Fluid coupling

摘要

A retainer device for maintaining an annular sealing gasket in some predetermined position intermediate and substantially coaxial with opposed annula sealing beads extending axially from each of a pair of coupling components. The retainer includes an annular end wall and a cylindrical side wall which define a cavity for closely receiving the gasket. A plurality of axial retaining legs facilitate retainer mounting to one of the coupling members so that the gasket is captured in the retainer cavity substantially coaxial with the one coupling member and with the associated sealing bead engaging one of the gasket faces. The new retainer accommodates precise positioning of the gasket relative to the coupling components at initial coupling makeup and does not interfere with the coupling components themselves. The retainer also advantageously permits precise repositioning of the gasket relative to the component sealing beads during subsequent disassembly and reassembly of the coupling.