Breakaway coupling monitoring
First Claim
1. A coupling, comprising:
- a first body member and a second body member;
a coupling system operative to releasably connect the first body member with the second body member via at least one permanent magnet mounted on one of the first and second body members and a strike member mounted on the other of the first and second body members, wherein the coupling system allows the second body member to move from a coupled position to an uncoupled position with respect to the first body member in response to a predetermined tensile force;
the first and second body members defining a fluid flow path therein when the second body member is in the coupled position; and
a sensor assembly coupled with the first body member and comprising at least one sensor operative to detect that the second body member has moved to the uncoupled position based on a change in a magnetic field of the at least one permanent magnet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling comprising a first body member and a second body member. The first and second body members are operative to releasably connect together. The first and second body members define a fluid flow path therein when the first and second body members are connected together. The first and second body members are operative to disconnect from one another in response to a predetermined tensile force. At least one valve member is disposed within at least one of the first and second body members and is movable from an open position to a closed position with respect to the fluid flow path upon disconnection of the first body member from the second body member. A sensor is disposed within one of the first and second body members and is operative to sense whether the first and second body members are connected together.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A coupling, comprising:
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a first body member and a second body member; a coupling system operative to releasably connect the first body member with the second body member via at least one permanent magnet mounted on one of the first and second body members and a strike member mounted on the other of the first and second body members, wherein the coupling system allows the second body member to move from a coupled position to an uncoupled position with respect to the first body member in response to a predetermined tensile force; the first and second body members defining a fluid flow path therein when the second body member is in the coupled position; and a sensor assembly coupled with the first body member and comprising at least one sensor operative to detect that the second body member has moved to the uncoupled position based on a change in a magnetic field of the at least one permanent magnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fluid dispenser, comprising:
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a housing; a control system; a fluid flow path terminating at a fluid dispensing nozzle; a coupling disposed along the fluid flow path upstream of the fluid dispensing nozzle and downstream of the housing, the coupling comprising a first body member and a second body member, the first and second body members releasably connected together via at least one permanent magnet coupled with one of the first and second body members and a strike member coupled with the other of the first and second body members; wherein the first and second body members are operative to disconnect from one another in response to a predetermined force; and the coupling further comprising; a sensor that is operative to sense whether the first and second body members are connected together based on a magnetic field of the at least one permanent magnet; and communications electronics in electronic communication with the control system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A coupling, comprising
a first body member and a second body member, the first and second body members operative to releasably connect together via at least one permanent magnet mounted on one of the first and second body members and a strike member mounted on the other of the first and second body members; -
the first and second body members defining a fluid flow path therein when the first and second body members are connected together; the first and second body members operative to disconnect from one another in response to a predetermined tensile force; at least one valve member within at least one of the first and second body members that is movable from an open position to a closed position with respect to the fluid flow path upon disconnection of the first body member from the second body member; and a sensor disposed within one of the first and second body members that is operative to sense whether the first and second body members are connected together based on a magnetic field of the at least one permanent magnet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification