Seal

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a seal for a coupling member of a type used in a fluid coupling including mating first and second coupling members. Each coupling member includes a seal cavity with a generally square shaped cross-section including an upper face, a circumferential face and a lower face. The seal includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of the seal includes a first part and a second part. The first part of the lower portion of the seal includes an external ledge that extends away from the upper portion of the seal and which is configured during use of the coupling member to contact against the upper face of the seal cavity.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A seal for a coupling member used in a fluid coupling which includes mating a first coupling member and a second coupling member, each coupling member including a seal cavity defining a generally square shaped cross-section including an upper face, a circumferential face and a lower face, the seal comprising:
 an upper portion; and   a lower portion including:
 a first part including an external ledge that extends away from the upper portion and which is configured, during use of the coupling member, to contact against the upper face of the seal cavity of the first coupling member, and 
 a second part. 
   
     
     
         2 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the lower portion includes a generally downwardly extending vane which is movable to:
 a first position wherein a gap is established between a lower face of the upper portion and an inner face of the vane, and   a second positon in which a size of the gap is reduced, wherein the vane is drawn into the seal cavity towards the circumferential face of said first coupling member to facilitate a connection of the mating coupling members to form the fluid coupling.   
     
     
         3 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein the vane is movable to a third position wherein the gap is substantially eliminated. 
     
     
         4 . The seal of  claim 3 , wherein in the third position, an outer face of the lower portion is in contact with the circumferential face of the seal cavity of said first coupling member. 
     
     
         5 . The seal of  claim 3 , wherein in the third position, an underside of the vane is in contact with the lower face of the seal cavity of said first coupling member and the external ledge is drawn away from the upper face of the seal cavity of said first coupling member. 
     
     
         6 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein when the gap is reduced, the lower portion contours to the shape of the seal cavity of said first coupling member. 
     
     
         7 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the vane tapers away from the first portion and terminates at a tip. 
     
     
         8 . The seal of  claim 7 , wherein the tip has a curved underside. 
     
     
         9 . The seal of  claim 8 , wherein the underside of the tip is configured in use to contact against one of: the lower face of the seal cavity of said first coupling member, and the circumferential face of the seal cavity of said first coupling member. 
     
     
         10 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein the vane, when not in use, curves inwardly towards a centre line whereby a distal most end of the vane is located closer to the centre line than an external circumferential face of the upper portion. 
     
     
         11 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein the vane is configured to bend about a zone when at least one of: (i) the seal is subject to compression during an engagement of the coupling members to form the fluid coupling, and (ii) the fluid coupling is subject to a flow pressure as fluid flows through the fluid coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The seal of  claim 2 , wherein when the first coupling member is not connected to the second coupling member to form the fluid coupling, the external ledge of the first part of the lower portion contacts against the upper face of the seal cavity of the first coupling member and the vane contacts against the lower face of the seal cavity of the first coupling member so that if a flow of fluid is passed in a direction moving from the lower portion towards the upper portion, the fluid flow causes the external ledge to press against the upper face of the seal cavity and the vane to press against the lower face of the seal cavity to retain the seal in the seal cavity of the first coupling member. 
     
     
         13 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein when the first coupling member is not connected to the second coupling member to form the fluid coupling, the external ledge contacts against the upper face of the seal cavity of the first coupling member to establish an elongate zone of contact. 
     
     
         14 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the external ledge perpendicularly extends to the upper portion and is generally parallel to the upper face of the seal cavity of the first coupling member. 
     
     
         15 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the external ledge has a width at least half the width of the upper face of the seal cavity of the first coupling member. 
     
     
         16 . The seal of  claim 1 , which made from any of: a nitrile butadiene, a fluoroelastomers, an ethylene propylene diene monomer, and a silicon. 
     
     
         17 . A coupling member for a fluid coupling fitted with a seal comprising:
 an upper portion; and   a lower portion including:
 a first part including an external ledge that extends away from the upper portion and which is configured, during use to contact against an upper face of a seal cavity defining a generally square shaped cross-section including the upper face, a circumferential face and a lower face, and 
 a second part. 
   
     
     
         18 . A fluid coupling comprising:
 two coupling members each including a seal cavity defining a generally square shaped cross-section including an upper face, a circumferential face and a lower face, and   a seal including:
 an upper portion, and 
 a lower portion including:
 a first part including an external ledge that extends away from the upper portion and which is configured, during use of one of the coupling members, to contact against the upper face of the seal cavity of said coupling member, and 
 a second part.