Coupling having spring biased locking means

Claim 1

In combination with a pair of axially overlapping conduit members with O-ring seal elements groove seated on the inner member at the seal area in an interference fit between the members wherein said conduit members are adapted to be rotatable relative to each other about a common axis, a coupling assembly notably with conduit attachment ends, wherein the outer member with an outwardly axially directed centrally hinged rocker arm member with desirable low compact design comprising a raised button with an inner socket that partially receives and guides a compression spring member inwardly positioned between said button and over a guide boss on an outer surface of said outer member and a hook configuration on the opposite end of said rocker arm member, wherein said hook configuration normally protrudes radially inward through an aperture in said outer member to subsequently engage a radially outward annular hook and groove within an inward annular recess formation of the inner member upon the couple action, wherein said rocker arm member is capped by a closure bonnet member with an access aperture for said button radial swing passage wherein with the above noted attachments to the outer member represents said outer member assembly as a unit, whereupon during the couple action as said inner member appropriate end is axially inserted in any manner into the relatively lengthy guide and seal element receiving chambers of said outer member the hook configuration of said rocker arm member is initially moved radially outward as annular radial configuration end of the inner member wedgingly contacts a bevel on said hook configuration as annular bevel at seal chamber in said outer member and annular bevel at said hook and groove formation of said inner member radially center said inner member into an axial alignment with the outer member, then said hook configuration moves further radially outward against the bias of said spring member as a radially outward bevel on said annular hook and groove formation on said inner member wedgingly contacts said bevel on said hook configuration of the rocker arm member until said hook of said inner member passes under and past said hook configuration, whereupon the radially outward reacting force of said spring member at button end of the rocker arm member positions said hook configuration radially inward into said annular recess of said hook and groove formation of the inner member to an appropriate abutment and positioned for the interlock engagement of the hook of the hook configuration with said hook and groove formation representing the mechanical couple action and positioning of couple parts of the coupling assembly in a mechanically coupled state, whereupon as pressurized fluid is subsequently introduced within the coupled assembly the related column end force tends to axially separate the coupled members one from the other to cause said hook configuration of said rocker arm member hinged to the outer member to move in the desirable direction into a positive interlocked engagement with said annular groove and be radially retained therein by said hook of said hook and groove formation of the inner member representing the coupled parts in the automatic pressure lock positions when the coupled assembly is in the pressure locked coupled state, whereupon uncoupling the conduit members is accomplished when pressurized fluid is absent within the coupled assembly and the inner member is further inserted into the outer member to where appropriate surfaces abut at which time the hook configuration of said rocker arm member is free of the interlocking engagement the button of said rocker arm member is manually pushed radially inward against the bias of said spring member which action due to said rocker arm member hinging arrangement at hinge pin member in hinge boss of the outer member causes said hook configuration to swing radially outward into said closure bonnet member inner chamber and out of the interlocking engagement area to permit the withdrawal of the inner member at uncoupling the assembly, whereupon the manual release of said button the reaction force of said spring member returns said button radially outward and said hook configuration of rocker arm member radially inward and automatically positioned in the automatic cocked position for future couple actions.