Fluid handling – Systems – Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
Patent
1993-04-30
1994-09-06
Michalsky, Gerald A.
Fluid handling
Systems
Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
277215, 285 18, F16L 3728
Patent
active
053438914
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to couplings for fluid lines and particularly though not exclusively to hydraulic couplings which are employed to couple very high pressure hydraulic lines in subsea control systems and similar circumstances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Couplings for high pressure lines, particularly those intended for use subsea, are customarily self-sealing, normally comprising a female coupler or receiver and a male coupler or probe insertable in the receiver. The couplers include mutually engageable means, normally spring loaded poppet valves, which engage when the couplings are mated so the high pressure fluid can flow from one coupler to the other coupler, and seal the ends of the couplers and the lines connected to them when the couplers are disengaged. It is necessary to provide at least one seal between the couplers and normally at least two seals between them in order to prevent egress of hydraulic working fluid from the coupling and, particularly for use subsea, to inhibit ingress of seawater into the interior of the coupling. Such seals are required to be durable and reliable because the couplings are usually required to remain operational for very long periods of time.
Various different forms of seal have been proposed for such couplings. Such forms include crush seals between axially confronting parts of the couplers and more recently pressure-responsive resilient metal seals, usually with a C-section. Examples of the latter form of seal are provided by British Patents Nos. 2183310 and 2201212, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4834139 and 4768538.
Some of the couplings described in the foregoing Patents and also various other forms of coupling have employed a elastomeric seal, usually an O-ring seals, usually as a second seal auxiliary to a metallic crush seal or radial pressure responsive metal seal. Elastomeric seals and particularly elastomeric O-rings are attractive for reasons of reliability and simplicity of design, but have the disadvantage in male/female self-sealing subsea couplings that such seals have a tendency to be displaced when the couplers are parted. On separation of the male and female couplers, there is normally a phase in which there is a tendency for the creation of a vacuum in the space between the couplers and the consequent rapid inrush of external fluid (such as seawater) into the space can dislodge the seal from its location, which is usually an annular recess inside the bore of the female coupler.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention particularly concerns therefore a coupling of the foregoing type wherein simple and reliable means are provided for facilitating the containment of an O-ring seal against inrush of fluid when the male and female couplers are separated.
In a preferred form of the invention, a fluid coupling comprises a female coupler and a male coupler insertable therein, the couplers including mutually engageable self-sealing means for allowing fluid flow between the couplers on the mating thereof, the female coupler having means such as an internal recess which accommodates an elastomeric ring for sealing engagement with the periphery of the male coupler, the male coupler having surface portions which resist displacement of the O-ring from the recess on the withdrawal of the male coupler from the female coupler and at least one channel or passage which allows fluid to flow past the ring while the said portions are resisting the displacement of the ring.
The said portions, which may or may not be integral with the male coupler, may comprise ridges or mesas. There may be several channels spaced around the leading periphery of the male coupler.
The invention also provides in another aspect a subsea fluid coupling comprising a female coupler and a male coupler including mutually engageable means for allowing fluid flow between the couplers on the mating thereof, the male coupler having a leading portion for mating insertion in the female coupler and the female coupler including an annular recess accommodating an elastomeric ring for providing a seal a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3236251 (1966-02-01), Hanson
patent: 4768538 (1988-09-01), Mintz et al.
patent: 5085250 (1992-02-01), Kendrick
patent: 5127661 (1992-07-01), Franson et al.
FSSL Limited
Iandiorio Joseph S.
Lee Kevin L.
Michalsky Gerald A.
Teska Kirk
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