Quick-release coupling

• US 8,807,525 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sun-Wonder Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sun-Wonder Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Chia-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks, Angelisa
• Application Number:
  US13/463,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614, 137/614.05, 137/614.06, 251/145, 251/148, 251/149.6, 251/149.8, 251/148.9, 251/264
• US Class Current: 251/149.6
• 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 37/36 with two lift valves being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal
• 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: F16L 37/44 with one lift valve being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2345/006 characterised by charging or discharging valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/22 Preventing, detecting or repairing leaks of refrigeration fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/40 Fluid line arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 45/00 Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant
• 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 quick-release coupling includes a socket defining a first passage in a connection port thereof, a locking member mounted in a front end of the socket and adapted for locking an inserted external male mating connector, an air valve control device mounted in a rear end of the socket, and a leak-proof device having a stopper mounted in the front end of the socket and defining therein a second passage, which is kept in communication with the first passage upon insertion of an external mating male connector into the front end of the socket to move the stopper backward, or blocked from the first passage after removable of the inserted external mating male connector and a forward movement of the stopper by the air valve control device.

Claims

1. A quick-release coupling, comprising:

a socket comprising a socket body defining an opposing front end and rear end in communication with each other, a connection port defining therein a first passage in communication with an internal space of said socket body;

a locking member mounted around said front end of said socket body of said socket and configured to releasably engage with a mating connector;

an air valve control device comprising a plug mounted at the rear end of said socket body for fluidically sealing the rear end of the socket body, a grip coupled to said plug, and a pusher pin axially movably inserted through said plug within the internal space of said socket body and movable axially by said grip relative to said plug and said socket body, said pusher pin comprising a front tip disposed in the front end of said socket body, a neck disposed in said socket body adjacent to the rear end of said socket body and a collar connected between said front tip and said neck, the collar having a diameter greater than a diameter of the neck; and

a leak-proof device comprising a stopper axially movably mounted inside the front end of said socket body and having an opposing front push end and rear stop end and a second passage axially extending through said front push end and said rear stop end, at least a portion of said pusher pin received in said second passage, a second spring member disposed between said stopper and said plug, said stopper being axially movable relative to said socket body between a first position where said rear stop end is forced into direct sealing engagement with a periphery of said collar of said pusher pin to fluidly block said first passage from said second passage and a second position where said rear stop end is spaced around said neck and sealingly disengaged from said collar to fluidly connect said first passage and said second passage;

wherein said leak-proof device further comprises a first gasket ring mounted around said front push end of said stopper, and a second gasket ring mounted in said rear stop end of said stopper.

2. The quick-release coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air valve control device further comprises a stop pin transversely fastened to said pusher pin adjacent to a rear end of said neck and stoppable at a front side of said plug inside said socket body.

3. A quick-release coupling, comprising:

a socket comprising a socket body defining an opposing front end and rear end in communication with each other, a connection port defining therein a first passage in communication with an internal space of said socket body;

a locking member mounted around said front end of said socket body of said socket and configured to releasably engage with a mating connector;

an air valve control device comprising a plug mounted at the rear end of said socket body for fluidically sealing the rear end of the socket body, a grip coupled to said plug, and a pusher pin axially movably inserted through said plug within the internal space of said socket body and movable axially by said grip relative to said plug and said socket body, said pusher pin comprising a front tip disposed in the front end of said socket body, a neck disposed in said socket body adjacent to the rear end of said socket body and a collar connected between said front tip and said neck, the collar having a diameter greater than a diameter of the neck; and

a leak-proof device comprising a stopper axially movably mounted inside the front end of said socket body and having an opposing front push end and rear stop end and a second passage axially extending through said front push end and said rear stop end, at least a portion of said pusher pin received in said second passage, a second spring member disposed between said stopper and said plug, said stopper being axially movable relative to said socket body between a first position where said rear stop end is forced into direct sealing engagement with a periphery of said collar of said pusher pin to fluidly block said first passage from said second passage and a second position where said rear stop end is spaced around said neck and sealingly disengaged from said collar to fluidly connect said first passage and said second passage;

wherein said plug of said air valve control device comprises a first outer thread extending around a front end thereof and a second outer thread extending around a rear end thereof and disposed outside said socket;

said socket body of said socket comprises an inner thread threaded onto said first outer thread of said plug; and

said grip comprises an inner thread threaded onto said second outer thread of said plug.

4. The quick-release coupling as claimed in claim 3, wherein said air valve control device further comprises a stop pin transversely fastened to said pusher pin adjacent to a rear end of said neck and stoppable at a front side of said plug inside said socket body.