Patent ID: 6173998
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
A plug-in coupling for connecting a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit, wherein said first fluid conduit has at least one retaining rib disposed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, said plug-in coupling comprising:a sleeve having a plurality of radial openings, each of said radial openings having a front edge, said sleeve having an inner shoulder formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof;a cylindrical arresting device being received and axially displaceable within said sleeve, said arresting device being axially displaceable between a locking position and an unlocking position, said arresting device having at least two axially extending, elastically flexible retaining arms depending from said arresting device, a free end of each of said retaining arms being hook-shaped for selectively engaging said retaining rib when said first fluid conduit is inserted into said arresting device, each of said free ends having a radially outwardly facing inclined face that, in said locking position, abuts against said front edge of one of said radial openings in said sleeve when said sleeve and said arresting device are axially displaced away from each other thereby increasing the engagement force applied by said hook-shaped free end to said retaining rib, each of said free ends having a radially inwardly facing inclined face that is disposed adjacent to said retaining rib when said first fluid conduit is inserted in said arresting device; said arresting device having at least two unlocking arms depending therefrom, one of said unlocking arms being disposed between two of said retaining arms, each of said unlocking arms projecting radially outwardly with a radial outer part through one of said radial openings in said sleeve, each of said unlocking arms being axially displaceable with respect to said sleeve;at least one sealing ring being disposed between said inner shoulder of said sleeve and said arresting device; andwherein, said arresting device being displaceable from said locking position to said unlocking position by radially inwardly pressing together said radially outer parts of said unlocking arms, in said unlocking position, said arresting device is axially retracted into said sleeve, said radially inner inclined face of said retaining arms abut against said retaining rib and said radially outer inclined faces of said free ends are sufficiently spaced from said front edge of said respective opening in said sleeve so that said retaining arms may spread radially apart to permit decoupling of said first fluid conduit from said plug-in coupling.