Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GREASE DELIVERY RECEIVER AND NOZZLE HAVING
PRESSURIZATION LOCKOUT AND BLEED-DOWN CAPTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to pressurized grease or lubrication delivery
systems
for heavy construction equipment, earth-moving equipment and other equipment
having on-
board grease reserves, as well as the ability to safely couple and uncouple
the coupler while
under line pressure.
Description of the Prior Art
Quick-coupling devices are used extensively for transferring fuels and
lubricants from
supply reservoirs to tanks on self-propelled heavy construction and earth-
moving equipment.
In addition, there is also a frequent need to couple and decouple pressurized
hydraulic lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,625,410 to Ernest W. Crowley, titled COUPLING, discloses a
quick-
disconnect coupling for fluid conduits having movable poppets which close the
two separate
parts of the conduit to eliminate loss of pressurized or flammable fluids
during connection or
disconnection.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,675,829 to Carlos B. Livers, titled QUICK-DISCONNECT
COUPLING WITH SELECTIVELY OPERABLE VALVE, discloses a coupling having
check valves for automatically sealing hydraulic lines when the coupling is
disconnected.
The check valves can also be opened and closed while the coupling is connected
in order to
control flow of fluid through the coupling.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,129,919 to Jack M. Evans, titled VALVED QUICK COUPLER,
discloses a quick coupler in which one of the separable parts has a valve
which is closed
when the coupler is uncoupled and opened when the two parts are coupled.
The process of transferring pressurized grease or other less viscous
lubricants from a
supply reservoir to a storage reservoir on board heavy construction and earth-
moving
equipment presently requires the depressurization of transfer lines on both
the receiver side
and supply nozzle side before the nozzle is coupled to the receiver.
Depressurization
typically involves a bleed-off of pressurized lubricant. Not only is the bleed-
off process time
consuming, it also results in the discharge of costly petroleum-based
lubricant that is a
potential environmental pollutant.
Despite the significant useful features disclosed in the prior art relating to
quick-
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disconnect couplers, the prior art does not show a coupler having a flow valve
which cannot
be actuated while the coupler is in a state of disconnection, which permits
connection and
disconnection operations while the lines are pressurized without loss of
fluid, and which has
flush face mating surfaces on both male and female portions of the connector
which facilitate
cleaning of the mating surfaces so as to avoid contamination of the fluid
after coupling
Occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an enhancement to the invention of U.S. Patent
Application
No. 13/277,136 (U.S. Pat. Publication No. 20120090713 Al), which overcomes the
heretofore-described deficiencies of the prior art by providing a high-
pressure coupler for
pressurized delivery of grease and other lubricating fluids. The coupler
includes two
interconnectable components: namely a receiver and a nozzle. The receiver and
nozzle are
each equipped with a normally closed, sealed poppet, which not only prevents
the entrance of
dirt and other contaminants into that component when they are uncoupled, but
also provides
an easily-cleanable, flush-faced mating surface on that component. The poppet
on the
receiver is movable and spring biased, while the poppet of the nozzle, though
immovable, if
fitted with a spring-biased, slidable annular poppet seat. Furthermore, the
nozzle has a
handle-controlled internal ball valve with a lockout coupled to a quick
disconnect system
which prevents rotation of the handle and the concomitant release of
lubricants from the
nozzle component unless the latter is coupled to the receiver component. As
the forward end
of the nozzle slides over a free end of the receiver, the receiver poppet is
simultaneously
pushed back into the receiver body by the nozzle poppet while the slidable
annular poppet
seat is pushed into the nozzle body, thereby opening a flow path through the
receiver and a
partial flow path through the nozzle. The nozzle has a circle of ball bearings
that align with a
circumferential locking groove when the nozzle slides onto the receiver. As a
locking collar
on the nozzle slides forward from an uncoupled position, it not only locks the
ball bearings
within the locking groove¨which locks the nozzle to the receiver, but also
unlocks the
handle. When the handle is unlocked, the handle can be rotated about 90
degrees. The
handle is rigidly affixed to a shaft which is coupled to a rotatable internal
ball valve. As the
handle and shaft are rotated, the ball valve opens, thereby completing the
flow path through
the nozzle so that grease or other lubricating fluid can flow through the
nozzle, into the
receiver, and then into a storage tank.
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The present invention adds a high-pressure bleed-off feature, which returns
high-
pressure excess lubricant within the coupler to the lubricant storage tank
when the handle of
the nozzle is returned to its OFF position prior to decoupling it from the
receiver. Bleed-off
of excess lubricant can be caused by the contraction of flexible high-pressure
hoses following
depressurization of the system, and by entrapped gases within grease remaining
in the nozzle
following pressurization cut-off. The latter scenario is more likely to occur
when system and
environmental temperatures are elevated. In addition, a new receiver having a
pair of tandem
poppets, is also provided. A first spring-biased poppet, which seals the
entrance to the
receiver, is opened during by the nozzle poppet during a coupling operation. A
second
spring-biased poppet is forced open by the flow of pressurized grease or other
lubricant. The
second poppet closes when the flow of grease is terminated, thereby preventing
loss of
pressurization in a lubrication system¨even during the actual decoupling of
the nozzle from
the receiver.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of new grease coupler components, to wit, a
single-
poppet receiver and a nozzle having pressurization lockout and bleed-down
capture, in an
uncoupled configuration;
Figure 2 is an elevational view of the new grease coupler components of Figure
1, in
an uncoupled configuration;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the new grease coupler components of Figure 1
in a
coupled configuration;
Figure 4 is an elevational view of the new grease coupler components of Figure
1, in
a coupled configuration;
Figure 5 is a cut-away/cross-sectional isometric view of the uncoupled grease
coupler
components of Figure 1, with the cut taken through the central axes of the
receiver and
nozzle;
Figure 6 is a cut-away/cross-sectional elevational view of the uncoupled
grease
coupler components of Figure 1, with the cut taken through the central axes of
the receiver
and nozzle;
Figure 7 is a cut-away/cross-sectional isometric view of the coupled grease
coupler
components of Figure 1, with the cut taken through the central axes of the
receiver and
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nozzle;
Figure 8 is a cut-away/cross-sectional elevational view of the coupled grease
coupler
components of Figure 1, with the cut taken through the central axes of the
receiver and
nozzle;
Figure 9 is an isometric view of new grease coupler components, to wit, a
tandem-
poppet receiver and a nozzle having pressurization lockout and bleed-down
capture, in an
uncoupled configuration;
Figure 10 is an elevational view of the new grease coupler components of
Figure 9, in
an uncoupled configuration;
Figure 11 is an isometric view of the new grease coupler components of Figure
9 in a
coupled configuration;
Figure 12 is an elevational view of the new grease coupler components of
Figure 9, in
a coupled configuration;
Figure 13 is a cut-away/cross-sectional isometric view of the uncoupled grease
coupler components of Figure 9, with the cut taken through the central axes of
the receiver
and nozzle;
Figure 14 is a cut-away/cross-sectional elevational view of the uncoupled
grease
coupler components of Figure 9, with the cut taken through the central axes of
the receiver
and nozzle;
Figure 15 is a cut-away/cross-sectional isometric view of the coupled grease
coupler
components of Figure 9, with the cut taken through the central axes of the
receiver and
nozzle;
Figure 16 is a cut-away/cross-sectional elevational view of the coupled grease
coupler
components of Figure 9, with the cut taken through the central axes of the
receiver and
nozzle;
Figure 17 is an isometric view of an uncoupled single poppet receiver and a
nozzle
without bleed-down capture;
Figure 18 is a partial cut-away, partial cross-sectional view, taken through
the central
axes of the uncoupled receiver and nozzle of Figure 17;
Figure 19 is a partial cut-away, partial cross-sectional view, taken through
the central
axes of the intercoupled receiver and the nozzle of Figure 17, with the
actuator handle in the
"OFF" position;
Figure 20 is a partial cut-away, partial cross-sectional view, taken through
the central
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axes of the intercoupled receiver and the nozzle of Figure 17, with the
actuator handle in the
"ON" position; and
Figure 21 is an isometric, partial cut-away, partial cross-sectional view of
the coupled
receiver and nozzle of Figure 17, with the actuator handle in the "ON"
position.
Figure 22 is an enlarged isometric view of the spindle, showing primarily the
front
thereof;
Figure 23 is an enlarged isometric view of the spindle, showing primarily the
rear
thereof;
Figure 24 is an enlarged isometric view of the receiver poppet, showing
primarily the
rear thereof; and
Figure 25 is an enlarged isometric view of the receiver poppet, showing
primarily the
front thereof.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The new grease coupler for pressurized delivery of grease and other
lubricating fluids
will now be described in detail, with reference to the attached drawing
figures. Item numbers
100 and 100 plus a two-digit integer refer to the single-poppet receiver; item
numbers 300
and 300 plus a two-digit integer refer to the tandem-poppet receiver and its
components; and
item numbers 200 and 200 plus a two-digit integer refer to the nozzle and its
components.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the coupler includes two interconnectable
components: namely a first embodiment receiver 100 and a nozzle 200. The first
embodiment receiver 100 has a two part body which includes a receiving portion
101R and a
securing portion 101S. The securing portion 101S is equipped with a male pipe
fitting 102
that can screwed into the female pipe fitting at the end of a high-pressure
flexible hose, high-
pressure metal line, or storage tank. The receiving portion 101R, on the other
hand, has a
cylindrical receiving extension 103, that is equipped with an annular
circumferential locking
groove 104, which enables the nozzle 200 to lock on to the cylindrical
receiving extension
103. The securing portion 1015 is threadably secured to the receiving portion
101R.
Together, they form a flow-through internal chamber. The exit 105 from the
internal
chamber passes through the male pipe fitting 102.
Still referring to Figures 1 and 2, the nozzle 200 is equipped with an
anterior body
portion 201A, a middle body portion 201M, and a rear body portion 201R. The
rear body
portion 201R, which is couplable to a grease supply line, is at the entrance
end of the nozzle
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200. A two-piece locking collar 202 slides over the exterior of the anterior
body portion
201A, while a generally cylindrical nozzle poppet head 203 is coupled to a
nozzle poppet
shaft (not shown in this view) that is rigidly secured within the anterior
body portion. A
spring-biased, slidable annular poppet seat 204 completely surrounds the
nozzle poppet head
203. A handle 205 and interlock/rotation limiter 206 are rigidly secured to a
rotatable valve
actuator shaft (see the cutaway view of Fig. 6) with a handle securing screw
207. The
rotatable valve actuator shaft is, in turn, coupled to a rotatable ball valve
(also not visible in
this view) within the middle body portion 201M. Rotation of the handle 205 and
the internal
ball valve allows grease to flow from the entrance end of the nozzle 200 to
the exit end
thereof. The interlock/rotation limiter 206, which is an eccentric device,
prevents the handle
205 and the coupled ball valve from being rotated when the nozzle 200 is not
coupled to the
receiver 100 and insufficient clearance exists between the rear edge 208 of
the locking collar
202 and the interlock/rotation limiter 206. It will be noted that the nozzle
poppet 203, in
combination with the annular poppet seat 204 and the anterior body portion
201A, form a
generally flush face mating surface, which is easily cleanable. A standard
right-angle
hydraulic fitting 209 provides an outlet for lubricant bleed-down, once the
handle 205 has
been rotated from an OPEN position to a CLOSED position. The right angle
fitting 209,
which includes a cinch nut 210, is screwed into a bleed-seal-tensioner insert
211 that is
threadably installed within the wall of the middle body portion 201M.
Lubricant entering the
right-angle fitting 209 is directed to the storage tank via a flexible line
(not shown) that is
threadably connected to the threaded end 212 of the right-angle fitting 209.
How bleed-down
occurs will be clear from the cut-away views of the coupler assembly.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the receiver 100 and nozzle 200 have been
coupled
together. Once the cylindrical receiving extension 103 has been inserted a
sufficient distance
into the anterior end of the nozzle 200, the locking collar 202 can be slid
forward, thereby
enabling the handle 205 to be turned to its ON position.
Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the receiver 100 and nozzle 200 are shown
uncoupled in a cut-away, cross- sectional view. The receiver poppet 106 and
internal
receiver poppet biasing spring 107 have not been sectioned, while the receiver
body 0-ring
108, a receiver poppet 0-ring 109, the receiving portion 101R and securing
portion 101S of
the receiver body are shown in cross-sectional format. The receiver poppet 106
and the
internal biasing spring 107 are installed within the receiver 100 before the
receiving portion
101R is threadably secured to the securing portion 101S. It will be noted that
the receiver
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body 0-ring 108 seals the joint between the receiving portion 101R and the
securing portion
101S. The internal biasing spring 107 applies pressure against the receiver
poppet 106 so
that the receiver poppet 0-ring 109 deforms and seals the entrance of the
receiver 100 when
it is not coupled to the nozzle 200. It will also be noted that the receiver
poppet 106 is biased
by the spring 107 against a conical surface 110 near the entrance of the
receiving portion
101R.
Focusing now on the nozzle 200 of Figures 5 and 6, only the handle 205, the
interlock/rotation limiter 206, the valve actuator shaft 213, the valve ball
214, the nozzle
poppet head 203, the nozzle poppet shaft 215, and a plurality of steel
latching balls 216 have
not been sectioned. All other nozzle components are shown in cross-sectional
format. The
locking collar 202 includes an anodized aluminum outer portion 202A and a zinc-
plated steel
inner portion 202B, which is better able to withstand pressure exerted on the
steel latching
balls 216, without deformation, when the nozzle 200 is coupled to the receiver
100 and the
system is pressurized with grease at around 2000 pounds per square inch. The
outer and
inner portions 202A and 202B of the locking collar 202 are held together with
a
circumferential internal snap ring 217, which also limits the forward travel
of the locking
collar 202. The locking collar 202 is forward biased by a collar biasing coil
spring 218,
while the slidable annular poppet seat 204 is forward biased by a seat biasing
coil spring 219.
An anterior body 0-ring 220, that fits within an internal 0-ring groove 221 of
the anterior
body portion 201A, not only seals the joint between the slidable annular
poppet seat 204 and
the anterior body portion 201A when the nozzle 200 is decoupled from the
receiver 100, but
also seals the joint between the receiving extension 103 and the anterior body
portion 201A
when the nozzle 200 and the receiver 100 are coupled together. The nozzle
poppet shaft 215
is threadably secured to a spindle 222, which incorporates three flow through
passages 223A,
223B and 223C that are equally-radially spaced about the spindle's central
axis. Only two of
passages, 223A and 223B, are visible in the views of Figures 5 and 6. The
third passage,
222C, has been cut off in the cross section. The spindle 222 is secured
between an inward-
facing interior flange 224 of the anterior body portion 201A and a front face
225 of the
middle body portion 201M. The middle body portion 201M is threadably secured
to the
anterior body portion 201A. The joint between the anterior body portion 201A
and the
middle body portion 201M is sealed with a middle-body front 0-ring 226.
Still referring to Figures 5 and 6, the anterior portion of the nozzle is
preferably
assembled in the following sequence. A spindle 0-ring 227 is installed within
the spindle 0-
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ring groove 228 on the spindle 222, after which the spindle 222 is inserted
into the rear of the
anterior body portion 201A. The purpose of the spindle 0-ring 227 is not to
seal any joint,
but rather to hold the spindle 222 firmly in place within the anterior body
portion 201A
during assembly. A front poppet head 0-ring 229F and a rear poppet head 0-ring
229R are
installed within the 0-ring grooves in the poppet head 203. The anterior body
0-ring 220 is
then installed within the internal 0-ring groove 221 of the anterior body
portion 201A. Next,
the slidable annular poppet seat 204 and the seat biasing coil spring 219 are
installed in the
front of the anterior body portion 201A. Next, the nozzle poppet shaft 215 is
threadably
secured to the spindle 222, preferably with thread locking compound. As the
external threads
at the end of the nozzle poppet shaft 215 engage the internally threaded
aperture 1701 (please
refer to Fig. 17) of the spindle 222, the slidable annular poppet seat 204 is
urged rearward,
thereby compressing the seat biasing coil spring 219. Next, the collar biasing
coil spring 218
is installed over the front end of the anterior body portion 201A. Then, the
two-piece locking
collar 202 is slid over the forward end of the anterior body portion 201A,
compressing the
collar biasing coil spring 218. With the collar biasing coil spring 218 in a
state of
compression, the circumferential internal snap ring 217 is installed in the
internal groove 230
of the outer portion 202A of the two-piece locking collar 202. Next, the two-
piece locking
collar is moved rearward so that the inner annular latching groove 231 in the
outer portion
202A of the two-piece locking collar 202 is aligned with the latching ball
apertures 232 in the
anterior body portion 201A. Then the slidable annular poppet seat 204 is moved
rearward to
expose the latching ball apertures 232, and the steel latching balls 216 are
installed therein.
The slidable annular poppet seat 204 is then permitted to slide forward,
thereby trapping the
steel latching balls 216. Forward movement of the slidable annular poppet seat
204 is limited
by the conical flare 233 at the forward end of the nozzle poppet 203.
Still referring to Figures 5 and 6, the valve ball 213, the valve actuator
shaft 213, the
handle 205, and the interlock/rotation limiter 206 are installed within the
middle body portion
201M in the following sequence. An actuator shaft 0-ring 234 is installed
within an 0-ring
groove 235 in an actuator shaft aperture 236. The valve actuator shaft 213 is
then installed
within the actuator shaft aperture 236 from inside the middle body portion
201M, and the
interlock/rotation limiter 206 and handle 205 are secured to the valve
actuator shaft 213 with
the handle securing screw 207. Next, a front annular sealing ring 237 is
installed within the
sealing ring recess 238 of the middle body portion 201M. Then, with the handle
205 turned
to the OFF position, the valve ball 214 is rocked into position, with a slot
239 in the valve
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ball 214 engaging a blade 240 at the lower end of the actuator shaft 213. A
rear annular
sealing ring 241 is then inserted in the sealing ring recess 242 of the rear
body portion 201R,
a rear-body 0-ring 243 is installed in the annular recess 244 within the
middle body portion
201M, and the rear body portion is screwed into the rear of the middle body
portion 201M.
Thus, the rear body portion 201R functions as a ball valve component retainer.
The middle-
body 0-ring 226 is then installed in the annular recess 245 within the
anterior body portion
201A, and the middle body portion 201M is screwed into the rear of the
anterior body portion
201A, thereby trapping the spindle 222. The grease entrance port 246, which is
within the
rear body portion 201R, has a female pipe thread, which enables it to be
coupled to a grease
line (not shown). It will be noted that the valve ball 214 has a major flow-
through aperture
247, through which grease flows from the grease entrance port 246 and into the
middle body
portion 201M and into the anterior body portion 201A when the handle 205 is in
the open
position. In Figures 5 and 6, the handle 205 is in the closed position and the
major flow-
through aperture 247 is perpendicular to the flow path. A minor bleed-down
aperture 248 is
perpendicular to the major flow-through aperture 247. When the handle 205 is
in the closed
position, the minor bleed-down aperture 248 connects the interior chambers of
the middle
body portion 201M and the anterior body portion 201A to the major flow-through
aperture
247, so that any pressurized grease or lubricant within those interior
chambers is transferred
to the right angled fitting 209, from whence it is transported by a bleed-down
line (not
shown) back into the grease or lubricant supply tank (also not shown). A side
annular sealing
ring 249 seals joint between the valve ball 214 and the bleed-seal-tensioner
insert 211. The
bleed-seal-tensioner insert 211 is screwed into the wall of the middle body
portion 201M
using a spanner pin wrench. A cyanoacrylic adhesive, such as Loctiteg, is used
to secure the
bleed-seal-tensioner insert with the desired pressure loading against the side
annular sealing
ring 249.
Referring now to Figures 7and 8, the anterior body portion 201A of the nozzle
200
has been slid over the cylindrical receiving extension 103 of the receiver
100. As the anterior
portion 101A slides over the cylindrical receiving extension 103, the slidable
annular poppet
seat 204 is urged rearward, thereby compressing the poppet seat biasing spring
218 and
opening up a flow path through the nozzle. At the same time, the receiver
poppet 106 is
urged rearward into the receiving portion 101R of the receiver 100, thereby
compressing the
receiver poppet biasing spring 107, and opening up a flow path through the
receiver 100.
Once the steel latching balls 216 have engaged the annular circumferential
locking groove
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104, the locking collar 202 can be slid forward, thereby locking the steel
latching balls 216
within the locking groove 104 and locking the nozzle 200 to the receiver 100.
Forward
movement of the locking collar 202 is limited by contact of the snap ring 216
with an annular
flange 250 (see Fig. 6) of the anterior body portion 201A. After the locking
collar 202 has
been slid forward, sufficient clearance is provided between the rear edge 208
of the locking
collar 202 and the interlock/rotation limiter 206 so that the latter can be
rotated with the
handle 205 through an arc of about 90 degrees. As the valve actuator shaft 213
is also
coupled to the valve ball 214, it also rotates through an arc of about 90
degrees. A rotation
limiter tab 251 on the interlock/rotation limiter 206 rides within an arcuate
cutout (not shown
in this view) in the middle body portion 201M, thereby limiting rotation of
the
interlock/rotation limiter 206 and coupled valve actuator shaft 213 and valve
ball 214. With
the handle 205 turned to the ON position, it will be noted that the major flow-
through
aperture 247 has been rotated so that grease can flow from the grease entrance
port 246 and
into the middle body portion 201M and into the anterior body portion 201A. The
minor
bleed-down aperture 248, which is now facing the side of the middle body
portion 201M, is
non functional when the handle 205 is in the ON position.
Still referring now to Figures 7 and 8, when a desired quantity of grease has
been
transferred through the nozzle 200 and into the receiver 100, the handle 205
can be turned to
shut off the flow of grease, thereby also activating the bleed-down of
pressurized grease or
lubricating fluid within the anterior body portion 201A and middle body
portion 201M
through the minor bleed-down aperture 248, through the major flow-through
aperture 247
and into the right angled fitting 209 and back into the grease or lubricating
fluid supply tank.
Once the handle 205 has been rotated to the OFF position, the nozzle 200 can
be decoupled
from the receiver 100.
Figures 9 through 16 are similar to Figures 1 through 8, respectively. The
nozzle 200
is identical to those of Figures 1 through 8. The only difference is the
second embodiment
receiver 300, which has two poppets instead of the single poppet of the
receiver 100.
Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the receiver 300 has a three-part body
which
includes a receiving portion 301R, a middle portion 301M, and a securing
portion 101S. The
securing portion 101S is equipped with a male pipe fitting 302 that can
screwed into the
female pipe fitting at the end of a high-pressure flexible hose, high-pressure
metal line, or
storage tank. The receiving portion 301R, like the receiving portion of
receiver 100, has a
cylindrical receiving extension 303, that is equipped with an annular
circumferential locking
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groove 304, which enables the nozzle 200 to lock on to the cylindrical
receiving extension
303. The securing portion 301S is threadably secured to the receiving portion
middle portion
301M, which is in turn threadably secured to the receiving portion 301R.
Together, the
securing portion 301S, the middle portion 301M and the receiving portion 301R
form a flow-
through internal chamber. The exit 305 from the internal chamber passes
through the male
pipe fitting 302.
Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, coupling of the nozzle 200 to the second
embodiment receiver 300 is accomplished in the identical manner as is the
coupling of the
nozzle 200 to the first embodiment receiver 100.
Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, when the receiver 300 is not coupled to
the
nozzle 200, flow through the internal chamber of receiver 300 is blocked by a
first poppet
306 that is located at the receiving end of the receiver 300 and by a second
poppet 311 that is
positioned within the middle portion 301M of the receiver 300. The first
poppet 306
functions just like the poppet 106 of the first receiver 100. Though both
first and second
poppets 306 and 311, respectively are both spring biased, the first poppet 306
is displaced by
the nozzle poppet 203 when the nozzle 200 is coupled to the receiver 300. The
second
poppet 311, on the other hand, is displaced by the flow of grease or other
lubricating fluid
entering the receiver 300. The function of the second poppet 311 is to assist
in the retention
of internal fluid pressure in the machine or reservoir to which the receiver
300 is attached. It
will be noted that the second poppet 311 is positioned entirely within the
middle portion
301M of the receiver 300. It is biased by the second poppet biasing spring 312
to a normally-
closed position. The second poppet of receiver 300 is equipped with a second
poppet head
0-ring 317 that seals the internal opening of the middle portion 301M when no
grease is
flowing through receiver 300 and the second poppet 311 is in its closed
position. The flow of
grease through the receiver 300 causes the second poppet 311 to open, thereby
allowing
grease or other lubricating fluid to pass through the receiver into grease or
lubricant galleries
of equipment to which the receiver 300 is attached or into a grease reservoir
on the
equipment. It will be further noted that the threaded joint 315 between the
receiving portion
301R and the middle portion 301M is sealed with a front receiver 0-ring 308.
The threaded
joint 316 between the middle portion 301M and the securing portion 301S is
sealed with a
rear receiver 0-ring 316.
Referring now to Figures 15 and 16, the nozzle 200 is shown coupled to the
second
embodiment receiver 300. As previously stated, coupling of the nozzle 200 to
the second
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embodiment receiver 300 is accomplished in a manner identical to that employed
for the
coupling of the nozzle 200 to the first embodiment receiver 100.
Referring now to Figures 17 through 21, a nozzle 400 having no a high-pressure
bleed-down path is shown. Other than the absence of the right-angle hydraulic
fitting 209,
the cinch nut 210, the bleed-seal-tensioner insert 211, the minor bleed-down
aperture 248 in
the valve ball 214 (the valve ball without the bleed-down aperture 248 is item
number 1801),
and the side annular sealing ring 249, and a slightly different middle body
portion 1701
(rather than 201M) that has no recess for the side annular sealing ring 249
and no threaded
recess into which the bleed-seal-tensioner insert 211 is installed, the
nozzles 200 and 400 are
essentially identical.
Referring now to Figures 22 and 23, these isometric views of spindle 222
enable a
more thorough visualization of the component. The spindle has a threaded
central aperture
2201, which the threaded end of the nozzle poppet shaft 215 engages. The
spindle 0-ring
groove 228 is also visible on both of these views, as are all three flow-
through passages
223A, 223B and 223C.
Referring now to Figures 24 and 25, these isometric view of the receiver
poppet 106
enable a more thorough visualization of the component. The receiver poppet 0-
ring groove
2401, into which the receiver poppet 0-ring 109 is installed, is clearly
visible in these views.
In addition, the receiver poppet 106 has three fins 2402A, 2402B and 2402C,
which maintain
the receiver poppet 106 in axial alignment within the receiver component of
the receiver 100.
Although only a single embodiment of the invention is shown and described
herein, it
will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and
modifications may
be made thereto without departing from the scope and the spirit of the
invention as
hereinafter claimed.
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