Female coupler connection structure
A female coupler connection structure includes a main body having an internal plugging passage and a front engagement section with two diametrically opposite tangential slots communicable with the plugging passage; a retaining module fitted around the engagement section and including two pin members that pass through the tangential slots into the plugging passage to provide an actuation portion; a spring having two ends pressed against the retaining module and an annular locating groove formed around the engagement section; and a pulling cover fitted around the retaining module, which has a front end pressed against the pulling cover. A male coupler can be locked to or unlocked from the plugging passage by moving the pulling cover to swing the pin members. The female coupler connection structure requires a relatively short operating distance and can be advantageously used in a relatively narrow space to connect to or disconnect from the male coupler.
1 . A female coupler connection structure comprising:
a main body, being internally provided with a plugging passage axially extending therethrough and having an engagement section located at a front end thereof; the engagement section having two tangential slots on diametrically opposite sides of a peripheral wall of the engagement section, and the tangential slots respectively defining a through opening communicable with the plugging passage;
a retaining module, being provided around an outer side of the engagement section and having at least a portion thereof being fitted in the tangential slots; the retaining module including at least one pin member pivotally mounted on the retaining module adjacent to the tangential slots, the pin member having an actuation portion passing the through opening into the plugging passage;
a spring, being fitted on around the engagement section and having an end pressed against a rear end of the retaining module and another end pressed against an annular locating groove formed on around the engagement section; and
a pulling cover, being assembled to an outer side of the spring and the retaining module with a front end of the retaining module pressed against the pulling cover.
2 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retaining module includes two fixing frames and two spring push members; the fixing frames respectively having a generally C-shaped configuration and with a degree of elasticity, a middle section of each of the C-shaped fixing frames having a transverse section in the form of a straight bar, and the two fixing frames being located at an upper side and a lower side and being snap-joined to form a substantially loop-shaped body for fitting around the engagement section while the two transverse sections are set in the two tangential slots, such that the retaining module is axially immovably retained to the main body; the two spring push members located at a left and a right side and being snap-joined to be fitted around the engagement section; and the spring push members being axially located behind the fixing frames.
3 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each of the two spring push members includes two horizontal tenons, which are correspondingly located at top and lower ends of the upright C-shaped spring push member; the horizontal tenons of the spring push members being projected toward a front end of the main body, and the upper and lower transverse sections of the fixing frames being clamped in a vertical space between two upper and two lower horizontal tenons of the spring push members, such that the spring push members and the fixing frames are assembled with each other to form the retaining module for fitting on around the main body; and the two spring push members providing two balanced limiting force to the fixing frames from a right and a left side thereof.
4 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the transverse sections of the fixing frames, which are clamped between the two upper and the two lower horizontal tenons of the two spring push members, are respectively provided at upper and lower outer sides with a recessed portion.
5 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the two C-shaped fixing frames are provided on respective two ends, where the upper and the lower fixing frames are joined, with two insertion holes and two corresponding insertion bosses, such that two fixing frames having the same configuration are up-down symmetrically connected to each other through engagement of the insertion holes with the insertion bosses.
6 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the fixing frames are provided on their respective front side with two pivotal grooves, which are recessed from the same side of the transverse section and located at two lateral ends of the transverse section for pivotally receiving a shaft portion of the pin member therein; and the fixing frames being further provided at a central area of respective transverse section with a gap for receiving the pin member therein.
7 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the transverse sections are provided on respective one side radially facing toward the through openings with a protruded stop portion, and the shaft portions of the pin members being received in the pivotal grooves while the stop portions are abutted on and push against the shaft portions, such that the shaft portions are stopped from moving.
8 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the actuation portions of the pin members respectively have a front end in the form of a curved top end surface; the curved top end surface being extended from two opposite sides thereof to form a front flat pressing surface and a rear flat pressing surface, and a front side wall being formed between the front flat pressing surface and the shaft portion.
9 . The female coupler connection structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the pulling cover includes a linkage portion, which is formed by radially inward reducing a front end of the pulling cover, and the fixing frames having their respective front end pressed against the linkage portion.