Fluid coupling with automatic sealing valves

Claim 1

A fluid coupling comprising: a tubular socket having a first axial passage and including a first terminal; a tubular plug having a second axial passage and including a second terminal, said plug further including a first section which is insertable into and extractable from a second section forming part of said socket, said sections sealingly engaging each other and said passages permitting fluid communication with each in either direction in said first and second axial passages in the inserted position of said first section; means for releasably connecting said sections to each other; and normally closed first and second valves respectively provided in said first and second passages to seal such passages in response to extraction of said first section from said second section, each of said valves having a seat in the respective passage, each of said valves having a valving element movable with reference to the respective seat between a first position of sealing engagement with the seat and a second position in which the valving element permits a fluid to flow through the respective passage in either axial direction, and means for biasing the valving element to the first position, said valving element of said first valve engaging and moving with said valving element of said second valve to the second position in response to insertion of said first section into said second section to thus permit fluid communication from one of said passages into and through the other of said passages, each of said seats being press fit in the respective passage, each of said seats being an annular seat, each of said valving elements having a first side and a second side, said biasing means being disposed at the first sides of the respective valving elements and said valving elements comprising an extension at the second side thereof, said extension engaging the second side of the other of said valving elements in response to insertion of said first section into said second section to thereby stress said biasing means and maintain said valving elements in said second positions thereof, said extension projecting with clearance at least into the seat of the other of said valving elements, each of said seats having a peripheral recess and a sealing element in the respective recess, one of said sealing elements being in sealing engagement with said socket in said first passage and the other of said sealing elements being in sealing engagement with said plug in said second passage, one of said seats being disposed in the respective terminal, each of said valving elements having an annular groove and a sealing element extending into said groove, said sealing element engaging the seat of the respective valve in the first position of said valving element.