- Hydraulic quick disconnects are couplings or heads commonly found on the ends of hydraulic hose lines. Such couplings are typically used for charging pressurized systems such as the coolant portions of refrigerators or airplane fuel tanks. Quick disconnects are designed to allow high pressure fluid to flow from one container to the next, and to shut off the flow the instant the connection between couplings is broken.
- Drybreak couplings are male- and female-ended, with a spring-mounted valve set into the head of each that keeps each of them closed. The male coupling plugs into the female coupling and then is turned 90 degrees clockwise on a set of locking grooves. This locks the two ends of the hydraulic quick disconnect in place and disengages the springs holding the valve-ends shut. A flow of hydraulic fluid may then pass unimpeded. But when the couplings are twisted to unlock, the valve springs are re-engaged, instantaneously shutting off the fluid flow.
- The design of poppet couplings is a little different. The male end has a needle-like protuberance that pushes through a rubber diaphragm set into the female end. On the female end is a milled metal collar held forward by a series of springs. When the male end is inserted, a ring of ball bearings held beneath the milled collar holds the male end in place with an audible click. With the male end piercing the female end, hydraulic fluid now flows unimpeded in one direction, through the female end to the male end. However, when the milled collar is pulled away from the join in the couplings, the ball bearings retract from the ridges along the male end and the pressure from the female end pops it out suddenly. The diaphragm subsequently prevents any fluid from leaving the female end of the coupling.
Comments
Rockney said
on 11/7/2009 Great information! 5*!