US6116277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Farm coupling
Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC
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Filing: 1998-11-05
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Granted: 2000-09-12
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Expires: 2018-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A coupling that is useable on farm implements is disclosed. A metal to metal vent valve is employed in the female half of the coupling which constantly vents the supply port to the vent port when the female half is disconnected or partially disconnected from the male half. Steps in the bore of the female body permit easier disconnection because the ball valve is not depressed thus lowering disconnection faces. When the male half is being coupled with the female half the female half is vented thus making coupling easy.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne Wilcox
- 👤 Douglas F. Hopson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:35
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L37/00; F16L37/28; F16L37/30; F16L37/32; F16L37/34; F16L37/22; F16L37/23; F16L37/62; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917; Y10T137/87925; Y10T137/87941
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
A female coupling half comprising: a body; said body includes a pressure supply port and a vent port; a relief valve positioning member; a movable inner body member; said relief valve positioning member includes a vent valve; and said vent valve includes a piston and a ball.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
A female coupling half comprising: a body; said body includes a pressure supply port and a vent port; a relief valve positioning member; a movable inner body member; said relief valve positioning member includes a vent valve; and said vent valve includes a piston and a ball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A female coupling half as claimed in claim 1 wherein said relief valve positioning member is affixed to said inner body member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A female coupling half as claimed in claim 2 wherein said vent valve permits communication to said vent port when said inner body member is in said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A female coupling half as claimed in claim 2 wherein said vent valve does not permit communication to said vent port when said inner body member is in said first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A female coupling half as claimed in claim 1 wherein said piston and said ball are metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A female coupling half as claimed in claim 1 wherein said piston includes a metal seat and wherein said ball is metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A coupling comprising: a male half and a female half; and, said female half includes: a movable inner body member, a relief valve positioning member, a pressure supply port and a vent port; said relief valve positioning member includes a vent valve, and, said vent valve includes a piston and a ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A coupling comprising: a male half and a female half; and, said female half includes: a movable inner body member, a relief valve positioning member, a pressure supply port and a vent port; said relief valve positioning member includes a vent valve, and, said vent valve includes a piston and a ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A coupling as claimed in claim 7 wherein said female body includes a stepped bore having a first internal diameter and a second internal diameter; said relief valve positioning member includes a seat on said piston; and, said ball seals against said seat on said piston when said ball engages said first internal diameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A coupling as claimed in claim 8 wherein said relief valve positioning member includes an interior ball housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coupling as claimed in claim 9 wherein said interior ball housing includes a hexagonal aperture for housing said ball.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein said relief valve positioning member further includes an exterior housing and a spring residing between said exterior housing and said piston.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A coupling as claimed in claim 11 wherein said exterior housing of said relief valve positioning member includes a passageway subjected to pressure and said piston includes a passageway in communication with said passageway of said exterior housing; and, together said passageways communicate pressure to said ball.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A female coupling half comprising: a body; said body includes a pressure supply port and a vent port; and, a relief valve positioning member comprising: an exterior housing having a passageway in communication with said pressure supply port, an interior housing having an aperture, a piston having a ball seat and a passageway in communication with said passageway of said exterior housing, and, a ball residing in said aperture of said interior housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A female coupling half comprising: a body; said body includes a pressure supply port and a vent port; and, a relief valve positioning member comprising: an exterior housing having a passageway in communication with said pressure supply port, an interior housing having an aperture, a piston having a ball seat and a passageway in communication with said passageway of said exterior housing, and, a ball residing in said aperture of said interior housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A female coupling half as claimed in claim 13 wherein said body includes a stepped bore which unseats said ball from said ball seat of said piston when said relief valve positioning member resides in a bore of sufficient diameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
A coupling comprising: a male half and a female half; said female half includes a body having a stepped bore, an inner body member, a relief valve positioning member, a pressure supply port and a vent port; said relief valve positioning member being affixed to said inner body member; said inner body member and said relief valve positioning member being movable in said stepped bore of said body; said relief valve positioning member having a first position and a second position; and, said relief valve positioning member includes a relief valve comprising a piston, a ball, a ball housing, and a spring urging said piston into engagement with said ball when said relief valve positioning member is in its said first position and said spring urging said piston into engagement with said ball housing when said relief valve positioning member is in its said second position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
A coupling comprising: a male half and a female half; said female half includes a body having a stepped bore, an inner body member, a relief valve positioning member, a pressure supply port and a vent port; said relief valve positioning member being affixed to said inner body member; said inner body member and said relief valve positioning member being movable in said stepped bore of said body; said relief valve positioning member having a first position and a second position; and, said relief valve positioning member includes a relief valve comprising a piston, a ball, a ball housing, and a spring urging said piston into engagement with said ball when said relief valve positioning member is in its said first position and said spring urging said piston into engagement with said ball housing when said relief valve positioning member is in its said second position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A coupling as claimed in claim 15 wherein said piston includes a metal seat and said ball is metal forming a metal to metal seal between said ball and said seat when said relief valve positioning member is in its said first position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A female coupling half comprising a body, a supply port, a vent port, and means for venting said supply port to said vent port when said female coupling half is uncoupled.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A female coupling half comprising a body, a supply port, a vent port, and means for venting said supply port to said vent port when said female coupling half is uncoupled.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
93 words
A female coupling half which continuously vents when not connected to a male coupling half comprising: a body, a supply port, a vent port, an inner body member, a relief valve positioning member; said inner body member movable with respect to said body; said relief valve positioning member affixed to said inner body member and movable therewith to a first and second position; and, said relief valve positioning member includes a vent valve which continuously vents said female half of said coupling when said relief valve positioning member is in said second position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
93 words
A female coupling half which continuously vents when not connected to a male coupling half comprising: a body, a supply port, a vent port, an inner body member, a relief valve positioning member; said inner body member movable with respect to said body; said relief valve positioning member affixed to said inner body member and movable therewith to a first and second position; and, said relief valve positioning member includes a vent valve which continuously vents said female half of said coupling when said relief valve positioning member is in said second position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |