摘要 |
<p>A pipe coupler including a socket having a valve member provided with a fluid passage and a plug designed to engage and open the valve member. A locking ball is provided to retain the plug relative to the socket after insertion therein. The valve member includes a blank flange normally engaged against an annular seal to close the fluid passage. A locking ball-bearing annulus is slidably mounted within the socket to normally hold the locking ball in a disengaged position. A single O-ring is positioned between the valve member and the bearing annulus in such a manner that the single O-ring is not subjected to any axially excessive force when the blank flange engages the annular seal. The single O-ring includes an outer surface and an inner surface which seal against the inner surface of the socket and the outer surface of the plug, respectively. The single O-ring is axially displaced relative to the blank flange and the annular seal to engage the plug and form a seal therebetween prior to the engagement or disengagement of the blank flange by the plug.</p> |