Hose coupling with spring clip having inwardly and outwardly curved segments

A device for quickly coupling and decoupling conduits comprises a fitting ving spaced exterior surface concavities in an annular array and axially facing shoulders at the concavities, the fitting defining a bore open to one conduit. The device has a tube fixed to another conduit and sealed slidingly with the bore, and also has a receptacle translatable along the tube for rotatably receiving the fitting. The receptacle defines an opening where the receptacle enters, an orifice through which the tube passes and an annuler channel about the fitting. A spring axially mobile in the channel interferingly girds the fitting and has a first and second segments. The second segments protrude closer than the first segments to the device's central axis and fit the concavity. The device has a pin in the channel protruding radially inward further than a zone of the second segment but not as far as a zone of the first segment, whereby the pin is usable to selectively prevent spring rotation relative to the receptacle.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
My invention relates to sealed couplings for hoses or other conduits that 
convey pressurized fluids. Particularly, my invention relates to 
quick-disconnect couplings useful at rugged, in-field sites, at military 
depots, on hose connections for military transport vehicles or on 
equipment where access to couplings with tools is difficult. Such 
couplings must maintain sealed connections despite vibrations, shocks, 
hose tension, extreme temperatures, ambient dust and contaminants. 
Preferably, the a coupling will be economic, be easy to use, and will 
require no tools for connection or disconnection. 
My invention is a quick disconnect coupling that meets the above desires 
and needs. The coupling has a bored fitting whose spaced exterior 
concavities meet axially faced shoulders. The fitting's bore opens to a 
first hose and a second hose fixes to a tube slidingly sealed with the 
fitting's bore. A receptacle mobile on the tube accepts the fitting and 
has an interior channel surrounding the fitting. A spring axially mobile 
in the channel interferingly girds the fitting. The spring's inwardly 
arced segments protrude closer than other, alternated segments to the 
coupling's axis and fit the concavities. A pin in the channel protrudes 
radially inward more than zones of the alternated segments but less than 
zones of the inwardly arced segments. The spring's axial mobility relative 
to the pin lets the pin either stop spring rotation in the receptacle or 
allow this rotation, depending on the axial juxtaposition of the spring 
and pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIG. 1 is a section view of my coupling 10 attached to respective ends 12 
and 14 of hoses, pipes, tubes or like conduits, the ends and coupling 
being disposed along axis 11. Coupling 10 includes a fitting 16 whose stem 
18 is tightly and sealingly received in hose end 12, stem 18 optionally 
affixed within hose end 12 by adhesive or clamps (not shown). At the 
opposite end of fitting 16 from stem 18 is frustoconical segment 20 whose 
exterior tapers away from stem 18. An intermediate segment integrally 
connects stem 12 with segment 20 and includes an axially narrow 
cylindrical band 24 adjacently between segment 20 and fluted axial zone 
22. Zone 22 has somewhat channel-like, simply curved, shallow arcuate 
concavities or flutes 26 alternated with differently shaped surface areas 
such as simply curved, arcuate convexities 28 flush with band 24. Flutes 
26 define with band 24 a set of axially facing shoulders 30 (FIG. 3) 
normal to axis 11. 
Fitting 16 defines a stepped cylindrical through bore having a larger 
diameter section 32 and a smaller diameter section 34. Adjacently between 
sections 32 and 34 is an annular shoulder 36 facing axially away from stem 
18, and within larger diameter section 34 is annular recess 38 
accommodating a ring seal 40. Seal prevents fluid leakage between fitting 
16 and tube 42 whose one end 44 fits closely in larger diameter section 
32. 
Still referring to FIG. 1, coupling 10 includes a polyhedral receptacle 46 
defining therein a cylindrical chamber 48, which receives frustoconical 
segment 20 through a first axial opening 50. Typically, the inner 
peripheral wall 51 of receptacle 46 defines an annular gap 53 with 
frustoconical section 20 to avoid friction between receptacle 46 and 
fitting 16. For the same reason first axial opening 50 is typically 
slightly larger in diameter than any portion of fitting 16. A second, 
normally smaller, axial opening 52 of the receptacle accommodates tube 42. 
At the end of chamber 48 nearer opening 50, receptacle 46 defines an 
internal annular channel 54 coaxial with and open toward chamber 48. The 
channel has two parallel, opposed side walls adjacent and normal to a 
channel bed facing radially inward toward chamber 48. 
Retained in channel 54 is a flat, radially symmetric spring 56 whose inner 
peripheral edge conformingly girds axial zone 22 of fitting 16 in FIG. 1. 
Typically, the outer peripheral edge of spring 56 defines a clearance with 
the bed of channel 54, so that friction between the outer peripheral edge 
and the channel bed does not inhibit rotation of spring 56 relative to 
either channel 54 or to receptacle 46. Preferably, spring 56 is the sole 
mechanism that retains fitting 16 in engagement with receptacle 46 and 
there is a slight gripping friction or interference between spring 56 and 
fitting 16. As best understood in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4, spring 
56 is a closed, axially flat, radially narrow flexible metal ribbon or 
band comprised of inwardly arced segments 80 alternated with outwardly 
arced segments 82. Segments 80 conform to flutes 26 of fitting 16 and 
segments 82 conform to convexities 28 on the fitting. In the FIG. 1 
juxtaposition of fitting 16 and spring 56, these elements are rotationally 
fixed relative to one another. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, coupling 10 includes tube 42 extending from 
within receptacle 46 into sealing connection with hose end 14. The 
connection between end 14 and tube 42 is optionally secured by a hose 
clamp, adhesive or lock ring, none of which are shown in the figures but 
all of which are known. Affixed to tube 42 is a radially extending collar 
member such as annular flange 58, which is disposed intermediate the 
tube's ends and which is within chamber 48 between opening 52 and fitting 
16. The diameter of flange 58 exceeds those of axial opening 52 and 
section 32 of the fitting's bore. Consequently, flange 58 limits travel of 
tube 42 out of receptacle 46 through opening 52. Because of its limited 
translation, tube 42 is kept in engagement with receptacle 46 when the 
fitting's frustoconical segment 20 is held in the receptacle. Optionally, 
the region of tube 42 adjacent end 44 can be sized to interfere and seal 
with larger diameter section 32 of the fitting's bore. 
Fixed to receptacle 46 and protruding into channel 54 is pin 60, which 
extends radially inward far enough to interfere with axial movement of the 
spring's segment 82 but not far enough to interfere with axial movement of 
middle 62 of segment 80. The function of pin 60 is to control or 
selectively prevent relative rotation between receptacle 46 and spring 56, 
as further discussed later. The radial positions of the pin relative to 
the spring's segments are illustrated in FIG. 4 where one relative pin 
position is depicted at 60a and another relative pin position is depicted 
at 60b. Pin positions 60a and 60b are equidistant from axis 11 along 
respective radial lines 66 and 68. It can be seen that a pin at position 
60a will axially interfere with the spring's segment 82 whereas a pin at 
position 60b will not axially interfere with the spring's segment 80. 
Note that the axial dimension or width of channel 54 exceeds the combined 
axial dimensions of pin 60 and spring 56, so that spring 56 in FIG. 1 
rotates freely of pin 60. Pin 60 and receptacle 46 are axially mobile 
relative to spring 56 so that the pin and receptacle can be translated 
leftward in FIG. 1 until pin 60 radially aligns with middle 62 of (FIG. 4) 
spring segment 80. Pin 60 is preferably disposed adjacent the side wall of 
channel 54 further from axial opening 50. 
In operation, fitting 16 and spring 56 first rotate from the FIG. 1 
position until middle 62 radially opposes the part of channel 54 having 
pin 60. Then the fitting and spring slide axially until middle 62 radially 
aligns with pin 60. Fitting 16 again rotates, but pin 60 stops the 
spring's rotation by engaging one of segments 82. Fitting 16 thus now 
rotates relative to receptacle 46 but is angularly fixed relative to 
spring 56, which deforms as the fitting's convexities 28 engage arced 
segments 80. Once arced segments 80 sufficiently align with and are 
deformed by convexities 28, fitting 16 can be axially slid from receptacle 
46 to disconnect hose ends 12 and 14. Reversal of the foregoing process 
achieves connection of hose ends 12 and 14. 
Pressure within coupling 10 creates a locking effect that prevents removal 
of fitting 16 from receptacle 46, so that coupling 16 does not become 
accidentally disconnected when fluid therein is under pressure. The 
locking effect occurs when pressurized fluid exerts an axial force upon 
shoulder 36 within fitting 16, so that fitting 16 is biased outward from 
receptacle 46. As the fitting moves outward from the receptacle, spring 56 
abuts the side wall of channel 54 nearer opening 50, and spring 56 is 
abutted by the shoulders 30 on fitting 16. Fitting 16, spring 56 and 
receptacle 46 then move axially together relative to tube 42 until the 
fitting's radial wall 70 contacts the tube's flange 58 as seen in FIG. 1. 
Spring 56 is now axially spaced from pin 60 and will rotate with fitting 
16 so that the fitting's fluted zones 22 can not align with spring 
segments 80. Consequently, the fitting can not be extracted from 
receptacle 46 and coupling 10 is locked together. 
FIG. 2 shows a minor modification that may be made to coupling 10 wherein 
pin 74 replaces pin 60, and coil spring 72 is connected between head 76 of 
pin 70 and the exterior of receptacle 46. Spring 72 biases pin 74 toward 
its FIG. 2 position where pin 74 will not interfere with axial motion of 
spring 56. Pin 74 can be pushed radially inward to interfere with spring 
56 in the same way that pin 60 does. Positive actuation of pin 74 is 
required before coupling 10 can be connected or disconnected. 
Another modification that may be made to coupler 10 is shown in FIG. 6, 
where all elements are the same as in FIG. 1 except that receptacle 84 in 
FIG. 6 replaces receptacle 46 of FIG. 1. Receptacle 84 defines an axially 
tapering inner peripheral wall 90 having elastomeric seal band 86 flush 
therewith tapering in the axially opposite direction. A curvedly tapered 
outer diametrical surface 92 at the nose of fitting 16 elastically deforms 
band 86 and seals therewith. Affixed in axial opening 94 is annular seal 
88 that prevents escape of fluid through opening 94. Band 86 and seal 88 
cooperate to keep dust, dirt or other contaminants from attacking or 
harming seal 40. Additionally, seal 40 may be constructed so that a slight 
amount of pressure escapes from bore 98 into chamber 96 defined by 
receptacle 84, tube 42, fitting 16 seal 88 and band 86. Chamber 96 will 
thereby have positive fluid pressure relative to ambient air outside the 
coupling, so that entry of contaminants into the coupling is further 
deterred. Seal 40 can be similarly constructed in the FIG. 1 embodiment in 
a case where pressurized gas air flows through coupling 10, so that the 
flow of gas escaping receptacle 46 will deter contaminants from 
approaching seal 40. 
I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction or 
method shown herein since obvious modifications will occur to those 
skilled in the relevant arts without departing from the spirit and scope 
of the following claims.