Pipe joints or couplings – Packed – Cam
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-30
2001-11-20
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Packed
Cam
C258S005000, C258S005000, C258S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318767
ABSTRACT:
This invention is in the field of hose couplings. More particularly the invention is in the field of identical end members for quarter turn quick connect couplings having cams and lugs in which the lugs and cams engage for quick coupling. The invention lies in an improvement in existing end members for quarter turn quick connect couplings to facilitate disengagement of the two identical end members which become jammed or stuck. The improvement resides in providing a rearward axially extending flange extending axially rearwardly from at least one lug. The rearward axially extending flange has side walls which include a concave surface for engagement by a standard wrench for disengaging coupling members from one another.
The couplings which are the subject of this invention are frequently used on high pressure hose used in the forest-fire fighting industry. The identical quarter turn quick connect members of the coupling found on the end of adjoining hoses enable a person to join two hoses by hand by placing the end members of adjoining hose face to face and turning one member through a quarter turn relative to the opposing member. In the past high pressure fire hose used threaded couplings but in many areas the use of threaded couplings has been replaced by quarter turn quick connect couplings. Some existing high pressure fire hose has been adapted to cam and lug turn coupling by threading an adapter on the threaded fire hose which adapter incorporates a cam and lug to create an end member on the fire hose adapted for quarter turn quick connect coupling.
While the end members of adjoining hose described above are very easy to join by hand applied torque, after the coupling has been subject to high pressure, heat or corrosion the couplings sometimes cannot be opened by hand. The lugs of existing quarter turn quick connect couplings were designed for engagement and disengagement by hand applied torque. The shape of present lugs on the end members of quarter turn quick connect couplings are difficult to engage with a wrench when hand disengagement is not possible. The difficulty of disengagement can create a problem when crews have to change hoses quickly in the field and are unable to disconnect adjoining hoses by hand. Furthermore crews sometimes strike the couplings against rocks in order to loosen one end member from another causing wear or damage to the end member or hose.
The problem with disconnecting quarter turn quick connect couplings which become too tight or corroded for opening by hand torque has been overcome by providing an axially rearwardly extending flange having side walls which include a concave surface. The axially rearwardly extended flange can be engaged by the standard wrench used by firefighters. The axially rearwardly extending flange having side walls which include a concave surface which provides a surface for the wrench to engage so that one member of the coupling can be torqued to disengage the members of the coupling when disengagement by hand is not possible.
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Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Luu Teri Pham
Mercedes Textiles Limited
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