Sexless ball valve coupling

Abstract

A ball valve coupling includes a pair of identical ball valve units adapted for mounting onto a respective pair of fluid flow conduits, such as fuel hoses in a fuel handling environment. The two ball valve units are releasibly connected in in-line, face-to-face relation by interengageable lock lugs, and further include individual ball valves rotatable between open and closed positions to control fluid flow therethrough. Each ball valve unit includes a safety lock-out key engaged by a lock lug on the other ball valve unit as the coupling is assembled, wherein the lock-out key precludes ball valve rotation to the open position unless the two ball valve units are fully and properly engaged in sealed relation. The lock-out key of each ball valve unit further precludes coupling disassembly unless the ball valve is first returned to the closed position. In addition, a telescopic valve handle on each ball valve unit is spring-loaded to a normal compact collapsed position with a stop pin oriented for normally locking the valve handle in the selected open or closed position. The valve handle is longitudinally extensible to release the stop pin and permit ball valve rotation with an increased moment arm.