Tuthill Corporation

The Hansen Manufacturing Co.

The Weatherhead Company

Richard J Silagy

Thomas D Karcher

James F Norton

Walter W Antoniw

James P Baker

As a coupling is connected, an improved heat fusible actuator member in a plug assembly moves a value member in a socket assembly from a closed position to an open position against the influence of a biasing spring. When the coupling is exposed to excessive heat, the one piece actuator member fuses and is deformed under the influence of force applied against the actuator member by the valve member to enable the valve member to close. In one embodiment, the actuator member includes a cylindrical sleeve which is resiliently compressible to enable retaining lugs on an inner end of the sleeve to engage in an annular retaining surface on a metal plug body. At the same time, an annular rim on an outer end of the sleeve engages a circular outer end surface of the plug body. A bridging member extends across the fluid passage through the sleeve and is engaged by the valve member. In another embodiment, the annular rim is omitted and retaining lugs engage in an annular groove inside the plug body to hold the actuator member against axial movement.

Coupling with heat fusible actuator member

As a coupling is connected, an improved heat fusible actuator member in a plug assembly moves a valve member in a socket assembly from a closed position to an open position against the influence of a biasing spring. When the coupling is exposed to excessive heat, the one piece actuator member fuses and is deformed under the influence of force applied against the actuator member by the valve member to enable the valve member to close. In one embodiment, the actuator member includes a cylindrical sleeve which is resiliently compressible to enable retaining lugs on an inner end of the sleeve to engage in an annular retaining surface on a metal plug body. At the same time, an annular rim on an outer end of the sleeve engages a circular outer end surface of the plug body. A bridging member extends across the fluid passage through the sleeve and is engaged by the valve member. In another embodiment, the annular rim is omitted and retaining lugs engage in an annular groove inside the plug body to hold the actuator member against axial movement.

An improved coupling assembly includes a socket assembly which telescopically receives a plug to connect a pair of conduits in fluid communication. The plug is movable from a disengaged position to a storage position in which the plug is supported by and is telescopically disposed in the socket assembly. The plug can be moved further into the socket assembly to an engaged position in which the conduits are connected in fluid communication. The plug is securely held in the engaged position by locking elements. The plug is releasably gripped in the storage position by a plurality of detents. The detents are mounted on a sleeve which extends through an opening in a faceplate. An actuator flange is disposed on an outer end portion of the sleeve to enable it to be readily depressed. The fluid which is to be conducted through the coupling assembly is identified by the indicia on the sleeve and by similar indicia on the mounting plate. The socket assembly is constructed in two sections with an interlock to prevent connection of an outer socket section with a wrong inner socket section.

Coupling assembly

A new and improved valve assembly is easily assembled and includes a resilient annular washer. The washer has inner and outer side surfaces dimensioned so that a valve stem presses the inner side surface of the washer radially outwardly to expand the washer into engagement with a hook on a retainer cup. The hook holds the washer against axial displacement relative to the retainer cup under the influence of fluid pressure forces. The retainer cup advantageously engages a shoulder on the valve stem to limit axial compression of the washer.

Valve assembly and method

A coupling for connecting a pair of conduits in fluid communication includes an improved socket assembly having a body in which a valve member is movable axially between a closed position and an open position. The valve member is releasably held in the closed position by a plurality of locking elements which engage a recess in the valve member. When a plug is inserted into the socket assembly, the locking elements move out of engagement with the valve member and into engagement with the plug to hold it against axial movement relative to the socket assembly. In order to enable the socket assembly to be utilized with plugs of different sizes, the chamber in the valve member is provided with a cylindrical outer section having a relatively large diameter to engage a relatively large diameter leading end portion of a first plug and a relatively small diameter inner section to engage the smaller diameter and axially longer leading end portion of a second plug. A seal is located between the two sections of the valve member and is effective to sealingly engage both plugs. A second seal is provided in the socket body to sealingly engage the valve member when it is both in the open and closed positions to prevent fluid leakage around the valve. This second seal is disposed in a recess formed by walls of different sizes. Although both walls of the recess may be integrally formed with a socket body section, in one embodiment of the invention the downstream wall of the recess is formed by a flat annular washer which is clamped in place betwen threaded base and outer end sections of the socket body.

Socket assembly

An improved coupling assembly includes a plurality of resilient spring fingers which engage a plug to hold it against both axial and sidewise movement relative to a socket body. Each of the spring fingers has an axially inner end portion with a pair of mounting tabs which engage openings in an outer side surface of the socket body to hold the spring fingers against axial movement relative to the socket body. When the coupling assembly is in a disengaged condition, axially outer end portions of the spring fingers are disposed in a circular array having a relatively large diameter to enable the plug to be readily inserted in a socket chamber. Once the plug has been inserted into the socket chamber, a slide is moved axially relative to the socket body to resiliently deflect the spring fingers inwardly. As this occurs, radially extending retaining surfaces on the spring fingers are moved into engagement with an annular rim formed on the plug to hold the plug against axial movement relative to the socket body. As the spring fingers are deflected, axially extending major side surfaces of the spring fingers are pressed into abutting engagement with the side of the plug to hold the plug against sidewise movement. When the coupling is in the engaged condition, the slide engages outer end portions of the spring fingers to press them against the side of the plug. In addition to performing the functions of deflecting the spring fingers and pressing them against the plug, the slide engages the axially inner end portions of the spring fingers to hold them against the socket body with the mounting tabs extending into the openings in the outer side surface of the socket body.

A tuyere and tuyere punch assembly on a converter for processing metals includes a quick disconnect coupling connection for a variable length conduit assembly through which blowing gas is supplied to the tuyere from a blowing gas supply manifold having a connection spaced a fixed distance from the quick disconnect coupling connection. The variable length conduit assembly includes a corrugated tube having one end portion slidably received in fluid sealing engagement with a sleeve portion of a plug member having a locking nose cooperable with a socket on the quick disconnect coupling connection. The variable length conduit assembly provides easy insertion and removal thereof between the two connections and special easily replaceable elastomeric coupling seals minimize malfunction of movable parts on the quick disconnect coupling.

Coupler for tuyere punches

An improved coupling assembly includes a plug and socket which are connectable to interconnect a pair of fluid conduits. When the coupling is disconnected, resiliently deflectable spring fingers on a plug body are disposed in a retracted position. When the coupling assembly is to be connected, the retracted spring fingers are inserted through an opening into a socket chamber. A slide is then moved axially toward the socket to resiliently deflect the spring fingers outwardly away from the plug body to an extended position in which outer end surfaces on the spring fingers are engageable with an annular stop surface in the socket chamber. When the coupling is to be disconnected, the sleeve or slide is moved axially away from the spring fingers and their natural resilience causes them to move inwardly toward the plug body so that the outer ends of the spring fingers can pass through the opening as the plug is withdrawn from the socket chamber.

A motor vehicle fluid power circuit is disclosed in which a pump driven by the engine of the vehicle assists the operator in braking the vehicle and in steering the vehicle. The circuit includes a pump, a brake booster, and a steering valve. A valve spool throttles fluid flow from the pump to the steering valve to maintain the outlet pressure of the pump at least a predetermined pressure differential above the working pressure of the brake booster. The brake booster includes a shut-off means which hydraulically isolates the pressure side of the pump from the brake booster when the brake booster reaches a predetermined shut-off pressure which is less than the relief pressure of the pump relief valve so that operation of the brake booster cannot actuate the relief valve of the pump.

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Parma, OH, United States of America

Richard J Silagy