Three Bolt Breakaway Coupling
OwnerAndrew Charles Abramsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a three bolt breakaway coupling adapted to be connected to either one or both ends of a flexible fluid conduit having a housing at each end that may include a valve. The breakaway coupling has two generally triangular shaped flanges where each flange has a central opening surrounded by a sealing member such as an 0 ring and an opening located at each corner of each triangular shaped flange for receiving a shear bolt. At least two of the three shear bolts which couple the two triangular flanges together will break when a specified pull at any angle is applied to the three bolt breakaway coupling. The first and second housings may contain valves for controlling the flow of a fluid through the conduit.
Claims15
A breakaway coupling for use with a flexible fluid conduit comprising:
- a longitudinally extending tubular member coupled to an end of the flexible fluid conduit;
- a generally triangular shaped first flange having an exterior side, an interior side and a centrally located fluid passageway, said exterior side coupled to an end of said tubular member;
- an opening located at each of the three corners of said triangular shaped first flange;
- a generally triangular shaped second flange having an exterior side, an interior side and a centrally located fluid passageway, said exterior side coupled to a housing that may include a valve;
- an opening located at each of the three corners of said triangular shaped second flange;
- wherein said interior sides of said first and second flanges are positioned opposite each other and said openings at the corners are aligned;
- a threaded shear bolt located in each of the three aligned openings in the first and second flanges for coupling said first and second flanges together and forming a leak proof connection between the two flanges;
- wherein at least two of said shear bolts break and said first flange is separated from said second flange when said breakaway coupling is subjected to a predetermined pull from any angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.