Patent ID: 8251407
Filing Date: 2012-08-28
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A female quick coupling element for releasably joining together pipes of fluid under pressure, the female element being suitable for receiving an endpiece of a male coupling element engaged therein along a longitudinal axis of said female element, the female element being fitted with at least one locking member movable in a housing formed in a body of the female element, between a first position in which a fraction of the locking member projects out from the housing in a configuration in which it can be engaged in a peripheral groove of a male element endpiece engaged in the female element, and a second position in which the fraction of the locking member is disengaged from the groove of a male element endpiece in the female element, while a control ring mounted to slide relative to the body of the female element parallel to a longitudinal axis of the female element is suitable for moving the locking member between its first and second positions, the female element being characterized in that the locking member is provided with at least one surface in the form of a portion of a sphere, and in that the movement of the locking member between its first and second positions takes place by pivoting about an axis that is stationary relative to the body of the female element, passing through the center of curvature of the surface in the form of a portion of a sphere of the locking member and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the female element.