Essman Screw Products, Inc.

Eddie J Clark

Russell Paxton

A coupling contains a valve that can be opened or closed to allow refrigerant to pass therethrough. The coupling can be installed onto an air conditioning charging port by sliding a quick disconnect sleeve to a release position along a first end of a valve body. Inside of the valve body is a valve stem that moves between open and closed positions. The valve stem is moved by an actuator sleeve located on a second end of the valve body. The actuator sleeve has a circumferential slot therein. The valve stem cannot be inadvertently opened by fluid pressure because the translational movement of the actuator sleeve and the valve stem is limited by a hose fitting extending through the slot and engaging stop surfaces therein. When the quick disconnect sleeve is in the release position, the actuator sleeve is unable to move the valve stem from the closed position to the open position. When the valve stem is in the open position, the quick disconnect sleeve is prevented from moving to a release position by the actuator sleeve. Thus, the coupling valve cannot be removed from or installed onto a charging port while the valve stem is open.

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Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Eddie J Clark