초록 ▼

A coupling assembly includes a female coupler selectively interconnected to a male coupler to provide sealing engagement. In one embodiment, the female coupler and the male coupler are secured together by a pressure activated locking assembly which prevents disengagement of the male and female coupl

A coupling assembly includes a female coupler selectively interconnected to a male coupler to provide sealing engagement. In one embodiment, the female coupler and the male coupler are secured together by a pressure activated locking assembly which prevents disengagement of the male and female coupling until the internal pressure in the coupling is reduced to a predetermined level.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A quick connect coupling with a pressure activated locking assembly, 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 at least one of

What is claimed is: 1. A quick connect coupling with a pressure activated locking assembly, 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 at least one of said male coupling and said female coupling; and a pressure activated locking device positioned within a recess in said at least one of said male coupling and said female coupling, said locking device operably deflecting into said locking cavity and extending beyond said recess when pressure is applied to said locking assembly by said quick connect coupling being pressurized, thereby substantially preventing disconnection of said male coupling and said female coupling. 2. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said pressure activated locking device comprises a resilient ring. 3. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said locking cavity comprises at least one angled surface in opposing relationship to said locking device. 4. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one seal positioned proximate to said locking device, wherein said male coupling and said female coupling are in sealing engagement. 5. The quick connect coupling of claim 1, wherein said male coupling is stabilized relative to said female coupling when said pressure activated locking device is deflected into said locking cavity when said quick connect coupling is pressurized. 6. A pressure activated quick connect coupling locking assembly, the quick connect coupling comprising a male coupling having an insert which is adapted for engagement with a receiver of a female coupling, said locking assembly comprising: a resilient locking means operatively positioned substantially entirely within a recess in at least one of said male coupling and said female coupling and positioned in opposing relationship to a locking cavity, wherein when an internal pressure is applied to said locking assembly said resilient locking means changes shape to extend beyond said recess and operably engage said locking cavity, and thereby said male coupling and said female coupling are substantially prevented from disengagement, and said male coupling is stabilized against movement relative to said female coupling, until the internal pressure is released to a predetermined level. 7. The pressure activated locking assembly of claim 6, wherein said resilient locking means comprises a non-continuous wedging ring. 8. The pressure activated locking assembly of claim 7, wherein said non-continuous wedging ring is comprised of a metallic material. 9. The pressure activated locking assembly of claim 6, wherein said resilient locking means resides in the recess prior to pressurization, said recess further comprising at least one angled surface for operable engagement with at least a portion of said resilient locking means. 10. The pressure activated locking assembly of claim 6, further comprising at least one sealing ring positioned proximate to said resilient locking means to provide a seal when said male coupling and said female coupling are engaged. 11. A quick connect coupling with a pressure activated locking assembly, comprising: a male coupling with a seal groove; a female coupling comprising a receiver operably sized to receive said male coupling and further comprising a locking cavity integrated therein; a resilient wedging ring adapted for positioning in said seal groove of said male coupling, said resilient wedging ring adapted to change shape from a first outer diameter to a second outer diameter when subjected to a force; and wherein said resilient wedging ring resides substantially entirely within said seal groove of said male coupling to permit disengagement of said male coupling from said female coupling until an internal pressure is applied to the quick connect coupling, wherein said resilient wedging ring changes shape to said second diameter and extends beyond said seal groove to engage the cavity of the female coupling, wherein the male coupling and the female coupling are substantially locked together until the pressure on said quick connect coupling is decreased to a predetermined level. 12. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein said seal groove of the male coupling includes an angled surface for engagement with said resilient wedging ring. 13. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein the substantial locking together of the male coupling and the female coupling stabilizes the quick connect coupling. 14. The quick connect coupling of claim 13, wherein the stabilization comprises said male coupling being stabilized against movement relative to said female coupling when said resilient wedging ring engages the cavity of the female coupling when internal pressure is applied to the quick connect coupling. 15. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, wherein said resilient wedging ring is consisting of at least one of an aluminum, a steel, a fiberglass, and a plastic. 16. The quick connect coupling of claim 11, further comprising a secondary locking device interconnected to a portion of said male coupling, wherein said male coupling is prevented from disengagement from said female coupling until said secondary locking device is disengaged from said female coupling. 17. The quick connect coupling of claim 16, wherein said secondary locking device comprises a resiliently deflectable lock situated about said male coupling for engagement in an auxiliary locking groove integrated into said female coupling. 18. The quick connect coupling of claim 16, further comprising a spacer positioned between a release mechanism of said secondary locking device and said female coupling, wherein said release mechanism is restricted from travel until said spacer is removed. 19. The quick connect coupling of claim 18, wherein said spacer comprises a partially concentric ring. 20. The quick connect coupling of claim 18, wherein said spacer further comprises a handle portion which is adapted for grasping by a user's fingers. 21. The quick connect coupling of claim 18, wherein said spacer at least partially shrouds said release mechanism, wherein a user is substantially restricted from grasping said release mechanism.