Tuthill Corporation

The Coca-cola Company

Walter W Antoniw

James F Norton

Richard J Silagy

Richard Silagy

John A Jones

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

An improved relief valve assembly includes a metallic housing which is connected with a wall of a container of pressurized liquid. A plastic liner is disposed within the housing cavity and has external thread convolutions which engage internal housing thread convolutions. An outer seal is provided to prevent exposure of the threads to foreign particles in the atmosphere surrounding the container and an inner seal is provided to prevent leakage of liquid between the liner and housing. A valve member within the plastic liner is movable against the influence of a biasing spring from a closed position to an open position under the influence of excessive fluid pressure in the container. To enable the liner and movable valve member to be preassembled and then screwed into the housing cavity, the valve spring and valve member are held in the liner cavity by a base member. The base member is held against movement relative to the liner by a plurality of resiliently deflectable fingers which extend from one end of the liner. In one embodiment of the invention, the relief valve assembly is advantageously cleaned by connecting a socket assembly to the housing of the relief valve assembly and then flowing cleansing fluid from a source of cleansing fluid through the relief valve assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Lakewood, OH, United States of America

Walter W Antoniw