Coupling device for permitting coupling under trapped pressure

Claim 2

A quick coupling device comprising a pair of coupling members, each member having a (spring seated) check valve therein seated by a yieldable means, means for coupling the members to each other, and biasing means (within the device exerting a force on each of said check valves tending to open the same) which when the members are coupled urges both valves toward open position but is yieldable to permit both valves to be closed.

Claim 3

The coupling device of claim 1 in which the opening force exerted by the biasing means upon each check valve when the members are coupled is greater than the force exerted by the respective check valve (springs) yieldable means whereby each check valve is unseated by the biasing means in the event such check valve is subject only to the force of its (spring) yieldable means for seating the same.

Claim 4

The coupling device of claim 1 in which the biasing means is carried by one of the members and there is a resilient means that moves the biasing means to an inoperative position relative to the check valve in said one member when the members are uncoupled whereby the biasing means is prevented from exerting an opening force on the check valve in said one member sufficient to overcome the (spring force) yieldable means tending to seat the valve in said one member.

Claim 5

The coupling device of claim 1 in which said biasing means comprises a spring, and means for exerting a preload upon the spring when the members are uncoupled.

Claim 6

The coupling device of claim 1 in which the biasing means includes a spring, said members are coupled by moving the members axially toward each other, said check valves engage said biasing means prior to full coupling movement of the members, and one of said check valves being moveable with its associated member toward the other check valve upon further coupling movement of the members when there is a predetermined fluid pressure in the member containing said one check valve to thereby compress said spring.

Claim 7

The coupling device of claim 1 in which one of said members carries a tubular sleeve that supports said biasing means.

Claim 8

The coupling device of claim 1 in which said biasing means includes a compression spring and a plunger between each check valve and the compression spring.

Claim 9

The coupling device of claim 1 in which there is a stop means for each check valve to limit the opening movement of the same whereby the biasing means continues to exert a force on each check valve when both are fully open that is greater than the closing force exerted on each check valve by its (spring) yieldable means.

Claim 10

The coupling device of claim 6 in which one of the members has a chamber containing the biasing means, and passage means venting said chamber to atmosphere when the members are uncoupled.

Claim 11

The coupling of claim 1 in which said biasing means includes a pair of spring pressed plungers each engaging a respective one of the check valves, a cage supported by one of the members and slidably supporting the plungers therein, said cage having a shoulder at each end engageable with a shoulder on a respective one of the plungers for retaining the same within the cage.

Claim 12

The coupling device of claim 1 in which one of the members has a valve seat and contains a shielding sleeve that has an open end facing said seat, said shielding sleeve is closed at its other end, the associate check valve in said one member projects into said shielding sleeve at said open end and has a close sliding fit with the inner wall of said shielding sleeve, the shielding sleeve is radially spaced from a surrounding wall of said one member to form a flow passage therebetween, a spring within the shielding sleeve urges the associated check valve toward said seat, a portion of said check valve is exposed to fluid flowing through said passage when said associated check valve is in open position, said portion is devoid of a transverse surface facing away from the valve seat whereby fluid flowing past said portion toward said seat imposes only friction force against said associated check valve tending to close the same, and said biasing means imposes an opening force against said associated check valve that is greater than the sum of said friction and spring forces to thereby maintain said associated check valve in open position when fluid is flowing through said passage toward said seat.

Claim 13

The coupling of claim 10 in which the cage is slidably supported by said one member and is spring pressed in a direction away from the check valve in said one member when the members are uncoupled to carry said biasing means to an inoperative position relative to the check valve in said one member.

Claim 14

A coupling device comprising a socket member and a tip member, the tip member being telescopingly received within the socket member to a fully coupled position relative thereto, means for interlocking said members when the tip is in said fully coupled position, each of said members having a spring seated check valve therein, one of said members having a hollow extension that forms a chamber between said check valves when the members are fully coupled, means establishing a seal between said members upon initial movement of the tip member into the socket member to thereby close said chamber, yieldable means contained within the chamber exerting an opening force upon each check valve when the members are fully coupled, such force being insufficient to open said check valves when the check valves are subject to a closing force exerted thereupon by a predetermined pressure of fluid trapped within the respective members behind the check valves but which opening force is sufficient to open each check valve against the action of its spring when the pressure of fluid within the respective member is less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 15

A coupling device comprising a socket member and a tip member, the tip member being telescopingly received within the socket member to a fully coupled position relative thereto, means for interlocking said members when the tip is in said fully coupled position, each of said members having a spring seated check valve therein, one of said members having a hollow extension that forms a chamber between said check valves when the members are fully coupled, means establishing a seal between said members upon initial movement of the tip member into the socket member to thereby close said chamber, yieldable means contained within the chamber exerting an opening force upon each check valve when the members are fully coupled, such force being insufficient to open said check valves when the check valves are subject to a closing force exerted thereupon by a predetermined pressure of fluid trapped within the respective members behind the check valves but which opening force is sufficient to open each check valve against the action of its spring when the pressure of fluid within the respective member is less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 16

The coupling device of claim 13 in which said chamber includes a wall moveable in a direction for enlarging said chamber to thereby compensate for decrease of the chamber size as the tip member moves into the socket member.

Claim 17

The coupling of claim 14 in which the movable wall is spring pressed toward a position for decreasing the chamber size.

Claim 18

A coupling device comprising a socket member and a tip member each having a spring seated check valve therein, means for coupling the members to each other, biasing means exerting a force on one of said check valves tending to open the same when the members are coupled, such force being greater than the seating force exerted upon such check valve by its seating spring, said coupling means including a shoulder on the tip member, first detent means carried by the socket member, a locking sleeve carried by the socket members and having means in an extended position of the locking sleeve to lock the first detent means into engagement with said shoulder, a spring urging the locking sleeve toward said extended position, second detent means carried by the sockEt member and movable to a position for engaging an abutment on the locking sleeve to hold the same in a retracted position, a cocking sleeve within the socket member and spring pressed to a first position in which it holds said second detent means in engagement with said abutment, said cocking sleeve being engageable by said tip member and movable by the same to a second position in which it releases said second detent means, means to retain the cocking sleeve within the socket when the tip member is withdrawn, and said cocking sleeve having a shoulder engageable with said biasing means to retain the latter within said socket member when the members are uncoupled.

Claim 19

A coupling device comprising a socket member and a tip member each having a spring seated check valve therein, means for coupling the members to each other, biasing means exerting a force on one of said check valves tending to open the same when the members are coupled, such force being greater than the seating force exerted upon such check valve by its seating spring, said coupling means including a shoulder on the tip member, first detent means carried by the socket member, a locking sleeve carried by the socket members and having means in an extended position of the locking sleeve to lock the first detent means into engagement with said shoulder, a spring urging the locking sleeve toward said extended position, second detent means carried by the sockEt member and movable to a position for engaging an abutment on the locking sleeve to hold the same in a retracted position, a cocking sleeve within the socket member and spring pressed to a first position in which it holds said second detent means in engagement with said abutment, said cocking sleeve being engageable by said tip member and movable by the same to a second position in which it releases said second detent means, means to retain the cocking sleeve within the socket when the tip member is withdrawn, and said cocking sleeve having a shoulder engageable with said biasing means to retain the latter within said socket member when the members are uncoupled.

Claim 20

The coupling device of claim 16 in which the second detent means is radially movable into and out of engagement with said abutment means, and the cocking sleeve has first and second cylindrical portions of different diameters for alternately engaging the second detent means when in register therewith to thereby cause said radial movement.

Claim 21

A coupling device comprising a socket member and a tip member, a first detent means carried by the socket member, a locking sleeve slidable on the socket member between extended and retracted position, a first spring urging the locking sleeve towards said extended position, means on the locking sleeve for locking the first detent means in engagement with a shoulder on the tip member for holding the members in coupled position, a second detent means engageable with an abutment on the locking sleeve to hold the latter in its retracted position, a cocking sleeve carried by the socket member and movable by a second spring to a first position in which it holds the second detent against said abutment, said cocking sleeve being engageable by the tip member and movable thereby to a second position in which it releases said second detent from engagement with said abutment to thereupon permit said first spring to move the locking sleeve to said extended position, a check valve in each member, and a biasing means within the cocking sleeve acting on both check valves tending to open the same when the members are coupled.

Claim 22

A coupling device comprising a socket member and a tip member, a first detent means carried by the socket member, a locking sleeve slidable on the socket member between extended and retracted position, a first spring urging the locking sleeve towards said extended position, means on the locking sleeve for locking the first detent means in engagement with a shoulder on the tip member for holding the members in coupled position, a second detent means engageable with an abutment on the locking sleeve to hold the latter in its retracted position, a cocking sleeve carried by the socket member and movable by a second spring to a first position in which it holds the second detent against said abutment, said cocking sleeve being engageable by the tip member and movable thereby to a second position in which it releases said second detent from engagement with said abutment to thereupon permit said first spring to move the locking sleeve to said extended position, a check valve in each member, and a biasing means within the cocking sleeve acting on both check valves tending to open the same when the members are coupled.

Claim 23

The coupling device of claim 18 in which said second detent means is also carried by the socket member and is a fixed axial distance from the first detent means.

Claim 24

The coupling device of claim 18 in which the second detent means is radially movable relative to the socket member and said cocking sleeve has a first portion of a diameter which when in register with the second detent means permits the latter to move radially inward to a position out of engagement with said abutment means, and said cocking sleeve has a second portion of a diameter which when in register with the second detent means moves the latter radially outward for engagement with said abutment.

Claim 25

The coupling device of claim 18 in which there is a packing on each side of the second detent means sealing the cocking sleeve relative to the socket member.

Claim 26

A coupling for releasably connecting and intercommunicating a pair of conduits, including: a pair of body members, one of which is connected to a conduit leading to means for supplying fluid under pressure and the other of which is connected to a conduit leading to a device to be powered by the pressurized fluid, means for releasably connecting said body members end to end in a telescoping relationship, said body members having longitudinal bores with opposed annular valve seats located in said bores and disposed in coaxially spaced relationship when said body members are connected, check valves in said body members each adapted to seat in fluidtight relationship against its respective valve seat, resilient means positioned within said body members and urging said check valves against their respective seats, and means located in one of said body members and adapted upon connecting of said body members to exert an unseating force against each of said check valves which force is greater Than the seating force exerted against each of said check valves by its resilient means but less than the sum of seating forces exerted against each of said check valves by its resilient means and by the pressurized fluid in its conduit.

Claim 27

A coupling for releasably connecting and intercommunicating a pair of conduits, including: a pair of body members, one of which is connected to a conduit leading to means for supplying fluid under pressure and the other of which is connected to a conduit leading to a device to be powered by the pressurized fluid, means for releasably connecting said body members end to end in a telescoping relationship, said body members having longitudinal bores with opposed annular valve seats located in said bores and disposed in coaxially spaced relationship when said body members are connected, check valves in said body members each adapted to seat in fluidtight relationship against its respective valve seat, resilient means positioned within said body members and urging said check valves against their respective seats, and means located in one of said body members and adapted upon connecting of said body members to exert an unseating force against each of said check valves which force is greater Than the seating force exerted against each of said check valves by its resilient means but less than the sum of seating forces exerted against each of said check valves by its resilient means and by the pressurized fluid in its conduit.

Claim 28

The structure of claim 22 further characterized in that said unseating force exerting means includes spring means which is compressed and moved towards the valve seat of said fluid pressure supplying conduit body upon connecting of said body members.

Claim 29

The structure of claim 22 further characterized in that said unseating force exerting means includes a pair of spring means aligned end to end, one of which is compressed and moved towards the valve seat of said fluid pressure supplying conduit body member upon connecting of said body members and the other of which remains stationary upon said connecting of said body members but is compressed by the check valve of said other body member.

Claim 30

The structure of claim 23 further characterized in that said unseating force exerting means is located in said fluid pressure supplying conduit body member and is adapted to be engaged by a contact means supported on the other body member and to be moved towards said valve seat of said pressure supplying conduit member to increase the compression of said spring means.

Claim 31

The structure of claim 22 further characterized in that said unseating force exerting means includes a first tube fixed in position in the bore of one of said body members and containing a spring means adapted to be compressed upon connecting of said body members and a second tube in said bore telescoped with respect to said first tube and adapted to be moved towards the check valve of the fluid pressure supplying conduit body member upon connecting of said body members with a spring means in said second tube adapted to be compressed upon connecting of said body members.

Claim 32

The structure of claim 26 further characterized in that said second tube includes means adapted to be contacted by a contact means supported on said other body member and to move said second tube towards the check valve of the fluid pressure supplying conduit body member upon connecting of said body members.

Claim 33

The structure of claim 27 further characterized in that sealing means are formed on said second tube and in the bore of the body member in which said second tube is positioned with said sealing means adapted to prevent fluid flow through said bore when said body members are unconnected and to permit fluid flow through said bore when said second tube is moved towards said check valve.