MODULAR COUPLING ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a modular coupling assembly. More specifically, the invention is directed to an improved modular coupling assembly that includes a superior sealing system.

Coupling assemblies are known in the art. An example of a prior art coupling assembly is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,215, 122. It has been found that when prior art coupling assemblies carry fluid under pressure, the assemblies can leak. For a variety of reasons, including environmental protection, leakage of fluid is undesirable. Therefore, there is a need for a coupling assembly that includes a redundant or supplemental sealing device between the coupled members of the assembly. A redundant sealing device prevents the leakage of fluid in a coupling assembly. The present invention satisfies the above-identified need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The improved modular coupling assembly of the present invention includes a first member having a cylindrical body extending between first and second body open ends. The body has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface defines a first member fluid passageway extending longitudinally between the first and second body open ends.

A first valve is movably positioned in the first member fluid passageway for regulating fluid flow through the first member fluid passageway. The first valve is urged by a spring toward the first body open end.

The assembly further includes a second member having a second member housing. The second member housing has an outer surface, an inner surface and a housing open end. The inner surface defines a second member fluid passageway. The second member further includes a cylindrical sleeve extending between first and second sleeve open ends. The sleeve is movably positioned adjacent the inner surface. The sleeve has an outside surface and an inside surface. The sleeve is urged by a spring toward the housing open end.

A second valve is positioned adjacent the inside surface of the sleeve for regulating fluid flow through the second member fluid passageway. The second valve is in communication with the first valve to allow fluid flow between the second member fluid passageway and the first member fluid passageway.

A first seal device is positioned between the interior surface of the body and the outside surface of the sleeve to prevent leakage of fluid between the body and the sleeve.

A second seal device is positioned between the inner surface of the housing of the second member and the exterior surface of the body to prevent leakage of fluid between the housing and the body. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a coupling assembly having a redundant seal between the coupled members to prevent leakage of fluid from the assembly.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a superior coupling assembly with unique valves to regulate the flow of fluid through the assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention shall be become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view taken through the center of the first and second members of the present invention prior to coupling of the members; Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the components of the first member according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the components of the second member according to the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to the view of Fig. 1 showing the members in a coupled position;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment and best mode of the present invention shall now be described in detail with reference being made to the accompanying drawings. The improved modular coupling assembly of the present invention is indicated generally in the drawings by the reference number "10". Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the coupling assembly 10 of the present invention includes a first member 12 having a cylindrical body 14 extending between a first body end 16 and a second body end 18. The body 14 has an exterior surface 20 and an interior surface 22. The interior surface 22 defines a first member fluid passageway 24 extending longitudinally between the first and second body open ends 16 and 18.

Still referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the first member 12 includes a first member housing 26 extending between a first first member housing open end 28 and a second first member housing open end 30. The first member housing 26 has a first member outside surface 32 and a first member housing inside surface 34. A first member housing O-ring seal 35 is positioned adjacent the first member outside surface 32. The first member housing inside surface 34 defines a chamber 36 adjacent the

first first member housing open end 28. As shown in Fig. 1 , a portion of the body 14 is positioned in the chamber 36. The body is retained in the chamber 36 by a split steel snap ring 37. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an O-ring seal 38 is positioned between the exterior surface 20 of the body 14 and the first member housing inside surface 34 of the first member housing 26. The O-ring seal 38 prevents leakage of fluid between the body 14 and the first member housing 26. The O-ring seal 38 and the other O-ring seals or annular seals of the present invention, as described below, may be made of an appropriate elastomeric material. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the assembly 10 includes a first valve member 40 movably positioned in the first member fluid passageway 24. The first valve member 40 has a leading portion 42 and a conical portion 44. The conical portion 44 includes a plurality of spaced outwardly extending wings. In the present embodiment, there are four wings 46. As shown in Fig. 1 , the wings 46 slidingly engage the interior surface 22 of the body 14. When so positioned, the wings 46 define a plurality of fluid channels. In the present embodiment, four fluid channels 48 are defined by the wings 46. The wings 46 of the first valve member 40 engage a spring 50 that is positioned in the first member fluid passageway 24. The spring 50 urges the first valve member 40 toward the first body end 16 of the body 14. The spring 50 positions the first valve member 40 within the first member fluid passageway 24. As described below, the first valve member 40 regulates fluid flow through the first member fluid passageway 24. The fluid channels 48 channel fluid through the first member fluid passageway 24.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the assembly 10 includes a second member 56 having a second member housing 58. The second member housing 58 has an outer surface 60, an inner surface 62 and a housing open end 63. The inner surface 62 defines a second member fluid passageway 64. The second member 56 further includes a cylindrical

sleeve 65 extending between a first sleeve open end 66 and a second sleeve open end 68. The sleeve 65 is movably positioned adjacent the inner surface 62 of the second member housing 58. The sleeve 65 has an outside surface 70 and an inside surface 72. A second member housing O-ring seal 75 is positioned adjacent the outer surface 60. As shown in Fig. 1 , an O-ring seal 76 is positioned between the outside surface 70 of the sleeve 65 and the inner surface 62 of the second housing member 58. The O-ring seal 76 prevents leakage of fluid between the sleeve 65 and the second housing member 58. The sleeve 65 is urged toward the housing open end 63 by a spring 78.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the assembly 10 includes a second valve member 80. The second valve member 80 has a contact end 82, a housing end 84 and a second valve body 86. The second valve body 86 defines a second valve body fluid passageway 88 extending longitudinally between the contact and housing ends 82 and 84. The second valve member 80 is positioned in the second member fluid passageway 64.

Still referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a plurality of fluid openings are defined by the second valve body 86 adjacent the contact end 82. In the present embodiment, there are four fluid openings 90 defined by the second valve body 86. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the inside surface 72 of the sleeve 65 is positioned adjacent the fluid openings 90 of the second valve body 86. As described below, movement of the sleeve 65 relative to the second valve body 86 causes the fluid openings 90 to close or open to regulate fluid flow through the second valve body fluid passageway 88 of the second valve member 80.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the contact end 82 of the second valve member 80 defines a contact head 92 having an annular face 94. The contact head 92 defines a pressure relief fluid passageway 96 extending between the second valve body fluid passageway 88 and the annular

face 94. The pressure relief fluid passageway 96 includes a first relief open end 98 and a second relief open end 100. A pressure relief device 101 is movably positioned in the pressure relief fluid passageway 96. The pressure relief device 101 includes a ball valve 102 positioned adjacent the first relief open end 98. A relief spring 104 urges the ball valve 102 toward the first relief open end 98 to seal the pressure relief fluid passageway 96 from the second valve body fluid passageway 88. The second relief open end 100 includes a retainer 106 having a retainer opening 108. The retainer 106 engages the release spring 104. If fluid pressure within the second valve body fluid passageway 88 exceeds a predetermined level when the second member 56 is uncoupled from the first member 12, the ball valve 102 is moved away from the first relief open end 98 to open the pressure relief fluid passageway 96. This allows fluid to flow from the second valve body fluid passageway 88 through the first relief open end 98 and into the pressure relief fluid passageway 96. The fluid proceeds through the pressure relief fluid passageway 96 and out the second relief open end 100 through the retainer opening 108. Once fluid pressure returns to the predetermined level, the ball valve 102 returns to its normally closed position adjacent the first relief open end 98.

Referring to Figs. 1 , 2 and 4, the assembly 10 includes a first annular seal 110. The first annular seal 110 is positioned between the interior surface 22 of the body 14 and the outside surface 70 of the sleeve 65. The first annular seal 1 10 prevents leakage of fluid between the body 14 and the sleeve 65.

Referring to Figs. 1 , 3 and 4, the assembly 10 includes a second annular seal 112. The second annular seal 1 12 is positioned between the inner surface 62 of the second member housing 58 and the exterior surface 20 of the body 14. The second annular seal 1 12 prevents

leakage of fluid between the second member housing 58 and the body 14.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the first member 12 is connected to the second member 56 by inserting the first body end 16 of the first member 12 into the housing open end 63 of the second member 56. The contact head 92 engages the leading portion 42 of the first valve member 40. This engagement causes the first valve member 40 to move toward the second body end 18 and the first member fluid passageway 24. This causes a break in the seal between the leading portion 42 and the interior surface 22 of the body 14. It also opens the first member fluid passageway 24. As the first body end 16 of the body 14 is inserted in the housing open end 63, the first body end 16 engages the sleeve 65 adjacent the second sleeve open end 68. Prior to insertion, the sleeve 65 is adjacent the contact head 92 of the second valve body 86. As the body 14 is inserted in the housing open end 63, the sleeve 65 is moved away from the housing open end 63. This causes the fluid openings 90 of the second valve body 86 to open. When the body 14 is inserted in the housing open end 63, as shown in Fig. 4, the first annular seal 1 10 is positioned between the interior surface 22 of the body 14 and the outside surface 70 of the sleeve 65. The second annular seal 1 12 is positioned between the inner surface 62 of the second member housing 58 and the exterior surface 20 of the body 14.

As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, fluid flows through the second valve body fluid passageway 88 through the fluid openings 90 to the first member fluid passageway 24 through the channels 48 defined by the wings 46 of the first valve member 40. The first annular seal 1 10 usually prevents leakage of fluid between the interior surface 22 of the body 14 and the outside surface 70 of the sleeve 65. However, if trace amounts of fluid should flow beyond the first annular seal 1 10, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 4, the fluid will be prevented from escaping

between the inner surface 62 of the second member housing 58 and the exterior surface 20 of the body 14 by the second annular seal 1 12. The redundant seal created by the second annular seal 1 12 prevents the escape of fluid from the assembly 10. The above detailed description of the present invention is given for explanatory purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the whole of the foregoing description is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limitative sense, the scope of the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.