Patent ID: 7871110

Claim:
A hydraulic coupling device, comprising: a male coupling part in the form of a sealing element comprising a hollow body of metallic material with a first male sealing member formed at a first end of the body and a second male sealing member formed at a second end of the body opposite said first end, the body further comprising an intermediate member that forms a continuous part together with the first male sealing member and the second male sealing member and that is mechanically compressible so as to be capable of storing elastic energy when the body is subjected to axial compression, wherein an internal bore extends through the body and through the first and second male sealing members and the intermediate member; a first female coupling part comprising a first female sealing member and having an internal bore extending through the coupling part and its female sealing member; and a second female coupling part comprising a second female sealing member, wherein the first male sealing member has an external spherical contact surface surrounding said internal bore of said male coupling part and designed for mating with a corresponding internal conical contact surface of the first female sealing member so as to form a fluid-tight seal between the first male sealing member and the first female sealing member when their contact surfaces are pressed against each other; wherein the second male sealing member has an external spherical contact surface surrounding said internal bore of said male coupling part and designed for mating with a corresponding internal conical contact surface of the second female sealing member so as to form a fluid-tight seal between the second male sealing member and the second female sealing member when their contact surfaces are pressed against each other, wherein at least one of the first and second female coupling parts comprises a valve, which comprises a valve body displaceably arranged inside the internal bore of the female coupling part and a spring member acting on the valve body, the valve body being displaceable against the action of the spring member from a first position, in which the valve is closed and prevents fluid flow through the internal bore of the female coupling part, to a second position, in which the valve is open and allows fluid flow through the internal bore of the female coupling part; and wherein the male coupling part comprises an actuation member for displacing the valve body from said first position to said second position immediately before the female sealing member of the female coupling part is brought into engagement with the corresponding male sealing member of the male coupling part.