Quick disconnect adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12504107-B2
Application number	US-202217903569-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2022
Priority date	Sep 10, 2021
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A fitting assembly includes a fitting comprising a housing and a connector assembly arranged within the housing. The connector assembly comprising a hollow interior and configured to be movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position. In the actuated position, the connector assembly is connectable to a pipe receivable within the hollow interior. An adapter coupled to the fitting includes a biasing mechanism configured to bias the connector assembly from the actuated position to the unactuated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fitting assembly comprising:
a fitting comprising a housing and a connector assembly arranged within the housing, the connector assembly comprising a hollow interior and configured to be movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein a pipe is receivable within the hollow interior of the connector assembly, the pipe being gripped by the connector assembly when in the actuated position, wherein a diameter of the hollow interior of the connector assembly in the unactuated position is greater than the diameter of the hollow interior of the connector assembly in the actuated position; and an adapter coupled to the fitting, the adapter including a biasing mechanism configured to bias the connector assembly from the actuated position to the unactuated position.

2 . The fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitting further comprises a lever movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing, wherein the connector assembly is movable from the unactuated position to the actuated position in response to movement of the lever from the first position to the second position.

3 . The fitting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lever is rotatable about an axis between the first position and the second position.

4 . The fitting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the adapter further comprises:
an adapter housing, the biasing mechanism being arranged within the adapter housing; and a washer connected to an end of the biasing mechanism, the washer being disposed between the biasing mechanism and the connector assembly.

5 . The fitting assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lever is connected to the housing via a pin and the adapter housing has a plurality of elongated mounting arms, the plurality of elongated mounting arms being connected to the housing via the pin.

6 . The fitting assembly of claim 4 , wherein a portion of the washer is receivable within an interior of the biasing mechanism.

7 . The fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism is at least partially compressed by the housing.

8 . The fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly is a collet assembly.

9 . The fitting assembly of claim 8 , wherein the connector assembly further comprises:
a collet body; and a spring ring arranged at an interior surface of the collet body, the spring ring being biased radially outwardly.

10 . The fitting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connector assembly further comprises a wear ring disposed between the housing and an exterior of the collet body, wherein the collet body is configured to engage the wear ring as the connector assembly transforms from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

11 . A method of disconnecting a pipe from a fitting assembly comprising:
providing a fitting comprising a housing, a lever, and a connector assembly and providing an adapter coupled to the fitting, the pipe extending through the adapter to the connector assembly; moving the lever relative to the housing between a first position and a second position; biasing the connector assembly via a biasing force from an actuated position to an unactuated position via the adapter, wherein biasing the connector assembly from the actuated position to the unactuated position further comprises biasing a spring ring of the connector assembly radially outwardly; and removing the pipe from the fitting and the adapter.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the moving the lever of the fitting relative to the housing further comprises rotating the lever about an axis relative to the housing.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the adapter further comprises a spring that applies the biasing force to the connector assembly, the method further comprising opposing the biasing force acting on the connector assembly when the lever is in the second position.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein biasing the connector assembly from the actuated position to the unactuated position occurs automatically in response to moving the lever from the second position to the first position.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein an inner diameter of the connector assembly when in the actuated position is smaller than the inner diameter of the connector assembly when in the unactuated position.

16 . A method of disconnecting a pipe from a fitting assembly comprising:
providing a fitting comprising a housing, a lever, and a connector assembly and providing an adapter coupled to the fitting, the pipe extending through the adapter to the connector assembly; moving the lever relative to the housing between a first position and a second position; biasing the connector assembly via a biasing force from an actuated position to an unactuated position via the adapter; and removing the pipe from the fitting and the adapter; wherein an inner diameter of the connector assembly when in the actuated position is smaller than the inner diameter of the connector assembly when in the unactuated position.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Torres Gustavo
• Welch Amanda
• Wood Zachary
• Vickers Joshua
• Pugh Larry
• Chen Xiao

Classifications

• G01M3/229

  removably mounted in a test cell · CPC title

• G01M3/222

  for tubes · CPC title

• G01M3/22

  for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; {for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators} · CPC title

• G01M3/022

  Test plugs for closing off the end of a pipe · CPC title

• F16L55/1157

  using hooks, pawls, or other movable or insertable locking members · CPC title