Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A quick-disconnect mechanism including a male member and a socket therefor, said socket having a longitudinal aperture disposed along an axis and adapted to receive said male member coaxial therewith, said male member having a lockable abutment surface facing in a first longitudinal direction toward the entrance of said socket; cam means journalled in an eccentric cam follower surface on said socket for rotation about a second axis displaced from the axis of said socket; an aperture in said cam means sufficiently large to accommodate the entrance of the lockable abutment surface on said male member; a first diametral axis of symmetry through said cam follower surface bisecting high and low points thereof; a conical locking surface on said cam means facing in a second longitudinal direction opposite that of said lockable abutment surface; and means to rotate said cam means in first and second opposite rotational directions whereby rotation in said first longitudinal direction rotates said cam locking surface toward said high point of said cam follower surface to move said cam conical locking surface with a radially inward component and with a component of movement in said second longitudinal direction to engage said lockable abutment surface to lock said male member in said socket; and whereby rotation of said cam in said second rotation direction unlocks said cam locking surface from said lockable abutment surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A quick-disconnect mechanism including a male member and a socket therefor, said socket having a longitudinal aperture disposed along an axis and adapted to receive said male member coaxial therewith, said male member having a lockable abutment surface facing in a first longitudinal direction toward the entrance of said socket; cam means journalled in an eccentric cam follower surface on said socket for rotation about a second axis displaced from the axis of said socket; an aperture in said cam means sufficiently large to accommodate the entrance of the lockable abutment surface on said male member; a first diametral axis of symmetry through said cam follower surface bisecting high and low points thereof; a conical locking surface on said cam means facing in a second longitudinal direction opposite that of said lockable abutment surface; and means to rotate said cam means in first and second opposite rotational directions whereby rotation in said first longitudinal direction rotates said cam locking surface toward said high point of said cam follower surface to move said cam conical locking surface with a radially inward component and with a component of movement in said second longitudinal direction to engage said lockable abutment surface to lock said male member in said socket; and whereby rotation of said cam in said second rotation direction unlocks said cam locking surface from said lockable abutment surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, including an expelling surface on said cam means operable upon rotation of said cam in said second direction to expel said male member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cam expelling surface faces said first longitudinal direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 3, including an expulsion surface on said male member facing said second longitudinal direction and cooperable with said cam expelling surface with said cam means rotated in said second direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 4, including an annular groove on said male member defining an annular flange, and with said lockable abutment surface and said expulsion surface being formed on opposite sides of said flange.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotation means includes a fluid motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam means has a second diametral axis of symmetry bisecting high and low points thereof; and said cam locking surface being near said high point of said cam means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 7, wherein said cam locking surface is on one side of said second diametral axis of symmetry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 8, including a male member expelling surface on said cam means on the opposite side of said second diametral axis of symmetry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lockable surface is conical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second axis is parallel to said axis of said socket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, including a fluid passageway substantially coaxially through said socket and male member for fluid flow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 12, wherein said cam follower surface is circular surrounding said fluid passageway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam means is a single member with a periphery at least part of which is circular.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A quick-connect mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said socket has a conical seat complementary to a conical portion on said male member and said conical portion being established tightly in said conical seat by said cam locking surface.