Patent ID: 6325100
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: B67D,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A coupling for interconnecting two hollow bodies, the coupling comprising first and second interconnectable members (10, 20) for attachment of each one to an orifice of a respective body so as to allow fluid flow between the interiors of the bodies when interconnected by the coupling and to seal the orifices when uncoupled, the first member (10) comprising a hollow post (12) of which the interior communicates with the interior of the body to which the first member (10) is attached, the hollow post (12) having a closed end (13) and at least one opening (14) behind the end (13), the first member (10) further comprising a sleeve (15) around the post (12) biased into a position sealing the opening (14), the second member (20) comprising a piston (25, 26) within a hollow sheath (21, 24) of which the interior communicates with the interior of the body to which the second member (20) is attached, the piston (25, 26) being biased into a position closing an aperture (28), the post (12), sleeve (15), piston (25, 26) and sheath (21, 24) being configured such that, upon connection of the members (10, 20), the closed end (13) of the post (12) extends through the aperture (28) in the sheath (21, 24) thereby displacing the piston (25, 26) against its bias, displacing the sleeve (15), against its bias to a position for uncovering the opening (14) and allowing flow between the hollow interiors of the sheath (21, 24) and the post (12), characterized in that, upon connection of the members (10, 20), an annular seal (30) is present between the sheath (21, 24) and the sleeve (15), which seal (30) is activated by the sleeve (15) so as to establish a close fit around the post (12) wherein the seal (30) is an elastic ring which is compressed in the axial direction and expanded in the radial direction towards the post (12) so as to establish a close fit around the post (12).