Deere + Company

Douglas W Nordquist

Larry M Delfs

Uwe H Kugler

Douglas M Durant

Bennie Joe Vaughn

A female coupler can operate in both a push-pull and a lever-actuated connect/disconnect fashion. Double lock ball controlling ramp surfaces are provided around the receiving bore of the coupler to allow the lock balls of the coupler to withdraw from the receiving bore when the receptacle is moved either into or out of the housing. The coupler can be moved into or out of the housing by pushing the male coupler into or pulling it out of the female coupler, or by use of a lever-actuated cam. A piston-type flow-check valve is provided to open the male check ball and hold it open despite transient surges. This flow-check valve is hydraulically actuated. A bleed valve for the hydraulically actuated flow-check valve is activated to release the flow-check valve when the lever is actuated or when the receptacle is pushed into the housing, thereby reducing the force needed for coupling. The lever can bleed and activate a plurality of couplers simultaneously, whereby multiple couplers can be connected or disconnected simultaneously.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Falls, IA, United States of America

Douglas W Nordquist