portion surface portion having a complementary shape to said non-circular outer surface of said female half, said male half having a non-circular outer surface, said anti-rotational sleeve having a further inner surface portion disposed around and having a complementary shape to said non-circular outer surface of said male half, tan O-ring mounted in a reduced diameter portion of the lead end of said female half, said anti-rotational sleeve having an intermediate inner surface portion in sealing contact with said O-ring, and said inner surface portions of said anti-rotational sleeve being of stepped configuration to accommodate the different sizes of said non-circular outer surface of said female half and said reduced diameter portion of said female half and said non-circular portion of said male half.