Air Tool Quick Coupler Types - Military

by Jerry C.
(Huntsville AL)

Until recently, I worked as a contractor for the military. In all of our shops, the air outlets accepted a particular type of coupler which I've never seen anywhere else. It's a very simple, conical shaped fitting (male side). The female half of the couplers have a couple of small plates inside that grip the groove in the male plug. To disconnect your tool or whatever from the female end, you twist the female coupler slightly and the male end just pops right out.

Now I have all these conical male plugs on all of my air tools and I cannot find female couplers for my own shop or more plugs for new tools I've acquired.

Nobody seems to sell or even mention this type of coupler. Do you know anything about it? What is it called? Who makes it? Are there multiple makers or is it a proprietary style available only to the military? What's the story?

Thanks! Any info you have or find would be great.

Jerry

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Bill is puzzled too...

Hi Jerry. Welcome to this website. Thanks for writing in, and including the excellent photo.

One of the things that the military is good for is specifying arcane or unusual items as their standard. This connector is one of those, I suspect.

Can you ask the stores people on the last military base where you worked if they can identify the origin?

Otherwise, here's hoping someone out there recognizes this air connector (and it's mating coupler) and posts a comment.

Cheers,

Bill