Breakaway coupling

A breakaway coupling, comprising:

• a body having:
• a first portion, a second portion, and a shear groove between the first and second portions, the shear groove being configured to crack, break, or separate between the first and second portions upon the occurrence of an impact above a predetermined threshold;
• and
• a fluid conduit extending through the first portion, the second portion, and the shear groove;
• and
• a valve assembly disposed at least partially within the body and being configured to shut off fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates, the valve assembly comprising:
• a valve seat;
• a sealing element that is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the valve seat, the open position allowing fluid to flow between the sealing element and the valve seat, the closed position preventing fluid from flowing between the sealing element and the valve seat;
• a pin slidably associated with the first portion of the body and a bridge pin fixedly associated with a bridge in the second portion of the body, the pin and the bridge pin being adapted to directly contact one another to maintain the sealing element in the open position absent the occurrence of an impact above the predetermined threshold that would cause the shear groove to crack, break, or separate between the first and second portions;
• and
• a biasing member configured to move the sealing element from the open position to the closed position upon the occurrence of an impact above the predetermined threshold.

A breakaway coupling, comprising:

• a first portion defining a portion of a fluid conduit extending through the breakaway coupling, the first portion comprising:
• a first bridge disposed in the fluid conduit, the first bridge having one or more flow openings that allow fluid to flow therethrough and a pin opening extending therethrough;
• a pin slidably disposed in the pin opening;
• a sealing element disposed in the fluid conduit and in contact with the pin, the sealing element being movable between an open position and a closed position, the open position allowing fluid to flow through the fluid conduit, the closed position preventing fluid from flowing through the fluid conduit;
• and
• a biasing member disposed in the fluid conduit to bias the sealing element toward the bridge and the closed position;
• a second portion defining a portion of the fluid conduit extending through the breakaway coupling, the second portion comprising a second bridge disposed in the fluid conduit, the second bridge having one or more flow openings that allow fluid to flow therethrough and a bridge pin extending therefrom towards the sealing element, the bridge pin being fixedly associated with the second bridge, the bridge pin being configured to interact with the pin to urge the sealing element to the open position;
• and
• a shear groove connecting the first portion and the second portion, the shear groove defining a portion of the fluid conduit extending through the breakaway coupling, the shear groove being configured to crack, break, or separate between the first portion and the second portion upon the application of a force above a predetermined threshold, the biasing member being configured to move the sealing element to the closed position upon cracking, breaking, or separation of the shear groove to shut off fluid flow through the fluid conduit.