Dry break coupling assembly

• US 6,945,273 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Banjo Corporation (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Banjo Corporation (RELX PLC)
• Inventors: Reid, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/957,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.06, 137/614.01, 137/614.02, 251/149.9
• US Class Current: 137/614.06
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/244 the coupling being co-axial with the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/373 with two taps or cocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87973 Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator

Abstract

A dry break coupling assembly for interconnecting components of a fluid handling system. The coupling assembly includes first and second valves, each includes a rotatable valve element for opening and closing a fluid passageway within a valve body. The over-center clamp mechanism is for interlocking the first and the second valves when the valves are in a connected arrangement, allowing the valves to be easily disconnected when the valves are in a closed position, having a pair of projecting bars disposed on an outer surface of a body of a first valve and a pair of clamp assemblies disposed on a body of the second valve. Each clamp assembly includes a clamp arm having a hook end for engaging one of the projecting bars, and a clamp lever for actuating the hook end to engage or disengage the projecting bar. A yoke assembly is for operatively locking the over-center clamp when the second valve is in an open position, and an automatic locking assembly on each valve for locking the valve into a closed position when they are disconnected.

Claims

1. A dry break coupling assembly for interconnecting and controlling fluid flow between first and second components in a fluid handling system, the coupling assembly comprising:

a first valve attachable to the first fluid handling system component, said first valve including;

a first body defining a first valve connection end and a first fluid passageway,

a first valve element rotatably supported within said first body, said first valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position,

a first handle operatively connected to said first valve element for rotating said first valve element between said open position and said closed position;

a second valve attachable to the second fluid handling system component, said second valve including;

a second body defining a second valve connection end and a second fluid passageway,

a second valve element rotatably supported within said second body, said second valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position,

a second handle operatively connected to said second valve element for rotating said second valve element between said open position and said closed position,

wherein said first valve and said second valve are movable relative to each other between a disconnected arrangement and a connected arrangement, wherein said first and second valve connection ends are disposed in facing relationship when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement;

an over-center clamp mechanism for interlocking said first valve to said second valve when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement, said over-center clamp being releasable when said first and second valve elements are disposed in the closed position, wherein when said over-center clamp mechanism is released, said first and said second valves are movable into the disconnected arrangement; and

wherein said first and second valves are rotatable with respect to one another when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement.

2. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second valves are rotatable at an angle up to 20°

in any direction with respect to one another.

3. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein said over-center clamp mechanism comprises:

a pair of projecting bars disposed on an outer surface of said first body of said first valve;

a pair of clamp assemblies disposed on said second body of said second valve, each of said clamp assembly including;

a clamp arm having a hook end for engaging one of said projecting bars, and

a clamp lever for actuating said hook end to engage or disengage said projecting bars.

4. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 3, wherein each of said projecting bars defines a recess for receiving said hook end of said clamp arm.

5. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 3 further comprising a first cap configured to engage said second valve connection end of said second valve when said first and second valves are disposed in the disconnected arrangement, said first cap defining a pair of ridges for receiving said hook ends of said clamp arms of said second valves.

6. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 3 further comprising a second cap configured to engage said first valve connection end of said first valve when said first and second valves are disposed in the disconnected arrangement, said second cap including a pair of clamp assemblies, each clamp assembly including:

a clamp arm having a hook end for engaging one of said projecting bars of said first valve, and

a clamp lever for actuating said hook end to engage or disengage said projecting bar.

7. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second valves further comprising means for preventing rotation of their respective valve elements from said closed position to said open position when said first and second valves are disposed in said disconnected arrangement, said rotation preventing means of each of said first and second valves structured and arranged for deactivation by operative engagement with the other of said first and second valves when said first and second valves are locked together in said connected arrangement, whereby upon deactivation said rotation preventing means allow rotation of their respective valve elements from said closed position to said open position.

8. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 3 wherein said second valve further comprises a yoke assembly mounted on said second body for locking said clamp levers in said locking position when said first valve element of said first valve is rotated from said closed position to said open position, wherein said yoke assembly comprises a first portion structured to operatively engage and be moved in a first direction by said second valve handle when said second valve element of said second valve is rotated from said closed position to said open position, and wherein said yoke assembly comprises a locking member movable in concert with said first portion, wherein said locking member is structured to engage said clamp lever to prevent further pivoting of said clamp levers when said clamp levers are disposed in said locking position and said first portion is moved in said first direction.

9. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein said over-center clamp mechanism includes a first member supported by said first body and a second member supported by said second body, wherein said first member and said second member cooperate to provide limited rotational movement between said first and second valves when disposed in said connected arrangement.

10. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 9, wherein said first member comprises a projecting bar disposed on an outer surface of said first body of said first valve, and said second member comprises a clamp assembly disposed on said second body of said second valve, said clamp assembly including a hook end to engage or disengage said projecting bar.

11. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 1, further comprising a radial seal positioned intermediate said first body and said second body to provide sealing therebetween when said first valve and said second valve are interposed in said connected arrangement.

12. A dry break coupling assembly for interconnecting and controlling fluid flow between first and second components in a fluid handling system, the coupling assembly comprising:

a first valve attachable to the first fluid handling system component, said first valve including;

a first body defining a first valve connection end and a first fluid passageway,

a first valve element rotatably supported within said first body, said first valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position,

a first handle operatively connected to said first valve element for rotating said first valve element between said open position and said closed position;

a second valve attachable to the second fluid handling system component, said second valve including;

a second body defining a second valve connection end and a second fluid passageway,

a second valve element rotatably supported within said second body, said second valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position,

a second handle operatively connected to said second valve element for rotating said second valve element between said open position and said closed position,

wherein said first valve and said second valve are movable relative to each other between a disconnected arrangement and a connected arrangement, wherein said first and second valve connection ends are disposed in facing relationship when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement;

an over-center clamp mechanism for interlocking said first valve to said second valve when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement, said over-center clamp being releasable when said first and second valve elements are disposed in the closed position, wherein when said over-center clamp mechanism is released, said first and said second valves are movable into the disconnected arrangement; and

wherein said over-center clamp mechanism comprises;

a pair of projecting bars disposed on an outer surface of said first body of said first valve;

a pair of clamp assemblies disposed on said second body of said second valve, each of said clamp assemblies including;

a clamp arm having a hook end for engaging one of said projecting bars, and

a clamp lever for actuating said hook end to engage or disengage said projecting bars.

13. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 12, wherein said first and second valves are rotatable with respect to one another when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement.

14. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second valves are rotatable at an angle up to 20°

in any direction with respect to one another.

15. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 12, wherein each of said projecting bars defines a recess for receiving said hook end of said clamp arm.

16. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 12 further comprising a first cap configured to engage said second valve connection end of said second valve when said first and second valves are disposed in the disconnected arrangement, said first cap defining a pair of ridges for receiving said hook ends of said clamp arms of said second valves.

17. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 12 further comprising a second cap configured to engage said first valve connection end of said first valve when said first and second valves are disposed in the disconnected arrangement, said second cap including a pair of clamp assemblies, each clamp assembly including:

a clamp arm having a hook end for engaging one of said projecting bars of said first valve, and

a clamp lever for actuating said hook end to engage or disengage said projecting bar.

18. A dry break coupling assembly for interconnecting and controlling fluid flow between first and second components in a fluid handling system, the coupling assembly comprising:

a first valve attachable to the first fluid handling system component, said first valve including;

a first body defining a first valve connection end, a first fluid passageway, and a collar projecting from said first valve connection end,

a first valve element rotatably supported within said first body, said first valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position,

a first handle operatively connected to said first valve element for rotating said first valve element between said open position and said closed position;

a second valve attachable to the second fluid handling system component, said second valve including;

a second body defining a second valve connection end, a second fluid passageway, and a valve alignment skirt projecting from said second valve connection end,

a second valve element rotatably supported within said second body, said second valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position,

a second handle operatively connected to said second valve element for rotating said second valve element between said open position and said closed position,

wherein said first valve and said second valve are movable relative to each other between a disconnected arrangement and a connected arrangement, and said collar is received within said valve alignment skirt when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement;

an over-center clamp mechanism for interlocking said first valve to said second valve when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement, said over-center clamp being releasable when said first and second valve elements are disposed in the closed position, wherein when said over-center clamp mechanism is released, said first and said second valves are movable into the disconnected arrangement; and

an annular seal provided intermediate said collar and said valve alignment skirt for sealing between said first valve and said second valve when and in connected arrangement.

19. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 18, wherein said first and second valves are rotatable with respect to one another when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement.

20. The dry break coupling assembly of claim 18, wherein said over-center clamp mechanism includes a first member supported by said first body and a second member supported by said second body, wherein said first member and said second member cooperate to provide limited rotational movement between said first and second valves when disposed in said connected arrangement.