Coupling assembly

Claim 2

A quick-connect coupling assembly for use in connecting first and second conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug member adapted to be connected with the first conduit, said plug member including outer surface means defining an external helix having a plurality of turns extending in a continuous path around said plug member, socket means adapted to be connected with the second conduit, said socket meaNs including means defining chamber for receiving said plug member, coil spring means connected with said socket means for applying a radially inwardly directed force to said plug member along a plurality of turns of said helix to resiliently grip said plug member and hold said plug member in said chamber, said coil spring means including a resiliently deflectable coil spring having a plurality of turns of the same pitch as said external helix and a free internal diameter which is less than the root diameter of said helix, and means for resiliently flexing each of the plurality of turns of said coil spring to a simultaneously increase the internal diameter of each of said plurality of turns of said coil spring to a diameter which is greater than the crest diameter of said helix to facilitate rapid connection and disconnection of said coupling assembly.

Claim 3

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said socket means includes internal surface means for sealingly engaging said plug member, said socket means and plug member being rotatable relative to each other about a central axis of said plug member when said plug member is at least partially disposed in said chamber, said socket means including means for holding one end portion of said coil spring against rotation relative to said socket means, said means for flexing said coil spring including means for holding a second end portion of said coil spring to enable said spring means to interact with said helix to press said plug member against said internal surface means to provide a tight seal upon relative rotation between said plug member and socket means.

Claim 4

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for resiliently flexing said coil spring includes a sleeve member connected with one end portion of said coil spring and movable from a first position to a second position to increase the internal diameter of said turns of said coil spring, said coupling assembly further including detent means for retaining said sleeve member in the second position against the influence of said coil spring.

Claim 5

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plug member further includes a cylindrical outer surface defined by said surface means and disposed forwardly of said helix and a tapered leading end portion formed of metal and disposed forwardly of said cylindrical surface, said socket means including a metallic inner surface means for engaging said tapered leading end portion to provide a metal-to-metal seal between said socket means and plug member, said coupling assembly further including a seal washer disposed in said chamber and formed of an elastomeric material, said seal washer including circular inner surface means for sealingly engaging said cylindrical outer surface of said plug member at a location intermediate said tapered leading end portion of said plug member and said helix.

Claim 6

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer surface means defining said helix includes means for defining a convoluted crest portion of said helix, a convoluted trough portion disposed between adjacent crest portions of said helix, and inwardly sloping side portions disposed between said crest and trough portions, said crest and trough portions of said helix having a plurality of turns extending around said plug member, said coil spring means being operable to resiliently grip said helix between adjacent crest portions of a plurality of turns of said helix to hold said plug member in said chamber.

Claim 7

A quick-connect coupling assembly for use in connecting first and second conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug member adapted to be connected with the first conduit, socket means adapted to be connected with the second conduit, said socket means including means defining chamber for receiving said plug member, coil spring means for gripping a circular outer surface of said plug member, said coil spring means including a resiliently deflectable Coil spring having a plurality of turns and a free internal diameter which is less than the diameter of the circular outer surface of said plug member, means for resiliently flexing each of the plurality of turns of said coil spring to simultaneously increase the internal diameter of said turns of said coil spring to a diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said circular outer surface of said plug member, said means for resiliently flexing said coil spring including a sleeve member connected with one end portion of said coil spring and movable from a first position to a second position to simultaneously increase the internal diameter of each of the plurality of turns of said coil spring, and detent means for retaining said sleeve member in the second position against the influence of said coil spring.

Claim 8

A quick-connect coupling assembly for use in connecting first and second conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug member adapted to be connected with the first conduit, socket means adapted to be connected with the second conduit, said socket means including means defining chamber for receiving said plug member, coil spring means for gripping a circular outer surface of said plug member, said coil spring means including a resiliently deflectable Coil spring having a plurality of turns and a free internal diameter which is less than the diameter of the circular outer surface of said plug member, means for resiliently flexing each of the plurality of turns of said coil spring to simultaneously increase the internal diameter of said turns of said coil spring to a diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said circular outer surface of said plug member, said means for resiliently flexing said coil spring including a sleeve member connected with one end portion of said coil spring and movable from a first position to a second position to simultaneously increase the internal diameter of each of the plurality of turns of said coil spring, and detent means for retaining said sleeve member in the second position against the influence of said coil spring.

Claim 9

A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said plug member further includes tapered leading end portion formed of metal and disposed forwardly of said circular outer surface, said socket member including a metallic inner surface means for engaging said tapered leading end portion to provide a metal-to-metal seal between said socket and plug members, said coupling assembly further including a seal washer disposed in said chamber and formed of an elastomeric material, said seal washer including circular inner surface means for sealingly engaging said circular outer surface of said plug member at a location intermediate said tapered leading end portion of said plug member and said coil spring.

Claim 10

A coupling assembly for use in connecting first and second conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug member adapted to be connected with the first conduit, said plug member including outer surface means defining an external helix having a plurality of turns extending around said plug member, a cylindrical outer surface disposed forwardly of said helix, and a tapered leading end portion disposed forwardly of said cylindrical surface, socket means adapted to be connected with the second conduit, said socket means including means defining chamber for receiving said plug member, and a metallic inner surface means for engaging said tapered leading end portion to provide a metal-to-metal seal between said socket means and plug member, a seal washer disposed in said chamber and formed of an elastomeric material, said seal washer including circular inner surface means for sealingly engaging said cylindrical outer surface of said plug member at a location intermediate said tapered leading end portion of said plug member and said helix, coil spring means for applying a radially inwardly directed force to said plug member along a plurality of turns of said helix to resiliently grip said plug member, and coil spring means including a resiliently deflectable coil spring having a plurality of turns of the same pitch as said external helix and a free internal diameter which is less than the root diameter of said helix, means for resiliently flexing said coil spring to increase the internal diameter of said turns of said coil spring to a diameter which is greater than the crest diameter of said helix, said means for resiliently flexing said coil spring including a sleeve member connected with one end portion of said coil spring and movable from a first position to a second position to increase the internal diameter of said turns of said coil spring, and detent means for retaining said sleeve member in the second position against the influence of said coil spring.

Claim 11

A coupling assembly for use in connecting first and second conduits in fluid communication, said coupling assembly comprising a plug member adapted to be connected with the first conduit, said plug member including outer surface means defining an external helix having a plurality of turns extending around said plug member, a cylindrical outer surface disposed forwardly of said helix, and a tapered leading end portion disposed forwardly of said cylindrical surface, socket means adapted to be connected with the second conduit, said socket means including means defining chamber for receiving said plug member, and a metallic inner surface means for engaging said tapered leading end portion to provide a metal-to-metal seal between said socket means and plug member, a seal washer disposed in said chamber and formed of an elastomeric material, said seal washer including circular inner surface means for sealingly engaging said cylindrical outer surface of said plug member at a location intermediate said tapered leading end portion of said plug member and said helix, coil spring means for applying a radially inwardly directed force to said plug member along a plurality of turns of said helix to resiliently grip said plug member, and coil spring means including a resiliently deflectable coil spring having a plurality of turns of the same pitch as said external helix and a free internal diameter which is less than the root diameter of said helix, means for resiliently flexing said coil spring to increase the internal diameter of said turns of said coil spring to a diameter which is greater than the crest diameter of said helix, said means for resiliently flexing said coil spring including a sleeve member connected with one end portion of said coil spring and movable from a first position to a second position to increase the internal diameter of said turns of said coil spring, and detent means for retaining said sleeve member in the second position against the influence of said coil spring.