BREAKAWAY COUPLING

• US 20150362110A1
• Filed: 01/03/2014
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andreas Von Keitz
• Original Assignee: Andreas Von Keitz
• Inventors: VON KEITZ, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 9,816,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3218 relating to emergency shut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/003 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/02 the flanges being connected by members tensioned axially F16L23/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/162 the pipe ends abutting each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/04 with a cut-off device in each of the two pipe ends, the cut-off devices being automatically opened when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/086 by means of latching members pushed radially by spring-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1015 Couplings closed automatically when disengaging force exceeds preselected value F16L55/1007 takes precedence

Abstract

There is provided a breakaway coupling between two lines. The first coupling half possesses an opened jaw, which is formed by catch pieces of the short lever arms of dual-arm catch levers, which are pre-stressed in the closing direction by compression springs, and in this way engage behind oblique surfaces of an end flange of the second coupling half. When a predetermined pulling force on the lines is exceeded, the breakaway coupling disengages.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A breakaway coupling for the emergency separation of two lines, comprising:

a first coupling half that forms a first line end with a first self-closing fluid barrier, the first coupling half having an end flange or collar;

a second coupling half that forms a second line end with a second self-closing fluid barrier, the second coupling half having a second end flange or collar provided with oblique surfaces;

two or more levers, which are mounted at pivot points have a longer lever arm and a shorter lever arm, wherein each longer lever arm is pivoted radially outward by an associated compression spring and the shorter lever arm is pivoted radially inward by its end, in order to hold together the coupled coupling halves, wherein, when an excessively great tensile or pulling force in the separation direction of the coupling halves, the shorter lever arm pivots radially outward against the force of the respective compression spring acting on the longer lever arm, and the coupling halves disengage from each other, wherein the levers are mounted on one side around associated pivot points and on the other side around pivot surfaces closer to the end flanges or collars, wherein the levers are provided as catch levers on the shorter lever arm, each lever having a catch piece that engages on the oblique surface of the second coupling half, and wherein when there is an excessively great pulling force on the coupling halves, the catch levers pivot around their pivot surfaces and release the catch pieces from the end flanges/collars.

14. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the end flanges or collars lying next to one another form a common radial edge of the breakaway coupling, and wherein the shorter lever arm of the catch lever embraces this common radial edge of the breakaway coupling.

15. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the pivot points are disposed on an annular housing part of a housing.

16. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the pivot points of the catch levers are formed by adjusting screws.

17. The coupling device according to claim 16, wherein the adjusting screws can be screwed in the radial direction in the annular housing part, in order to be made to act on the longer lever arms and in order to press together the compression springs and thus to be useful as a mounting aid in assembling the breakaway coupling.

18. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the first end flange or collar is provided with a conical surface as the oblique surface, which, when viewed from inside to outside, is inclined in the direction opposite to a conical surface as the oblique surface of the second end flange or collar, and wherein the catch levers between pivot surface and catch piece are designed to conform to the radial edge of the end flanges or collars lying next to one another.

19. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the first coupling half has a housing flange with radial guides for the ends of the longer lever arms of the catch levers.

20. The coupling device according to claim 19, wherein the housing flange is provided with recesses for receiving the compression springs.

21. The coupling device according to claim 15, wherein the housing part is connected to the body of the housing or to the housing flange via struts.

22. The coupling device according to claim 13, further comprising a centering and sealing device that is formed by a recess and a seal disposed therein in one of the first and second coupling halves as well as by a projection on the other of the first and second coupling halves.

23. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the first and the second coupling halves each has a connection flange for secondary lines.

24. The coupling device according to claim 23, wherein the two connection flanges are each provided with openings, in order to be able to each attach a guide rod with clamping thread as a mounting aid.