Patent ID: 6669237
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
An air brake hose coupling member for a rail car, comprising:a generally tubular body with a longitudinal axis and an inner coupling face at a first end that is aligned generally in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and extending around an air passage; a shank at a second end of the body adapted to be connected to an air brake hose; an arcuate locking lug projecting outwardly from the first end of the body; an L-shaped annular flange on the body; wherein the locking lug and L-shaped annular flange are adapted to engage with the L-shaped annular flange and locking lug, respectively, of another coupling member to couple the members together when the inner coupling faces of the two coupling members are placed in an abutting relationship substantially along their entire inner coupling faces and rotated with respect to each other; a pawl, pivotally mounted on the coupling member and, wherein the axis of rotation of the pawl is in a plane substantially parallel to the inner coupling face and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; a ramp on the pawl for engaging another coupling member and for enabling the pawl to be raised to an unlocking position automatically during coupling of the members; wherein, when the members are coupled and the pawl is in a closed position, the pawl prevents undesired rotational decoupling of the members; and a biasing element that causes the pawl to drop down into a locking position after coupling of the members is complete.