Abstract: A coupling includes a male half and a female half, where the female half has a fitting rigidly fixed to a stationary member such as an agricultural tractor. The male half can be coupled within the female half. When the male and female halves are coupled together, a valve assembly in the female half allows fluid flow through the coupling. When the male half is pulled out of the female half, the male half automatically disconnects from the female half. When the male half is removed, the valve assembly closes to prevent fluid flow through the coupling. The male half also automatically disconnects when the fluid pressure in the fluid system increases above a predetermined amount. In either case, a coupler body within the fitting moves against a centering spring to allow the male half to be removed from the female half. The selection of an appropriate centering spring determines the breakaway and overpressure release force.

Abstract: A push-to-connect coupler has a cylindrical coupler body with first and second radial flow passages separated by an internal partition, an inner valve assembly, and an outer sleeve assembly. The inner valve assembly includes a valve sleeve which cooperates with a cylindrical extension extending axially downstream from the partition to prevent leakage from the coupler body. When the nipple is inserted into the coupler socket, the nipple moves the valve sleeve axially upstream away from the distal end of the extension to allow fluid to flow between the extension and the valve sleeve to the nipple. The outer sleeve assembly includes a locking sleeve and a cylindrical slide valve surrounding the coupler body. The locking sleeve is spring-biased to urge locking balls into a groove on the nipple and retain the nipple in the coupler socket. The slide valve is slidable to selectively allow fluid to bypass a partition in the coupler body and flow to the nipple.

Abstract: A quick disconnect female coupling includes an actuator which is engageable with the valve of a male coupling and a lock for maintaining the actuator in position to hold the valve of the male coupling open when the male and female couplings are connecting.

Abstract: A thermal by-pass valve with integral pressure relief including a body having an inlet port and a pair of aligned outlet ports and a T-shaped passage connecting the ports, a temperature sensitive valve element movably mounted in said passage adapted to close one of the outlet ports in one position and the other of the outlet ports in another position, a pressure sensitive valve element in the passage adjacent the first inlet port and contacting the temperature sensitive valve element to close that port when the temperature sensitive valve element is in the one position, and means movably mounting the pressure sensitive valve element to break the contact whenever the pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A stroke control mechanism for a hydraulic actuator having a piston and cylinder device including a blocking valve for selectively blocking fluid flow from one side of the actuator, the blocking valve consisting of a spring biased check valve mounted on one end of a valve stem and actuable by a control bar on the piston rod at the end of the stroke of the piston, the spring biased check valve being constructed to be opened by fluid pressure flowing to the extending side of the piston without movement of the valve stem so that creepage of the piston during its retracting movement resulting in contact between the valve stem and the actuating member will not prevent reversal of the piston.