Method and apparatus for a retractable pneumatic line coupling protector

Abstract

The invention protects an at least two component pneumatic coupling. One embodiment contains a spring stop rigidly coupled to one of the pneumatic coupling components, and a spring between the spring stop and a housing. The invention includes a method of protecting pneumatic coupling using an apparatus and the method of making the apparatus. Another embodiment uses a collect clamp coupled to the housing and a collet press matching the collet clamp. Various embodiments apply to trucks and trailers, and other embodiments also apply to rail cars.

1 . An apparatus for protecting a pneumatic coupling of a first pneumatic coupling component and of a second pneumatic coupling component, comprising: 
 a housing coupled to a collet clamp to accept a pneumatic line coupled with a pneumatic coupling pair member; and    a collet press to match said collet clamp in further accepting said pneumatic line;    wherein said pneumatic coupling pair member is one of said first pneumatic coupling component and said second pneumatic coupling component.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 said collet clamp accepts said pneumatic line coupled to said pneumatic coupling pair member; and    a collet press matches said collet clamp to further accept said pneumatic line.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , 
 wherein when said housing covers said pneumatic coupling pair member and said collet press is tensioned on said collet clamp, said housing protects said pneumatic coupling; and    wherein when said housing reveals said pneumatic coupling pair member, said pneumatic coupling is modifiable.    
   
   
       4 . A method of making the apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising the steps of: 
 inserting said pneumatic line through said collet press;    inserting said pneumatic line through said housing and said collet clamp to match said collet press; and    coupling said pneumatic line to said pneumatic coupling pair member.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , 
 wherein said collet clamp includes a collet clamp template coupled to said housing and a collet clamp jaw aligned by said collet clamp template; and    the step inserting said pneumatic line through said housing and said collet clamp is further comprised of the steps of:    inserting said pneumatic line through said collet clamp jaw to match said collet press;    inserting said pneumatic line through said collet clamp template to align with said collet clamp jaw; and    inserting said pneumatic line through said housing to couple to said collet clamp template.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the central axis of said housing differs from the central axis of said collet clamp.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said collet clamp includes a collet clamp template coupled to said housing and a collet clamp jaw aligned by said collet clamp template; and    wherein at least said collet clamp template can accept said pneumatic line.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said collet clamp includes a bendable material interacting with said collet press.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said collet clamp includes a collet thread matching said collet press and a collet block tensionable between said collet thread and said collet press; wherein said collet block can accept said pneumatic line.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said collet press is primarily composed of at least one of a composite, a hard plastic, and a metal alloy.  
   
   
       11 . A method of making the apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising the step of: coupling said housing to said collet clamp to create said housing coupled to said collet clamp.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step coupling said housing to said collet clamp further comprising at least one of the steps of: 
 casting said housing to said collet clamp to create said housing coupled to said collet clamp;    gluing said housing to said collet clamp to create said housing coupled to said collet clamp;    welding said housing to said collet clamp to create said housing coupled to said collet clamp; and    screwing together said housing and said collet clamp to create said housing coupled to said collet clamp.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second pneumatic coupling component is coupled to a trailer pneumatic line controlling a trailer braking system, and said first pneumatic coupling component is coupled to a truck pneumatic line used to control said trailer braking system.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first pneumatic coupling component is coupled to a first rail car pneumatic line, and said second pneumatic coupling component is coupled to a second rail car pneumatic line.