Ball coupler

1. A ball coupler having a longitudinal axis and comprising:

a male tubular endpiece;

a female tubular endpiece;

a tubular sleeve extending the female endpiece and presenting slots for forming a cage for retaining balls for blocking the male endpiece in the female endpiece; and

a grip coaxial about the sleeve and mounted to turn thereon about the longitudinal axis of the coupler between at least two angular positions relative to the sleeve, the grip possessing housing means for housing each ball, said housing means comprising for each ball:

a first setback facing the corresponding slot when the grip is in a first position in order to retain the ball in question in a position for blocking the connection;

a second setback offset angularly relative to the first setback and connected thereto so as to receive the blocking ball in a position for unblocking the connection when the grip is in a second position; and

resilient return means for urging the grip into its first position;

wherein said return means comprise, in the grip, a ring that is constrained to turn with the grip and that is movable axially relative thereto, said ring presenting two end surfaces, one of which faces towards a shoulder of the sleeve for slidably bearing thereagainst to co-operate in reversibly transforming turning movement of the grip into axial movement of the ring relative to said grip, and the other of which forms the bearing face for a compression spring tending to urge said ring against said shoulder.

2. A ball coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the shoulder of the sleeve presents a projection turned towards the ring, with the end surface of the ring that faces the projection constituting, for said projection, an unstable bearing surface in the form of a ramp extending between two points that are axially offset relative to each other, the point of the ramp that is furthest from the shoulder being associated with an angular abutment for the projection in such a manner as to position the grip and the sleeve at a specific angular position in spite of the resilient return means urging the grip towards the shoulder of the sleeve.

3. A ball coupler according to claim 2 , including, in the grip, an annular setback into which the first setback opens out axially in such a manner as to receive the balls in an unblocking position, and a second ring mounted in the annular setback for sliding between a position in which the second ring releases the annular setback, and a position in which the second ring closes the annular setback, and towards which the second ring is urged resiliently, pushing the balls into their first setback, and wherein the compression spring is placed between said two rings, and wherein the end surface of the ring facing towards the shoulder has two mutually adjacent ramps at the point where the grip is angularly positioned relative to the sleeve.

4. A ball coupler according to claim 1 , including, in the grip, an annular setback into which the first setback opens out axially in such a manner as to receive the balls in an unblocking position, and a second ring mounted in the annular setback for sliding between a position in which the second ring releases the annular setback, and a position in which the second ring closes the annular setback, and towards which the second ring is urged resiliently, pushing the balls into their first setback, and wherein the compression spring is placed between said two rings.