Abstract: A ball detent fluid coupling for liquid and gas applications has a ball-retaining sleeve on the socket that is retractable by hand for joining and for separating the socket and plug and is characterized by a pressure-actuated check valve mounted on a valve guide within the flow path to preclude backflow into the supply side of the coupling. The valve also operates to shut off the flow when the mating parts of the coupling are disconnected or when flow through the coupling is shut off. A conventional valve can be mounted in the fluid flow passageway opposite the pressure-actuated check valve to urge the mating plug and socket to decouple when the sleeve releases the ball detents from engagement with the plug and to stop flow in the discharge line. The coupling will typically be used at pressures of from about 5 to 130 psig.

Abstract: A quick-action fluid coupling for connecting two fluid-conducting lines includes a plug for attachment to one of the lines and a socket for attachment to the other. The socket has a tubular body and includes a valve having a valve sleeve and a fixed valve stem coaxially disposed within the tubular body. The valve sleeve is moved axially upon connection of the plug and socket so as to open a fluid flow passage between the valve sleeve and the valve stem. The outer surface of the valve stem defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced depressions therein. A circumferential groove is defined in an inner surface of the tubular body and is spaced radially outward of and in axial alignment with the depressions in the valve stem. A plurality of separately formed, discrete retaining elements are respectively engaged partly in the depressions in the valve stem and partly in the groove in the tubular body.