초록 ▼

A threaded coupling wherein external threads of the male body of the male coupling half are in mating engagement with internal threads of the female sleeve of the female coupling half. The female sleeve includes an interior hook and the male body includes a locking lever receptacle recessed therein

A threaded coupling wherein external threads of the male body of the male coupling half are in mating engagement with internal threads of the female sleeve of the female coupling half. The female sleeve includes an interior hook and the male body includes a locking lever receptacle recessed therein as well as first and second slots for receiving first and second pins of the locking lever. The locking lever pivotally resides in the receptacle and interlocks with the hook of the female sleeve uniting the male and female. A tensioning O-ring secures the locking lever to the male body. A locking sleeve extends circumferentially about the male body and prohibits the release of the hook of the female sleeve from a recess in the locking lever unless a window is aligned with the locking lever. A process for locking the threaded coupling is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A threaded coupling, comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped male coupling half;a generally cylindrically shaped female coupling half;said male coupling half includes a male body, said male body includes an exterior, and said exterior of said male body includes external threads thereon;said

1. A threaded coupling, comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped male coupling half;a generally cylindrically shaped female coupling half;said male coupling half includes a male body, said male body includes an exterior, and said exterior of said male body includes external threads thereon;said female coupling half includes a female sleeve and a female body, said female sleeve moves said female body toward said male body during threaded engagement of said female coupling half and said male coupling half;said interior of said female sleeve includes internal threads;said external threads of said male body in mating engagement with said internal threads of said female sleeve;said female sleeve further includes an end portion;said end portion of said female sleeve includes an interior hook formed therein;said male body includes a locking lever receptacle recessed in said exterior of said male body, and said locking lever receptacle of said male body further includes first and second slots therein;a locking lever;said locking lever includes first and second pivot pins, said locking lever includes a latching end;said latching end of said latching lever includes a recess and a latching surface;said first and second pivot pins of said locking lever reside in said first and second slots of said locking lever receptacle of said male body, said locking lever pivoting about said pivot pins;said locking lever includes an O-ring slot therein;said male body includes an O-ring slot therein which extends circumferentially around said generally cylindrically shaped male body and aligned with said O-ring slot in said locking lever;a tensioning O-ring, and said tensioning O-ring extending circumferentially in said O-ring slot in said male body and in said O-ring slot in said locking lever biasing said latching end of said locking lever to a raised position for engagement with said interior hook formed on said end of said female sleeve, and, said tensioning O-ring securing said locking lever in said locking lever receptacle;said latched end being raised for engagement with said interior hook of said female sleeve prior to engagement;during engagement, said hook of said end of said female sleeve engages said recess of said latching end of said locking lever, and, said latching end of said locking lever pivots about said first and second pivot pins to a position proximate said receptacle of said male body;once said hook and said recess of said locking lever are fully engaged, said latching end of said locking lever is returned to said raised position;a locking sleeve, said locking sleeve being generally cylindrically shaped engages said exterior of said male body and extends circumferentially thereabout, and, said female sleeve are fully threaded together, and, said locking sleeve preventing said female sleeve and said male body from being unthreaded. 2. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking sleeve includes an access window which allows said coupling to be unlocked and uncoupled when said access window is located proximate said locking lever. 3. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking sleeve includes a groove which retains a second O-ring therein, said second O-ring in engagement with said exterior of said male coupling and gripping said exterior of said male coupling inhibiting unwanted rotation of said sleeve with respect to said male body thus preventing inadvertent alignment of said access window with said locking lever. 4. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said latching end of said locking lever includes an exterior hook engagement surface;said hook of said end portion of said female sleeve includes an exterior surface; and,during engagement, said exterior surface of said hook of said end portion of said female sleeve engages said exterior hook engagement surface of said latching end of said locking lever pivoting said locking lever, allowing said hook to engage said recess of said latching end of said locking lever locking said coupling together. 5. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said exterior hook engagement surface of said latching end of said locking lever is inclined at a first angle and said exterior of said hook of said end portion of said female sleeve is inclined and arranged at approximately said first angle;during coupling, said exterior of said hook slidingly engages said hook engagement surface of said latching end of said locking lever pivoting said locking lever against the force of said tensioning O-ring such that said latching end of said locking lever is brought into proximity of said locking lever receptacle of said male body; and,said hook of said end portion of said female sleeve includes an interior portion, said interior portion of said hook includes a latching surface and a land surface, and, said latching surface extending generally radially outwardly to said land surface. 6. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a snap ring;a snap ring receptacle in said male body;said snap ring resides in said male body and secures said locking sleeve. 7. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said locking lever includes a bottom surface;said bottom surface includes a latching end portion and a sloped end portion;said latching end portion bottom surface being inclined with respect to said locking lever receptacle in said male body when said tensioning O-ring resides in said O-ring slot of said locking lever and said O-ring slot of said male body; and,said sloped end portion of said bottom surface being parallel to and in proximity to said locking lever receptacle. 8. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said locking lever includes a bottom surface;said bottom portion of said locking lever being spaced apart from said locking lever receptacle; and,said locking lever being rotatable about said first and second pivot pins without said locking lever engaging said locking lever receptacle of said male body. 9. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: said bottom surface includes a latching end portion and a sloped end portion;said latching end portion of said bottom surface inclined with respect to said locking lever receptacle in said male body when said tensioning O-ring resides in said O-ring slot of said locking lever and said O-ring slot of said male body; and,said sloped end portion of said bottom surface being parallel to and in proximity to said locking lever receptacle. 10. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said locking lever includes a bottom surface;said bottom surface of said locking lever being spaced apart from said locking lever receptacle;said bottom surface includes a latching end portion and a sloped end portion;said latching end portion of said bottom surface being inclined with respect to said locking lever receptacle in said male body when said tensioning O-ring resides in said O-ring slot of said locking lever and said O-ring slot of said male body;said sloped end portion of said bottom surface being parallel to and in proximity to said locking lever receptacle;said latching end portion of said bottom surface being planar and said sloped end portion of said bottom surface being planar and intersect each other along a line of intersection;said first and second pins being coaxial with respect to one another, said coaxial pins sharing an axis;a radius from said axis of said pins to said line of intersection; and,said radius being smaller than said distance from said axis of said pins to said locking lever receptacle when said first and second pin reside in said first and second slots of said receptacle. 11. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said locking lever receptacle of said male body includes a flat bottom surface;said locking lever receptacle includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall;said male body includes a raised portion; and,said raised portion includes said first and second slots which receive said first and second pins of said locking lever. 12. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said locking sleeve includes an interior portion, said interior portion includes a contour engaging said locking lever and which locks said locking lever against rotation when said contour of said locking sleeve is positioned adjacent said locking lever. 13. A threaded coupling, comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped male coupling half;a generally cylindrically shaped female coupling half;said male coupling half includes a male body, said male body includes an exterior, and said exterior of said male body includes external threads thereon;said female coupling half includes a female body and a female sleeve, said female sleeve includes an interior;said interior of said female sleeve further includes internal threads therein;said external threads of said male body in mating engagement with said internal threads of said female sleeve;said female sleeve further includes an end portion;said end portion of said female sleeve includes an interior hook formed therein;said male body includes a locking lever receptacle recessed in said exterior of said male body, and said receptacle of said male body further includes first and second slots therein;a locking lever;said locking lever includes first and second pivot pins, said locking lever includes a latching end;said latching end of said locking lever includes a recess;said first and second pivot pins of said locking lever reside in said first and second slots of said receptacle of said male body, said locking lever pivoting about said pivot pins;said locking lever includes an O-ring slot therein;said male body includes an O-ring slot therein which extends circumferentially around said generally cylindrically shaped male body and aligned with said O-ring slot in said locking lever;a tensioning O-ring, and said tensioning O-ring extending circumferentially in said O-ring slot in said male body and in said O-ring slot in said locking lever biasing said latching end;during engagement: said latching end of said locking lever pivots about said first and second pivot pins to a position proximate said receptacle of said male coupling; and, said hook of said female end engages said recess of said latching end of said locking lever, and, once said hook and said recess of said locking lever are fully engaged, said latching end of said locking lever is returned to a raised position. 14. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a locking sleeve, said locking sleeve being generally cylindrically shaped and engages said exterior of said male body and extends circumferentially thereabout; and, said locking sleeve preventing said female sleeve and said male body from being unthreaded. 15. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a locking sleeve, said locking sleeve being generally cylindrically shaped and engages said exterior of said male body and extends circumferentially thereabout;said locking sleeve includes an access window which allows threading and unthreading of said male body and said female sleeve when said access window is aligned with said locking lever so as to permit rotation of said locking lever about said first and second pins; and,said locking sleeve includes an interior portion, said interior portion includes a contour which engages said lever and which locks said locking lever against rotation when said contour of said locking sleeve is positioned adjacent said locking lever. 16. A threaded coupling as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a locking sleeve, said locking sleeve being generally cylindrically shaped and engages said exterior of said male body and extends circumferentially thereabout; and,said locking sleeve includes an interior portion, said interior portion includes a contour which engages said end of said lever and which locks said locking lever against rotation when said contour of said locking sleeve is positioned adjacent said end of said locking lever.