Coupling assembly

Claim 2

A coupling assembly operable between a disconnected condition and a connected condition to connect a pair of conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug adapted to be connected with one of the conduits, socket means adapted to be connected with the other conduit, said socket means including a socket body defining an axially extending chamber adapted to receive said plug upon operation of said coupling assembly from the disconnected condition to the connected condition, a plurality of locking elements operatively connected with said socket body and movable relative to said socket body between a disengaged condition in which said locking elements are ineffective to hold said plug in said chamber and an engaged condition in which said locking elements extend into said chamber to hold said plug in said chamber when said coupling assembly is in the connected condition, and retainer means for holding said locking elements in the disengaged condition when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and for releasing said locking elements for movement to the engaged condition upon operation of said coupling assembly to the connected condition, said retainer means including first surface means defining a plurality of longitudinally extending slots each of which is associated with one of said locking elements, each of said slots having an axially inner portion for holding the associated one of said locking elements in the disengaged condition when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and an axially outer portion through which the associated one of said locking elements extends into engagement with said plug when said coupling assembly is in the connected condition, said retainer means further including second surface means for engaging said plug and effecting axial movement of said retainer means relative to said locking elements and socket body as said plug is received in said chamber to move said inner portions of said slots away from said locking elements and to move said outer portions of said slots adjacent to said locking elements to thereby release said locking elements for movement from said disengaged condition to said engaged condition upon operation of said coupling assembly from the disconnected condition to the connected condition.

Claim 3

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said socket means further includes seal means disposed in said chamber axially inwardly of said retainer means for sealingly engaging said plug when said coupling is in the connected condition, said seal means being movable axially inwardly relative to said socket body by said retainer means upon operation of said coupling assembly from the disconnected condition to the connected condition.

Claim 4

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said socket means further includes spring means for effecting outward movement of said retainer means and seal means upon operation of said coupling assembly from the connected condition to the disconnected condition.

Claim 5

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said socket means further includes a valve member disposed in said chamber, said valve member being axially movable from a closed position disposed in sealing engagement with said seal means and blocking fluid flow through said socket means to an opeN condition enabling fluid to flow through said socket means.

Claim 6

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 4 further including spring means for moving said valve member to the closed condition and for moving said seal means and retainer means axially outwardly upon operation of said coupling assembly from the connected condition to the disconnected condition.

Claim 7

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring means includes a single spring member disposed in said chamber in abutting engagement with said valve member.

Claim 8

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner portion of each of said slots includes first and second side surface areas which extend generally parallel to each other and are spaced apart by a first distance, said outer portion of each of said slots including third and fourth surface areas which extend generally parallel to each other and are spaced apart by a second distance which is greater than said first distance, said first and second surface areas being disposed adjacent to the associated one of said locking elements when the associated one of said locking elements is in the disengaged condition, said third and fourth surface areas being disposed adjacent to the associated one of said locking element when the associated one of said locking elements is in the engaged condition.

Claim 9

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said slots includes shoulder means disposed between said inner and outer portions of each slot for urging the associated one of said locking elements radially outwardly during operation of said coupling assembly from the connected condition to the disconnected condition.

Claim 10

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer means further includes an axially extending sleeve portion in which said slots are defined by said first surface means, said sleeve portion having a generally cylindrical outer surface disposed in sliding engagement with a cylindrical inner surface of said chamber.

Claim 11

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including spring means for urging said retainer means axially outwardly upon operation of said coupling assembly from the connected condition to the disconnected condition, said first surface means including means for defining an axially inner end portion of each of said slots, said axially inner end portions of each of said slots being engagable with the associated one of said locking elements to limit axially outward movement of said retainer means under the influence of said spring means upon operation of said coupling assembly from the connected condition to the disconnected condition.

Claim 12

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 10 further including seal means disposed axially inwardly of said retainer means and axially outwardly of said spring means for sealingly engaging said plug when said coupling assembly is in the connected condition.

Claim 13

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said socket means further includes valve means disposed in said chamber for blocking fluid flow through said socket means when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition, at least some of said inner end portions of said slots including surface means for engaging an associated one of said locking elements to limit axially outward movement of said valve means under the influence of fluid pressure when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition.

Claim 14

A coupling assembly operable between a disconnected condition and a connected condition to connect a pair of conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug adapted to be connected with one of the conduits, socket means adapted to be connected with the other conduit, said socket means including a socket body defining an axially extending valve chamber adapted to receive said plug upon operation of said coupling assembly from the disconnected condition to the connected condition, a valve member disposed in said vAlve chamber and movable between a closed condition and an open condition enabling fluid to flow through said valve chamber, seal means disposed in said valve chamber for sealingly engaging said valve member to block fluid flow through the valve chamber when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and said valve member is in the closed condition, said seal means being movable axially relative to said socket body from a first position to a second position as said plug is received in the valve chamber, a plurality of locking elements operatively connected with said socket body and movable relative to said socket body between a disengaged condition in which said locking elements are ineffective to hold said plug in said valve chamber and an engaged condition in which said locking elements extend into said valve chamber to hold said plug in said valve chamber when said coupling assembly is in the connected condition, retainer means for holding said locking elements in the disengaged condition when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and for releasing said locking elements for movement to the engaged condition upon operation of said coupling assembly to the connected condition, said retainer means including an axially movable sleeve portion disposed in said valve chamber and at least partially defining a plurality of longitudinally extending slots each of which is associated with one of said locking elements, each of said slots having an inner portion for holding the associated one of said locking elements in the disengaged condition when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and an outer portion through which the associated one of said locking elements extends into engagement with said plug when said coupling assembly is in the connected condition, said retainer means further including surface means connected with said sleeve portion for engaging said plug and effecting axial movement of said valve member, seal means and sleeve portion relative to said socket body as said plug is received in said valve chamber to move said valve member to said open condition, said seal means to said second position and said outer portions of said slots adjacent to said locking elements, and means for guiding movement of said valve member, seal means and sleeve portion relative to said socket body as said plug is received in said valve chamber.

Claim 15

A coupling assembly operable between a disconnected condition and a connected condition to connect a pair of conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug adapted to be connected with one of the conduits, socket means adapted to be connected with the other conduit, said socket means including a socket body defining an axially extending valve chamber adapted to receive said plug upon operation of said coupling assembly from the disconnected condition to the connected condition, a valve member disposed in said vAlve chamber and movable between a closed condition and an open condition enabling fluid to flow through said valve chamber, seal means disposed in said valve chamber for sealingly engaging said valve member to block fluid flow through the valve chamber when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and said valve member is in the closed condition, said seal means being movable axially relative to said socket body from a first position to a second position as said plug is received in the valve chamber, a plurality of locking elements operatively connected with said socket body and movable relative to said socket body between a disengaged condition in which said locking elements are ineffective to hold said plug in said valve chamber and an engaged condition in which said locking elements extend into said valve chamber to hold said plug in said valve chamber when said coupling assembly is in the connected condition, retainer means for holding said locking elements in the disengaged condition when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and for releasing said locking elements for movement to the engaged condition upon operation of said coupling assembly to the connected condition, said retainer means including an axially movable sleeve portion disposed in said valve chamber and at least partially defining a plurality of longitudinally extending slots each of which is associated with one of said locking elements, each of said slots having an inner portion for holding the associated one of said locking elements in the disengaged condition when said coupling assembly is in the disconnected condition and an outer portion through which the associated one of said locking elements extends into engagement with said plug when said coupling assembly is in the connected condition, said retainer means further including surface means connected with said sleeve portion for engaging said plug and effecting axial movement of said valve member, seal means and sleeve portion relative to said socket body as said plug is received in said valve chamber to move said valve member to said open condition, said seal means to said second position and said outer portions of said slots adjacent to said locking elements, and means for guiding movement of said valve member, seal means and sleeve portion relative to said socket body as said plug is received in said valve chamber.

Claim 16

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said socket means further includes spring means disposed in said valve chamber for urging said valve member toward said closed condition, for urging said seal means toward said first position, and for urging said sleeve portion outwardly toward the position in which said inner portions of said slots are adjacent to said locking elements.

Claim 17

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring disposed in abutting engagement with said valve member, said valve member including means for enabling fluid to flow along a path which is disposed inwardly of the coils of said coil spring.

Claim 18

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inner portions of at least some of said slots includes surface means for engaging an associated one of said locking elements to limit axially outward movement of said valve member, seal means and retainer means when said valve member is in the closed condition.