Fluid handling – Destructible or deformable element controlled – Destructible element
Patent
1984-07-30
1990-05-01
Fox, John
Fluid handling
Destructible or deformable element controlled
Destructible element
285 4, F16L 2900
Patent
active
049210009
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to so-called break-away couplings for incorporation in hoselines, pipelines or the like, to minimise or eliminate spillage in the event of breaking of the line.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a break-away coupling which is of simple and robust construction and satisfactorily safe in operation.
According to the present invention there is provided a break-away coupling device for use with a hoseline or pipeline, comprising a first coupling member of generally tubular form for connection at its one end to a hoseline, pipeline or other fluid-supply or fluid-delivery point, and provided at its other end with a face to be held in sealing engagement with a complementary face of a second coupling member; frangible means holding said faces in sealing engagement; said first coupling member further comprising a valve seat and a valve member, and spring means urging the valve member towards closing engagement with said seat but the valve member usually being held against said spring means out of engagement with the valve seat until said coupling members are separated on breaking of the frangible means; and, separating means to apply pressure between said coupling members which will break said frangible means and separate said faces and said coupling members.
Said second coupling member may also be of generally tubular form and for connection at its one end to a fluid-supply or fluid-delivery point, and also provided at its other end with a face to be held in sealing engagement with the complementary face of the first coupling member; said second coupling member further comprising a valve seat and a valve member, spring means urging the valve member towards closing engagement with said seat but the valve member usually being held against said spring means out of engagement with the valve seat until said coupling members are separated on breaking of the frangible means.
Suitably, said separating means comprise an annular channel in the face of one of said coupling members and an annular piston or ram slidably nesting in said channel, whereby the application of fluid pressure to the base of said channel will drive the piston or ram to engage the face of said other coupling member and separate the coupling members.
Preferably, said frangible means comprise a plurality of frangible connectors each of which has one end length of spatulate shape and formed with a through opening to receive a fixing pin, a screwed length at the other end to receive a nut or the like, and an intermediate length of reduced section.
Locating sockets may be formed in the face of one of said coupling members, with locating spigots projecting from the face of the other coupling members to engage said locating sockets and resist relative rotation of the coupling members. Also, dash-pot devices may be provided to restrict the rate of closing of the valve members.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation showing one form of break-away coupling according to the invention, for incorporation in a hoseline;
FIG. 2 is a section on the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 1; and,
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a modified form of coupling according to the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the break-away coupling comprises two members having shaped body parts 10 and 11 of generally tubular form which are formed at their adjacent ends with cooperating sealing faces 12 and 13. At their remote ends, the parts are formed with bored flanges 14, 15 for connection to the ends of lengths of a hoseline (not shown) for the delivery of hazardous fluid such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
The parts 10 and 11 are also each formed with flanges 16 and 17, respectively, which are coupled together by three frangible connectors 18. As shown in FIG. 1, each connector 18 has at one end a spatulate blade 19 formed with a bore for a fixing pin 2
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King Frank E.
Lang Reginald W.
Fox John
Wray James C.
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