A valve device having a tubular body adapted to be connected in a fluid conduit system. A self-closing valve member is pivotally mounted in the passage of the tubular body, the pivotal valve member being in a position closing the passage when the device is in a disconnected state and in an open, interlocked position when the device is in a connected state. The valve member is adapted to be pivoted from a closed position to an open position and when in the open position, moved axially with respect to the passage of the tubular body to a position whereat it is supported on a retaining lip provided in the tubular body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention generally relates to self-closing couplings and, more 
particularly, to self-closing couplings wherein a pivotal valve member is 
interlocked in an open position. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
While the invention has features that make it applicable for many purposes 
in various fields, the present disclosure is directed particularly to a 
valve connector for use in fluid conducting lines such as conduit systems 
connecting an aircraft engine to a fuel tank. As is known, aircraft 
engines are periodically removed from the airframes for inspection and 
maintenance and, accordingly, must be uncoupled from the fuel tanks. Of 
course, the fuel tanks must be sealed from the surrounding environment for 
preventing contamination of any fuel remaining in the tanks. 
Fluid couplings utilizing self-closing pivoted valve members have been used 
in the past. Examples of such couplings are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,023,584 and 4,090,524, issued on May 17, 1977 and May 23, 1978, 
respectively. Although the couplings disclosed therein employ similar 
elements, they are of the frangible type; that is, they include valve 
members which are always in an open position and the valve members only 
move to a closed position when the frangible connection of the coupling is 
broken. Accordingly, once the coupling has been broken, it cannot be 
reused, without major repair. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the practice of this invention, the self-sealing connector generally 
comprises a tubular body having a pivotally mounted, axially movable valve 
member disposed in its passage wherein the valve member is in a closed 
position when the connector is in a disconnected state and in an open, 
interlocked position when the self-sealing connector is in a connected 
state. More specifically, the valve member is pivotally mounted on an 
axially movable piston mounted in the passage together with an axially 
movable pusher which pivotally moves the valve member to an open position, 
after which the pusher also moves the piston and the open valve member to 
a position interlocking the open valve member to the tubular body. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
An object of the invention is to provide a novel valve connector which 
restricts the flow of fluid from one component when the connector is in a 
disconnected state and permits the flow of fluid between two components 
when the connector is in a connected state. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve connector of 
the pivoted valve type which is self-closing in the disconnected state and 
interlocked in an open position in the connected state, the opened 
position providing a full, unobstructed fluid flow passage. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve connector 
of the pivoted valve type that is simple in construction, economical to 
manufacture, efficient in operation and positive in action. 
Other objects and advantages will become more apparent during the course of 
the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, there is illustrated a 
self-closing valve connector constructed in accordance with the invention 
and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, together with 
a conventional coupling fitting 11. As there illustrated, one end of the 
valve connector 10 is provided with external threads 12 for connection to 
a fitting or other component (not shown) of a piping system. The other end 
of the valve connector 10 is provided with external threads 13 for 
connection with internal threads 14 provided in the coupling fitting 11. 
Valve connectors constructed in accordance with the invention may be used 
to handle fluid flowing under pressure in piping systems wherein 
connection and disconnection occur quite frequently in the piping system, 
such connectors being used in aircraft fuel lines, hydraulic oil lines and 
the like. 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the valve connector 10 includes an annular valve 
body 15 constructed of three tubular sections 16, 17 and 18 which have an 
axial passage 19 extending therethrough. The passage 19 in the tubular 
section 16 is provided with a first counterbore 20 having an internally 
threaded portion for threadedly connecting the tubular section 17 thereto. 
An axially extending groove 21 serving as a guideway is provided in the 
wall defining the counterbore 20. An O-ring 22 is sealingly disposed 
between the two tubular sections 16 and 17 adjacent the threaded 
connection. Also, the passage 19 in the tubular section 16 is provided 
with a second counterbore 23. The inner face 24 of the counterbore is 
provided with an arcuate, axially extending lip 25, the radial location 
thereof being in an aligned relationship with the groove 21 (see FIG. 4), 
the purpose of which will be described in detail hereinafter. 
The tubular section 17 forming an intermediate portion of the valve body 15 
is of annular configuration, having a hexagonal flange 26 (see FIG. 3). As 
shown in FIG. 1, the face 27 of the inner end of the tubular element 17 
together with the surfaces defining the counterbore 20 form an annular 
recess 28. Also the portion of the passage 19 defined by the tubular 
element 17 is provided with a counterbore 29 having an end face 30 and an 
internally threaded portion 31. 
Still referring to FIG. 1, the tubular section 18 completing the annular 
valve body 15 serves as an adapter and is threadedly connected to the 
internally threaded portion 31 of the tubular section 17. An O-ring 32 is 
sealingly disposed between the tubular section 17 and the adaptor section 
18 for sealing the threaded connection therebetween. It should be noted 
that the external threads 13, for connecting the valve connector to the 
internal threads 14 of the coupling fitting 11, are provided on an axially 
extending portion 33 of the section 18. The portion of the passage 19 
defined by the section 18 is provided with an inner flared end portion 34 
terminating at an intermediate abutment 35 and an outer, axially extending 
cylindrical end bore 36 also terminating at the intermediate abutment 35. 
A movable member or piston 37 is slidably mounted in tubular sections 16 
and 17 of the valve body 15. The piston 37 is of annular configuration and 
includes an annular portion 38 disposed in the recess 28 defined in the 
body section 16, and has a reduced annular shank 39 extending axially 
therefrom, into the passage 19 defined in the tubular section 17. The back 
face 40 of the annular portion 38 defines a shoulder facing in opposed 
relationship, the face 27 of the body section 17. The annular portion 38 
of the piston 37 includes a bore 41, the inner face 42 of which contains 
an O-ring 43 and defines a flat valve seat. An annular wall 44 defines the 
bore 41 and is provided with a groove 45 for pivotally mounting a flat 
flapper valve 46. An O-ring 47 is disposed in the cylindrical passage of 
the tubular section 17 and surrounds the shank 39 of the piston 37 for 
sealing the slidable connection therebetween. 
Resilient means such as an annular wave washer 48 surrounding the shank 39 
of the piston 37 is disposed in the counterbore 29 of the body section 17 
in abutting relationship to the face 30 thereof. The wave washer 48 exerts 
a biasing force between the face 30 and a retainer ring 49 slidably 
mounted on the shank 39 of the piston. A retainer wire 50 mounted on the 
piston shank 39 secures the retainer ring 49 thereon. Accordingly, the 
wave washer 48 urges the shoulder 40 of the piston axially in a first 
direction against the inner face 27 of the tubular section 17 to a first 
position as shown in FIG. 1. 
As previously indicated, the annular portion 38 of the piston 37 pivotally 
mounts the flapper valve 46 which closes the passage 19 when the valve 
connector 10 is in a disconnected state. To this end, the flapper valve 46 
is pivotally mounted upon the annular portion 38 of the piston 37 by a 
pivot pin 51 transversely disposed to the axis of the bore 41. The flapper 
valve 46 is a flat member of circular configuration having a pair of lugs 
52 disposed in the groove 45 (see FIG. 2) with the pivot pin extending 
therethrough. The valve includes a side 53 having an annular shoulder 54 
sealingly engaging the O-ring 43 mounted in the inner face 42 of the 
piston bore 41. With respect to the valve connector 10 as illustrated in 
FIG. 1, when fluid flows in the direction as indicated by arrow A, the 
side 55 of the valve 46 is exposed towards the source of fluid flowing 
under pressure; that is, the valve side 55 is pressurized. Accordingly, 
the valve 46 is biased to a closed position when the valve connector 10 is 
in a disconnected state, by the pressure of the flowing fluid as well as a 
torsion spring 56 wrapped around the pivot pin 51, which includes an end 
57 bearing against the side 55 of the valve. As best illustrated in FIGS. 
3, 4 and 5, the flapper valve 46 includes a portion 58 at the location 
diametrically across from the pivot pin 51 for cooperation with the 
retainer lip 25. A guide pin 59 is mounted on the periphery of the annular 
portion 38 of the piston 37 and extends into the valve body groove 21 and 
maintains the circumferential alignment of the valve portion 58 with the 
rib 25 on the valve body 15. It should be noted that the radial location 
of the lip 25 is such that when the flat valve portion 58 rests upon the 
lip 25 as shown in FIG. 5, the flapper valve 46 is maintained well out of 
the flow path defined through the valve body and the plane of the flapper 
valve is substantially parallel to the axis of the passage 19 through the 
connector 10. 
Still referring to FIG. 1, valve operating means comprising an elongated 
pusher 60 is slidably mounted within the tubular body section 18 and the 
bore of piston 37. As there shown, the pusher 60 is an annular sleeve of 
tubular configuration having a radially outwardly extending flange 61 
adjacent its outer end for slidably engaging the cylindrical surface 
defining the portion 36 of the body section 18. The other end of the 
pusher is slidably mounted in the bore of the piston 37 for axial movement 
relative thereto. It will be noted that the intermediate portion of the 
pusher 60 is provided with a radially outwardly extending shoulder 62 
closely adjacent the end of the shank 39 of the piston 37. A split washer 
63 serving as an abutment shoulder is slidably mounted on the pusher 60 
for retaining a compression spring 64 between it and the flange 61 of the 
pusher 60, the spring 64 normally retaining the pusher 60 in the position 
shown in FIG. 1. It should be noted that this structural arrangement will 
move the piston 37 in a second direction, that is to the left as viewed in 
FIG. 5, when the spring 64 is in the "solid" state. 
The coupling fitting 11 is conventional in design and includes an axially 
extending male portion 65 which bears against the flange 61 for axially 
moving the pusher 60 when the valve connector 10 is connected to the 
coupling fitting 11. Also, the coupling fitting may include a tongue ring 
assembly 66 having a circular series of ratchet teeth 67 which is spring 
loaded for axial movement, the teeth 67 cooperating with a facing circular 
series of axially extending ratchet teeth 68 provided on the body section 
17 of the valve body 15 for locking the valve fitting 10 to the coupling 
fitting 11 for preventing separation of the coupling fitting 11 from the 
valve connector 10. 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the relationship between the components of the 
valve connector 10 is shown prior to its connection to the coupling 
fitting 11. As viewed therein, the force of the torsion spring 47 and 
fluid pressure, if any, in the passage 19 urges the valve 46 into sealing 
engagement against the face 42; the shoulder 40 of the piston 37 abuts the 
shoulder 27 on the body section 17, and the end of the piston shank 39 
urges the split washer 63 into engagement with the tapered portion 34 of 
the body section 18. In this relationship, the compression spring 64 urges 
the pusher 60 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, engaging the shoulder 62 
thereon with the split washer 63 moving the end of the pusher 60 out of 
engagement with the valve 46. Thus, in the disconnected or uncoupled state 
of the valve connector 10, the valve 46 is in the position closing the 
passage 19. 
To connect the valve connector 10 to the coupling fitting 11, it is merely 
necessary to engage the external threads 13 of the connector 10 with the 
internal threads 14 of the coupling fitting 11. With these threads 
partially engaged as illustrated in FIG. 3, the valve 46 is pivoted from 
its closed position by the end of the pusher 60. Thus, as the coupling 
fitting 11 is threaded onto the threads 13 of the connector 10, the end of 
the male portion 65 engages the flange 61 of the pusher 60 and moves the 
pusher 60 to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, and compresses the spring 64. 
It should be noted that the wave washer 48 has a greater force than the 
compression spring 64, thus holding the piston 37 motionless until the 
spring 64 is fully compressed. Accordingly, in effecting the initial 
interconnection of the valve connector 10 with the coupling fitting 11, 
the valve 46 will be pivoted to an open position by the end of the pusher 
60 whereat it lays in a plane parallel to the axis of the passage 19 
before the piston 37 is moved axially. 
Upon further tightening of the threaded connection between the valve 
connector 10 and the coupling fitting 11, the "solid" state of the 
compression spring 64 causes the split washer 63 to bear against and move 
the piston 37 to a second position against the biasing force of the wave 
washer 48 which collapses the wave washer 48 and the piston 37 moves to 
the left as viewed in FIG. 5. As there shown, the portion 58 of the valve 
member 46 engages the lip 25 maintaining the valve 46 in an open, 
interlocked position upon the valve body 15 when the connector 10 is in a 
connected or coupled state. 
It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and 
described is to be taken as an illustrative embodiment only of the same, 
and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts 
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.