Quick connect coupling assembly capable of quick or slow disconnection

A fitting or coupling assembly designed and structured to be used with either high or low pressure hydraulic or gaseous fluids and including a primary body secured to a retaining member, preferably by a threaded connection and each having a respective coaxially aligned central channel and passage, when connected, in which a conduit having a stop member formed on the outer surface thereof is positioned and fixed therein by means of a quick connection and selectively removable therefrom either by a quick disconnection or slow disconnection depending upon selective disengagement of said stop member from said retaining member or alternately disengagement of said primary body from said retaining member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A fluid coupling or fitting specifically structured for the quick 
connection to an internally fitted fluid channeling conduit wherein the 
coupling assembly is specifically structured to accomplish a quick 
disconnect such as in low pressure application or a slow disconnection and 
removal of the conduit such as in high pressure application or when the 
coupling and associated conduit is used for the handling of relatively hot 
liquid such as in hydraulics. 
THE PRIOR ART 
Quick connect-disconnect couplings or fitting assemblies have been known in 
the prior art for many years. Such prior art couplings are also applied in 
the handling of either hydraulic or gaseous fluids and the design and 
structural configuration of such couplings vary widely dependent upon the 
particular application for which they are intended. 
While such quick connect-disconnect couplings are primarily designed for 
convenience of installation and removal, couplings of this type either 
present a safety hazard or are not capable of being used when the fluids 
being handled or channeled through the coupling or fitting are under a 
relatively high pressure. This is due to the well recognized problem that 
an inadvertent quick disconnect of a conduit or coupling from its mating 
component could cause a rapid discharge of the fluid being handled due to 
the high pressure involved. Accordingly, such quick connect-disconnect 
couplings are generally not considered safe when dealing with high 
pressure applications. 
Of the prior art fittings or coupling assemblies available there are 
generally considered to be two broad categories. These categories include 
first the relatively expensive generally spring-loaded, quick connect type 
of coupling and secondly, the relatively inexpensive, quick connect but 
less than quick disconnect type of coupling or fitting. The latter 
structure is generally found in low pressure applications such as plumbing 
or the like. 
Certain inherent and well recognized disadvantages present in prior art 
structures include the relatively complex structure requiring several 
relatively expensive mating components, some of which components include 
and are specifically directed to the spring-loading effect necessary 
particularly to accomplish the quick disconnect features of prior art 
couplings. Particularly when dealing with high or even moderately high 
pressure certain features of the quick disconnection can be dangerous, as 
set forth above. This same danger occur when dealing with fluids which are 
utilized at relatively high temperatures. It should be readily apparent 
that an inadvertent disconnection of a coupling or fitting assembly could 
result in serious damage done to the surrounding personnel. 
Accordingly, there is a need in this industry for a fitting or coupling 
assembly capable of operating both as a quick connect and quick disconnect 
type of coupling wherein a conduit or tube, used to channel fluid, under 
pressure, may be readily attached or disconnected from a fitting or 
coupling assembly. In addition, such a preferred fitting assembly should 
be structured so as to accomplish what may be herein referred to as a slow 
disconnect or detachment of the conduit from the fitting or coupling 
wherein such "slow disconnect" is particularly applicable for situations 
involving high pressure or even moderately high pressure or when dealing 
with fluid at relatively high temperatures. In addition the preferred 
fitting or coupling assembly should be further structured to have certain 
inherent safety features even when removing or disconnecting the 
aforementioned fluid handling conduit by a quick disconnect operation. 
Such a safety feature would eliminate or seriously reduce damage done to 
the user of the coupling, or surrounding personnel, when a quick 
disconnect of the conduit is attempted inadvertently under high pressure 
conditions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a fluid fitting or coupling assembly of the type 
specifically designed to provide a quick connection or disconnection of a 
fluid handling conduit into a fitting or coupling for interconnection of 
the conduit through tubing, conduits, channels, etc. More specifically the 
coupling assembly of the present invention is specifically structured and 
designed to provide for a slow disconnection of the conduit from the 
coupling assembly wherein such slow disconnection may be generally defined 
as gradual removal or displacement of the fluid handling conduit from the 
fluid tight sealing engagement with the coupling assembly so as to 
gradually release or reduce the fluid pressure thereby preventing any 
extremely rapid escape of pressurized fluid or an inadvertent separation 
of the coupling assembly itself. 
As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, the coupling assembly 
of the present invention comprises a primary body having a central channel 
extending coaxially therethrough wherein one end of the body may take the 
form of any one of a variety of male fittings for interconnection to 
additional fluid directing conduit, tubing, etc. The other end of the 
primary body is connected to a retaining member, preferably in the form of 
a ring having a main portion which, in a preferred embodiment, is 
removably attached to the main body as by a threaded connection. The 
retaining member further includes a plurality of arms including at least 
two arms disposed in opposed, spaced apart relation to one another wherein 
the arms are pivotally secured to the main portion of the retaining 
member. Each arm includes an inwardly directed angularly oriented 
retaining finger extending inwardly towards a longitudinal central axis of 
the central passage of the retaining member wherein the central passage of 
the retaining member and the central channel of the primary body are 
disposed in aligned coaxial relation to one another for receipt and 
maintenance of a fluid channeling conduit therein. The conduit is 
positioned such that an open end thereof is disposed on the interior of 
the primary body in fluid receiving relation to a high pressure end or 
side of the primary body for channeling of fluid therethrough. 
An important feature of the present invention is the placement of a seal 
means, which may be in the form of one or more O-rings engaging the 
exterior surface of the container conduit in spaced relation from the open 
end thereof Another important feature of the present invention is the 
existence of a stop member integrally formed on the exterior surface of 
the conduit and in one embodiment, extending outwardly therefrom into 
cooperative abutting, interruptive engagement with a free or distal end of 
each of the retaining fingers. Accordingly, in a retained and "locked" 
position the stop member is positioned between one end of the primary body 
and the retaining fingers and effectively wedged or locked in such 
position due to the inability of the fingers to flex or move outwardly 
along the direction of their own length. 
However, the retaining member and specifically the opposing arms containing 
the retaining fingers are pivotally connected such that an opposing 
inwardly directed force to both fingers, concurrently, will cause the 
retaining fingers to be pivoted out of abutting, interruptive engagement 
with the stop member thereby providing a quick removal and disconnection 
of the conduit from the interior of the primary body and retaining member 
and outwardly from the aligned central channel and central passage of the 
body and retaining member respectively. The quick connect insertion or 
coupling of the conduit to the primary body and retaining member occurs 
just as simply by axially directed force disposing the conduit and 
specifically the open end thereof into the aligned passage and channel. 
The inherent flexibility of the arms and/or the retaining fingers 
themselves will allow the pivotal movement of the fingers and/or the arms 
in an outward direction transverse to the length of the fingers. As set 
forth above, the displacement of the retaining fingers along their own 
length in a direction outwardly towards the respective arms from the free 
or distal ends of the retaining fingers is prevented specifically due to 
the angular inclination or orientation of the retaining finger. 
A slow disconnection or removal of the conduit is accomplished by a 
progressive detachment of the retaining member from the primary body such 
as when the two aforementioned members are unthreaded from one another. 
This gradual or progressive removal or displacement of the retaining 
member from the primary body causes a concurrent progressive and gradual 
displacement of the open end of the conduit along the interior of the 
central channel of the primary body in the direction of fluid flow through 
the coupling. This gradual displacement of the conduit is caused by the 
fluid pressure itself acting on the open end. Once the open end passes 
beyond the seal means associated with the primary body the fluid tight 
seal defined therebetween is broken and the high pressure fluid is allowed 
to escape in a somewhat "controlled" fashion between the exterior surface 
of the conduit and the interior surface of the primary body and eventually 
into an expansion chamber or space of enlarged dimension. Escape of the 
pressurized fluid into the aforementioned expansion space which is defined 
by a greater interior diameter of the retaining member allows at least 
partially, the high pressure state of the fluid to be dissipated thereby 
somewhat relieving or reducing the danger in a quick release coupling. A 
complete separation of the primary body from the retaining member will 
cause a complete separation of the conduit and displacement thereof from 
the sealing engagement with the primary body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As shown in FIG. 1, the coupling assembly of the present invention is 
generally indicated as 10 and includes a primary body 12 having one free 
end, as pictured in FIG. 1, which may be any type of fitting, such as a 
male fitting 20. The coupling assembly 10 further includes a retaining 
member generally indicated as 14 where, in a preferred embodiment as shown 
in FIG. 1, the body 12 and the retaining member 14 are removably connected 
together by means of a threaded connection as at 16 and 16'. The primary 
body has a centrally disposed channel extending completely therethrough 
and, for purposes of explanation the free end of the body 12, as shown in 
FIG. 1 will be considered the high pressure site wherein pressure is 
entering the coupling assembly 10 under pressure from the free end passing 
through the channel 13. The primary body 12 further includes a seal means 
preferably in the form of an O-ring 24 mounted in a groove or like 
integrally formed recess or channel 22 and dimensioned and positioned so 
as to extend outwardly therefrom into sealing engagement with the external 
surface of any type of conduit 38 connected to the coupling or fitting 
assembly 10 by passing into the central channel 18. 
Similarly, the retaining member 14 includes a central channel 26 of 
somewhat greater inside diameter. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the retaining 
member 14 includes a main portion 27 and a plurality of arms 32 extending 
outwardly therefrom in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the 
passage 26. Each arm 32 is spaced apart from one another by proper spacing 
34 extending between each of the plurality of fingers 32 as shown. The 
spacings 34 are represented to be between a plurality of fingers where in 
reality the subject coupling assembly would operate in effect with only 
two opposing fingers as best represented in longitudinal section of FIG. 1 
and indicated as 32. Accordingly, each of the arms 32 are pivotally 
connected substantially at 33 to the main portion 27 of the retaining 
member 14 and further, each of the arms 32 include a depending finger 28 
integrally or otherwise attached thereto which may be formed of somewhat 
inherently flexible material and which extend inwardly toward the interior 
of the retaining member and longitudinal central axis of the passage 26 at 
an angular incline toward the primary body 12 as clearly shown in FIG. 1. 
These fingers 28 are joined at junction 30 between the respective arms 32 
at one end of the respective retaining fingers 28. The opposite end of 
each of the respective fingers 28 is represented as 44 and cooperates with 
a stop member indicated as 42. The stop member 42 is spaced inwardly along 
the length of the conduit 38 from the open end 40 and preferably, in the 
embodiment of FIG. 1, outwardly from the outer surface of the conduit 38. 
Further, the stop member 42 may be in the form of an integrally formed 
outwardly extending annularly configured rim or ring protruding a 
sufficient distance outwardly from the outer surface of the conduit 38 to 
engage the free or distal end 44 of the retaining fingers 28. 
Another important feature is the spacing of the stop member 42 a sufficient 
distance from the open end 40 of conduit 38 to allow the open end 40 be 
positioned beyond or upstream of the seal means 24 so as to establish a 
fluid tight seal between the conduit and the interior of the primary body 
12. 
With regard to FIGS. 3A-B, 4A-B and 5A-B, the specific structural features 
of the present invention allow the structural embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 to 
be selectively connected in what may be referred to as a quick connect 
mode and disconnected in what may be referred to as a quick disconnect 
mode and through further manipulation of the coupling to be further 
disconnected alternately by a slow disconnect mode such as in high 
pressure situations when disconnection must be done carefully and 
preferably concurrent to at least some fluid pressure dissipation prior to 
complete separation of the conduit 38 from the coupling assembly 10. 
With regard to FIGS. 3A-C, the various steps shown indicate the relative 
positions of each of the retaining fingers 28 and arms 32 of the retaining 
member 14 while the conduit 38 is being inserted. Such quick connect 
insertion is accomplished merely by axial pushing or pressure being 
applied on the conduit 38 relative to the retaining member in the 
direction indicated by arrow 41. FIG. 3A shows the stop member 42 
immediately prior to coming in contact with the free end 44 of the 
retaining finger 28. FIG. 3B shows actual contact being made and the 
outward flexure or pivotal movement of the finger 28 as the stop member 
passes beyond the free end 44 of the finger 28. The angular inclination 
and specific orientation of the retaining finger 28 allows the inward 
flexure as represented in FIG. 3B. 
Once the conduit 38 is properly positioned such that stop member 42 is 
beyond the free end 44 of the retaining fingers 28, the retaining fingers 
28 are prevented from flexing in a reverse or outer direction from that 
shown in FIG. 3B due to their angular inclination. For purposes of 
clarity, FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are shown primarily without direct connection 
to the primary body 12. Suffice it to say at this point however that such 
action of the finger occurs while the primary body 12 and retaining member 
14 are in the assembled position as represented in FIG. 1. 
With regard to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C the quick disconnect mode of operation 
is shown. As shown in FIG. 4A the conduit 38 is in its locked and 
maintained position on the interior of the retaining member 14. 
FIG. 4B shows external inwardly directed concurrent force being applied as 
indicated by the directional arrows preferably to the ends of the arms 32. 
Such concurrent external pressure being applied causes a pivotal movement 
of the arms 32 about pivot points 33 and an entire inward movement of the 
retaining fingers 28 and specifically the free ends thereof as at 44 
beyond the stop member 42. The conduit is thereby free to move outwardly 
and be quickly disconnected from the entire coupling assembly 10 as shown 
in FIG. 4C. It should also be emphasized that the pivot point 33 is 
located substantially at the juncture of the arm 32 relative to the main 
body portion 27 and in substantially corresponding position where the 
various spaces 34 between the arms 32 end or terminate at the main portion 
27 of the retaining element 14. 
With regard to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C a slow disconnect mode of operation is 
accomplished by gradually unthreading and therefore progressively removing 
or displacing the retaining member 14 from the primary body 12. It should 
be recalled that the existence of the high pressure fluid in the coupling 
will force the open end 40 of the conduit 38 along the direction of travel 
of fluid flow generally from the free end 20 of the primary body 12 
towards and in the direction of the placement of the retaining member 14. 
Accordingly, since the existence of the high pressure when in the 
completely locked position will cause the stop member 42 to engage and be 
locked against the free ends 44 of the fingers 28, a gradual or 
progressive displacement or removal of the retaining member 14 from the 
primary body 12 will cause a progressive displacement of the conduit along 
the length of the channel 18 of the primary body 12. Such gradual 
displacement will occur at least until the open end 40 passes at least 
minimally beyond the seal means 24 to the point where the fluid tight seal 
therebetween is broken. At this point there will be some at least minimal 
and controlled escape of the fluid under pressure between the exterior 
surface of the conduit 38 and the interior surface of the primary body 12 
as indicated by the directional arrows of FIG. 5B. An expansion chamber or 
space 49 is formed as shown in FIG. 5B and will receive the escaping 
fluid. The larger dimensional features of the expansion chamber 49 will 
serve to further dissipate the pressurized fluid and somewhat reduce the 
"escape pressure" of the fluid as it passes beyond the fingers and exists 
the coupling over the exterior surface of the conduit. Complete detachment 
of the retaining member 14 from the primary body 12 will cause a complete 
separation of and opening of the coupling and an eventual disconnection, 
in the aforementioned slow mode, of the conduit 38 from the coupling 
generally as 10. 
Other structural features of the present invention include various 
embodiments of the stop member. More specifically in FIG. 6 the stop 
member is in the form of an annular recess 45 formed in the exterior 
surface 38' of the conduit. This differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 
wherein the stop member is an outwardly extending annularly configured rim 
or ring. 
It should be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 6 the length or 
longitudinal dimension of the retaining fingers 28 must be sufficient to 
positioned distal end 44 thereof into abutting, interruptive engagement 
down into the recess 45 so as to prevent the inadvertent removal of the 
conduit 38 along the direction of travel of the pressurized fluid. 
FIG. 7 represents a safety feature wherein the stop member includes a first 
outwardly projecting ring 42 and a second outwardly projecting ring 42' 
spaced therefrom along the length of the conduit 38". When the conduit 38" 
is in its locked or connected position the distal end 44 of the finger 28 
will lockingly engage the first stop member 42. Upon the aforementioned 
external and opposing forces being applied to the respective arms 32 in 
the manner shown in FIG. 4B the respective fingers 28 will pivot out of 
engagement with the first stop member 42 and automatically come into 
abutting, interruptive engagement with the second stop members 42'. This 
acts as a safety measure wherein inadvertent quick detachment of the 
conduit 38" is attempted under high pressure conditions. 
FIG. 8 is yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the 
retaining member 14' is formed of an integral one piece metallic material 
of continuous length such that a main portion 60 is fixedly secured as by 
a spot weld 62 to the exterior of the primary body portion 12. An inwardly 
crimped skirt 63 is positioned into an integrally formed groove formed on 
the exterior of the primary body portion 12 as shown in FIG. 8. The 
remainder or arm 64 is of sufficient length to be folded upon itself so as 
to form a folded over portion 64, 66 which are spot welded or otherwise 
permanently secured together as at 68. The retaining finger 70 is formed 
by the distal end of the folded over portion 64, 66 in abutting, 
interruptive engagement with the stop member 42 of the conduit 38 as 
explained above. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 the coupling does not 
have the feature or advantage of the slow disconnect mode of operation. 
FIG. 9 is yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the 
plurality of arms 32 include at least two arms, (only one shown in FIG. 9 
for purposes of clarity having a retaining finger 28' positioned a first 
distance from the primary body 12 so as to be positioned in abutting, 
interruptive engagement with the stop member 42 of conduit 38 when the 
conduit 38 is in its connected position as shown in FIG. 9. 
However, a second finger schematically represented in FIG. 9 as 38 is 
spaced a second distance from the primary body 12 wherein such second 
distance is greater than the first distance. More specifically, the 
retaining fingers 28 are disposed a greater distance from the stop member 
42 than the first fingers 28'. Accordingly, the arms 32 to which the 
retaining fingers 28' are attached must first be depressed to release the 
stop member therefrom. The stop member 42 then passes into engagement with 
the second "downstream" pair of retaining fingers 28. Additional external 
force is applied to the same 32 holding the second set of fingers 28 must 
be applied in order to totally release the conduit 38 and specifically the 
stop member 42 from both sets of finger 28 and 28'. It is readily seen 
therefore that the embodiment of FIG. 9 serves as a safeguard again, where 
a quick disconnect coupling is attempted inadvertently under high pressure 
conditions.