초록 ▼

A coupling includes a socket assembly having a locking or retaining assembly which holds a plug in the socket assembly. When the socket assembly is exposed to excessive heat, an element of the retaining assembly starts to fuse and loses its rigidity. The heat fusible element of the retaining assembl

A coupling includes a socket assembly having a locking or retaining assembly which holds a plug in the socket assembly. When the socket assembly is exposed to excessive heat, an element of the retaining assembly starts to fuse and loses its rigidity. The heat fusible element of the retaining assembly is then deformed to release the plug for movement from the socket assembly. In one embodiment of the invention, the heat fusible element of the retaining assembly is spherical locking or retaining balls which engage the plug to hold it in the socket assembly. In another embodiment of the invention, the heat fusible element of the retaining assembly is cylindrical locking or retaining pins which engage the plug to hold it in the socket assembly. In still another embodiment of the invention, the heat fusible element of the retaining assembly is a cylindrical locking sleeve which engages the retaining elements to hold them in engagement with the plug.

대표청구항 ▼

A socket assembly for receiving a plug to connect a pair of conduits in fluid communication, said socket assembly comprising a socket body having a chamber for receiving the plug, locking means for retaining the plug in the chamber in said socket body, said locking means including a retaining elemen

A socket assembly for receiving a plug to connect a pair of conduits in fluid communication, said socket assembly comprising a socket body having a chamber for receiving the plug, locking means for retaining the plug in the chamber in said socket body, said locking means including a retaining element which is movable relative to said socket body between an engaged condition extending into the chamber in said socket body to engage the plug and retain the plug in the chamber in said socket body and a disengaged condition in which said retaining element is ineffective to retain the plug in the chamber in said socket body, said locking means further including a tubular sleeve element which is movable in an axial direction relative to said socket body by an operator to effect movement of said retaining element from one of said conditions to the other of said conditions, at least a portion of one of said elements of said locking means being a heat fusible element to which force is applied to maintain the plug in the chamber in said socket body against the influence of force tending to separate the plug and said socket body, said one of said elements being fusible upon exposure to excessive heat to enable the plug to be withdrawn from the chamber in said socket body upon exposure of said socket assembly to excessive heat with said retaining element in the engaged condition.