Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch – Leaf spring
Patent
1996-03-22
1998-02-17
Melius, Terry Lee
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
Leaf spring
285424, 285921, F16L 3900
Patent
active
057184631
ABSTRACT:
A quick connect member (36, 136, 236) for connecting a tube (12) in a female socket having a radially extending shoulder in a groove (28). The quick disconnect member (36, 136, 236) comprises an annular support portion (40, 140, 240) for retained on the tube (12) to slide therealong and a pair of cantilevered spring arms (42, 142, 242) extending axially from the support portion (40, 140, 240). An abutment (38, 138, 238) is disposed at the distal end of each arm (42, 142, 242) and is biased radially outwardly and into a locked position in overlapping engagement with the shoulder of the groove (28) to mechanically prevent removal of a projection (18) on the tube (12) from the socket (14). In the first embodiment, the quick connect member (36) is defined by a coil of wire coiled about the tube (12) to define the support portion (40) with the wire extending axially from the coil to define the arms (42) and then extends transversely into the arms (42) to define circular abutments (38). In the second embodiment, the quick connect member (136) is defined by sheet metal in a U-shape having a support portion (140) with an opening (148) therein for receiving the tube (12) therethrough. The third embodiment includes a tab (250) extending from each of the abutments (238) to the exterior of the socket for moving the abutments radially inwardly to clear the shoulder (28) for insertion and removal from the socket and each of the tabs (250) includes an undulation (252) biased into engagement with the shoulder (28) to urge the projection (18) axially into the socket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3245703 (1966-04-01), Manly
patent: 3711125 (1973-01-01), Dehar
patent: 3826523 (1974-07-01), Eschbaugh
patent: 3858913 (1975-01-01), Gallagher
patent: 4802697 (1989-02-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5064227 (1991-11-01), Spor et al.
patent: 5096235 (1992-03-01), Oetiker
patent: 5112084 (1992-05-01), Washizu
Melius Terry Lee
Shackelford Heather
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