Abstract:
A plurality of female couplers and a plurality of male couplers are simultaneously connected or disconnected by simultaneously applying an axial force along the aligned axes of each pair of female and male couplers. A pushing force is employed for connecting, and a pulling force is utilized for disconnecting. The forces may be employed manually, pneumatically, or hydraulically.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a coupling device for quickly connecting a plurality of first fluid conduits to a plurality of corresponding second fluid conduits and quickly disconnecting them from each other and, more particularly, to a coupling device in which a force applied in one axial direction connects multiple aligned male and female couplers to each other and a force applied in the other axial direction disconnects them. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Manually connecting and disconnecting multiple fluid conduits through couplers is time consuming. It is sometimes difficult to accomplish the connections and disconnections because of the closeness of the multiple fluid conduits to each other. Metal chips from prior metal cutting, for example, can become stacked around the coupling device to possibly cut the skin of the person when connection or disconnection is being made. 
     Accordingly, various mechanical coupling devices have previously been used to connect and disconnect the fluid conduits. These mechanical coupling devices have required various complex arrangements such as pivotal levers or movable plates, for example. Examples of these types of mechanical coupling devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,063 to Barlow et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,135 to Weirich et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,546 to Nash et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,268 to Palau, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,459 to Gray et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,530 to Mahaney, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,894 to Eybergen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The coupling device of the present invention avoids the complexity of the previously available mechanical coupling devices in that the only force required to connect or disconnect multiple male and female couplers simultaneously is applied along the axis of each of the female couplers and the aligned axis of the corresponding male coupler with which it is to be connected or disconnected. A pushing force is required to connect the multiple male and female couplers, and a pulling force is required when they are to be disconnected. 
     The coupling device of the present invention is used only when each of the female couplers has a slidable locking sleeve. There must be relative axial movement between the locking sleeve and the female coupler on which the locking sleeve is slidably mounted to enable activation of internal structure of the female coupler to disconnect each pair of connected multiple male and female couplers simultaneously from each other. Of course, when this is being accomplished manually, each disconnection must be made separately. 
     The coupling device of the present invention uses a single force applying mechanism, which is preferably a manually movable handle although any other suitable force applying mechanism may be employed such as a pneumatic or hydraulic force applying mechanism, for example, The axial forces are preferably applied directly to each of the female couplers. However, the axial forces may be applied to each of the female couplers through the male coupler to which it is coupled. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a coupling device for applying an axial push force to connect multiple male and female couplers to each other simultaneously and an axial pull force to disconnect multiple male and female couplers from each other simultaneously. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a coupling device having an arrangement for limiting movement of female couplers in both directions when an axial push or pull force is applied to either each of the female couplers simultaneously or each of the corresponding male couplers simultaneously to connect or disconnect them. 
     Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the following description, claims, and drawings. 
     This invention relates to a coupling device for connecting a plurality of first fluid conduits to a corresponding plurality of second fluid conduits and for disconnecting them from each other. The coupling device includes a plurality of male couplers with each communicating with one of the plurality of first fluid conduits and a plurality of female couplers, equal in number to the number of the plurality of male couplers, communicating with one of the plurality of second fluid conduits. Each of the plurality of female couplers has a locking sleeve slidably mounted thereon for relative axial movement therebetween when each of the plurality of female couplers is to be disconnected from the connected male coupler. The coupling device has first support means for supporting the plurality of male couplers in substantially parallel axial relation to each other and second support means for supporting the plurality of female couplers in substantially parallel axial relation to each other. The second support means supports each of the plurality of female couplers for enabling axial movement of each of the plurality of female couplers along its axis relative to the second support means in either axial direction. Causing means causes simultaneous movement of each of the plurality of female couplers relative to the second support means in one axial direction when one of the first and second support means is moved relative to the other to cause engagement between each of the plurality of female couplers and the male coupler axially aligned therewith to connect them together and for causing simultaneous movement of each of the plurality of female couplers relative to the second support means in the opposite axial direction when one of the first and second support means is moved relative to the other to cause relative axial movement between each of the plurality of female couplers and the locking sleeve slidably mounted thereon to disconnect each of the plurality of female couplers and the connected male coupler. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The attached drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a coupling device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the coupling device of FIG.  1  and taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the coupling device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the coupling device of FIG.  1  and taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the coupling device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the coupling device of FIG.  1  and taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the coupling device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the coupling device of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the coupling device of FIG.  8  and taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a female coupler and a male coupler used with the coupling device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another arrangement for applying axial forces to the female and male couplers of the coupling device of FIGS. 8-10 of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a further arrangement for applying axial forces to the female and male couplers of the coupling device of FIGS. 1-7 of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a coupling device  10  for coupling two fluid conduits or hoses  11  and  12  (see FIG. 7) to two fluid conduits or hoses  14  and  15 . It should be understood that there may be more than the two fluid conduits  11  and  12  connected to more than the two fluid conduits  14  and  15 . 
     The coupling device  10  includes a handle assembly  16  (see FIG.  2 ), which is preferably aluminum, and a receiver assembly  17 , which is preferably steel. The receiver assembly  17  is fixed against movement. 
     The handle assembly  16  includes a body  18  having a handle  19  extending from one end thereof and preferably integral with the body  18 . A nose piece  20  of the handle assembly  16  is secured to end  20 ′, which is remote from the handle  19 , of the body  18  by two screws  21  (see FIG. 6) and  22 . The screws  21  and  22  extend through passages  23  and  24 , respectively, in the nose piece  20  and into threaded bores  25  and  26 , respectively, extending into the body  18  from the end  20 ′. 
     The body  18  has a pair of substantially parallel bores  27  (see FIG. 7) and  28  extending inwardly from the end  20 ′. As shown in FIG. 2, the bores  27  and  28  communicate with bores  28 A and  28 B, respectively, of larger diameter in the nose piece  20  when the body  18  and the nose piece  20  are secured to each other. 
     The bores  27  and  28 A receive a female coupler  29 , and the bores  28  and  28 B receive a female coupler  30 . While only the two female couplers  29  and  30  are shown, it should be understood that the handle body  18  could have any number of additional bores to receive additional female couplers, if desired. 
     The two female couplers  29  and  30  have locking sleeves  31  and  32 , respectively, slidably mounted thereon. The two female couplers  29  and  30  receive male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively, in one of their ends for coupling therebetween. The slidable locking sleeves  31  and  32  must be moved axially relative to the two female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, to activate the internal structures of the two female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, to disconnect them from the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively. 
     The two male couplers  33  and  34  have reduced cylindrical portions  35  and  36 , respectively, with external threads  37  and  38 , respectively, thereon. The external threads  37  and  38  enable the two male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively, to be threaded into threaded holes  40  and  41 , respectively, in a receiver block  42  of the receiver assembly  17 . The receiver block  42  has the threaded holes  40  and  41  extending inwardly from an inclined front face  43  (see FIG.  7 ). 
     The fluid conduits  14  and  15  extend from a rear face  44  of the receiver block  42 . The fluid couplers  14  and  15  communicate with bores  44 A and  44 B, respectively, in the receiver block  42 . The receiver block  42  is fixed to a work holding pallet, for example, by screws (not shown) extending through passages  44 C in the receiver block  42 . 
     The receiver block  42  has a locator pin  45  (see FIG. 6) extending therefrom at the intersection of the inclined front face  43  and a straight front face  46 . The locator pin  45  extends into the passage  23  in the nose piece  20 . The passage  23  has a larger portion  47  extending for a greater length than a larger portion  48  of the passage  24  to receive the locator pin  45  with the screw  21  having a shorter length than the screw  22 . 
     This arrangement insures the correct orientation of the handle assembly  16  (see FIG. 7) relative to the receiver assembly  17 . This orientation is necessary to insure that the fluid conduit  11 , which is connected with a source of hydraulic fluid, for example, is connected to the fluid conduit  14 . This also insures that the fluid conduit  15  is connected with the fluid conduit  12  to return the fluid to a reservoir or inlet of a pump, for example. 
     The female couplers  29  and  30  are connected to hollow elbow fittings  49  (see FIG. 5) and  50 , respectively. The elbow fitting  49  is disposed in the bore  27  (see FIG. 2) in the body  18  and extends through an elongated slot  51  (see FIG. 5) in the outer bottom wall of the body  18  for connection to the fluid conduit  11 . The elbow fitting  50  is disposed in the bore  28  (see FIG. 2) in the body  18  and extends through an elongated slot  52  (see FIG. 5) in the outer bottom wall of the body  18  for connection to the fluid conduit  12 . 
     One end of the elbow fitting  49  is a reduced cylindrical portion  52 A having external threads  52 B for cooperation with internal threads  52 C (see FIG. 11) in a reduced cylindrical portion  53  of the female coupler  29  to connect the female coupler  29  with the fluid conduit  11  (see FIG.  1 ). One end of the elbow fitting  50  (see FIG. 2) is a reduced cylindrical portion  53 A having external threads  53 B for cooperation with internal threads in a reduced cylindrical portion  54  of the female coupler  30  to connect tie female coupler  30  with the fluid conduit  12  (see FIG.  7 ). 
     The nose piece  20  has an inclined inner surface  58  at the end of the bore  28 A .for cooperation with an inclined surface  59  on the end of the locking sleeve  31  of the female coupler  29 . The nose piece  20  has an inclined inner surface  60  at the end of the bore  28 B for cooperation with an inclined surface  61  on the end of the locking sleeve  32  of the female coupler  30 . 
     When the female couplers  29  and  30  are to be disconnected, from the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively, the handle  19  is pulled to the right in FIG.  2 . When the inclined inner surface  58  on the nose piece  20  engages the inclined surface  59  of the locking sleeve  31  of the female coupler  29  and the inclined inner surface  60  on the nose piece  20  engages the inclined surface  61  of the locking sleeve  32  of the female coupler  30  due to pulling the handle  19  to the right in FIG. 2, an axial force is applied simultaneously to the locking sleeves  31  and  32 . This simultaneously moves the locking sleeves  31  and  32  relative to the female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, to disconnect the female couplers  29  and  30  from the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the body  18  has its outer wall of a thicker cross section than the outer wall of the nose piece  20  because each of the bores  27  and  28  has a smaller diameter than each of the bores  28 A and  28 B. This produces an annular shoulder  55  on the end  20 ′ of the body  18 . 
     Accordingly, with the female couplers  29  and  30  disconnected from the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively, as shown in FIG. 11 for the female coupler  29  and the male coupler  33 , when the handle  19  is pushed to the left in FIG. 2, the shoulder  55  engages an annular face  56  of the female coupler  29  and an annular face  57  of the female coupler  30 . The remainder of each of the annular faces  56  and  57  engages portions of the end  20 ′ of the body  18  when they are engaging the shoulder  55 . 
     This arrangement limits movement of each of the female couplers  29  and  30  relative to the body  18  and the nose piece  20 , which constitute two separate connected portions of a housing for the female couplers  29  and  30 . Thus, the spacing of the shoulder  55  and the end  20 ′ of the body  18  from each of the annular faces  56  and  57  of the female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, limits movement of the female couplers  29  and  30  relative to the body  18  and the nose piece  20  during connection of the female couplers  29  and  30  to the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively. 
     Thus, it is only necessary to exert a push force on the handle  19  along the axial direction of the two female couplers  29  and  30  to simultaneously connect them to the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively. To disconnect them, it is only necessary to exert a pull force in the opposite axial direction on the two locking sleeves  31  and  32  and through them to the two female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, to simultaneously disconnect them from the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively. 
     One suitable example of the two female couplers  29  and  30  is sold by Quick Coupling Division, Parker Fluid Connectors, Lincoln, Neb. as model FF-251-4FP. It should be understood that any other suitable female coupler having the capability of being disconnected from a male coupler by axial movement of a locking sleeve or the like may be employed. 
     One suitable example of the two male couplers  33  and  34  is sold by Quick Coupling Division, Parker Fluid Connectors, Lincoln, Neb. as model FF-252-4MP. It should be understood that any other suitable male coupler, which would mate with a corresponding female coupler may be employed. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a coupling device  70  for connecting the two female couplers  29  and  30  to the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively, and disconnecting them. The coupling device  70  includes a handle assembly  71 , which is preferably aluminum, and a receiver assembly  72 , which is preferably steel. 
     The handle assembly  71  includes a body  73  having a handle  74  extending from one end thereof and preferably integral with the body  73 . The body  73  has a pair of substantially parallel threaded bores  75  and  76  extending inwardly from its end  77 , which is remote from the handle  74 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the threaded bore  75  receives the external threads  37  of the reduced cylindrical portion  35  of the male coupler  33  to connect the male coupler  33  to the body  73 . The threaded bore  76  (see FIG. 8) receives the external threads  38  of the reduced cylindrical portion  36  of the male coupler  34  to connect the male coupler  34  to the body  73 . 
     The body  73  has a bore  78  (see FIG.  10 ), which is smaller than the threaded bore  75 , to communicate the interior of the male coupler  33  with the fluid conduit  11 . The male coupling  34  (see FIG. 8) has its interior similarly communicating with the fluid conduit  12 . 
     The receiver assembly  72  includes a receiver block  80  (see FIG. 10) having a bore  81  to receive the female coupling  29 . The reduced cylindrical portion  53  of the female coupling  29  is disposed within a bore  82 , which is smaller than the bore  81 , in the receiver block  80 . The receiver block  80  is fixed to a work holding pallet, for example, by screws (not shown) extending through passages  83  (see FIG. 8) in the receiver block  80 . 
     A retaining cover  85  is attached to a front wall  86  of the receiver block  80  by screws  87 . The receiver block  80  and the retaining cover  85  constitute two separate connected portions of a housing for the female couplers  29  and  30 . 
     The retaining cover  85  has a pair of openings  88  and  89  therein to receive portions of the female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, and portions of the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively. Each of the openings  88  and  89  has a larger diameter than the smallest diameter of the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively, so that the male couplers  33  and  34  may be moved therethrough to engage the ends of the female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, in axial alignment therewith when the handle  74  is grasped and the handle assembly  71  pushed toward the receiver assembly  72 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, a shoulder  91  is formed at the end of .the larger bore  81  in the receiver block  80 . When the handle assembly  71  is moved to the left in FIG. 10, the movement of the female coupler  29  is limited by engagement with the shoulder  91 . When this engagement occurs, the motion of the handle assembly  71  is stopped, and the male coupler  33  is connected to the female coupler  29  with their interiors communicating. 
     Of course, both of the male couplers  33  and  34  (see FIG. 9) are simultaneously moved when the handle assembly  71  is pushed to the left in FIG.  10 . This also connects the male coupler  34  (see FIG. 8) to the female coupler  30  with their interiors communicating. 
     When the female couplers  29  and  30  are to be disconnected from the male couplers  33  and  34 , respectively, the handle assembly  71  is pulled to the right in FIG.  10 . This causes an end surface  93  of the locking sleeve  31  of the female coupler  29  to engage the retaining cover  85 . As a result, further movement of the handle assembly  71  to the right in FIG. 10 causes axial motion of the remainder of the female coupler  29  relative to the locking sleeve  31 . This relative motion between the remainder of the female coupler  29  and the locking sleeve  31  again causes activation of the internal structure of the female coupler  29  to disconnect the female coupler  29  from the male coupler  33  whereby the interiors of the female coupler  29  and the male coupler  33  are closed before disconnection. The same arrangement for disconnection of the female coupler  30  (see FIG. 8) from the male coupler  34  occurs simultaneously. 
     Instead of using the handle  74  with the handle body  73  of the handle assembly  71 , one end of a piston rod  100  (see FIG. 12) is connected to the handle body  73 , which has the male couplers  33  and  34  mounted therein, for moving the handle body  73  in each axial direction. The piston rod  100  has its other end connected to a piston (not shown) movable in a cylinder  101 . 
     A fluid conduit  102  is connected through a head  103 , which is at one end of the cylinder  101 , with the cylinder  101  on one side of the piston (not shown). A fluid conduit  104  is connected through a cap  105 , which is at the opposite end of the cylinder  101  from the head  103 , with the cylinder  101  on the opposite side of the piston (not shown). The head  103  and the cap  105  are held together by tie rods  106 . 
     One of the fluid conduits  102  and  104  applies pressure, either pneumatic, such as air, for example, or hydraulic, to one side of the piston (not shown) in the cylinder  101 . The other of the fluid conduits  102  and  104  removes the air or hydraulic fluid to cause movement of the piston rod  100  in one of the two axial directions. Reversal of the flow through the fluid conduits  102  and  104  causes movement of the piston rod  100  in the opposite axial direction. 
     Thus, the axial movement of the male couplers  33  and  34  in either direction causes movement of the female couplers  29  and  30 , respectively, in the same direction as discussed with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10. 
     It should be understood that the handle  19  (see FIG. 1) of the handle body  16  could be replaced by the piston rod  100  (see FIG. 12) in the same manner as described for the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13, the piston rod  100  has replaced the handle  19  (see FIG. 1) and is connected to the handle body  16 . 
     An example of each of the female couplers  29  (see FIG. 7) and  30  having the locking sleeves  31  and  32 , respectively, slidably mounted thereon is the female coupler sold by Parker Fluid Connectors as model FF-251-4FP. As shown in FIG. 11, the female coupler  29  includes a body  110  fixed to a fitting  111  having the reduced cylindrical portion  53 , which is disposed in the bore  27  (see FIG. 7) in the body  16 . 
     A retainer  112  (see FIG. 11) is fixed to the fitting  111 . A sealing ring  112 ′ is disposed between the body  110 , the fitting  111 , and the retainer  112  to prevent fluid leakage therebetween. A fixed valve assembly  113  is fixed to the retainer  112  by a screw  114 . 
     The locking sleeve  31  is slidably mounted on the body  110 . Balls  115  are disposed in holes  116  in the body  110  and extend into an annular groove  117  in the inner surface of the locking sleeve  31  to connect the locking sleeve  31  and the body  110  for axial movement of the locking sleeve  31  relative to the body  110 . 
     The valve assembly  113  is surrounded by a movable sleeve  118 . The movable sleeve  118  has an annular finger  119  on its outer surface. 
     The female coupler  29  has a face sleeve  120  in surrounding relation to the movable sleeve  118 . In its closed position of FIG. 11, the face sleeve  120  is urged by a face spring  121  to its forwardmost position in which its face  122  has its end adjacent the end of the movable sleeve  118 . A flange  123  on the inner end of the face sleeve  120  engages a shoulder  124  on the inner surface of the body  110  to limit outward movement of the face sleeve  120  by the face spring  121 . 
     The other end of the face spring  121  acts against a flange  125  of a face retainer  126 . A second flange  127  of the face retainer  126  abuts the annular finger  119  on the movable sleeve  118 . 
     A sleeve spring  128  acts on the flange  125  of the face retainer  126  to urge the second flange  127  of the face retainer  126  into engagement with the annular finger  119  on the movable sleeve  118 . The sleeve spring  128  has its other end engaging the retainer  112 . 
     An example of the male couplers  33  and  34  (see FIG. 7) is the male coupler sold by Parker Fluid Connectors as model FF-252-4MP. As shown in FIG. 11, the male coupler  33  includes a nose piece  130  having a fitting  131  attached thereto with a sealing ring  132  therebetween. 
     The fitting  131  includes the reduced cylindrical portion  35 . A guide  133  has a plurality of passages  134  extending therethrough between equiangularly spaced portions  134 A, which secure a cylindrical guide portion  134 B to the nose piece  130 . Thus, the passages  134  are equiangularly spaced around the axis of the male coupler  33 . 
     A poppet stem  135  is slidably supported within the cylindrical guide portion  134 B of the guide  133 . The poppet stem  135  is surrounded by a spring  136 , which continuously urges the poppet stem  135  into engagement with a poppet valve  137 . The forward or outward motion of the poppet valve  137  is stopped by an inclined rear portion  138  of the poppet valve  137  engaging an inclined surface  139  of the nose piece  130 . 
     When there is relative axial motion between the male coupler  33  and the female coupler  29 , the poppet valve  137  has its face  140  engaged by an end face  140 ′ of the fixed valve assembly  113  of the female coupler  29 . At the same time, the face sleeve  120  has its face  122  engaged by end face  142  of the nose piece  130  of the male coupler  33 . 
     The continued relative axial motion between the male coupler  33  and the female coupler  29  causes the poppet valve  137  to be moved inwardly against the force of the spring  136 . A sealing ring  143  is disposed in an annular groove  144  in the inner surface of the nose piece  130  to provide a seal therebetween. The annular groove  144  also has a back-up washer  145  therein and acting against the sealing ring  143 . Thus, no fluid flow can occur into or out of the male coupler  33  until the face  140  of the poppet valve  137  is moved inwardly past the sealing ring  143 . 
     The engagement of the face  122  of the face sleeve  120  with the end face  142  of the nose piece  130  causes the face sleeve  120  to move against the forces of the spring  128  and the spring  121 . This initial inward motion of the face sleeve  120  compresses the spring  121 . 
     Continued inward motion of the face sleeve  120  results in the face  122  engaging the annular flange  119  on the sleeve  118 . This engagement causes rearward motion of the sleeve  118  past a sealing ring  146  in the fixed valve assembly  113  to allow fluid to flow inside of the sleeve  118  and the retainer  112 . Then, the fluid flows through a plurality of equiangularly spaced passages  147  in the end of the retainer  112  and into the interior of the reduced cylindrical portion  53 . An annular groove  148  in the interior surface of the retainer  112  has a sealing ring  149  and a back-up washer  150  to prevent fluid leakage between the fitting  112  and the movable sleeve  118 . 
     About the same time, an annular groove  151  in the outer surface of the nose piece  130  lines up with the balls  115  in the holes  116  extending through the body  110 . Since the face sleeve  120  has moved past the holes  116  extending through the body  110 , the balls  115  fall out of the annular groove  117  in the inner surface of the locking sleeve  31  into the annular groove  151  in the outer surface of the nose piece  130 . This not only connects the female coupler  29  to the male coupler  33  but also allows the locking sleeve  31  to be moved forwardly relative to the body  110  by a spring  152  since the balls  115  are no longer held in the annular groove  117  in the locking sleeve  31 . 
     A locking ring  153  on the outer surface of the body  110  limits the forward movement of the locking sleeve  31  by the spring  152 . The spring  152  also acts against a spacer  154 , which is fixed to the body  110 . 
     Accordingly, fluid flow occurs between the interior of the female coupler  29  and the male coupler  33  until just prior to their disconnection from each other. 
     When the female coupler  29  and the male coupler  33  are to be disconnected from each other, the locking sleeve  31  must be moved rearwardly in an axial direction against the force of the spring  152 . As the locking sleeve  31  moves rearwardly, the balls  115  enter the annular groove  117  in the inner surface of the locking sleeve  31  because of the face sleeve  120  returning to the position of FIG.  11 . This removes the balls  115  from the annular groove  151  in the nose piece  130  of the male coupler  33 . 
     Each of the male coupler  33  and the female coupler  29  returns to its closed and disconnected positions in the reverse order to that described for connecting them and moving them to their open flow positions. 
     The Parker female coupler has a tab to cooperate with one of two diametrically disposed slots in the locking sleeve when axial motion of the locking sleeve is desired to unlock the connected female and male couplers. The tab prevents accidental axial motion of the locking sleeve by not being within either slot when the female and male couplers are connected. The tab is removed from the female couplers  29  and  30  (see FIG. 7) because the female couplers  29  and  30  are within the body  18 , for example, so that the tab could not return to the slot when disconnection is desired if it were to accidentally escape alignment with the slot. 
     An advantage of this invention is that multiple couplers may be connected or disconnected with one hand. Another advantage of this invention is that only a quick pulling force is required to manually disconnect multiple couplers quickly and safely. A further advantage of this invention is that a user will not be injured by stacked metal chips. 
     For purposes of exemplification, particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.