Undersea hydraulic coupling for use with manifold plates

Abstract

An undersea hydraulic coupling is disclosed having tails on both the male and female members to allow insertion through and attachment to manifold plates. The tails on the hydraulic coupling members are provided with substantially rigid positioning members to allow the coupling members to be held in a nominal position with respect to the manifold plate, thereby preventing galling when the coupling members are mated, and further preventing unnecessary crimping or pressure weakened points at the connection of the tail to hydraulic lines.

1 . An undersea hydraulic coupling member comprising: 
 (a) a tail;    (b) at least one substantially rigid positioning member associated with the tail, wherein the substantially rigid positioning members are in contact with the inner bore of a manifold plate when the tail is inserted through the manifold plate.    
   
   
       2 . The undersea hydraulic coupling member of  claim 1  wherein the substantially rigid positioning member is an o-ring.  
   
   
       3 . The undersea hydraulic coupling member of  claim 1  wherein the substantially rigid positioning member is elastomeric.  
   
   
       4 . The undersea coupling member of  claim 1  further comprising a retaining ring to attach the hydraulic coupling member to the manifold plate.  
   
   
       5 . The undersea coupling member of  claim 4  wherein the retaining ring is held in place with a snap ring contained in a groove in the tail.  
   
   
       6 . The undersea coupling member of  claim 5  wherein the tail has at least two grooves for containing the snap ring to accommodate manifold plates of different thicknesses.  
   
   
       7 . An undersea hydraulic coupling member comprising: 
 (a) a tail;    (b) at least one substantially rigid positioning member associated with the tail, wherein the substantially rigid positioning members are in contact with the inner bore of a manifold plate when the tail is inserted through the manifold plate; and    (c) a retainer ring with a substantially rigid positioning member associated with the face of the retainer ring that will engage with the manifold plate.    
   
   
       8 . The undersea hydraulic coupling member of  claim 7  wherein the substantially rigid positioning members are o-rings.  
   
   
       9 . The undersea hydraulic coupling member of  claim 7  wherein the substantially rigid positioning members are elastomeric.