Patent ID: 8205914
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A coupling assembly for a fluid-flow circuit, the assembly comprising an endpiece for being secured to an outlet of the circuit, said endpiece being provided with means for receiving locking balls, the coupling assembly also including a coupling member for being selectively joined with said endpiece in a configuration where a fluid can flow between said coupling member and said endpiece as said endpiece and said coupling member are being axially inserted one within the other, said coupling member including: a hollow body of a size to receive said endpiece therein and having an inlet opening surrounded by a ring which is integral with said body and which projects radially outwardly of the inlet opening; at least one housing formed axially between said ring of said body and a slider that is axially movable over and relative to said body and radially between said body and a control member mounted surrounding said body and said slider, locking balls retained in said housing, said locking balls being radially and axially movable between a locked position that is radially inner relative to a main axis of the body such that said locking balls are seated within said means for receiving locking balls of said endpiece when said endpiece is inserted within said body and an unlocked position that is radially outer relative to said main axis such that said locking balls are not seated within said means for receiving locking balls of said endpiece as said endpiece is being insert into and removed from said body, said housing being axially adjustable in size and being axially smaller so as to closely confine said locking balls between said ring of said body and said slider and within said means for receiving locking balls of said endpiece when said locking balls are in their locked position and being axially larger so as to space said locking balls from said ring of said body as said endpiece is inserted within said body and said locking balls are moved inwardly of said body; said slider having a radially extending wall defining an axially movable end of said housing, said slider being slidably movable generally parallel to said main axis between an advanced position in which said radially extending wall imparts the smaller axial size to said housing and in which the locking balls are blocked in their locked position by a locking element of said control member, and a retracted position in which said radially extending wall of said slider imparts the larger axial size to said housing and said locking balls are moved inwardly of said body and spaced from said ring of said body so as to be between said locking element of said control member and said slider, and wherein said radially extending wall of said slider defines said one end of said housing in both the advanced position and the retracted position of said slider, and wherein said radially extending wall is closer to the inlet opening into said hollow body when said slider is in the advanced position than when in the retracted position; said control member being movable between a forward rest position in which it and said slider in its advanced position, retain said locking balls in said inner locking position and seated within said means for receiving locking balls of said endpiece, and a second rearward position in which said control member comes into abutment against a portion of said body that in use faces towards said endpiece and in which second rearward position said locking balls are out of said locked position and in said unlocked position spaced between said ring of said body and said locking element of said control member and spaced from said slider; and return means for returning said control member towards its rest position, said return means being interposed between facing walls belonging respectively to said body and to said control member.