초록 ▼

A coupling assembly is provided that generally includes a female coupling selectively interconnected to a male coupling to provide sealing engagement. In one embodiment, the female coupling and the male coupling are secured together by a mechanical locking mechanism that is disengaged with a release

A coupling assembly is provided that generally includes a female coupling selectively interconnected to a male coupling to provide sealing engagement. In one embodiment, the female coupling and the male coupling are secured together by a mechanical locking mechanism that is disengaged with a release mechanism. To prevent inadvertent disengagement, a secondary locking device or spacer is provided which substantially prevents the release mechanism from disengaging the locking mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A quick connect coupling with a safety release mechanism, comprising: a male coupling having an insert; a female coupling having a receiver defined therein which is adapted to receive at least a portion of said insert; a locking cavity positioned in said female coupling; a re

What is claimed is: 1. A quick connect coupling with a safety release mechanism, comprising: a male coupling having an insert; a female coupling having a receiver defined therein which is adapted to receive at least a portion of said insert; a locking cavity positioned in said female coupling; a resilient locking device operatively interconnected to said male coupling and positioned in opposing relation to said locking cavity, wherein upon insertion of said male coupling into said female coupling link at least a portion of said resilient locking device extends into at least a portion of said locking cavity to substantially prevent disengagement of said male coupling and said female coupling; a release mechanism interconnected to said male coupling and in operable engagement with said resilient locking device, said release mechanism capable of traveling between at least two positions wherein in a first locked position said release mechanism is withdrawn from said resilient locking device and in a second release position said release mechanism engages at least a portion of said locking device to release said locking device from said locking cavity to disengage said male coupling from said female coupling; and a spacer in operable engagement with said release mechanism and repositioned by rotating at least a portion of said spacer, wherein said release mechanism is incapable of traveling from said first locked position to said second release position without a repositioning of said spacer. 2. The quick connect coupling of claim l, wherein said locking cavity comprises at least one angled surface in opposing relationship to said resilient locking device. 3. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said resilient locking device is a non-continuous, substantially circular metallic ring. 4. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said resilient locking device is positioned at least partially within a recess in said male coupling when the release mechanism is in said second release position. 5. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one seal operably interconnected to at least one of said male coupling and said female coupling, wherein said male coupling and said female coupling are in sealing engagement when said insert is positioned within said receiver. 6. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said spacer is positioned between a portion of said release mechanism and said female coupling. 7. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said spacer further comprises a handle portion that is adapted for grasping by a user. 8. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said spacer is repositioned by removing said spacer from between said release mechanism and said female coupling. 9. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said release mechanism includes a first end for engaging said resilient locking device, a portion for engagement with at least one of a user's hand and a tool, each operably interconnected to a portion positioned around said male coupling. 10. The quick connect coupling of claim 9, wherein said release mechanism includes an area that prohibits movement of said release mechanism when the internal pressure of the coupling exceeds a predetermined level, said area being located proximate to at least one of said first end and said portion for engagement. 11. A quick connect coupling comprising: a male coupling having an insert which is adapted for engagement with a receiver of a female coupling and including a resilient locking means which is operatively interconnected to said male coupling and positioned in opposing relationship to a locking cavity in said female coupling, the improvement comprising: a release mechanism operatively interconnected to said male coupling and positioned in proximate relationship to said resilient locking means, wherein said release mechanism travels between a first locked position and a second release position, and wherein in said second release position said resilient locking means is at least partially withdrawn from said locking cavity; and a safety mechanism comprising a cylinder which is selectively rotatable, said safety mechanism in operable engagement with said release mechanism, wherein said release mechanism is restricted from traveling between said first position and said second position without disengagement of said safety mechanism from said release mechanism. 12. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein said resilient locking means comprises a snap ring. 13. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein said release mechanism deflects said resilient locking means into a cavity located within said male coupling when said release mechanism is in said second release position. 14. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, further comprising at least one sealing ring in operable engagement with said male coupling and said female coupling to provide sealing engagement. 15. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein said safety mechanism comprises a non-continuous ring that is selectively removable. 16. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein said release mechanism includes a first end for engaging said resilient locking means, a portion for engagement with at least one of a user's hand and a tool, each operably interconnected to a portion positioned around said male coupling. 17. The quick connect coupling of claim 16, wherein said release mechanism includes an area that prohibits movement of said release mechanism when the internal pressure of the coupling exceeds a predetermined level, said area being located proximate to at least one of said first end and said portion for engagement. 18. A quick connect coupling with a release mechanism, comprising: a male coupling with an insert; a female coupling having a receiver adapted to receive at least a portion of said male coupling insert; a locking cavity positioned in at least a portion of said female coupling; a locking means operably interconnected to said male coupling and adapted for engagement with said locking cavity when said insert is positioned in said receiver of said male coupling; a release means operably interconnected to said male coupling which selectively engages said resilient locking means to disengage said male coupling from said female coupling, wherein said locking means is deflected in a receiving cavity in said male coupling to allow disengagement of said male coupling and the female coupling; and a safety means selectively rotatable to allow travel of said release means. 19. The quick connect coupling of claim 18, wherein said locking means of the male coupling includes an angled surface for engagement with said release mechanism. 20. The quick connect coupling of claim 18, wherein said release means includes a cylindrical sleeve operably interconnected to said male coupling. 21. The quick coupling of claim 18, wherein said safety means is operably positioned proximate to said release means and said release means is substantially incapable of deflecting said resilient locking means until said safety means is at least partially disengaged from said release means. 22. The quick connect coupling of claim 21, wherein said safety means comprises a non-continuous concentric ring which is adapted for selective interconnection to said male coupling. 23. The quick connect coupling of claim 21, wherein said safety means includes a handle portion adapted for engagement with a user's fingers. 24. The quick connect coupling of claim 21, wherein said safety means is comprised of at least one of a metal, a fiberglass, a teflon, a nylon, a leather and a plastic material. 25. The quick connect coupling of claim 18, wherein said release means includes a first end for engaging said locking means, a portion for engagement with at least one of a user's hand and a tool, each operably interconnected to a portion positioned around said male coupling. 26. The quick connect coupling of claim 25, wherein said release means includes an area that prohibits movement of said release means when the internal pressure of the coupling exceeds a predetermined level, said area being located proximate to at least one of said first end and said portion for engagement. 27. A method of providing a selectively severable fluid conduit, comprising: providing a male coupling having an insert; providing a female coupling having a locking cavity and a receiver defined therein that receives at least a portion of said insert; operatively interconnecting a resilient locking device to said male coupling and positioning said resilient locking device in opposing relationship to said locking cavity when said male coupling is engaged in said female coupling; providing a release mechanism; and inserting said male coupling into said female coupling, wherein said resilient locking device extends into at least a portion of said locking cavity to substantially prevent disengagement of said male coupling and said female coupling, wherein disengagement of said male coupling from said female coupling comprises selectively rotating a safety mechanism to allow use of said release mechanism to engage at least a portion of said locking device to remove said locking device from said locking cavity. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising pressurizing said fluid conduit to force a portion of at least one of said male coupling and said female coupling against said resilient locking device to substantially prevent disengagement of said male coupling and said female coupling if an internal pressure is above a predetermined level. 29. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a tool for engagement with said release mechanism, said tool having a force-limiting means.