Patent ID: 8814137

Claim:
A hydraulic coupling half assembly, comprising: a body portion defining an internal passage configured to permit hydraulic fluid to pass through the body portion, the body portion having an interface end that is configured to engage an interface end of a mating coupling half assembly, the interface end comprising a circumferential groove configured to receive a portion of the interface end of the mating coupling half; a valve within the body portion, the valve having a valve body, which has an open position in which fluid flow is permitted through the internal passage and a closed position in which the valve body closes off fluid flow through the internal passage, the valve further comprising a valve shaft that engages the valve body and rotates with the valve body between the open position and the closed position; a handle coupled to the valve shaft, wherein the valve shaft rotates along with rotation of the handle such that the handle can be used to move the valve body between the open position and the closed position; an interlock mechanism comprising a plurality of balls located within an interlock passage of the body portion, wherein the interlock passage has a first end opening to the valve shaft and a second end opening to the groove, wherein a first end ball of the plurality of balls is positioned at the first end of the interlock passage and contacts a cam surface of the valve shaft and a second end ball of the plurality of balls is positioned at the second end of the interlock passage; wherein, when the valve is in the closed position, the cam surface permits the plurality of balls to be retracted within the interlock passage such that the second end ball is sufficiently retracted from the groove to permit the coupling half to be rotated and disengaged from the mating coupling half and, when the valve is in the open position, the cam surface positions the plurality of balls within the interlock passage such that a portion of the second end ball is positioned within the groove a sufficient distance to contact the mating coupling half and prevent rotation of the coupling half relative to the mating coupling half.