Fluid handling – Systems – Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2001-05-29
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
C137S614000, C137S535000, C137S543210, C251S148000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237633
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fluid disconnect system of the type commonly used in flow lines. More particularly, this invention relates to a fluid disconnect system which may be used along a flexible flow line which connects a fluid transport vehicle with a stationary bulkhead. The disconnect system of the present invention offers very low emission of fluid during a disconnect operation, thereby saving fluid and reducing environmental contamination. The disconnect system of the present invention also provides a simplified disconnect which both reduces manufacturing costs and facilitates assembly and disassembly of the disconnect.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fluid disconnects in flow lines are used in various applications, including flow lines which interconnect an anhydrous ammonia bulkhead with a portable transport. The primary purpose of the disconnect is the ease of separation along this flow line, along with the ease of reconnecting the flow line to another portable transport.
While various types of disconnects are commercially available, many of these disconnects allow for a significant loss of fluid during disconnect separation. Each time the disconnect is separated, a sizeable amount of fluid escapes before the disconnect valves seal, and this escaping fluid, in addition to the fluid which is normally spaced between the closed valves of the disconnect, escapes to the atmosphere. This loss of fluid commonly is at least several hundred CCs of liquid, and the lost fluid either contaminates the soil surrounding the bulkhead station or vaporizes to contaminate the atmosphere. Other fluid disconnect systems cannot operate reliably at high fluid flow rates and/or high pressure, thereby limiting the use of the disconnect in systems where the time required to transmit fluid through the flexible flow line is at a premium.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention. An improved flow emission disconnect system is hereinafter disclosed which is particularly suitable for use in a flexible flow line extending from a transport to a bulkhead. The fluid disconnect system is rated at a high flow rate and a high pressure, and most importantly the disconnect system results in a very slight loss of fluid as a result of the disconnect operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A low emission disconnect is provided for positioning along a fluid flow line, e.g., along a flexible flow line interconnecting an anhydrous ammonia bulkhead with a portable transport. The disconnect includes a valve body with a ball mounted therein and rotatable about a stem axis, a union housing, and a female body for threaded engagement with the valve body to bring the union housing into seal engagement with the valve body. A poppet member within the union housing is linearly moveable from an opened position to a closed position, and has a upstream end surface substantially conforming to an exterior surface of the ball when the ball is closed. An upstream end of the poppet member has an exterior cylindrical surface for guided engagement with the interior cylindrical surface on the union housing, and one or more guide member provide for guiding movement of the poppet member with respect to the union housing between the opened and the closed position. A coil spring biases the poppet member in the closed position.
Certain features of the invention as set forth above are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/531,634 filed Mar. 21, 2000. The present invention is directed primarily to a disconnect that is easy to assemble and disassemble while providing a simplified disconnect with a reduced manufacturing cost. The poppet member has an axially extending stem and a spring about the stem urges the poppet member closed. Further, a hydrostat for the union housing includes a check valve and is mounted on the union housing which receives the poppet member to relieve any excess fluid pressure within the union housing.
An annular seal on the poppet member may be easily replaced. The ease of disassembly of the disconnect facilitates the replacement of the annular seal. A rear end fitting for the union housing may be threaded onto the housing and a hydrostat effective when mounted on the housing to releasably connect the union housing and end fitting in a releasably locked position. The disconnect of the present invention may be reliably used by relatively inexperienced personnel.
It is an object of the invention to provide a low emission disconnect which may be reliably used along a flexible flow line, wherein the disconnect components, when disconnected, result in a very low loss of the fluid being ransported through the disconnect. A related object of the invention is to provide a disconnect which does not substantially restrict the flow of fluid along the flow line when the disconnect is in the opened position.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a low emission disconnect including a poppet valve member having a stem extending axially therefrom and a spring about the stem for urging the poppet member closed. The utilization of an axial stem facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the disconnect and reduces manufacturing costs.
It is a feature of the invention that the disconnect include a poppet member which is linearly moveable along a relatively long stroke length between the opened and the closed positions, thereby resulting in a relatively low pressure drop across the disconnect when a high volume of fluid is transmitted through the disconnect.
A further feature of the invention is to provide mechanism to relieve the fluid pressure within the union housing utilizing a hydrostat enclosing a check valve, with the hydrostat also serving to releasably lock a rear end fitting to the union housing.
A significant advantage of the low emission disconnect is that the disconnect may be reliably used by relatively inexperienced personnel.
These and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanied drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a simplified pictorial view of a low emissions disconnect according to the present invention positioned along a flexible flow line interconnecting a bulkhead with a transport.
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view of the disconnect shown in
FIG. 1
in the disconnected position.
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view of the disconnect shown in
FIG. 2
in the connected position.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of the disconnect shown in
FIG. 2
with fluid flowing through the disconnect.
FIG. 5
illustrates the ball valve shown in
FIGS. 2-4
adapted for mating engagement with a conventional union housing and female body.
FIG. 6
illustrates the components shown in
FIG. 5
in the connected position.
FIG. 7
is a simplified pictorial view of another embodiment of a low emission disconnect according to the present invention positioned along a flexible flow line interconnecting a bulkhead with a transport.
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view of the disconnect embodiment shown in
FIG. 7
with the ball valve member in a closed position.
FIG. 9
is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of
FIGS. 7 and 8
showing the union housing removed from the ball valve member with the poppet ember shown in a closed position.
FIG. 10
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 9
but showing the poppet ember and spring in an opened position.
FIG. 11
is a rear end elevation view of the union housing of
FIG. 9
showing a rear end piece and a mounting plate therein for guiding the axial stem and supporting the spring for the poppet member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4023773 (1977-05-01), Wise
patent: 4124036 (1978-11-01), Rogers
patent: 5215121 (1993-06-01), Michl
patent: 5546976 (1996-08-01), Farguhar
patent: 5855225 (1999-01-01), Williams, III
patent: 6056012 (2000-05-01), Yuen et al.
patent: 6155295 (2000-12-01), Nimberger
Bushman Browning
Lee Kevin
PGI International Ltd.
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