BALANCED PRESSURE COUPLING

• US 3,613,726 A
• Filed: 12/02/1965
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1965
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Purolator Courier Limited (Government of Canada)
• Original Assignee: Jorge Torres
• Inventors: Torres, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, M. Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matthews, David R.
• Application Number:
  US04/517,208
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: 137/613,614,614.01,614.02,614.03,614.04,614.05,614.06,614.11,614.13,614.19 251/89,89.5,149.9 277/180 285/86,277,315,316
• US Class Current: 137/614.03
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/34 at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve is telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both

Abstract

1. A coupling assembly for releasably interconnecting a first passage means and a second passage means for flow of pressurized fluid between the two passage means, comprising: A FIRST COUPLING MEANS AND A SECOND COUPLING MEANS FOR MOUNTING ON THE ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PASSAGE MEANS RESPECTIVELY, SAID TWO COUPLING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO MATE TO PLACE THE TWO PASSAGE MEANS IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER, SAID TWO COUPLING MEANS WHEN MATED HAVING OPPOSED SURFACES OF EQUAL AREA EXPOSED TO THE PRESSURE OF THE CONFINED FLUID WITH EQUAL CENTRAL PORTIONS OF SAID OPPOSED SURFACES ON THE TWO COUPLING MEANS RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID CENTRAL PORTIONS VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE TO KEEP THE PRESSURIZED FLUID FROM CREATING SEPARATION PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID EQUAL CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE OPPOSED SURFACES, THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID OPPOSED SURFACES BEING OF EQUAL AREA AND BEING CONNECTED TO ONLY ONE OF SAID COUPLING MEANS WHEN THE TWO COUPLING MEANS ARE MATED TO TRANSMIT THE OPPOSITE FLUID PRESSURES TO THE SAME COUPLING MEANS TO KEEP THE OPPOSITE FLUID PRESSURES FROM EXERTING SEPARATION PRESSURE BETWEEN THE TWO COUPLING MEANS OVER THE AREA OF SAID REMAINING PORTIONS OF THE OPPOSED SURFACES, SAID TWO COUPLING MEANS WHEN MATED FORMING A CONTINUOUS FLUID PASSAGE IN WHICH THE DIRECTION OF FLOW AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE TWO COUPLING MEANS IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE COMMON AXIS OF THE TWO COUPLING MEANS.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly for releasably interconnecting a first passage means and a second passage means for flow of pressurized fluid between the two passage means, comprising:

a first coupling means and a second coupling means for mounting on the ends of said first and second passage means respectively, said two coupling means being adapted to mate to place the two passage means in fluid communication with each other, said two coupling means when mated having opposed surfaces of equal area exposed to the pressure of the confined fluid with equal central portions of said opposed surfaces on the two coupling means respectively with said central portions vented to the atmosphere to keep the pressurized fluid from creating separation pressure between said equal central portions of the opposed surfaces, the remaining portions of said opposed surfaces being of equal area and being connected to only one of said coupling means when the two coupling means are mated to transmit the opposite fluid pressures to the same coupling means to keep the opposite fluid pressures from exerting separation pressure between the two coupling means over the area of said remaining portions of the opposed surfaces, said two coupling means when mated forming a continuous fluid passage in which the direction of flow at the juncture of the two coupling means is perpendicular to the common axis of the two coupling means.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

a first sleeve valve in said first body with the rearward area of the sleeve valve in communication with the atmosphere;

spring means normally holding said sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

a second coupling body adapted to mate with the first coupling body and dimensioned to abut and retract said sleeve valve in response to relative movement of the two bodies axially towards each other;

means responsive to retraction of said sleeve valve by said second body to releasably interlock the sleeve valve with the second body;

a second sleeve valve in said second body; and

spring means normally holding said second sleeve valve at an advanced closed position, said first sleeve valve being free from connection with said first coupling body when the two coupling bodies are mated whereby the two coupling bodies may be freely separated from each other in response to mechanical axial force without mechanical interference.

3. A coupling assembly for interconnecting two fluid passage means, comprising:

a first coupling body;

a first sleeve valve in said first body;

spring means normally holding said sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

a second coupling body adapted to mate with the first coupling body and dimensioned to abut and retract said first sleeve valve in response to relative movement of the two bodies axially towards each other;

a second sleeve valve in said second body;

spring means normally holding said second sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

means inside the first body to abut and retract the second sleeve valve in response to said relative movement between the two bodies;

passage means in one of said bodies to place the region in front of said insIde means in communication with the atmosphere to avoid separation pressure in the central region when the two coupling bodies are mated;

means responsive to retraction of said first sleeve valve by said second body to releasably interlock the first sleeve valve with the second body.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said two coupling bodies, when mated, form a continuous fluid passage in which the direction of flow at the juncture of the two coupling bodies is perpendicular to the common axis of the two coupling bodies.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said means to releasably interlock the first sleeve valve with the second body comprises latch means carried by the first sleeve valve and a cooperating surface of the first body to cam the latch means into engagement with the second body in response to relative movement between the first sleeve valve and the first body.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said means to releasably interlock the first sleeve valve with the second body comprises:

latch means carried by the first sleeve valve; and

a locking sleeve embracing the first sleeve valve inside the first body, said locking sleeve having a cam surface to move said latch means into engagement with the second body in response to relative movement between the first sleeve valve and the locking sleeve.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 which includes a second outer locking sleeve and latch means cooperative therewith to interlock the two bodies.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 3 which includes manually releasable means to directly interconnect the first and second coupling bodies in response to mating of the two bodies.

9. A coupling assembly for interconnecting two fluid passage means, comprising:

a first coupling body;

a first sleeve valve in said first body with the rearward region of the sleeve valve in communication with the atmosphere;

spring means normally holding said sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

a second coupling body adapted to mate with the first coupling body and dimensioned to abut and retract said first sleeve valve in response to relative movement of the two bodies axially towards each other;

means responsive to retraction of said first sleeve valve by said second body to releasably interlock the sleeve valve with the second body;

a second sleeve valve in said second body;

means inside the first body to abut and retract the second sleeve valve in response to said relative movement between the two bodies;

passage means in one of said bodies to place the region in front of said inside means in communication with the atmosphere to avoid separation pressure in the central region when the two coupling bodies are mated, said second sleeve valve having a radially inwardly extending transverse wall;

cylindrical guide means for said second sleeve valve inside the second sleeve valve and forming therewith a spring chamber; and

spring means in said chamber to urge said second sleeve valve towards its advanced closed position, the region in front of said transverse wall being vented to said chamber and said chamber being vented to the atmosphere to avoid separation pressure in said region when the two bodies are interlocked.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said two coupling bodies when mated form a continuous fluid passage in which the direction of flow at the juncture of the two coupling bodies is perpendicular to the common axis of the two coupling bodies.

11. A coupling assembly for interconnecting two fluid passage means, comprising:

a first coupling body;

a first sleeve valve in said first body with the rearward region of the sleeve valve in communication with the atmosphere;

spring means normally holding said sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

a second coupling body adapted to mate with the first coupling body and dimensioned to abut and retract saId first sleeve valve in response to relative movement of the two bodies axially towards each other;

a second sleeve valve in said second body;

spring means normally holding said second sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

means inside the first body to abut and retract the second sleeve valve in response to said relative movement between the two bodies;

passage means in one of said bodies to place the region in front of said inside means in communication with the atmosphere to avoid separation pressure in the central region when the two coupling bodies are mated; and

means responsive to retraction of said first sleeve valve by said second body to releasably interlock the sleeve valve with the first body thereby to interlock the two bodies.

12. A coupling assembly for interconnecting two fluid passage means, comprising:

a first coupling body;

a first sleeve valve in said first body with the rearward surface of the sleeve valve in communication with the atmosphere;

a cylindrical guide in said first body for said first sleeve valve, said sleeve valve slidingly embracing the guide and the guide having a radial port controlled by the first sleeve valve;

spring means normally holding said sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

a second coupling body adapted to mate with the first coupling body and dimensioned to abut and retract said sleeve valve in response to relative movement of the two bodies axially towards each other, said second coupling body being adapted to slidingly and sealingly engage said cylindrical guide of the first body to seal off the first sleeve valve from the confined fluid when the two coupling bodies are mated with the first sleeve valve open;

a second sleeve valve in said second body;

spring means normally holding said second sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

means inside the first body to abut and retract the second sleeve valve in response to said relative movement between the two bodies; and

passage means in one of said bodies to place the region in front of said inside means in communication with the atmosphere to avoid separation pressure in the central region when the two coupling bodies are mated.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 which includes means responsive to retraction of said first sleeve valve by said second body to releasably interlock the first sleeve valve with the second body.

14. A coupling assembly for releasably interconnecting a first passage means and a second passage means for flow of pressurized fluid between the two passage means, comprising:

a first coupling means and a second coupling means for mounting on the ends of said first and second passage means respectively, said two coupling means being adapted to mate to place the two passage means in fluid communication with each other, said two coupling means when mated having opposed surfaces extending over a central part of their cross-sectional area with said opposed surfaces vented to the atmosphere and sealed off from the pressurized fluid, said two coupling means when mated having a first surface area located to be subjected to the pressure of the fluid in one axial direction and a second surface area coextensive with said first surface area located to be subjected to the pressure of the fluid in the opposite axial direction, said first and second surface areas extending over the remaining portion of the cross-sectional area of the mated couplings, said first surface area being on said second coupling means and at least a portion of said second surface area being a forwardly facing surface of a member of said first coupling means whereby fluid pressure separation force is exerted between said member and the second coupling means, said member being mounted in said first coupling means for relative movement in said opposite axial direction and having its rear surface vented to make the member responsive to the fluid pressure on iTs forwardly facing surface; and

means to releasably connect said member of the first coupling means with said second coupling means to transmit said separation force from said member to the second coupling means thereby to keep the opposite axial fluid pressures on said first and second surface areas from tending to separate said first and second coupling means.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said releasably connecting means is responsive to relative movement between the two coupling means.

16. A coupling assembly for releasably interconnecting a first passage means and a second passage means for flow of pressurized fluid between the two passage means, comprising:

a first coupling body and a second coupling body for mounting on the ends of said first and second passage means respectively, said two coupling bodies being adapted to telescope together to place the two passage means in fluid communication with each other;

a first valve member positioned in said first coupling body for retraction by the second coupling body from a normal forward closed position through an initial range of closed positions to an open position, the rearward area of said valve member being in communication with the atmosphere;

a second valve member positioned in said second coupling body for retraction by the first coupling body from a normal forward closed position to a rearward open position, said two coupling bodies when telescoped together having a first surface area positioned to be subjected to the fluid pressure in one axial direction and a second equal surface area positioned to be subjected to the fluid pressure in the opposite axial direction, all of said first surface area and a portion of said second surface area being on said second coupling body, the remaining portion of said second surface area being a forwardly facing surface of said first valve member; and

means to latch said first valve member to said second coupling body while said second valve is closed in response to retraction of said first valve member within said initial range and vice versa whereby said first valve member is always latched to the second coupling body whenever the first and second valve members are in open positions.

17. A coupling assembly for interconnecting two fluid passage means, comprising:

a first coupling body;

a first sleeve valve in said first body with the rearward surface of the sleeve valve in communication with the atmosphere;

spring means normally holding said sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

a second coupling body adapted to mate with the first coupling body and dimensioned to abut and retract said sleeve valve in response to relative movement of the two bodies axially towards each other;

means responsive to retraction of said sleeve valve by said second body to releasably interlock the sleeve valve with the second body;

a second sleeve valve in said second body;

spring means normally holding said second sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

means inside the first body to abut and retract the second sleeve valve in response to said relative movement between the two bodies; and

passage means in one of said bodies to place the region in front of said inside means in communication with the atmosphere to avoid separation pressure in the region when the two coupling bodies are mated, said first sleeve valve being free from connection with said first coupling body when the two coupling bodies are mated whereby the two coupling bodies may be freely separated from each other in response to axial force without mechanical interference.

18. A coupling assembly for interconnecting two fluid passage means, comprising:

a first coupling body;

a first sleeve valve in said first body with the rearward surface of the sleeve valve in communication with the atmosphere;

a cylindrical guide in said first body for said first sleeve valve, said sleeve valve slIdingly embracing the guide and the guide having a radial port controlled by the first sleeve valve;

annular sealing means embracing said cylindrical guide;

spring means normally holding said sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

a second coupling body adapted to mate with the first coupling body, said second coupling body having a forward circumferential flange extending radially inwardly and dimensioned to abut and retract said first sleeve valve to move the first sleeve valve to open position and to telescope over said cylindrical guide in sealing contact with said sealing means to seal off the first sleeve valve at its open position from the fluid confined by the two coupling bodies;

a second sleeve valve in said second body;

spring means normally holding said second sleeve valve at an advanced closed position;

means inside the first body to abut and retract the second sleeve valve in response to relative movement of the two bodies axially towards each other; and

passage means in one of said bodies to place the region in front of said inside means in communication with the atmosphere to avoid separation pressure in the central region when the two coupling bodies are mated.

19. In a coupling assembly wherein two coupling bodies, with a sleeve valve in at least one of the two bodies mate for fluid flow therethrough with fluid flowing from one body to the other body through a juncture zone bounded by two spaced annular sealing means and wherein the two coupling bodies are balanced with respect to opposite surfaces under static pressure to prevent the creation of a separation force between the two bodies by static pressure, the improvement to prevent the creation of a separation force between the two bodies in reaction to change in direction of the flow of the fluid at the juncture zone, comprising:

the fluid passage formed by the two interlocked coupling bodies being characterized by radial flow from one coupling body to the other at said juncture zone perpendicular to the common axis of the two coupling bodies as distinguished from flow at an angle of less than 90* relative to the common axis.