Positive isolation disconnect

• US 4,103,712 A
• Filed: 12/15/1976
• Issued: 08/01/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fletcher James C Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration With Respect To An Invention of, Morley V. Friedell
• Original Assignee: Fletcher James C Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration With Respect To An Invention of, Morley V. Friedell
• Inventors: Fletcher, James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of, Friedell, Morley V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US05/750,792
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.06, 137/637.05, 251/111, 251/149.9, 285/309, 285/312, 285/314, 285/326, 285/359, 285/394, 285/395
• US Class Current: 137/637.05
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/107 Bayonet-type couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/20 Joints tightened by toggle-action levers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/26 in which the connection is made by transversely moving the parts together, with or without their subsequent rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/36 with two lift valves being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87105 Correlated across separable flow path joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87973 Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator

Abstract

A disconnect composed basically of two halves each consisting of a poppet valve operable to isolate fluid with essentially zero fluid loss. The two halves are coupled together by a quickly releasable coupling which may be either a coupling ring tightened or loosened by a twisting motion, or a clamp operated by a pivoted handle. In either case an interlock device is provided to prevent disconnecting the two halves until both valves are in closed condition.

The "positive" feature of the device is one requiring a valve closing step before a disconnect step, and takes structural form in an eccentric lobe mounted on the valve operating stem. If some obstruction prevents the poppet from moving to its seat, the eccentric lobe cannot be rotated to the closed position, and the interlock prevents a disconnect.

Claims

1. A positive isolation quick-disconnect comprising:

(a) A pair of axially separable valve housing members having through-bores communicating when said housings are coupled at an interface to form a passage therethrough, wherein the coupled ends of said housings are radially outwardly flanged and spaced away from said interface, and wherein one of said housings is provided with a pair of radially outwardly extending coaxial, fixed stub shafts;

(b) a poppet valve axially slidable within each of said housings and disposed in coaxial, end-to-end relationship with their abuting ends capable of forming a fluid-tight interface;

(c) a valve seat in each of said housings for sealingly engaging said valves at said interface;

(d) an operating stem engaging each of said valves for controlling the positions of said valves, said stems extending through said housings for external manipulation of said valves through their open and closed positions;

(e) clamping means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said housings, said clamping means comprising (1) a pair of cross-linked pivot legs disposed on opposite sides of said one housing, each said pivot leg having a cylindrical boss with an eccentric opening therethrough for receiving one of said housing stub shafts extending radially therethrough, said eccentric openings being coaxial with one another and said pivot legs being cross linked for common rotation, and (2) a generally U-shaped clamping yoke having a pair of generally parallel arms each with one free end and a crossarm joining the other ends of said parallel arms, said free ends being provided with a pair of opposed, transverse coaxial cylindrical openings for receiving said cylindrical bosses of said pivot legs in rotatable relationship, said parallel arms being generally disposed to straddle said one housing and parallel to the axis thereof, and said crossarm of said yoke being disposed to matingly engage said end flanges of said other housing, said clamping means having a relaxed position in one rotary position of said pivot legs in which no pulling force is exerted through said yoke and said flanges are separated by a gap, and an engaged position in a second rotary position of said pivot legs in which a pulling force is exerted through said clamping yoke to eliminate said gap and thereby clamp said flanges together in sealing, fluid-flow relationship; and

(f) interlock means between said valve operating stems and said clamping means to permit release of the clamping means only when both of said valves are in the closed position.

2. The disconnect of claim 1 in which said cross link of said pivot legs of said clamping means comprises a plate member having a pair of apertures therethrough and said operating stems protrude from their housing with the same azimuthal orientation and each said operating stem is equipped with an indicating collar which is circular except for one flat edge, said plate member in the engaged position of said clamping means being disposed closely above said valve housings, and below said collars, with said apertures surrounding the two operating stems, said apertures having the same general shape as said indicating collars and dimensions only slightly greater, and being oriented to pass over said collar only when said collars are oriented in positions corresponding to the fully closed positions of said valves, whereby when either valve is partly open one or both of said collars will overlie a portion of said plate adjacent one of said apertures and prevent movement of said plate, thus preventing a disconnect when either valve is open.

3. The disconnect of claim 2 further comprising a plunger pin mounted in each said housing adjacent said indicating collar, said plunger pin having an extended position engaging said collar to prevent rotation of said operating stem and a disengaged or depressed position in which it permits rotation, said plunger pin being moved from extended to depressed position by said clamping means plate as said plate swings into engaged position above the valve bodies.