Patents by Inventor Douglas F. Hopson

Douglas F. Hopson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9175795
    Abstract: The female coupling half includes: a body, a plurality of locking bars, a spring, a locking ring, and, a cam. The body includes a plurality of grooves, an exterior, and an internal longitudinal bore. The cam, locking ring and locking bars are movable between first and second positions. The cam in the first position permits the locking ring in first position, urged by the spring, to force the locking bars to a first position in the grooves of the body and to extend the locking bars into the internal longitudinal bore locking the male and females coupling halves. The cam in the second position engages and forcefully urges the locking bars to a second position in the grooves toward the exterior of the body and the locking bars urge the locking ring to a second position further compressing the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas F. Hopson
  • Publication number: 20130320673
    Abstract: The female coupling half includes: a body, a plurality of locking bars, a spring, a locking ring, and, a cam. The body includes a plurality of grooves, an exterior, and an internal longitudinal bore. The cam, locking ring and locking bars are movable between first and second positions. The cam in the first position permits the locking ring in first position, urged by the spring, to force the locking bars to a first position in the grooves of the body and to extend the locking bars into the internal longitudinal bore locking the male and females coupling halves. The cam in the second position engages and forcefully urges the locking bars to a second position in the grooves toward the exterior of the body and the locking bars urge the locking ring to a second position further compressing the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PARKER-HANNIFIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: DOUGLAS F. HOPSON
  • Patent number: 6382251
    Abstract: A coupling half comprising: a body; a principal valve seating against the body and unseating therefrom; a relief valve seating against the principal valve and unseating therefrom; and, a flush face sliding sleeve valve seating against the body and unseating therefrom is disclosed. When the flush face sliding sleeve valve unseats from the body it travels toward the relief valve and engages the relief valve unseating the relief valve from the principal valve permitting flow by the relief valve and enabling the principal valve to unseat from the body. The relief valve and the principal valve define an annulus therebetween. The principal valve includes a passageway for relieving pressure by the relief valve. As the relief valve unseats from the principal valve, flow is permitted to the annulus defined by the relief valve and the principal valve and through the passageway in the principal valve and to a reservoir generally defined by the principal valve and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas F. Hopson
  • Patent number: 6145539
    Abstract: A coupling having two coupler halves, a female half a male half is disclosed. Pressure will be applied to either half but not both. The female half employs a balanced seal arrangement. Each elastomeric seal of the female half is supported, by a support seal. One elastomeric seal of the female is supported by a rectangularly shaped (in cross-section) Teflon support seal and the other elastomeric seal is supported by a t-shaped (in cross-section) Nylatron.RTM. support seal. When the female half of the coupling is pressurized, pressure will be applied equally to the seals and to the parts of female half such that the net separation force is minimized. Typically the user will select one half of the coupling disclosed herein for use with pressure applied thereto. However, the user may use both halves of the coupling disclosed herein if so desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Wilcox, Douglas F. Hopson
  • Patent number: 6116277
    Abstract: A coupling that is useable on farm implements is disclosed. A metal to metal vent valve is employed in the female half of the coupling which constantly vents the supply port to the vent port when the female half is disconnected or partially disconnected from the male half. Steps in the bore of the female body permit easier disconnection because the ball valve is not depressed thus lowering disconnection faces. When the male half is being coupled with the female half the female half is vented thus making coupling easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Wilcox, Douglas F. Hopson
  • Patent number: 6095190
    Abstract: A coupling having male and female halves is disclosed. Typically the female half is under pressure. The female half may be mounted to an implement and when coupled to a male coupling on the tractor. It supplies hydraulic fluid to the driven device. The female half has three valves: a main valve, a relief valve and a sliding sleeve valve. The female half, when coupled, opens the sliding sleeve valve first followed by the opening of the relief valve which is followed by the opening of the main valve. The relief valve is designed to reduce pressure behind the main valve so as to permit easy coupling under pressure when the female half is under pressure. During the uncoupling process, the main valve closes first followed by the closure of the relief valve which is followed by the closure of the sliding sleeve valve. The relief valve is a ball and seats against an elastomeric seal mounted in the back side of the main valve. A push pin having flat edges operates the relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Wilcox, Douglas F. Hopson
  • Patent number: 5951728
    Abstract: A coupling is provided having filters in the coupler and/or the nipple members. The coupler filter resides in the inlet to the coupler and the nipple filter resides in the inlet to the nipple member. The coupler and the nipple filters are easily replace due to their locations and the means employment to secure them in place. The coupler and the nipple filters are strength stainless steel filters having pores in the range of to 250 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Snap-Tite, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas F. Hopson
  • Patent number: 5881769
    Abstract: A breakaway coupling comprising a nipple and coupler normally engaged together by a canted coil spring. The coupler includes a coupler valve and the nipple includes a check valve. The canted coil spring is disposed in the coupler and receives the nipple as it enters the coupler. The nipple includes an inclined surface which enables the canted coil spring to be gradually compressed as the nipple enters the coupler. The canted coil spring simultaneously engages the shoulders and bottom surface of a recess in the coupler body and the first and second beveled surfaces and the bottom surface of a recess in the nipple adaptor. Vent structure is provided in the coupler and a bleed back vent is provided in the nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas F. Hopson
  • Patent number: 5730185
    Abstract: A pressure locking dispenser half which securely locks with a receptacle half which comprises a connector, a barrel sleeve, and a moveable adaptor. The connector includes first and second passageways. The first passageway of the connector further includes a first port and the second passageway includes a second port, a first seal and a second seal residing between the connector and the adaptor. The adaptor engages the barrel sleeve. The barrel and adaptor include a vent passageway. A spacer resides between the first and second seals maintaining separation of the first and second seals. The moveable adaptor positions the first and second seals in one of a plurality of positions with respect to the connector. A dispenser valve 12 acts in combination with a retainer, a sliding sleeve, and a locking sleeve to pressure lock the dispenser half and the receptacle half together under certain circumstances. Certain positions of the adaptor allow the venting of the dispenser half and the receptacle half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Snap-Tite, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Wilkins, Wayne Wilcox, Douglas F. Hopson