Detachable high-pressure flow path coupler
First Claim
1. A coupler for detachably connecting first and second material flow path sections, the coupler comprising:
- a male hub member connected to the first material flow path section and comprising an annular male bayonet extension;
a female hub member connected to the second material flow path section and comprising an annular aperture, wherein the male bayonet extension extends within the annular aperture; and
a vapor shielding flow path internally defined within the coupler and comprising an open space between the female hub member and the entirety of the male extension member that is disposed in the annular aperture, wherein no portion of the male bayonet extension contacts the female hub member within the annular aperture, and wherein the vapor shielding flow path extends along an inner wall of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture, around an end of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture in order to provide a vapor shield within the coupler to reduce heat transfer through the coupler from the atmosphere.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coupler for making a detachable bayonet connection between two sections of a flow path. The coupler includes male and female bayonet hub members that detachably connect the flow path sections. In one aspect of the invention, the coupler includes an internal vapor shielding flow path defined within the coupler by the interconnection of the hub members that operates to intercept and remove heat entering the coupler from the external environment. In this regard, the internal vapor shielding flow path may include at least one valve to vent at least a portion of the vapor shielding material external to the coupler from the vapor shielding flow path.
54 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A coupler for detachably connecting first and second material flow path sections, the coupler comprising:
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a male hub member connected to the first material flow path section and comprising an annular male bayonet extension; a female hub member connected to the second material flow path section and comprising an annular aperture, wherein the male bayonet extension extends within the annular aperture; and a vapor shielding flow path internally defined within the coupler and comprising an open space between the female hub member and the entirety of the male extension member that is disposed in the annular aperture, wherein no portion of the male bayonet extension contacts the female hub member within the annular aperture, and wherein the vapor shielding flow path extends along an inner wall of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture, around an end of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture in order to provide a vapor shield within the coupler to reduce heat transfer through the coupler from the atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fluid system, comprising:
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a first conduit; a second conduit disposed about the first conduit; a female connector associated with the first and second conduits and comprising an annular aperture; a third conduit; a fourth conduit disposed about the third conduit; a male connector associated with the third and fourth conduits and comprising a male bayonet extension, wherein the male bayonet extension extends within the annular aperture of the female connector, wherein the first and third conduits are fluidly connected to define a first flow path, and wherein the second and fourth conduits are fluidly connected to define a second flow path; and a bayonet extension flow path that extends along an inner wall of the male bayonet extension within the annular aperture, around an end of the male bayonet extension within the annular aperture, and along an outer wall of the male bayonet extension within the annular aperture, wherein the bayonet extension flow path is fluidly connected with a flow through the second flow path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for connecting first and second conduits of a cryogenic fluid system, wherein a male connector is interconnected with said first conduit and wherein a female connector is interconnected with said second conduit, wherein said male connector comprises an annular bayonet extension on one end of said male connector, and wherein said female connector comprises an annular aperture on one end of said female connector, said method comprising the steps of:
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directing said bayonet extension of said male connector into said annular aperture of said female connector; providing a first flow through said first and second conduits after said directing step; and directing a second flow along an inner wall of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture, around an end of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture, and along an outer wall of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for connecting first, second, third, and fourth conduits, wherein said second conduit is concentrically disposed about said first conduit, wherein said fourth conduit is concentrically disposed about said third conduit, wherein a male connector is associated with said first and second conduits, wherein a female connector is associated with said third and fourth conduits, wherein said male connector comprises an annular bayonet extension on one end of said male connector, and wherein said female connector comprises an annular aperture on one end of said female connector, said method comprising:
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directing said bayonet extension of said male connector into said annular aperture of said female connector; executing a first fluidly interconnecting step comprising fluidly interconnecting said first and third conduits using said directing step; executing a second fluidly interconnecting step comprising fluidly interconnecting said second and fourth conduits using said directing step; providing a first flow through said first and third conduits after said first fluidly interconnecting step; providing a second flow through said second and fourth conduits after said second fluidly interconnecting step; and directing a third flow along an inner wall of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture, around an end of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture, and along an outer wall of said bayonet extension within said annular aperture. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for transporting a cryogenic fluid, comprising the steps of:
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attaching a first coupling to a first conduit; attaching a second coupling to a second conduit; interconnecting the first and second couplings, wherein the interconnecting step comprises defining first and second flow paths, wherein the first flow path comprises the first and second conduits; providing a first flow through the first flow path; and directing only a portion of the first flow into the second flow path while a remainder of the first flow continues along the first flow path. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A cryogenic fluid system, comprising:
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first and second conduits, wherein said first conduit is disposed within said second conduit; a male connector associated with said first and second conduits; third and fourth conduits, wherein said third conduit is disposed within said fourth conduit; a female connector associated with said third and fourth conduits, wherein said male connector and said female connector are detachably interconnected to define a coupler, to fluidly connect said first and third conduits to define a first flow path, and to fluidly interconnect said second and fourth conduits to define a second flow path, wherein said second flow path is disposed about said first flow path; a first fluid within said first flow path; and a second fluid within said second flow path, wherein said coupler comprises an internal flow path that is fluidly interconnected with said second flow path, wherein only a portion of a flow through said second flow path is directed into said internal flow path. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification