Coupling With Components Which Prevent Interchangeability

摘要

A quick-disconnect coupling such as a camlock includes a male plug and a female socket defining a duct for communication of a fluid with a locking arrangement for locking the male plug in the female socket. Protrusions are provided on an outside surface of the female socket or on an outside surface of the male plug and corresponding recesses are provided on an outside surface of the male plug or on an outside surface of a female socket with the recesses and protrusions beings cooperatively shaped and arranged to allow insertion of the male plug member into the female socket member to the locking position only when the recesses and protrusions match.

主权项

1. A quick-disconnect coupling comprising:
a male plug member; a female socket member defining an opening at a leading end into which a leading end of the male plug member can be inserted so that the male plug member is moved longitudinally of an axis of the female socket member into the opening to a locking position; the male plug member and female socket member defining a duct passing therethrough for communication of a fluid therebetween; a locking arrangement for locking the male plug member in the female socket member at the locking position; wherein the locking arrangement includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking members within a respective side opening of the female socket member for movement radially inwardly of the axis of the female socket member into locking engagement with a portion of the male plug member; each locking member being pivotally connected to the female socket member for radially outward movement to disengage said locking members from said locking engagement with said portion of the male plug member; cooperating components provided on said female socket member and on said male plug member; said cooperating components comprising at least one protrusion provided on an outside surface of the female socket member and at least one recess provided on an outside surface the male plug member; said at least one protrusion having a predetermined length projecting longitudinally from the leading end of the female socket member and said at least one recess set back a predetermined distance longitudinally from the leading end of the male plug member; said cooperating components defined by said at least one recess and said at least one protrusion being cooperatively shaped and arranged to allow insertion of the male plug member into the female socket member to the locking position when said at least one recess and said at least one protrusion match; whereby the recess and the protrusion do not cooperate with the locking arrangement to hold the components connected but act as a restriction to allow the locking arrangement to engage only when the said at least one recess and said at least one protrusion match.