Stanley Aviation Corporation

David E Jewell

Ronald A Rossway

Ronald W Boscaljon

Eric Hazelwood

In the first embodiment, a coupling assembly is provided wherein the inner peripheral diameter of an annular spring is sized to be threadably received over the threads of a coupler and is held in a recess formed by the ends of threads and the edge of a shoulder. This structure minimizes the diameter of the annular spring and lock ring to minimize both the size and weight of coupling assembly. Additionally, it provides a quick connect, quick disconnect coupling and has a peripheral stripe to provide a visual indication of its connected or disconnected status. In the second embodiment, a wavy spring is split which allows its diameter to be temporarily enlarged so that it can be received over the threads of the coupler and then spring back to its original smaller diameter so that it is held in a recess formed by the ends of the threads and a coupler flange. This structure also minimizes the diameter of the annular spring and lock ring to minimize both the size and weight of coupling assembly. This structure also provides a quick connect, quick disconnect coupling and has an indicator stripe to identify whether or not the coupler is in locked position.

Lightweight positive lock coupling

A first coupling member has a peripheral facing surface with a pair of annular slots, each of a different length and width. A second coupling member has a lock ring longitudinally slidable thereon with a facing surface having a pair of annular raised locking tabs sized to correspond to the respective annular slots. A resilient annular spring mounted within the lock ring urges it toward the first coupling member so that the locking tabs engage their respective slots when the coupling is tightened to a predetermined extent during rotation in the locking direction to releasably and positively lock the coupling. An indicator stripe on the peripheral edge of the first coupling member is exposed before the locking tabs and slots are engaged. Alignment between the respective locking tabs and slots allows longitudinal movement of the lock ring so that it covers the indicator stripe. One of the coupling members has a peripheral groove and two angularly spaced longitudinal keyways of differing widths which intersect the peripheral groove. The annular spring has an internal peripheral edge with a plurality of peripherally spaced spring tabs for holding it in the peripheral groove. A spring key on the internal peripheral edge of the annular spring has a width corresponding to the width of one of the keyways to rotationally position the annular spring with the coupling member. The annular wall of the lock ring has two angularly spaced keys of differing widths which correspond to the widths of the keyways and are received therein to angularly position the lock ring with the coupling member and the spring.

Positive lock coupling

A threaded coupling assembly is provided for interconnecting the ends of first and second fluid-carrying conduit members in fixed releasably locking relationship. First and second coupling members are circumferentially engageable with the ends of the conduit members to hold them in fluid communication. The coupling members are rotatable in a locking direction and in an opposite unlocking direction. The first coupling member has a peripheral facing surface with a pair of annular slots, each of a different length and width. The second coupling member has a lock ring longitudinally slidable thereon with a facing surface having a pair of annular raised locking tabs. Each locking tab is of a predetermined height but of a different length and width which corresponds to the respective length and width of the annular slots. A resilient annular spring urges the lock ring toward the first coupling member so that the locking tabs engage their respective slots when the coupling is tightened to a predetermined extent during rotation in the locking direction to releasably and positively lock the coupling. An indicator stripe is provided on the peripheral edge of the first coupling member which is exposed before the locking tabs and slots are engaged. The indicator stripe is no wider than the height of the locking tabs so that it is covered by the lock ring when the lock ring snaps into locking engagement to provide a visual indication to the mechanic that the coupling assembly is positively locked.

An improved vehicle includes fluid conducting apparatuses such as tubing and fittings which make up a piping system installed on the vehicle. The material used to make the fluid conducting apparatuses satisfies a specified ratio between the modulus of elasticity and the yield strength of the material. When the fluid conducting apparatuses are filled with frozen water such that the internal volume of the apparatuses has expanded by 10%, if the material has a modulus of elasticity of less than 20.5 times the yield strength of the material, then the material will not yield but will return substantially to its original shape and dimensions when the stress of the frozen water is removed.

Vehicle including freeze stress resistant fluid conducting apparatuses

An improved vehicle includes fluid conducting apparatuses such as tubing and fittings which make up a fluid conducting system installed on the vehicle. The material used to make the fluid conducting apparatuses satisfies a specified ratio between the modulus of elasticity and the yield strength of the material. When the fluid conducting apparatuses are filled with frozen water such that the internal volume of the apparatuses has expanded by 10%, if the material has a modulus of elasticity of less than 20.5 times the yield strength of the material, then the material will not yield but will return substantially to its original shape and dimensions when the stress of the frozen water is removed.

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Golden, CO, United States of America

David E Jewell