Hydraulic coupler

Claim 2

An improved coupling mechanism having locking means for locking an hydraulic fluid-carrying conduit that is connected to a source of hydraulic power to an hydraulic fluid-carrying conduit connected to an hydraulically actuated mechanism, further having a body connected to the conduit that is connected to the source and a tip connected to the other conduit, the tip being inserted into the body to effect a releasable connection therebetween, the tip and the body each having longitudinal bores therethrough and annular valve seats located within each of the bores coaxially displaced when the tip is connected within the body, a ball valve within each of the bores urged into fluidtight contact with its respective annular valve seat by resiliant means, the improvement comprising: a. a latching cylinder, integral with the body valve seat, defining the bore through the body and having a body receptacle for receiving the tip; b. a locking collar, slidably mounted to the latching cylinder; c. a sleeve, slidably mounted to the locking collar to permit the latching cylinder to move with respect to the sleeve, in the direction and under the force of the tip as it is inserted into the body receptacle, and to permit the locking collar to slide on the latching cylinder, with respect to the sleeve, in the direction of and unDer the force of the tip as it is further inserted to permit the releasable locking means to releasably lock the body to the tip; and d. body locking means, to releasably lock the latching cylinder to the locking collar after the body has been locked to the tip by the releasable locking means.

Claim 3

The coupling mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: e. a body seal, comprising an annular ring, seated in an annular groove in the locking cylinder, making sealing contact with the latching cylinder at its end terminating in the body valve seat, to minimize loss of hydraulic fluid from the body when uncoupling is performed, and upon complete insertion of the tip into the body, to permit any of the hydraulic fluid within the body receptacle to pass into the vent defined by the inwardly facing surface of the locking collar and the outwardly facing surface of the latching cylinder.

Claim 4

The coupling mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: f. sleeve resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the locking collar to resist the sliding motion of the sleeve when the tip is being inserted; and g. latching cylinder resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the latching cylinder to resist the sliding motion of the latching collar when the tip is being inserted.

Claim 5

The coupling mechanism of claim 2, further comprising: f. sleeve resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the locking collar to resist the sliding motion of the sleeve when the tip is being inserted; and g. latching cylinder resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the latching cylinder to resist the sliding motion of the latching collar when the tip is being inserted.

Claim 6

The coupling mechanism of claim 3, wherein the sleeve resiliant means is a coil spring and the latching cylinder resilient means is a coil spring that is stronger than the resiliant means within the bore of the body.

Claim 7

The coupling mechanism of claim 4, wherein the sleeve resiliant means is a coil spring and the latching cylinder resiliant means is a coil spring that is stronger than the resiliant means within the bore of the body.

Claim 8

An improved coupling mechanism having locking means for locking an hydraulic fluid-carrying conduit that is connected to a source of hydraulic power to an hydraulic fluid-carrying conduit connected to an hydraulically actuated mechanism, further having a body connected to the conduit that is connected to the source and a tip connected to the other conduit, the tip being inserted into the body to effect a releasable connection therebetween, the tip and the body each having longitudinal bores therethrough and annular valve seats located within each of the bores coaxially displaced when the tip is connected within the body, a ball valve within each of the bores urged into fluid-tight contact with its respective annular valve seat by resiliant means, a hollow shield within the bore of each member at least partially surrounding the respective ball valve, a stop within the hollow shield of each member to limit the travel of each respective ball valve from its respective valve seat, the improvement comprising: a. a latching cylinder, integral with the body valve seat, defining the bore through the body and having a body receptacle for receiving the tip; b. a locking collar, slidably mounted to the latching cylinder; c. a sleeve, slidably mounted to the locking collar to permit the latching cylinder to move with respect to the sleeve, in the direction and under the force of the tip as it is inserted into the body receptacle, and to permit the locking collar to slide on the latching cylinder, with respect to the sleeve, in the direction of and under the force of the tip as it is further inserted to permit the releasable locking means to releasably lock the body to the tip; and d. body locking means, to releasably lock the latching cylinder to the locking collar after the body has been locked to the tip by the releasable locking means.

Claim 9

An improved coupling mechanism having locking means for locking an hydraulic fluid-carrying conduit that is connected to a source of hydraulic power to an hydraulic fluid-carrying conduit connected to an hydraulically actuated mechanism, further having a body connected to the conduit that is connected to the source and a tip connected to the other conduit, the tip being inserted into the body to effect a releasable connection therebetween, the tip and the body each having longitudinal bores therethrough and annular valve seats located within each of the bores coaxially displaced when the tip is connected within the body, a ball valve within each of the bores urged into fluid-tight contact with its respective annular valve seat by resiliant means, a hollow shield within the bore of each member at least partially surrounding the respective ball valve, a stop within the hollow shield of each member to limit the travel of each respective ball valve from its respective valve seat, the improvement comprising: a. a latching cylinder, integral with the body valve seat, defining the bore through the body and having a body receptacle for receiving the tip; b. a locking collar, slidably mounted to the latching cylinder; c. a sleeve, slidably mounted to the locking collar to permit the latching cylinder to move with respect to the sleeve, in the direction and under the force of the tip as it is inserted into the body receptacle, and to permit the locking collar to slide on the latching cylinder, with respect to the sleeve, in the direction of and under the force of the tip as it is further inserted to permit the releasable locking means to releasably lock the body to the tip; and d. body locking means, to releasably lock the latching cylinder to the locking collar after the body has been locked to the tip by the releasable locking means.

Claim 10

The coupling mechanism of claim 7, further comprising: e. a body seal, comprising an annular ring, seated in an annular groove in the locking cylinder, making sealing contact with the latching cylinder at its end terminating in the body valve seat, to minimize loss of hydraulic fluid from the body when uncoupling is performed, and upon complete insertion of the tip into the body, to permit any of the hydraulic fluid within the body receptacle to pass into the vent defined by the inwardly facing surface of the locking collar and the outwardly-facing surface of the latching cylinder.

Claim 11

The coupling mechanism of claim 7, further comprising: f. sleeve resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the locking collar to resist the sliding motion of the sleeve when the tip is being inserted; and g. latching cylinder resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the latching cylinder to resist the sliding motion of the latching collar when the tip is being inserted.

Claim 12

The coupling mechanism of claim 8, further comprising: f. sleeve resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the locking collar to resist the sliding motion of the sleeve when the tip is being inserted; and g. latching cylinder resiliant means, connected between the sleeve and the latching cylinder to resist the sliding motion of the latching collar when the tip is being inserted.

Claim 13

The coupling mechanism of claim 9, wherein the sleeve resiliant means is a coil spring and the latching cylinder resiliant means is a coil spring that is stronger than the resiliant means within the bore of the body.

Claim 14

The coupling mechanism of claim 10, wherein the sleeve resiliant means is a coil spring and the latching cylinder resiliant means is a coil spring that is stronger than the resiliant means within the bore of the body.