The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 06, 1997
Stanlee W Meisinger, Golden Valley, MN (US);
Fastest, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A coupler for coupling flanged fluid conducting tubes end-to-end in a sealed manner, thereby preventing contact between the fluid flowing through the tubes and the coupler. The coupler includes a body having an interior surface defining an axially extending passage, with the passage being sized so that a first, enlarged end portion of a first fluid conducting tube and a second, enlarged end portion of a second fluid conducting tube can be disposed therein in an end-to-end relationship with a gasket therebetween. The interior surface of the body is provided with a fastening mechanism whereby the first enlarged end portion can be removably secured within the passage of the body. Additionally, the body includes a ball locking mechanism whereby the second enlarged end portion can be clamped to the first enlarged end portion with the gasket therebetween. A sleeve is slideably disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the body, with the sleeve being slideable relative to the body between a first non-locking position and a second locking position. The ball locking mechanism is actuatable by the sleeve as the sleeve moves from the first to the second position. A circumferential detent is formed on the interior surface of the sleeve, with the balls of the ball locking mechanism fitting into the detent when the sleeve is in the locking position.