Oct. 25, 1966
`
`Filed April 16, 1964
`
`J. J. MCCARTHY
`MECHANICAL COUPLING
`
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`
`3,280,439
`
`2 Sheets-Sheet l
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`4
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`INVENTOR.
`
`John \J. Mc.Carth~
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`f7G£NT
`
`Dyson EX-2009
`IPR2024-00219
`Page 1 of 6
`
`

`

`J. J. McCARTHY
`MECHANICAL COUPLING
`
`3,280,439
`
`I
`
`49
`56
`
`Oct. 25, 1966
`
`Piled April 16, 1964
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`INVENTOR.
`
`Jol:in "J. McCarthy
`BY -Jj aY&L>-ci;J _
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`
`Dyson EX-2009
`IPR2024-00219
`Page 2 of 6
`
`

`

`United States Patent Office
`
`3,280,439
`Patented Oct. 25, 1966
`
`1
`
`3,280,439
`MECHANICAL COUPLING
`John J. McCarthy, Weston, Conn., assignor to Norco
`Incorporated, Ridgefield, Conn., a corporation of
`Connectkut
`Filed Ayr. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 360,356
`10 Claims.
`(Cl. 24-211)
`This invention relates to mechanical couplings, and
`more particularly to separable couplings of the quick-
`connect and quick-disconnect type.
`An object of the invention is to provide a novel and
`improved quick-connect and disconnect coupling of the
`type having interlocking elements, wherein a double-act-
`ing retention of the separable parts is efiected, thereby to
`enable the coupling to withstand increased loads while
`at the same time providing an added factor against failure.
`Another object of the invention is to provide an im-
`proved mechanical coupling as above set forth, wherein
`certain loose fits are necessary to the securement and
`release of the parts yet a high degree of rigidity and lack
`of looseness characterizes the coupling when assembled.
`A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an
`improved coupling as characterized, wherein a manually
`operable release element functions to both eliminate the
`above mentioned looseness and to provide the additional
`retention means when the coupling is in the assembled
`condition, said element being actuated to effect the re-
`lease of the coupling parts.
`An additional object of the invention is to provide an
`improved coupling as outlined, which is assembled by
`the simple act of aligning the cooperable parts and bring-
`ing these together with a continuous motion while they
`remain in the said alignment, there being meanwhile main-
`tained a predetermined orientation of the parts.
`A further object of the invention is to provide an im-
`proved coupling in accordance with the foregoing, wherein
`a strong and positive connection is effected between the
`coupling parts, yet release may be quickly and easily ac-
`complished by a relatively small effort or force which is
`exerted in the same direction which tends to separate
`the parts.
`Another feature of the invention resides in the provi-
`sion of an improved coupling as set forth, wherein with
`one embodiment the coupling parts may be assembled to
`each other when maintained in only one relative orienta-
`tion, and with another embodiment the parts may be as-
`sembled when held in either of two different orientations,
`said orientations involving predetermined relative angu-
`lar positions of the parts.
`Yet another feature of the invention resides in the
`provision of an improved coupling as outlined, wherein
`the cooperable coupling elements are wholly enclosed and
`protected when the coupling is assembled.
`Other features of the invention reside in the provision
`of an improved coupling organization which involves
`relatively few parts of simple construction, the structures
`being economical to fabricate and reliable and foolproof
`in operation.
`Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.
`In the drawings accompanying this specification, simi-
`lar characters of reference are used to designate like com-
`ponents throughout the several views, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in
`section, showing two coupling parts as provided by the
`invention, prior to their assembly.
`FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the coupling parts
`of FIG. I, showing an intermediate st·age in the assembly
`of the parts.
`FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the coupling
`parts of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown completely assembled.
`FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of two cooperable
`
`2
`dissasembled coupling parts constituting another embodi-
`ment of the invention.
`FIG. 5. is an axial sectional view of the coupling parts
`of FIG. 4, illustrating an intermediate stage in the as-
`5 sembly of the parts.
`FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view similar to that of
`FIG. 5, but showing the coupling parts in their fully
`assembled positions.
`Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the coupling illustrated
`10 therein comprises a receiver part designated generally by
`the numeral 10, said part having an aperture or through
`opening 12 constituted as a socket, for receiving a co-
`operable plug part which is designated generally by the
`numeral 14. Located in the socket 12 is a projection,
`15 which is shown here as in the form of a transverse locking
`pin 16 disposed slightly to one side of a diameter of the
`socket, the latter being of cylindrical ,configuration. Cor-
`responding to such configuration of the socket 12, the
`plug part 14 is formed generally of cylindrical compo-
`20 nents. However, it will be understood that the socket
`and the plug parts may have other cross sectional config-
`urations, as for example a rectangular configuration, a
`square configuration, a triangular configuration, etc.
`For cooperation with the locking pin 16 and arranged
`25 to have a loose sliding fit in the socket 12 is an inner
`plug part 18, here shown in the form of a cylindrical-
`walled tube. The plug part 18 has a notched end formed
`by two pairs of opposing internally facing walls, a pair of
`protuberant side wall portions 20 and an opposing pair
`30 of side wall portions 22. The protuberant wall portions
`20 have forwardly located angularly disposed wall surfaces
`24 and oppositely sloped rearwardly facing wall surfaces
`26, the latter being shaped to constitute a nest in the walls
`20 for the transverse locking pin 16. The wall portions
`35 22 of the plug 18 have sloping wall surfaces 28 which in
`conjunction with the rearwardly facing wall surfaces 26
`form angularly extended slots 30 into which the trans-
`verse pin or projection 16 may be received.
`The forwardly facing wall surfaces 24, 28 constitute
`40 a guide means or mouth, in which the transverse pin 16 is
`received during the assembly of the coupling device, as
`is illustrated in FIG. 2. To enable the locking pin 16 to
`enter the slot 30 and the nest provided for it in the pro-
`tuberant wall portions 20 of the plug, the latter is made
`45 to have a loose fit in the socket 12, as may be seen from
`an inspection of FIG. 2, such loose fit enabling the plug
`to ·have a sidewise movement whereby the locking pin 16
`may bypass or shift past the nose or protuberant wall
`portions 20 of the plug.
`Further, in accordance with the invention, the plug
`part 14 includes an axially shiftable sleeve or collar 34
`which dosely slidably fits and slides on the inner plug
`part 1S which has the slots 30. The collar 34 is also ar-
`ranged to closely slidably fit in the socket 12 of the re-
`55 ceiver part 10, and is spring-biased to a forward position
`(FIG. 1) so as to be automatically shifted to such posi-
`tion in the receiver part upon attainment of the nested
`position by the locking pin 16, this action being also
`clearly depicted in FIG. 3.
`It is noted that during the
`60 assembly movement of the two coupling parts, the trans-
`verse locking pin 16 will be guided by the sloping surfaces
`24, 28 of the plug part, so as ultimately to be disposed in
`the slot 30 and nest of the plug part. Upon such disposi-
`tion, the inner plug part 18 will attain a centered position
`65 in the socket 12, providing uniform clearance between
`the socket and inner part, which clearance is now occu-
`pied by the spring-urged collar 34.
`This disposition of the collar 34, as shown in FIG. 3,
`prevents any appreciable sidewise movement of the slotted
`70 plug part 18, and accordingly the latter is locked in the
`socket 12 by virtue of the locking pin 16 being retained
`in the slot 30 and being prevented from leaving the latter.
`
`50
`
`Dyson EX-2009
`IPR2024-00219
`Page 3 of 6
`
`

`

`3,280,439
`
`5
`
`10
`
`20
`
`3
`The plug part 18 is secured to a shank 36 as shown,
`and the receiver part 10 may be fastened to any desired
`machine component, structural element or the like, which
`is to be releasably coupled to the shank 36 or to another
`structural element or machine component connected with
`the shank.
`Considering FIG. 3, for the purpose of releasing the
`coupling parts comprising the receiver 10 and the plug
`14 from each other it is merely necessary to apply an
`axial force to the collar 34 in a direction from right to
`left, which (it is to be noted) tends to separate the cou-
`pling parts. The first thing which takes place is a shift-
`ing of the collar 34 out of the socket 12. After this has
`occurred, the inner plug part 18 is free to have sidewise
`movement. Because of the sloping disposition of the wall
`surfaces 26, a continued pull exerted on the retracted col-
`lar 34 will now cause the inner plug part 13 to shift side-
`wise and at the same time to shift or move axially from
`right to left, the locking pin 16 leaving the slot 30. Con-
`tinued movement of the plug part 14 will thus separate
`the coupling parts, and the release of the coupling in this
`manner is also illustrated in FIG. 2, which may be con-
`•sidered as showing a part of the releasing movement.
`In accordance with the invention, there is provided an
`additional locking or detent action, beyond that effected
`by the collar 34 which takes up the looseness in the socket
`ll. The additional detent or locking action is provided by
`an axially movable pin 38 which is axially shiftable in
`the inner plug part 18 and is arranged to obstruct the de-
`parture path of the cross pin 16. The locking member
`38 comprises a portion of a cylindrical slide 40 which
`closely slidably fits in the plug member 18 and which is
`connected rigidly to the collar 34 by means of a connector
`pin 42 passing thwugh slots 44 in the plug member 18.
`A helical coil spring 46 disposed in the bore of the
`inner plug member 18 normally biases the locking member
`38, 40 as well as the collar 34 to advanced positions, such
`as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In FIG. 2, the biasing
`spring 46 is slightly compressed, by virtue of the collar
`34 having been shifted a small extent toward its retracted
`position due to entry of the plug part 18 in the socket 12.
`During the assembly movement of the two coupling parts,
`the transverse locking pin 16 will be guided by the sloping
`surfaces 24, 28 of the plug part into contact with the
`squared end portion of the locking member 38 (see FIG.
`2) so as to squarely abut and push inward the latter; thus
`the pin 16 can ultimately be most easily disposed in the
`slot or nest 30 of the plug part. As seen in FIG. 3, upon
`completion of the assembly •of the coupling parts, the ad-
`vance of the collar 34 will be accompanied by a cor-
`responding advance of the locking member 38, 40 where-
`by the portion 38 will extend partially across the mouth
`of the slot 30, obstructing the return path of the locking
`pin 16 and preventing it from leaving the slot. Accord-
`ingly, a double locking or detent action is effected in the
`coupling, one action consisting of the blocking of the slot
`30 as mentioned immediately above, whereas the other
`action resides in the bushing effect provided by the collar
`34, which prevents sidewise movement of the inner cou-
`pling part 18. By virtue of such double detent action
`an extremely reliable locking of the coupling parts is had
`~y the simple simultaneous axial movement of the lock-
`ing member 38, 40 and the collar 34.
`The release of the coupling parts 10, 14 as equipped
`with the locking member 38, 40 is the same as already
`described above. Upon retraction of the collar 34 in 65
`consequence of a right to left force being exerted thereon,
`the locking member 38, 40 will also be retracted whereby
`the inner plug part 18 is freed to enable its removal to be
`effected. Such removal sequence may be considered as
`shown in FIGS. 2 and 1 respectively.
`In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS.
`1-3, the eccentric or off-center position of the locking pin
`16 imposes a requirement that the plug member 14 be
`inserted in the socket 12 while in one given relative rota-
`t~ve position or orientation, that which is illustrated in the
`
`4
`It is apparent that for any other rotative posi-
`figures.
`tion or orientation the plug member 14 will not be fully
`insertable in the receiver member 10. Use is made of
`this characteristic in those situations where it is essential
`that the coupling parts be brought together in only one
`particular orientation. This is of advantage where the
`structural members or machine components which are to
`be connected by the coupling must occupy but a single
`relative position.
`Another embodiment of the invention wherein the cou-
`pling parts are capable of being assembled in either of
`two different rotative positions or orientations, each 180°
`separated from the other, is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. In
`effecting this, the locking pin which is carried by the re-
`15 reiver part is centrally located, that is, disposed along a
`diameter and the plug part is correspondingly altered to
`accommodate the changed disposition of the Jocking pin.
`Also, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 the second detent
`or locking instrumentality which in FIGS. 1-3 comprised
`the separate locking member 38, 40 is eliminated, and in-
`stead the second locking or detent function is assumed
`by the same slidable collar element which takes up the
`initial looseness · between the receiver and the plug parts.
`Referring now to FIGS. 4-6 the receiver part, which is
`25 designated generally by the numeral 49, comprises a tubu-
`lar member 50 of cylindrical configuration having a recess
`or socket 52 in which there is disposed a diametrically
`located locking pin 54. The member 50 is carried on a
`shank 56 which may be secured to a machine component
`30 or other structural member, as will be understood. The
`receiver part comprising the shank 56 and tubular mem-
`ber 50, while being preferably of cylindrical configuration,
`may have other cross-sectional shapes, and '!his is also
`true of the plug part of the coupling, which is designated
`35 generally by the numeral 58.
`The plug part 58 comprises an inner tubular plug mem-
`ber 60 having a notched end formed by protuberant side
`wall portions 62 having forwardly facing angular wall
`surfaces 64 and rearwardly facing angular wall surfaces
`40 66, the wall portions 62 providing a nesting configura-
`tion 68 adapted to receive the locking member 54 when
`the coupling parts are in the assembled position as shown
`in FIG. 6. The plug part 60 has a pair of forwardly
`facing sloping wall surfaces 70 disposed . opposite the
`protuberant wall portions 62, which with the latter form
`45 a pin-receiving slot or notch 72 as clearly seen in FIG. 5.
`Slidably carried on the inner plug part 60 is an axially
`movable locking collar 74 which is spring-urged to an
`advanced position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, by means
`cf a helical compression coil spring 76. The spring 76
`50 engages the rear edge 78 of the collar 74, and also a stop
`ring . or annulus 80 secured to the inner plug member
`60 by a cross pin 82.
`A sleeve 84 surrounds the coil spring 76 and also the
`rear end portion of the collar 74, being secured thereto
`55 by small fastening pins 86. The back end of the sleeve
`84 has an intumed flange 88 to limit the extent of for-
`ward movement of the ·collar 74, as will be understood
`from an inspection of FIG. 6.
`As with the previously described embodiment of the
`60 invention, the inner plug part 60 is loosely received in
`the coupling part 49, and the locking collar 74 is adapted
`to occupy the separating space whereby looseness is elim-
`inated and a fairly rigid connection or coupling is estab-
`lished, as may be seen in FIG. 6.
`The presence of the collar 74 in the socket 52 prevents
`~idewise movement of the inner plug part 60 whereby the
`cross pin 54 may not shift out of the nest 68 and slot 72
`of the inner plug member. Accordingly, such member
`is securely retained in the receiver member 50.
`70 An additional or second detent action is provided by
`the collar 74, by the provision of a notched end on such
`collar, adapted to extend on opposite sides of the locking
`pin 54 when the coupling parts are assembled as seen in
`FIG. 6. Two axially extending slots or notches 90 are
`75 provided at the notched end, one edge of each of said
`
`Dyson EX-2009
`IPR2024-00219
`Page 4 of 6
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`

`5
`notches having a sloping guide surface 94 which, co-
`operating with an edge 64 of the plug member 60 con-
`stitutes a guide for the locking pin 54.
`The collar 74 has a chamfered or tapered nose portion
`96 to facilitate its entry in the socket 52. The assembling 5
`and releasing action of the coupling of FIGS. 4-6 is sim-
`ilar in general to that already described in connection
`with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. A stage of the as-
`sembly movement is shown in FIG. 5, wherein the lock-
`ing collar 74 is being retracted by its engagement with the 10
`front edge of the receiver member 50. Meanwhile, the
`locking pin 54 is being received in the slots 72 of the plug
`member 60. Upon the locking pin being fully received
`in the nest 68, the plug member 60 will be centralized
`and the coil spring 76 can now shift the locking collar 74 15
`to its foremost, locking position as shown in FIG. 6. Re-
`lease of the coupling is effected by merely ,pulling on the
`sleeve 84, to retract the locking collar 74.
`By virtue of the centralized position of the locking pin
`54, the plug part 58 may be inserted in the socket 52 of 20
`the receiver part 49 in either of two rotative positions
`180° apart, as will be readily understood. This is of ad-
`vantage where the structures which are to be secured to-
`gether must be maintained in ,an orientation having either
`of two relative positions which are spaced apart by a 25
`half-turn.
`It will now be understood from the foregoing that I
`have provided a novel and improved quick-connect and
`disconnect coupling device characterized by relatively
`few parts, which are simple to fabricate and assemble. 30
`The locking device is strong and sturdy in construction,
`and exceptionally reliable in its operation, providing for
`a secure fastening of the two coupling parts and for easy
`and quick release when this is desired.
`The coupling parts depend for assembly upon an initial 35
`looseness of the plug part in the receiver part, such loose-
`ness being taken up and eliminated by the locking collar
`provided by the invention.
`In both embodiments, the
`locking collar is retained in its advanced, locking position
`by spring means whereby there is no likelihood of vibra- 40
`tion or severe operating conditions causing a release of
`the coupling.
`Variations and modifications may be made within the
`scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements
`may be used without others.
`I claim:
`1. A releasable coupling comprising, in combination:
`(a) a receiver part having a socket and having a pro-
`jection fixed in the socket, said projection having
`portions :spaced from the side walls of the socket, 50
`thereby providing an intervening space between the
`projection portions and the socket side wall,
`(b) a plug ,part insertable in the receiver part, having
`a protuberant side wall portion insertable in said in-
`tervening space and engageable with a side of the 55
`said projection, said protuberant side wall portion
`being shaped to nest the projection when the plug
`part is inserted in the socket and the protuberant
`side wall portion is moved sidewise in said inter-
`vening space to bring the side wall portion into en- 60
`gagement with the projection, and
`(c) a collar axially movable on and closely fitting
`around the plug part, said collar being arranged to
`occupy -an advanced position wherein it closely and
`slidably fits into the socket in a position adjoining 65
`said
`intervening space while still on the plug part,
`and ,after insertion .of the same into the socket and
`after completion of said sidewise movement, said
`collar preventing an opposite sidewise movement of
`the plug part in the socket and thereby effecting a 70
`locking of the side wall portion -of the plug ,part in
`said intervening space by the nesting engagement of
`the projection and side wall portion.
`2. A coupling as in claim 1, wherein:
`(a) a locking member is provided for engagement with 75
`
`45
`
`3,280,439
`
`6
`another side of the said pr.ejection to lock the same
`in said nested position,
`(b) said locking member being carried by the plug
`part and being movable thereon between an advanced
`position engaged with the projection and locking the
`latter in nested position and a retracted position
`wherein it disengages and releases the projection,
`(c) said locking member being connected to the said
`collar to be actuated thereby to the advanced posi-
`tion in response to shifting ,of the collar into the said
`socket.
`3. A coupling as in claim 2, wherein:
`(a) the locking member comprises a wall portion of
`the collar.
`4. A coupling as in claim 3, wherein:
`(a) spring means are provided, biasing the collar to-
`ward its advanced position,
`(b) said spring means surrounding the plug part and
`engaging one end of the collar, and
`( c) a tubular cover is provided, enclosing the spring
`means and secured to the collar,
`(d) 1,aid cover slidably engaging the plug part and con-
`stituting a handle to effect shifting of the collar from
`the advanced position thereof.
`5. A coupling as in claim 2, wherein:
`(a) the plug :part has an axial bore,
`(b) the locking member comprises a pin axially slid-
`:able in the bore of the plug part, and
`(c) spring means are provided, biasing the pin and
`collar toward their advanced positions.
`6. A coupling as in claim 5, wherein:
`(a) ,the spring means is disposed in the bore of the
`plug part,
`( b) said plug part has a slot in the wall defining the
`bore, and
`(c) a connector pin is provided, extending through said
`slot and joining the collar to the locking pin.
`7. A coupling as in claim 1, wherein:
`(a) the collar has a taper at the end which first en-
`gages the socket, said taper providing a reduced out-
`side diameter to facilitate entry of the collar in the
`socket.
`8. A coupling as in claim 1, wherein:
`(a) the plug part has a slotted end,
`( b) one wall of the slot constituting the said protu-
`berant side wall portion, and
`(c) an opposite wall of the slot sloping with respect to
`the axis of the plug part and constituting a guide to
`facilitate entry in the slot of the ;projection and en-
`gagement thereof with the protuberant side wall.
`9. A coupling as in claim 2, wherein:
`(a) the plug part has a slotted end,
`(b) one wall of the slot constituting the said protu-
`berant side wall portion,
`( c) an opposite w:all of the slot sloping with respect to
`the axis ,of the plug part and constituting a guide to
`facilitate entry in the slot of the projection and en-
`gagement thereof with the protuberant side wall,
`(d) the slotted end of the plug part has an axial bore,
`(e) said bore dividing the protuberant side wall por-
`tion and the said opposite wall each into halves
`which are respectively cooperable in guiding and
`nesting the projection,
`(f) said locking member comprising a pin slidably
`carried in the axial bore of the plug part.
`10. A releasable coupling comprising, in combin·ation:
`(a) a tubular plug part having a wide-mouthed notch
`:provided with wide-angled opposite, outwardly-
`divergent guide surfaces,
`(b) said notch extending transversely of the axis of the
`plug part and making an acute ,angle with said axis,
`( c) a projection receivable and nestable in said notch,
`and
`
`Dyson EX-2009
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`7
`(d) a locking and release member slidable axially in
`the plug part and having a foremost end movable
`from a -retracted position in an advancing direction
`past portions of said notch to a locking position to
`block and prevent removal of the projection when 5
`the latter is fully nested in the notch
`(e) yieldable means biasing said locki~g and release
`member to and yieldably holding it · in said locking
`position, said end of the locking and release member
`being normally disposed in said notch when said 10
`member is in the locking ,position, and said end being
`cut off squarely to ;provide an abuttable surface
`against which the entering projection can impinge
`after being ,guided thereto by one or both of said
`guide surfaces, thereby to facilitate retraction .of the
`locking and release member and insertion of the pro-
`jection fully into the said noch.
`
`15
`
`3,280,439
`
`346,906
`938,267
`2,560,513
`2,948,383
`3,110,072
`3,171,666
`
`8
`References Cited by the Examiner
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`8/1886 Hale _____________ 24-239 X
`10/1909 Morris ___________ 24-239 X
`7/1951 Lyon ___________ 287-119 X
`8/1960 Modrey _____ ;.. ____ 24-211 X
`11/1963 Carreberg _;.. ________ 24-239
`3/1965 Benjamin et al. ____ 287-103 X
`FOREIGN PATENTS
`1/1914 Germany.
`269,081
`8/1929 Germany.
`480,927
`9/1933 Switzerland.
`162,541
`WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.
`E. SIMONSEN, Assistant Examiner.
`
`Dyson EX-2009
`IPR2024-00219
`Page 6 of 6
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