Patent ID: 6840548

Claim:
A quick connect coupling for removably joining two pipes through which a pressurized fluid passes, the coupling comprising, a male element and a female element adapted to fit axially in each other, a body of the female element being equipped with a resiliently urged bolt mounted to slide in said body in a direction transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of a fit of said male and female elements, said bolt having a central opening for receiving said male element, an inner wall defining the opening of said bolt having three teeth offset with respect to one another along a median axis of said opening, said male element including a shoulder adapted to rest selectively against one of said teeth, a valve mounted within said female element and movable with respect to a valve seat mounted upstream of said central opening of said bolt, a first of said teeth being positioned more closely adjacent said valve than a second intermediate tooth and a third tooth, said male element and said female element being in open flow communication when said shoulder of said male element rests against said first tooth, and communication means downstream of said valve seat but spaced from said bolt for placing a downstream pipe in communication with ambient atmosphere when said male element is moved so as to rest by its shoulder against said intermediate tooth upon force being applied to urge said bolt toward said longitudinal axis when said shoulder rests against said first tooth, so as to thereby relieve pressure from the downstream pipe.