Self-locking coupling device

Abstract

A self-locking coupling device for coupling to a fitting having a radially outwardly facing groove using a coupling body with a central bore and an axially extending collar having a throughbore including a spring and actuating pin with a locking tab and further having first and second catches corresponding to and engageable with first and second slots in a rotatable locking ring mounted concentrically about the collar so as to position the locking tab within the throughbore in an unlocked position and within the central bore in a locked position so as to restrict the axial movement of the coupling body relative to the fitting when the groove is radially aligned with the pin.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A self-locking coupling device for coupling to a fitting including an annular groove, said apparatus comprising: 
 a coupling body having a central bore and an axially extending collar including at least one radially projecting throughbore;    a rotatable locking ring with an interior surface and an exterior surface mounted concentrically about said collar in close fitting relationship, said ring including a first slot and a separate second slot, said slots projecting radially through said locking ring from said interior surface to said exterior surface;    an actuating pin disposed at least partially in said throughbore and including a radially interior locking tab, said actuating pin further including a means for engaging said slots in said locking ring to move said locking tab from within said throughbore to within said central bore to engage said groove of said fitting when axially aligned therewith; and    means for radially outwardly biasing said actuating pin.    
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A method for coupling fittings comprising: 
 providing a coupling body having a central bore having a stop shoulder and including a first threaded section adjacent an axially extending collar having a radially projecting throughbore receiving a radially outwardly biased dual position locking pin captured by a rotatable locking ring with an interior surface and an exterior surface mounted concentrically about said collar in close fitting relationship, said locking ring having a locking slot and an unlocking slot with said slots projecting radially from said interior surface to said exterior surface and being operable to, upon rotating said locking ring, locate an innermost end of said pin within said throughbore with said pin in a first position engaged with said unlocking slot and locate said innermost end of said pin within said central bore with said pin in a second position engaged with said locking slot;    providing a first fitting having a threaded section complementary to said first threaded section;    providing an elongated cylindrically shaped second fitting including an annular groove and an alignment shoulder;    inserting said second fitting into said coupling body to abut said alignment shoulder with said stop shoulder in said bore to axially align said groove with said locking pin;    rotating said locking ring to radially align said locking slot with said locking pin to depress said locking pin to said second position to position said innermost end of said pin into said groove to interfere with axial displacement of said coupling body relative to said second fitting; and    screwing said first fitting and said coupling body together to couple said first fitting to said second fitting.    
   
   
       24 . A self-locking coupling device for coupling to a fitting including an annular groove, said coupling device comprising: 
 a coupling body having a central bore and an axially extending collar including at least one radially projecting throughbore;    an actuating pin including first and second catches atop a stem slidably engaged with said throughbore and terminating in a locking tab end;    a biasing element in said throughbore radially outwardly biasing said actuating pin;    a rotatable locking ring having an interior surface and an exterior surface and mounted concentrically about said collar, said ring including a release slot and an engagement slot with said slots extending into both of said surfaces, said locking ring being operable to align said release slot with one of said catches to position said locking tab within said throughbore whereby said fitting may be inserted into said central bore, said locking ring further being operable to align said engagement slot with the other of said catches to position said locking tab within said central bore to engage, when axially aligned therewith, said groove of said fitting to restrict axial displacement of said coupling body relative to said fitting.    
   
   
       25 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said slots are discrete and spaced apart circumferentially on said locking ring.    
   
   
       26 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said first catch includes at least one shoulder; and    a marginal edge of said release slot is operable to interfere with a radial outward movement of said actuating pin by abutting said shoulder.    
   
   
       27 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said second catch includes at least one shoulder; and    a marginal edge of said engagement slot is operable to interfere with a radially outward movement of said actuating pin by abutting said shoulder.    
   
   
       28 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said first catch includes a first pair of opposing shoulders;    said second catch includes a second pair of opposing shoulders;    said release slot is dimensioned to restrict the radial outward movement of said actuating pin by abutting said first pair of shoulders with a pair of opposing release slot edges when said release slot and said first catch are aligned; and    said engagement slot is dimensioned to restrict the radial outward movement of said actuating pin by abutting said second pair of shoulders with a pair of opposing engagement slot edges when said engagement slot and said second catch are aligned.    
   
   
       29 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said actuating pin includes a button atop said second catch, said button being operable to depress said catches beneath said interior surface of said locking ring wherein said locking ring may be rotated relative to said collar.    
   
   
       30 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said release slot includes a leading edge constructed to interfere with a first edge of said first catch when said first catch is aligned with said release slot.    
   
   
       31 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 30  wherein: 
 said release slot includes a trailing edge constructed to interfere with an opposing edge of said first catch when said first catch is aligned with said release slot.    
   
   
       32 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said engagement slot includes a leading edge constructed to interfere with a first edge of said second catch when said second catch is aligned with said engagement slot.    
   
   
       33 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 32  wherein: 
 said engagement slot includes a trailing edge constructed to interfere with an opposing edge of said second catch when said second catch is aligned with said engagement slot.    
   
   
       34 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said release slot is greater in circumferential length than said engagement slot.    
   
   
       35 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said second catch is positioned above said first catch and is narrower in width than said first catch.    
   
   
       36 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said locking ring is mounted about said collar in a close fitting relationship.    
   
   
       37 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said slots are positioned substantially opposite each other on said locking ring.    
   
   
       38 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said biasing element is a coil spring.    
   
   
       39 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said actuating pin includes a radially projecting button which extends outside said release slot when said pin is in an unlocked position and projects into said engagement slot when said pin is in a locked position.    
   
   
       40 . The self-coupling locking device as set forth in  claim 24  wherein: 
 said slots open radially outwardly on said locking ring.    
   
   
       41 . A self-locking coupling device for coupling to a fitting including an annular groove, said coupling device comprising: 
 a coupling body having a central bore and an axially extending collar including at least one radially projecting throughbore;    an actuating pin including first catch having at least one release shoulder and a second catch having at least one engagement shoulder atop a stem slidably engaged with said throughbore and terminating in a locking tab end;    a spring element restrained in said throughbore from entering said central bore and radially outwardly biasing said actuating pin;    a rotatable locking ring having an interior surface and an exterior surface and mounted concentrically about said collar, said ring including a release slot and an engagement slot with said slots extending into both of said surfaces, said locking ring being operable to align a marginal edge of said release slot with said release shoulder of said first catch to position said locking tab within said throughbore whereby said fitting may be inserted into said central bore, said locking ring further being operable to align a marginal edge of said engagement slot with the said engagement shoulder of said engagement catch to position said locking tab within said central bore to engage, when axially aligned therewith, said groove of said fitting to restrict axial displacement of said coupling body relative to said fitting.    
   
   
       42 . A self-locking coupling device for coupling to a fitting including an annular groove, said coupling device comprising: 
 a coupling body having a central bore and an axially extending collar including at least one radially projecting throughbore;    an actuating pin including first and second catches atop a stem slidably engaged with said throughbore and terminating in a locking tab end;    a button projecting from said second catch;    a biasing element in said throughbore radially outwardly biasing said actuating pin;    a rotatable locking ring having an interior surface and mounted concentrically about said collar in a close fitting relationship, said ring including a release throughslot and an engagement throughslot, said button being operable to depress an outermost extent of said actuating pin beneath said interior surface of said locking ring wherein said locking ring is rotatably operable to align said release slot with said first catch to position said locking tab within said throughbore whereby said fitting may be inserted into said central bore or rotatably operable to align said engagement slot with said second catch to position said locking tab within said central bore to engage, when axially aligned therewith, said groove of said fitting to restrict axial displacement of said coupling body relative to said fitting.