Rapid-connect coupler with vent stop

• US 9,897,239 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered Controls International LLC (Engineered Controls International Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Controls International LLC (Engineered Controls International Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Konishi, Howard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US15/140,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20160312939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 137614-61405
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/40 for special environments
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/12 using hooks, pawls or other movable or insertable locking members F16L37/084 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/18 Joints tightened by eccentrics or rotatable cams
• 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 55/07 Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining apparatus for draining F16T

Abstract

A rapid connect coupler can include a housing, a probe configured to translate within the housing, a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing body, a stop assembly configured to selectively arrest the translation of the probe. The stop assembly can include: a pawl configured to occupy both an active position and an inactive position, wherein the inactive position arrests the translation of the probe; a catch fixed to the housing and configured to hold the probe in the inactive position; a lever configured to engage the pawl; a spring fixed to both the housing and the lever and configured to bias the pawl to the inactive position via the lever; and a cam configured to disengage the pawl from the catch and cause the pawl to occupy the active position.

Claims

1. A coupler for connecting a fluid holding tank to a receptacle, the coupler comprising:

a housing;

a probe configured to translate in a longitudinal direction within the housing;

a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing, wherein the handle assembly is movable between a first position corresponding to a decoupled position, a second position corresponding to a coupled position, and a third position corresponding to a venting position where venting of fluid is enabled;

a stop assembly configured to selectively be in an active position where the stop assembly arrests translation of the probe in a first translation direction when the handle assembly is moved from the second position to the third position; and

a reset cam to place the stop assembly in the active position when the handle assembly is moved from the first to the second position.

2. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the stop assembly is configured to arrest translation of the probe by providing a hard stop for the probe in the first translation direction.

3. The coupler of claim 2, wherein the stop assembly is configured to enable translation of the probe in a second probe translation direction, opposite the first translation direction, when the hard stop is provided.

4. The coupler of claim 2, wherein the stop assembly is configured to selectively be in an inactive position where the stop assembly permits translation of the probe in the second translation direction when the handle assembly is moved from the third position to the second position.

5. The coupler of claim 4, wherein the stop assembly further comprises a spring configured to bias the stop assembly to the active position.

6. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the reset cam is carried by the handle assembly.

7. A coupler comprising:

a housing;

a probe configured to translate in a longitudinal direction within the housing;

a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing, wherein the handle assembly is movable between a first position corresponding to a decoupled position, a second position corresponding to a coupled position, and a third position corresponding to a venting position where venting of fluid is enabled; and

a stop assembly configured to selectively arrest translation of the probe in a first translation direction when the handle assembly is moved from the second position to the third position, wherein;

the stop assembly is configured to arrest translation of the probe by providing a hard stop for the probe in the first translation direction;

the stop assembly is configured to enable translation of the probe in a second probe translation direction, opposite the first translation direction, when the hard stop is provided; and

the stop assembly comprises a pawl that is rotatable between an active position, where at least one surface of the pawl is configured to engage the probe to serve as the hard stop, and an inactive position.

8. The coupler of claim 7, wherein the stop assembly further comprises a lever configured to actuate the pawl.

9. The coupler of claim 8, wherein the lever is directly coupled to a spring to bias the pawl to the inactive position.

10. The coupler of claim 7, wherein the stop assembly further comprises a catch configured to hold the pawl in the inactive position.

11. The coupler of claim 10, wherein the stop assembly further comprises a pin fixed to the pawl, the pin is configured to directly engage the catch, and the pawl is asymmetrical.

12. The coupler of claim 10, wherein the catch is configured to hold the stop assembly in the active position by providing a holding force against the pawl.

13. The coupler of claim 12, wherein the stop assembly further comprises a reset cam configured to release the pawl from the holding force of the catch.

14. The coupler of claim 13, wherein the reset cam is fixed to the probe such that the reset cam translates with the probe.

15. The coupler of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of radially translatable retaining objects configured to bind the coupler to the receptacle.

16. The coupler of claim 15, further comprising:

a slidable sleeve configured to cause radial translation of the retaining objects;

a poppet and a valve seat inside of the probe, the poppet configured to translate with respect to the probe.

17. The coupler of claim 8, wherein the stop assembly is configured such that the spring biases the stop assembly to the active position via the lever.

18. The coupler of claim 11, wherein the catch is configured to engage two opposing ends of the pin.

19. The coupler of claim 18, wherein the catch is configured to straddle a lever and the lever is configured to rotate the pawl.

20. A rapid-connect coupler comprising:

a housing body;

a probe configured to translate within the housing body;

a plurality of retaining objects;

a slidable sleeve configured to cause radial translation of the plurality of retaining objects with respect to the housing body;

a poppet and a valve seat located inside of the probe, the poppet configured to translate with respect to the probe;

a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing body; and

a stop assembly configured to selectively arrest translation of the probe, the stop assembly including;

a pawl configured to occupy both an active position and an inactive position, wherein the inactive position arrests the translation of the probe;

a catch fixed to the housing body and configured to hold the probe in the inactive position;

a lever configured to engage the pawl;

a spring fixed to both the housing body and the lever and configured to bias the pawl to the inactive position via the lever; and

a cam configured to disengage the pawl from the catch and cause the pawl to occupy the active position.