US 11,988,315 B2
Rapid-connect coupler and receptacle having anti-rotation feature
Tracy N. Tickle, Gibsonville, NC (US); Jeffrey S. Howard, Elon, NC (US); and Chad Thomas, Summerfield, NC (US)
Assigned to Engineered Controls International, LLC, Elon, NC (US)
Filed by Engineered Controls International, LLC, Elon, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/823,633.
Application 17/823,633 is a continuation of application No. 16/838,251, filed on Apr. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,460,136.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/829,928, filed on Apr. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0412494 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16L 37/36 (2006.01); F16L 37/12 (2006.01); F16L 37/23 (2006.01); F16L 55/07 (2006.01); B67D 7/36 (2010.01)
CPC F16L 37/36 (2013.01) [F16L 37/12 (2013.01); F16L 37/23 (2013.01); F16L 55/07 (2013.01); B67D 7/36 (2013.01); F17C 2205/037 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupler for connecting a tank to a receptacle, the coupler comprising:
a housing;
a probe including an outer surface and configured to translate longitudinally within the housing;
a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing, wherein the handle assembly is movable between a decoupled position at which the tank is capable of being disconnected from the receptacle, a coupled position at which the tank is capable of being connected to the receptacle, and a venting position at which venting of fluid is enabled;
a ball cage;
a plurality of balls disposed in the ball cage; and
a slidable sleeve coupled to the outer surface of the probe and configured to translate longitudinally with the probe, wherein the slidable sleeve is configured to slide in a first longitudinal direction to cause the plurality of balls to translate radially to lock the coupler to the receptacle, and wherein the slidable sleeve includes a collar defining a plurality of channels that are positioned radially and extending axially along the collar and configured to receive bearings of the receptacle in the coupled position and the venting position to prevent rotation of the coupler relative to the receptacle.