Abstract:
A thread to connect coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half is disclosed and claimed wherein the male coupling half includes a recess in the exterior of the male body which extends circumferentially therearound. The female coupling half includes a valve, a female body, and a female body extension affixed to the female body. The female body further includes a sliding sleeve movable with respect to the valve between a first position abutting and closing the valve and a second position opening the valve. The male body interengages the sliding sleeve and moves therewith during coupling and uncoupling. During uncoupling, the sliding sleeve is reliably positioned sealingly against the valve because the sliding sleeve is interlocked with the male body such that as the male body is withdrawn from the female body the sliding sleeve comes with the male body. Separation of the coupling halves requires that an outer sleeve release a second set of detents which acts as a permissive to uncoupling. The coupling halves may not be separated by vibrating the threaded surfaces of the respective coupling halves apart.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/267,482 filed Nov. 5, 2005 and the inventors of the parent application and the instant application are the same. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is in the field of flush face couplings which are threaded together under pressure applied to both the male coupling half and the female coupling half. The coupling of the invention may be used in construction, agriculture and in various manufacturing processes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,141 to Arosio issued Sep. 2, 1997 discloses a leak resistant fluid coupling arrangement whereby the female coupling half includes a tubular body shutoff upon which a male body and seal sit. See,  FIG. 5  labeled “prior art” herein which is substantially similar to FIG. 3 of the &#39;141 patent illustrating the male body  40  and seal  17 ″ residing adjacent and in engagement with the tubular body shutoff  7  of the female coupling half  2 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view  500  of a prior art female coupling half  2  and male coupling half  3  coupled. Reference numeral  4  indicates a hole or passageway for the communication of fluid therethrough. Reference numerals  18 / 19  signify a valve in the male coupling half  3  of the prior art as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0004]    Still referring to  FIG. 5  herein, it will be noticed that the tubular body shutoff  7  includes an external stop (unnumbered) located longitudinally in the approximate middle thereof and it is this external stop which engages two springs identified with reference numerals 8 and 10 in FIG. 1 of the &#39;141 patent. Reference numeral 8 is not shown in  FIG. 5  herein. Spring  8  operates and acts between a fixed body and the external stop of the tubular body shutoff urging it longitudinally outwardly to shutoff against valve or bolt  5 . Spring  10  operates and acts between the external stop and an annular sleeve  9  urging the sleeve longitudinally outwardly to create a flush face along with the flush face of the bolt or valve  5 . Action of these two springs has the effect of floating the tubular body shutoff as spring  10  tends to urge the tubular body shutoff away from its closed position while spring  8  tends to urge the tubular body shutoff toward its closed position. Floating of the tubular body shutoff is not desirable because it promotes incomplete closure of the tubular body shutoff against the valve or bolt  5 . If the tubular shutoff body 7 of the &#39;141 patent does not move fully outwardly due to swelling of the seals in the device or because of tight tolerances between the parts and uneven expansion thereof, then the tubular shutoff body fails to close thus creating a leak from the female coupling half. 
         [0005]      FIG. 4  is a quarter-sectional view  400  of a prior art female coupling half.  FIG. 4A  is a quarter-sectional view  400 A of a prior art male coupling half.  FIG. 4B  is a quarter-sectional view  400 B of a prior art female coupling half and male coupling half coupled. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a prior art coupling believed to be a product of Faster, SPA, of Italy is illustrated. It will be noted that reference numeral  490  indicates threads on the interior surface of the outer body thereof and the threads are located on both longitudinal sides of the unnumbered detents. This causes reciprocal threads  491  on the male coupling half as illustrated in  FIG. 4A  to traverse the unnumbered set of detents. Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4 A and  4 B, reference numeral  407  refers to a tubular body shutoff which as stated above in connection with  FIG. 5  is prone to hanging up (i.e., not going completely closed) due to the swelling of seal  451  and is not be expelled far enough toward the open end of the coupling half as designated generally by reference numeral  443  which is the flat face of valve or bolt  405 . Spring  460  urges the tubular shutoff toward the open end. Spring  460 A contributes to urging sleeve  409  toward the open end of the coupling but since sleeve  409  and tubular support  451  are not interlocked, spring  460 A does not contribute to insuring that tubular shutoff  407  does in fact shut off. 
         [0006]    Still referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4 A, and  4 B, reference numeral  414  represents a closed wall of a tubular bolt which is positioned by spring  422 . Reference numeral  417  represents a seal which engages the tubular bolt of the male and the tubular body shutoff  407  when the device is coupled. Reference numeral  440  is a bolt body and reference numeral  419  is a shutoff surface and reference numeral  430  is seal. It will be noticed when reference is made to  FIG. 4B  that spring  460  urges tubular body shutoff  407  toward its closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . However, the design of the prior art device does not include an interlock of the tubular body shutoff with the male coupling half to insure its closure. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is desirable to avoid leaks upon disconnection of a coupling by ensuring that valve in the female half of the coupling are interlocked with the male coupling half during disconnection of the coupling halves. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A coupling is disclosed which includes a female coupling half and a male coupling half is disclosed. The male coupling half includes a male body having an exterior with a recess therein which extends circumferentially around the exterior of the male coupling half. The female coupling half includes a valve, a female body, and a female body extension affixed to the female body. The female valve is sometimes referred to herein as a pintle. The valve (pintle) is affixed by threading it to the female body. A sliding sleeve is movable with respect to the female body, the female body extension and the valve. The sliding sleeve is movable between a first position abutting the valve and closing the valve, and, a second position not abutting the valve thus opening the valve. 
         [0009]    The male body of the male coupling half interengages the sliding sleeve of the female coupling half during engagement therewith moving the sliding sleeve from the first closed position to the second open position. 
         [0010]    The sliding sleeve of the female coupling half includes a first set of detents carried therewith which interengage the circumferentially extending recess in the exterior of the male body during coupling of the coupling halves. The first set of detents are released from interengagement with the circumferentially extending recess in the exterior of the male body of the male coupling half during uncoupling of the halves from each other after the sliding sleeve is moved to the first position abutting the valve of the female coupling half. 
         [0011]    The female body extension of the female coupling half includes a second set of detents therein. The sliding sleeve of the female coupling half includes an exterior having a circumferentially extending recess therein and the second set of detents interengage the recess in the exterior of the sliding sleeve during coupling of the coupling halves. 
         [0012]    The female body extension includes an inner surface and an outer surface and the inner surface interengages and locks the first set of detents interengaging the recess in the male body of the male coupling half during coupling. The female coupling half includes a locking ring having an inner surface and an outer surface. The locking ring resides radially outwardly of the female body extension of the female coupling half. The inner surface of the locking ring is in sliding engagement with the female body extension of the female coupling half during coupling and locks and interengages the second set of detents interengaging the recess in the exterior surface of the sliding sleeve valve of the female coupling half. 
         [0013]    The female coupling half includes an outer sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the outer sleeve includes a shoulder thereon and, during uncoupling, the shoulder engages the locking ring moving the locking ring releasing the second set of detents from the recess in the exterior surface of the sliding sleeve which in turn releases the sliding sleeve enabling movement of the sliding sleeve to the first closed position abutting the valve (pintle) and releasing the first set of detents of the female coupling half. 
         [0014]    The female body extension includes a recess in the inner surface thereof. The first set of detents carried with the sliding sleeve is released when positioned adjacent the recess in the inner surface of the female body extension. 
         [0015]    The female coupling half includes a first spring operable between the body and the sliding sleeve urging the sliding sleeve longitudinally outwardly. The female coupling half includes a second spring operable between the body and the locking ring urging the locking ring longitudinally outwardly locking the second set of detents in the exterior recess of the sliding sleeve. 
         [0016]    Alternatively, in another example, the second spring operates between a snap ring and the locking ring. The snap ring is mounted in a circumferential groove in the exterior surface for the female body extension. 
         [0017]    In one example, the valve/pintle of the female coupling half includes a passageway for breaking vacuum between the sliding sleeve and the body of the female coupling half. Another example does not include a passageway for breaking vacuum. 
         [0018]    The male and female coupling halves each include a surface having threads thereon for interconnecting the coupling halves. The threaded surfaces do not traverse the first set or second set of detents during coupling and uncoupling. 
         [0019]    When the coupling is disconnected, the outer sleeve of the female coupling half is urged outwardly to protect the external acme threads on the female body extension. Threads other than ACME threads may be used. A cover protects the third spring operable between the cover/body of the female coupling half and the outer sleeve. 
         [0020]    As the male coupling half (nipple) engages the female coupling half (coupler), the locking sleeve of the male coupling half with internal threads thereon is rotated to thread onto the external threads on the body extension of the female coupling half. As the threads interengage, the outer sleeve of the female coupling half is forced back against the force of the third spring allowing connection of the coupling halves. As the male body extension of the male coupling half is urged into the body extension of the female coupling half, the first set of detents is urged radially inwardly into the ball race or external recess of the male body extension locking the sliding sleeve of the female coupling half to the male body of the male coupling half. This locks the sliding sleeve of the female coupling half to the male body of the male coupling half when in all positions other than the disconnected position with the valves of the male and female coupling halves closed. 
         [0021]    When fully connected or coupled, the second set of detents is urged radially inwardly by the spring biased locking ring into engagement with a second ball race or recess extending circumferentially about the exterior of the sliding sleeve. The locking ring secures the sliding sleeve in the connected or coupled position. If the locking sleeve of the male coupling half is attempted to be rotated under the influence of a person&#39;s hand to disconnect (or under the influence of mechanical vibration), the sliding sleeve (which is locked to the male body) prevents any axial movement and prevents disconnection (uncoupling) of the coupling halves. Only when the outer sleeve of the female coupling half is urged against the force of the third spring and engages a shoulder on the locking ring and thus axially moves the locking ring will the second set of detents release the sliding sleeve to travel or move axially toward the first, closed position. While this is occurring the first set of detents remain locked to the male coupling half until the sliding sleeve is moved axially to the first, closed position where the first set of balls are free to move radially outwardly into a recess in the female body extension of the female coupling halves. 
         [0022]    Alternatively the locking ring could be operated directly if the outer sleeve is not used. 
         [0023]    In another example, the female coupling half includes an insert which is threaded to the sliding sleeve for the purpose of trapping the seal between the sliding sleeve and the valve. A sealant is used to ensure securement of the insert to the sliding sleeve. Additionally the second example employs a snap ring which resides in a groove in the exterior of the female body extension. The second spring is operable between the snap ring and the locking ring. The second example further employs a coarse threads on the female body extension and on the locking sleeve of the male coupling half. The second example of the invention further includes an insert and a sliding sleeve having surfaces to trap a seal therebetween for sealing between the valve and the sliding sleeve. Additionally the male end cap includes a lip or flared end for retaining a seal between the valve and the male body extension. 
         [0024]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a thread to connect coupling with positive flow shutoff upon disconnection. 
         [0025]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a thread to connect coupling which cannot be disengaged by vibration or manually unthreaded without first retracting the outer safety sleeve on the female coupling half. 
         [0026]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a thread to connect coupling with positive flow shutoff upon disconnection which is threaded together without traversing a set of detents with a threaded surface. 
         [0027]    These and other objects will be understood when reference is made to the Brief Description of the Drawings, Description of the Invention and Claims which follow hereinbelow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a quarter-sectional view of the female coupling half and the male coupling half uncoupled. 
           [0029]      FIG. 1A  is an enlarged quarter-sectional view of the female coupling half of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 1B  is an enlarged quarter-sectional view of the male coupling half of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged quarter-sectional view of the female coupling half and the male coupling half coupled. 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged quarter-sectional view of the female coupling half and the male coupling half in the process of being uncoupled. 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a quarter-sectional view of a prior art female coupling half. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4A  is a quarter-sectional view of a prior art male coupling half 
           [0035]      FIG. 4B  is a quarter-sectional view of a prior art female coupling half and male coupling half coupled. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a prior art female coupling half and male coupling half coupled. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of another example of the female coupling half and the male coupling half uncoupled. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the female coupling half of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 6B  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the male coupling half of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 6C  is an enlarged portion of  FIG. 6  illustrating a seal arrangement in the female coupling half. 
           [0041]      FIG. 6D  is an enlarged portion of  FIG. 6  illustrating a seal arrangement in the male coupling half. 
           [0042]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the female coupling half and the male coupling half coupled. 
       
    
    
       [0043]    A better understanding of the drawing figures will be had when reference is made to the Description of the Invention and Claims which follow hereinbelow. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0044]      FIG. 1  is a quarter-sectional view of the female coupling half  100  and the male coupling half  150  uncoupled.  FIG. 1A  is an enlarged quarter-sectional view  100  of the female coupling half of  FIG. 1 . And,  FIG. 1B  is an enlarged quarter-sectional view  150  of the male coupling half of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A and  1 B, female coupling half  100  includes a body  120  and a body extension  120 A threaded  120 B thereto. Body extension  120 A is essentially concentric with respect to body  120 . A passageway  120 J is centrally located in body  120 . The materials of the body  120  and other structural parts can be any material capable of handling hydraulic fluid at high pressure such as, for instance, stainless steel. The seals used herein may be any suitable elastomeric material used in high pressure hydraulic fluid applications. Body extension  120 A includes an inner surface  120 C and an outer surface  120 E. A portion of the outer surface of the body extension  120 A includes threads  120 D. The threads are preferably ACME threads. Threads  120 D interengage threads  106 A of the locking sleeve  106  of the male half of the coupling  150  as is described herein elsewhere with more detail. 
         [0046]    Referring still to  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A and  1 B, a pintle or valve  121  is threaded  121 A to female body  120 . Valve  121  includes a generally flat face  121 E which is open in  FIG. 1  and engages corresponding flat face  113  of the male coupling half  150 . Male coupling half includes a cap  126  which is threaded  126 A to valve  112 . Valve  112  includes radially extending ports or apertures  112 A for communicating with the female half of the coupling as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Seal  125  is an elastomeric seal and is trapped between end cap  126  and valve  112  to prevent extrusion or blowout of the seal. 
         [0047]    Pintle or valve  121  includes an end portion  121 B which is sealed  122  so as to prevent the escape of hydraulic fluid between the interface of the valve  121  and the sliding sleeve  108 . Radially extending passageways  121 C in valve  121  communicate fluid to the male coupling half as illustrated in  FIG. 2  in the coupled condition. Radially extending passageway  121 D in valve  121  is a vacuum break which facilitates closure of the sliding sleeve  108  to ensure that seal  122  carried by the sliding sleeve engages valve  121  as indicated by reference numeral  121 B. Seal  124 , an elastomeric seal, prevents the escape of hydraulic fluid in a path between the female body  120  and the inner surface  108 D of the sliding sleeve  108 . 
         [0048]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A and  1 B, sliding sleeve  108  carries a first set of radially movable detents  107  in apertures  108 B. Sliding sleeve  108  includes an exterior surface  108 A and a circumferentially extending recess or ball race  108 C therein. Ball race  108 C interengages a second set of detents  130  carried by the body extension  120 A. Both the first  107  set of radially movable detents and the second set  130  of radially movable detents are used to reliably secure the coupling halves together. First  107  set of radially movable detents interengage ball race or recess  114  in the exterior of the male body extension  110 A of the male coupling half  150  as best viewed in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0049]    Referring again to the sliding sleeve  108  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , elastomeric seal  123  is carried in an unnumbered recess or groove and functions to seal surfaces  110 E,  110 D when the male coupling half is threaded  106 A,  120 D into the female half of the coupling. See,  FIG. 2  illustrating the coupled condition. First spring  108 E is operable between female body  120  and an unnumbered shoulder of sliding sleeve  108  and urges the sliding sleeve toward the first, closed position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 1A . Sliding sleeve  108  is movable between a first, closed position as shown in  FIG. 1A  to a second, open position as shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 1A  and sliding sleeve  108 , the leading end includes surfaces  108 F and  108 G for interengagement with corresponding surfaces generally denoted with reference numerals  110 D,  110 E in connection with male body extension  110 A. Male body extension  110 A is threaded  110 C to male body  110 . 
         [0050]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 1A , locking ring  105  resides exteriorly to said female body extension  120 A and is urged axially outwardly by spring  105 D which operates between an unnumbered surface on female body  120  and an unnumbered internal shoulder surface of locking ring  105 . Locking ring  105  includes an inner surface  105 C and an outer surface  105 A. A portion of the outer surface  105 A of the locking ring includes a shoulder thereon for engagement with a corresponding internal shoulder on an internal surface  101 B of the outer retractable sleeve  101 . Reference numeral  105 B indicates a recess in the locking ring allowing the second set of detents to be pushed radially outwardly by the sliding sleeve in the first, closed position as indicated in  FIG. 1  (disconnected/uncoupled condition). 
         [0051]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 1A , outer sleeve  101  covers and protects threads  120 D on the female body extension  120 A. Outer sleeve  101  is retractable for uncoupling against the force of spring  101 A which operates between a cover  103  interposed between body  120  and the end of the outer sleeve  101 . Cover  103  protects the internal components of the female coupling half against the unwanted intrusion of dirt and debris. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 1B  locking sleeve  106  is rotatably affixed to the male body  110  by detents or balls  106 C residing in ball race or recess  110 B. An aperture  106 D provides a path for insertion of the balls  106 C. Reference numeral  106 B indicates the interface between the rotatable locking sleeve  106  and the male body  110 . Reference numeral  110 J indicates a flow passageway for the communication of hydraulic fluid. In the coupled condition as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , reference numeral  160  indicates the passageway which interconnects the radially extending ports  112 A and  121 C. Spring  140  operates between male body  110  and the valve  112  which prohibits the flow as shown in the disconnected state ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0053]      FIG. 2  is a quarter-sectional view  200  of the female coupling half  100  and the male coupling half  150  coupled. Reference numeral  106 E illustrates a plug for the pathway  106 D for the insertion of the balls. Reference numeral  120 F indicates a recess in the female body extension  120 A which provides room for detents  107  to escape when the male body  106  is being extracted from the female coupling half. Some liberty was taken in the illustration of  FIGS. 1 and 1A  to the extent that the detent labeled  107  and shown therein would be slightly lower due to the force of gravity. Detents under the force of gravity would in fact be recessed and reside in their apertures  108 B. 
         [0054]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , first spring  108 E and third spring  101 A are compressed and second spring  105 D is extended. The first set of detents  107  engage circumferentially extending recess  114  of the male body extension  110 A locking the sliding sleeve  108  and the male body extension  110 A together. The second set of detents  130  which are larger than the first set of detents engage circumferentially extending recess  108 C. Recess  108 C is best illustrated in  FIG. 3  with the second set  130  of detents released because of the external movement of the outer sleeve  101  by a person&#39;s hand or tool against the force of spring  101 A and because of some unthreading of the coupling halves. 
         [0055]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , sliding sleeve  108  is illustrated in the second, open position under the influence of the male body extension  110 A forcing the sliding sleeve leftwardly against the forceful resistance of spring  108 E. In the coupled condition as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the threads  106 A on locking sleeve  106  fully receive the corresponding threads  120 D of the female body extension  120 A. As threads  106 A of the locking sleeve of the male are threaded onto threads  120 D of the female body, outer sleeve  101  is urged against spring  101 A and the male body extension forces the sliding sleeve  108  against the force of spring  108 E first engaging the first set of detents  107  followed by the engagement of the second set  130  of detents with the sliding sleeve. Second set of detents  130  are forced radially inwardly during coupling by the force of spring  105 D which acts against the female body and the locking ring  105  which forces the locking ring  105  over the second set of detents  130  and pushes them radially inwardly into ball race or recess  108 C of the sliding sleeve. 
         [0056]    As the male coupling half is threaded onto and into the female coupling half, the flat face  113  of the end cap  126  engages pintle (valve)  121 E and urges the male valve  112  open against the force of the spring  140  thus completing a flow path defined by reference numerals  120 J,  121 C,  160 ,  112 A and  110 J. 
         [0057]      FIG. 3  is a quarter-sectional view  300  of the female coupling half and the male coupling half in the process of being uncoupled. Referring to  FIG. 3 , passageway  121 D illustrates a vacuum break as the sliding sleeve  108  is extracted under the urging of the male body extension  110 A. To uncouple the coupling as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the outer sleeve  101  must be pulled leftwardly as shown such that the internal shoulder  101 B engages and external shoulder  105 A on the locking ring which moves the locking ring against the force of spring  105 D allowing and positioning recess  105 B above the second set of detents to be thrust radially outwardly of circumferential recess or race  108 C under the influence of the tension caused by unthreading the coupling. Therefore, to uncouple the coupling the outer sleeve  101  must be retracted and simultaneously the threaded locking sleeve  106  must be unthreaded from the female body extension. It is not enough for vibration or intentional unthreading alone to separate the coupling halves. 
         [0058]    As the male coupling half (nipple)  150  engages the female coupling half (coupler)  100 , the locking sleeve  106  of the male coupling half  150  with internal threads  106 A thereon is rotated to thread onto the external threads  120 D on the body extension  120 A of the female coupling half. As the threads interengage, the outer sleeve  101  of the female coupling half is forced back against the force of the third spring  101 A allowing connection of the coupling halves. As the male body extension  110 A of the male coupling half is urged into the female body extension  120 A of the female coupling half, the first set of detents  107  is urged radially inwardly into the ball race  114  or external recess of the male body extension locking the sliding sleeve  108  of the female coupling half to the male body of the male coupling half. This locks the sliding sleeve  108  of the female coupling half to the male body of the male coupling half in all positions other than the disconnected position with the valves  121 ,  112  of the male and female coupling halves closed. 
         [0059]    When fully connected or coupled, the second set of detents  130  is urged radially inwardly by the spring biased  105 D locking ring  105  into engagement with a second ball race  108 C or recess extending circumferentially about the exterior of the sliding sleeve  108 . The locking ring  105  secures the sliding sleeve  108  in the connected or coupled position. If the locking sleeve  106  of the male coupling half is attempted to be rotated under the influence of a person&#39;s hand to disconnect (or under the influence of mechanical vibration), the sliding sleeve  108  (which is locked  107 / 114  to the male body) prevents any axial movement and prevents disconnection (uncoupling) of the coupling halves. Only when the outer sleeve  101  of the female coupling half is urged against the force of the third spring  101 A and engages a shoulder  105 A on the locking ring  105  and thus axially moves the locking ring  105  will the second set of detents  130  release the sliding sleeve to travel or move axially toward the first, closed position ( FIG. 3 ). It is not necessary to hold the outer sleeve  101  in its retracted position permanently while uncoupling as the detents  130  move radially outwardly positioning the locking ring  105  in the position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . While this is occurring the first set  107  of detents remain locked  107 / 114  to the male coupling half until the sliding sleeve  108  is moved axially to the first, closed position where the first set of balls/detents  107  are free to move radially outwardly into a recess  120 F in the female body extension of the female coupling halves. 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of another example of the female coupling half  600  and the male coupling half  650  uncoupled.  FIG. 6A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view  600 A of the female coupling half of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6B  is an enlarged cross-sectional view  600 B of the male coupling half of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view  700  of the female coupling half and the male coupling half coupled. 
         [0061]    In the example of  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A,  6 B, and  7 , the female coupling half  600  includes an insert  631  which is threaded  631 A to the sliding sleeve  608  for the purpose of trapping the seal  622  between the sliding sleeve  608  and the valve  621 . The insert is broached so that it may be tightened.  FIGS. 1 and 1A  illustrate the broach as well for an unnumbered insert which retains seal  122 . A sealant is used to ensure securement of the threads  631 A of the insert to the sliding sleeve  608 . Additionally the second example employs a snap ring  633  which resides in a groove  633 A in the exterior of the female body extension  620 A. The second spring  605 D is operable between the snap ring  633  and the locking ring  605 . The second example further employs coarse threads  620 D,  606 A on the female body extension  620 A and on the locking sleeve  605  of the male coupling half. 
         [0062]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the female coupling half  600  and the male coupling half  650  uncoupled.  FIG. 6A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view  600  of the female coupling half of  FIG. 6 . And,  FIG. 6B  is an enlarged cross-sectional view  650  of the male coupling half of  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B, female coupling half  600  includes a body  620  and a body extension  620 A threaded  120 B thereto. Body extension  620 A is essentially concentric with respect to body  620 . A passageway  620 J is centrally located in body  620 . The materials of the body  620  and other structural parts can be any material capable of handling hydraulic fluid at high pressure such as, for instance, stainless steel. The seals used herein may be any suitable elastomeric material used in high pressure hydraulic fluid applications. Body extension  620 A includes an inner surface  620 C and an outer surface  620 E. A portion of the outer surface of the body extension  620 A includes threads  620 D. The threads are preferably ACME threads but UN or other threads may be used. Threads  620 D interengage threads  606 A of the locking sleeve  606  of the male half of the coupling  650  as is described herein elsewhere with more detail. 
         [0063]    Referring still to  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B, a pintle or valve  621  is threaded  621 A to female body  620 . It will be noticed that female body  620  does not have the vacuum break identified as passageway  121 D. Insert  631  traps seal  622  eliminating any need for the vacuum break  121 D. Valve  621  includes a generally flat face  621 E which is open in  FIG. 6  and engages corresponding flat face  613  of the male coupling half  650 . Male coupling half includes a cap  626  which is threaded  626 A to valve  612 . Valve  612  includes radially extending ports or apertures  612 A for communicating with the female half of the coupling as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Seal  625  is an elastomeric seal and is trapped between end cap  626  and valve  612  to prevent extrusion or blowout of the seal. 
         [0064]    Pintle or valve  621  includes an end portion  621 B which is sealed  622  so as to prevent the escape of hydraulic fluid between the interface of the valve  621  and the sliding sleeve  608 . Radially extending passageways  621 C in valve  621  communicate fluid to the male coupling half as illustrated in  FIG. 7  in the coupled condition. Seal  624 , an elastomeric seal, prevents the escape of hydraulic fluid in a path between the female body  620  and the inner surface  608 D of the sliding sleeve  608 . 
         [0065]    Still referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B, sliding sleeve  608  carries a first set of radially movable detents  607  in apertures  608 B. Sliding sleeve  608  includes an exterior surface  608 A and a circumferentially extending recess or ball race  608 C therein. Ball race  608 C interengages a second set of detents  630  carried by the body extension  620 A. Both the first  607  set of radially movable detents and the second set  630  of radially movable detents are used to reliably secure the coupling halves together. First  607  set of radially movable detents interengage ball race or recess  614  in the exterior of the male body extension  610 A of the male coupling half  650  as best viewed in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0066]    Referring again to the sliding sleeve  608  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 6A , elastomeric seal  623  is carried in an unnumbered recess or groove and functions to seal surfaces  610 E,  610 D when the male coupling half is threaded  606 A,  620 D into the female half of the coupling. See,  FIG. 7  illustrating the coupled condition. First spring  608 E is operable between female body  620  and an unnumbered shoulder of sliding sleeve  608  and urges the sliding sleeve toward the first, closed position illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . Sliding sleeve  608  is movable between a first, closed position as shown in  FIG. 6A  to a second, open position as shown in  FIG. 7 . Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6A  and sliding sleeve  608 , the leading end includes surfaces  608 F and  608 G for interengagement with corresponding surfaces generally denoted with reference numerals  610 D,  610 E in connection with male body extension  610 A. Male body extension  610 A is threaded  610 C to male body  610 . 
         [0067]    Still referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6A , locking ring  605  resides exteriorly to said female body extension  620 A and is urged axially outwardly by spring  605 D which operates between snap ring  633  mounted in a circumferential groove  633 A in female body extension  620 A and an unnumbered internal shoulder surface of locking ring  605 . Locking ring  605  includes an inner surface  605 C and an outer surface  605 A. A portion of the outer surface  605 A of the locking ring includes a shoulder thereon for engagement with a corresponding internal shoulder  601 D on an internal surface  601 B of the outer retractable sleeve  601 . Reference numeral  605 B indicates a recess in the locking ring allowing the second set of detents to be pushed radially outwardly by the sliding sleeve in the first, closed position as indicated in  FIG. 6  (disconnected/uncoupled condition). 
         [0068]    Still referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6A , outer sleeve  601  covers and protects threads  620 D on the female body extension  620 A. Outer sleeve  601  is retractable for uncoupling against the force of spring  601 A which operates between a cover  603  interposed between body  620  and the end of the outer sleeve  601 . Cover  603  is preferably plastic but may be metal if desired as long as sufficient flexibility is exhibited to fit over a small lip  603 A of the female body such that the cover will sit in a slight recess  603 D in the body. Cover  603  protects the internal components of the female coupling half against the unwanted intrusion of dirt and debris. 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6B  locking sleeve  606  is rotatably affixed to the male body  610  by detents or balls  606 C residing in ball race or recess  610 B. An aperture  606 D provides a path for insertion of the balls  606 C. Reference numeral  606 B indicates the interface between the rotatable locking sleeve  606  and the male body  610 . Reference numeral  610 J indicates a flow passageway for the communication of hydraulic fluid. In the coupled condition as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , reference numeral  660  indicates the passageway which interconnects the radially extending ports  612 A and  621 C. Spring  640  operates between male body  610  and the valve  612  which prohibits the flow as shown in the disconnected state ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0070]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view  700  of the female coupling half  600  and the male coupling half  650  coupled. Reference numeral  632  illustrates a plug for the pathway  606 D for the insertion of the balls. Reference numeral  620 F indicates a recess in the female body extension  620 A which provides room for detents  630  to escape when the male body  606  is being extracted from the female coupling half and reference numeral  620 R indicates a recess in the female body extension  620 A which provides room for detents  607  to escape when the male body  606  is being extracted from the female coupling half. 
         [0071]    Still referring to  FIG. 7 , first spring  608 E and third spring  601 A are compressed and second spring  605 D is extended. The first set of detents  607  engage circumferentially extending recess  614  of the male body extension  610 A locking the sliding sleeve  608  and the male body extension  610 A together. The second set of detents  630  which are larger than the first set of detents engage circumferentially extending recess  608 C. Recess  608 C is best illustrated in  FIG. 6A . 
         [0072]    Still referring to  FIG. 7 , sliding sleeve  608  is illustrated in the second, open position under the influence of the male body extension  610 A forcing the sliding sleeve leftwardly against the forceful resistance of spring  608 E. In the coupled condition as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the threads  606 A on locking sleeve  606  fully receive the corresponding threads  620 D of the female body extension  620 A. As threads  606 A of the locking sleeve of the male are threaded onto threads  620 D of the female body, outer sleeve  601  is urged against spring  601 A and the male body extension forces the sliding sleeve  608  against the force of spring  608 E first engaging the first set of detents  607  followed by the engagement of the second set  630  of detents with the sliding sleeve. Second set of detents  630  are forced radially inwardly during coupling by the force of spring  605 D which acts against the snap ring  633  and the locking ring  605  which forces the locking ring  605  over the second set of detents  630  and pushes them radially inwardly into ball race or recess  608 C of the sliding sleeve. As this happens the locking ring snaps against the outer retractable sleeve  601  and the female body extension  620 A. 
         [0073]    As the male coupling half is threaded onto and into the female coupling half, the flat face  613  of the end cap  626  engages pintle (valve)  621 E and urges the male valve  612  open against the force of the spring  640  thus completing a flow path defined by reference numerals  620 J,  621 C,  660 ,  612 A and  610 J. 
         [0074]    To uncouple the coupling as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the outer sleeve  601  must be pulled leftwardly such that an internal shoulder on the inner surface  601 B of the outer retractable sleeve engages an external shoulder  605 A on the locking ring which moves the locking ring against the force of spring  605 D allowing and positioning recess  605 B above the second set of detents  630  to be thrust radially outwardly of circumferential recess or race  608 C under the influence of spring  608 E and the unthreading of the coupling. As the coupling is unthreaded sliding sleeve  608  is pulled outwardly be the engagement of the male body extension  610 A with the sliding sleeve  608 . Therefore, to uncouple the coupling the outer sleeve  601  must be retracted and simultaneously the threaded locking sleeve  606  must be unthreaded from the female body extension. It is not enough for vibration or intentional unthreading alone to separate the coupling halves because the locking ring  605  must first, as a permissive, be moved to unlock the second set of detents from the sliding sleeve  608  and the female body extension  620 A. 
         [0075]    As the male coupling half (nipple)  650  engages the female coupling half (coupler)  600 , the locking sleeve  606  of the male coupling half  650  with internal threads  606 A thereon is rotated to thread onto the external threads  620 D on the body extension  620 A of the female coupling half. As the threads interengage, the outer sleeve  601  of the female coupling half is forced back against the force of the third spring  601 A allowing connection of the coupling halves. As the male body extension  610 A of the male coupling half is urged into the female body extension  620 A of the female coupling half, the first set of detents  607  is first urged radially outwardly and then as the coupling progresses further and the sliding sleeve  608  is pushed against spring  608 E, the first set of detents  607  is urged inwardly into the ball race  614  or external recess of the male body extension  610 A locking the sliding sleeve  608  of the female coupling half to the male body of the male coupling half. This locks the sliding sleeve  608  of the female coupling half to the male body of the male coupling half in all positions other than the disconnected position with the valves  621 ,  612  of the male and female coupling halves closed. 
         [0076]    When fully connected or coupled, the second set of detents  630  is urged radially inwardly by the spring biased  605 D locking ring  605  into engagement with a second ball race  608 C or recess extending circumferentially about the exterior of the sliding sleeve  608 . The locking ring  605  secures the sliding sleeve  608  in the connected or coupled position. 
         [0077]    If the locking sleeve  606  of the male coupling half is attempted to be rotated under the influence of a person&#39;s hand to disconnect (or under the influence of mechanical vibration), the sliding sleeve  608  (which is locked  607 / 614  to the male body) prevents any axial movement and prevents disconnection (uncoupling) of the coupling halves. Only when the outer sleeve  601  of the female coupling half is urged against the force of the third spring  601 A and engages a shoulder  605 A on the locking ring  605  and thus axially moves the locking ring  605  will the second set of detents  630  release the sliding sleeve to travel or move axially toward the first, closed position. It is not necessary to hold the outer sleeve  601  in its retracted position permanently while uncoupling as the detents  630  move radially outwardly positioning the locking ring  105  appropriately. While this is occurring the first set  607  of detents remain locked  607 / 614  to the male coupling half until the sliding sleeve  608  is moved axially to the first, closed position where the first set of balls/detents  607  are free to move radially outwardly into a recess  620 F in the female body extension of the female coupling halves. 
         [0078]    A coupling half  600  for coupling and uncoupling with another coupling half  650  includes a valve  621 , a body  620  and a body extension  620 A affixed to the body  620 . The valve  621  is affixed to the body  620 . The coupling half  600  further includes a sliding sleeve  608  and a locking ring  605 . The locking ring  605  is movable with respect to the body extension  620 A between first and second positions. The first position of the locking ring  605  is shown in  FIG. 6  when the coupling halfs are uncoupled. The second position of the locking ring  605  is illustrated in  FIG. 7  when the coupling halfs are coupled. The body  620  and the body extension  620 A are substantially concentric and the sliding sleeve resides substantially radially intermediate the body  620  and the body extension  620 A. A snap ring  633  is affixed to the body extension  620 A in a circumferential groove  633 A in the exterior of the body extension. The sliding sleeve  608  is movable between first and second positions with respect to the body, the body extension  620 A and the valve  621  thus closing (first position of the sliding sleeve  608 ,  FIG. 6 ) the valve and opening (second position of the sliding sleeve  608 ,  FIG. 7 ) the valve  621 . A closing mechanism includes first  607  and second  630  sets of locking detents. The first set of locking detents  607  interengaging the another coupling half (male coupling half  650 ) when the sliding sleeve  608  is in the second position ( FIG. 7 ). The second set of locking detents  630  interengaging the sliding sleeve  608  when the sliding sleeve is in the second position ( FIG. 7 ). The closing mechanism includes a first spring  608 E operable between the body  620  and the sliding sleeve  608 . A second spring  605 D is operable between the snap ring  633  and the locking ring  605 . The second spring  605 D being compressed when the coupling halves are uncoupled ( FIG. 6 ) and the locking ring  605  is in the second position and the second spring  605 D being extended when the coupling is coupled ( FIG. 7 ) and the locking ring is in the first position. The closing mechanism insures that the sliding sleeve  608  is returned to the closed position (first position of the sliding sleeve  608 ,  FIG. 6 ) closing the valve  621  when the coupling half is uncoupled. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           2 —female coupling half 
           3 —male coupling half  3   
           4 —hole or passageway for the communication of fluid 
           5 —valve or bolt 
           7 —tubular body shutoff 
           8 —spring 
           18 ,  19 —valve in the male coupling half  3  of the prior art 
           9 —annular sleeve 
           10 —spring 
           17 ″—seal 
           40 —male body 
           100 —quarter-sectional view of the female coupling half of the first example 
           101 —outer retractable sleeve 
           101 A—third spring 
           101 B—internal surface of outer retractable sleeve  101   
           103 —cover 
           105 —locking ring 
           105 A—outer surface of locking ring 
           105 B—recess in the locking ring 
           105 C—inner surface of locking ring 
           105 D—spring 
           106 —locking sleeve 
           106 A—threads 
           106 B—interface between the rotatable locking sleeve 
           106 C—detents or balls 
           106 D—aperture 
           106 E—plug for the pathway  106 D for the insertion of the balls 
           107 —first set of movable detents 
           108 —sliding sleeve 
           108 A—exterior surface of sliding sleeve 
           108 B—apertures 
           108 C—circumferentially extending recess or (second) ball race 
           108 D—inner surface of sliding sleeve valve 
           108 E—first spring 
           108 F—surface 
           108 G—surface 
           110 —male body 
           110 A—male body extension 
           110 B—ball race or recess  110 B 
           110 C—threads 
           110 D—seal surface 
           110 E—seal surface 
           110 J—indicates a flow passageway 
           112 —valve 
           112 A—ports or apertures 
           113 —flat face of the male coupling half 
           114 —ball race or recess 
           120 —female body 
           120 A—female body extension 
           120 B—threads 
           120 C—inner surface of female body extension 
           120 D—threads 
           120 E—outer surface of female body extension 
           120 F—recess in the female body extension  120 A 
           120 J—passageway 
           121 —pintle or valve 
           121 A—threads 
           121 B—end portion 
           121 C—radially extending passageways 
           121 D—radially extending passageway 
           121 E—flat face of valve 
           122 —seal 
           122 A—threaded insert for retaining seal  122   
           123 —elastomeric seal 
           124 —seal 
           125 —seal 
           126 —end cap 
           126 A—threads 
           130 —second set of detents 
           130 A—apertures for ball race 
           140 —spring operating between male body  110  and the valve  112   
           150 —quarter-sectional view of the male coupling half of the first example 
           160 —passageway which interconnects radially extending ports  112 A and  121 C 
           300 —quarter-sectional view of the female coupling half and the male coupling half coupled 
           400 —quarter-sectional view of a prior art female coupling half 
           400 A—quarter-sectional view of a prior art male coupling half 
           400 B—quarter sectional view of a prior art female coupling half and male coupling half coupled. 
           405 —valve or bolt 
           407 —tubular body shutoff 
           409 —sleeve 
           414 —closed wall of a tubular bolt 
           417 —seal 
           419 —shutoff surface 
           422 —spring 
           430 —seal 
           440 —bolt body 
           443 —flat face of valve or bolt  405   
           451 —seal 
           460 —spring 
           460 A—spring 
           490 —threads on the interior surface of the outer body 
           491 —reciprocal threads on the male coupling half 
           500 —cross-sectional view  500  of a prior art female 
           600 —cross-sectional view of the female coupling half of the second example 
           600 A—enlarged female coupling half of the second example 
           600 B—enlarged male coupling half of the first example 
           600 C—enlarged portion of female coupling half 
           600 D—enlarged portion of male coupling half 
           601 —outer retractable sleeve 
           601 A—third spring of second example 
           601 B—internal surface of outer retractable sleeve  601   
           601 C—outer surface of retractable sleeve  601   
           601 D—shoulder on inner surface of retractable sleeve  601   
           603 —cover 
           603 A—lip on body  620   
           603 D—recess in body  620   
           605 —locking ring 
           605 A—outer surface of locking ring 
           605 B—recess in the locking ring 
           605 C—inner surface of locking ring 
           605 D—spring 
           606 —locking sleeve 
           606 A—coarse threads 
           606 B—interface between the rotatable locking sleeve and the male body 
           606 C—detents or balls 
           606 D—aperture 
           607 —first set of movable detents 
           608 —sliding sleeve 
           608 A—exterior surface of sliding sleeve 
           608 B—apertures 
           608 C—circumferentially extending recess or (second) ball race 
           608 D—inner surface of sliding sleeve valve 
           608 E—first spring of second example 
           608 F—surface 
           608 G—surface 
           610 —male body 
           610 A—male body extension 
           610 B—ball race or recess 
           610 C—threads 
           610 D—seal surface 
           610 E—seal surface 
           610 J—indicates a flow passageway 
           612 —valve 
           612 A—ports or apertures 
           613 —flat face of the male coupling half 
           614 —ball race or recess 
           620 —female body 
           620 A—female body extension 
           620 B—threads 
           620 C—inner surface of the female body extension  620 A 
           620 D—threads 
           620 E—outer surface of the female body extension  620 A 
           620 F—recess in the female body extension  120 A 
           620 J—passageway 
           621 —pintle or valve 
           621 A—threads 
           621 B—end portion 
           621 C—radially extending passageways 
           621 E—flat face of valve 
           622 —seal 
           623 —elastomeric seal 
           624 —seal 
           625 —seal 
           626 —end cap 
           626 A—threads 
           630 —second set of detents 
           631 —threaded insert for trapping seal  622   
           631 A—threads 
           632 —plug 
           632 A—plug threads 
           633 —snap ring support for second spring  605 D 
           633 A—circumferential groove in the body extension  620 A 
           632 A—plug threads 
           640 —spring operating between male body  610  and the valve  612   
           650 —cross-sectional view of the male coupling half of the second example 
           660 —passageway which interconnects radially extending ports  612 A and  621 C 
           671 —surface of insert  631  which forms a dovetail 
           671 A—surface of sliding sleeve which forms a dovetail 
           672 —lip of flared end on end cap  626   
       
     
         [0248]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the instant invention has been disclosed and described by way of example only and that numerous modifications and deviations of the example may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.