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Breakaway pipe coupling with automatically closed valves

  • US 4,351,351 A
  • Filed: 08/07/1980
  • Issued: 09/28/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A breakaway pipe coupling comprising:

  • (a) first and second pipe sections, said first pipe section coaxially joining with said second pipe section in a sealed relationship;

    (b) valve means situated within at least one of said pipe sections for regulating fluid flow therethrough;

    (c) retaining means associated with said valve means for holding said valve means in an opened position when said first and second sections are joined together; and

    (d) load control means extending between said first and second pipe sections for securing said sections together, said load control means including a cylindrical housing secured to one of said pipe sections and extending axially over the other of said pipe sections, a radially extending cutting collar formed at one end of said cylindrical housing, said cutting collar engaging an exterior portion of the other of said pipe sections and cutting thereinto when said pipe sections separate, said load control means adapted to yield in response to a sustained tensile load exceeding a predetermined limit, thereby allowing said pipe sections to separate at a rate dependent on the magnitude and rate of said tensile loading and whereby said retaining means are disengaged and said valve means are permitted to shut, thereby terminating flow through said pipe sections at a rate proportional to the rate at which said sections separate.

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