Automatically releasable shut-off coupling
First Claim
1. An automatically releasable shut-off coupling of the type having a stationary module and a break-away module matable one to the other, and together defining a housing having a longitudinal axis, with said break-away module being separable from said stationary module upon separating movement of said break-away module along said longitudinal axis in a separating direction, said coupling being adapted for use in high pressure fluid applications and comprising:
- a substantially straight throughpassage in the housing;
an intermediate carrier member having a first recess positioned therein in substantially transverse relation to said longitudinal axis, said intermediate carrier member being operatively retained within said stationary module for slidable movement relative to the housing of said stationary module along said longitudinal axis in said separating direction from a retracted position to an extended position upon application of a correspondingly longitudinally directed force of threshold value applied to said intermediate carrier member by said break-away module;
first biasing means operatively mounted between the housing of said stationary module and said intermediate carrier member so as to bias said intermediate carrier member toward said retracted position;
a locking element operatively retained by said intermediate carrier member in said first recess for movement substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis between a locked position, corresponding to said retracted position of said intermediate carrier member, at which locked position said locking element partially enters a cooperating second recess positioned in said break-away module, thereby to preclude relative movement of said break-away module relative to said intermediate carrier member, and an unlocked position, corresponding to said extended position of said carrier member, at which unlocked position said locking element is in register with a cooperating third recess positioned in the housing of said stationary module in substantially transverse relation to said longitudinal axis;
cooperating first and second ramp portions disposed on said second recess and said locking element, respectively, said first and second ramp portions being shaped and dimensioned so as to be engaged in operative contact one with the other when said intermediate carrier member is in said extended position, such that said locking element is forcibly ejected radially outwardly from said second recess, thereby permitting relative movement of said break-away module relative to said intermediate carrier member; and
,first and second valve members operatively mounted on said stationary and break-away modules, respectively, for selectively blocking said throughpassage, thereby to preclude fluid flow through said throughpassage when said stationary module and said break-away module are separated one from the other, as aforesaid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatically releasable shut-off coupling, for use in high pressure fluid applications, has matable and separable stationary and break-away modules forming a housing having a substantially straight throughpassage. An intermediate carrier member is slidably retained within the stationary module for movement from a retracted position to an extended position, upon application of a threshold value force by the break-away module. A locking element is retained in a first recess in the intermediate carrier member for movement between a locked position, corresponding to the retracted position of the intermediate carrier member, at which locked position the locking element partially enters a cooperating second recess in the break-away module, thereby to preclude movement of the break-away module relative to the intermediate carrier member, and an unlocked position, corresponding to the extended position of the carrier member, at which unlocked position the locking element is in register with a cooperating third recess in the housing of the stationary module. First and second ramp portions disposed on the second recess and the locking element, respectively, contact each other when the intermediate carrier member is in its extended position, such that the locking element is forcibly ejected radially outwardly from the second recess, thereby permitting movement of the break-away module relative to the intermediate carrier member. Fluid flow precluding valves block the throughpassage when the stationary module and the break-away module are separated one from the other.
14 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An automatically releasable shut-off coupling of the type having a stationary module and a break-away module matable one to the other, and together defining a housing having a longitudinal axis, with said break-away module being separable from said stationary module upon separating movement of said break-away module along said longitudinal axis in a separating direction, said coupling being adapted for use in high pressure fluid applications and comprising:
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a substantially straight throughpassage in the housing; an intermediate carrier member having a first recess positioned therein in substantially transverse relation to said longitudinal axis, said intermediate carrier member being operatively retained within said stationary module for slidable movement relative to the housing of said stationary module along said longitudinal axis in said separating direction from a retracted position to an extended position upon application of a correspondingly longitudinally directed force of threshold value applied to said intermediate carrier member by said break-away module; first biasing means operatively mounted between the housing of said stationary module and said intermediate carrier member so as to bias said intermediate carrier member toward said retracted position; a locking element operatively retained by said intermediate carrier member in said first recess for movement substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis between a locked position, corresponding to said retracted position of said intermediate carrier member, at which locked position said locking element partially enters a cooperating second recess positioned in said break-away module, thereby to preclude relative movement of said break-away module relative to said intermediate carrier member, and an unlocked position, corresponding to said extended position of said carrier member, at which unlocked position said locking element is in register with a cooperating third recess positioned in the housing of said stationary module in substantially transverse relation to said longitudinal axis; cooperating first and second ramp portions disposed on said second recess and said locking element, respectively, said first and second ramp portions being shaped and dimensioned so as to be engaged in operative contact one with the other when said intermediate carrier member is in said extended position, such that said locking element is forcibly ejected radially outwardly from said second recess, thereby permitting relative movement of said break-away module relative to said intermediate carrier member; and
,first and second valve members operatively mounted on said stationary and break-away modules, respectively, for selectively blocking said throughpassage, thereby to preclude fluid flow through said throughpassage when said stationary module and said break-away module are separated one from the other, as aforesaid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification