# US 2021/0080038 A1 · Coupling nozzle for cryogenic fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0080038 A1 - Document ID: US20210080038A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/016,008 - Filed: 2020-09-09 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-09 - Assignees: Engineered Controls International, LLC - Applicants: Engineered Controls International, LLC - Inventors: Kevin Jordan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210080038A1 ## CPC - F16L 37/096: by means of hooks hinged about an axis - F16L 37/127: using hooks hinged about an axis {(F16L37/1215 takes precedence)} - B05B 1/005: {Nozzles or other outlets specially adapted for discharging one or more gases} - F16L 37/091: by means of a ring provided with teeth or fingers - F16L 37/36: with two lift valves being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal - F16L 37/42: the valve having an axial bore communicating with lateral apertures - F16L 37/47: with a tap or cock - F17C 5/02: for filling with liquefied gases - B08B 5/02: Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} - F16L 2201/20: Safety or protective couplings - F17C 2221/033: Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG - F17C 2223/0161: cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a coupling nozzle for cryogenic fluid. An example nozzle comprises a flow body defining a conduit, an inlet, and an outlet. A pneumatic cylinder is configured to slide between an extended position and a contracted position. The pneumatic cylinder is coupled to and configured to actuate the flow body. A locking mechanism is configured to secure the coupling nozzle to a receptacle. A flow control assembly comprises a valve seat fixed to the flow body adjacent the inlet and a plug configured to slide. When the locking mechanism is locked and the pneumatic cylinder actuates to the extended position, the valve seat is to disengage from the plug to open the flow control assembly. When the locking mechanism is locked and the pneumatic cylinder actuates to the contracted position, the valve seat is to engage the plug to close the flow control assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A coupling nozzle for cryogenic fluid flow, comprising: a flow body defining a conduit, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the flow body is configured to permit cryogenic fluid to flow into the conduit via the inlet and out of the conduit via the outlet; a mounting ring through which the flow body slidably extends; a pneumatic cylinder comprising: a cylinder body fixedly positioned relative to the mounting ring; and a shaft configured to slide between an extended position and a contracted position, wherein the shaft is coupled to and configured to actuate the flow body; a first locking mechanism coupled to the mounting ring and configured to secure the coupling nozzle to a receptacle, wherein the inlet of the conduit is fluidly coupled to the receptacle when the first locking mechanism has secured the coupling nozzle to the receptacle; and a flow control assembly at least partially disposed in the conduit of the flow body, the flow control assembly comprising: a valve seat fixed to the flow body adjacent the inlet; a plug configured to slide between a closed position and an open position, wherein the plug is configured to engage the valve seat in the closed position to prevent cryogenic fluid from flowing through the flow body and disengage the valve seat in the open position to enable the cryogenic fluid to flow through the flow body; a stem extending beyond the plug, wherein the stem is configured to engage a receptacle stem of the receptacle when the first locking mechanism is locked to the receptacle, wherein, when the first locking mechanism is locked to the receptacle and the pneumatic cylinder actuates from the contracted position to the extended position, the shaft is configured to cause the valve seat fixed to the flow body to move relative to and disengage from the plug to open the flow control assembly, and wherein, when the first locking mechanism is locked to the receptacle and the pneumatic cylinder actuates from the extended position to the contracted position, the shaft is configured to cause the valve seat fixed to the flow body to move relative to and engage the plug to close the flow control assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coupling nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a redundant locking mechanism that is configured to prevent the first locking mechanism from transitioning from a locked position when the pneumatic cylinder is in the extended position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The coupling nozzle of claim 2, wherein the redundant locking mechanism includes one or more feet and a lock, wherein the one or more feet are configured to engage the lock to prevent movement of the first locking mechanism from the locked position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The coupling nozzle of claim 2, wherein the redundant locking mechanism includes a linkage and a slot, wherein the linkage is configured to at least partially extend into the slot when the pneumatic cylinder is in the extended position to prevent the first locking mechanism from transitioning from the locked position. ### Claim 5 A coupling nozzle for cryogenic fluid flow, comprising: a flow body defining a conduit, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the flow body is configured to permit cryogenic fluid to flow into the conduit via the inlet and out of the conduit via the outlet; a mounting ring through which the flow body slidably extends; a pneumatic cylinder comprising: a cylinder body fixedly positioned relative to the mounting ring; and a shaft configured to slide between an extended position and a contracted position, wherein the shaft is coupled to and configured to actuate the flow body; a first locking mechanism coupled to the mounting ring and configured to secure the coupling nozzle to a receptacle, wherein the inlet of the conduit is fluidly coupled to the receptacle when the first locking mechanism has secured the coupling nozzle to the receptacle; a flow control assembly at least partially disposed in the conduit of the flow body, wherein, when the first locking mechanism is locked to the receptacle, the pneumatic cylinder is configured to actuate the flow control assembly between an open position and a closed position, wherein the flow control assembly is in the open position when the pneumatic cylinder is in the extended position to permit the cryogenic fluid to flow through the flow body, wherein the flow control assembly is in the closed position when the pneumatic cylinder is in the contracted position to prevent the cryogenic fluid from flowing through the flow body; and a redundant locking mechanism that is configured to prevent the first locking mechanism from transitioning from a locked position when the pneumatic cylinder is in the extended position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The coupling nozzle of claim 5, wherein the redundant locking mechanism includes one or more feet and a lock, wherein the one or more feet are configured to engage the lock to prevent movement of the first locking mechanism from the locked position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The coupling nozzle of claim 6, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a linkage assembly for transitioning between the locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the one or more feet are coupled to the linkage assembly such that the one or more feet move as the first locking mechanism transitions between the locked position and the unlocked position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The coupling nozzle of claim 7, wherein the each of the one or more feet are integrally formed with a respective pivot joint of the linkage assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The coupling nozzle of claim 6, wherein, when the pneumatic cylinder is in the extended position, the lock is positioned near the one or more feet to engage the one or more feet and prevent movement of the first locking mechanism from the locked position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The coupling nozzle of claim 9, wherein, when the pneumatic cylinder is in the contracted position, the lock is positioned away from the one or more feet to not engage the one or more feet and enable movement of the first locking mechanism from the locked position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The coupling nozzle of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more feet includes a convex curved surface configured to engage the lock, wherein, when the pneumatic cylinder has been released from the extended position, the convex curved surface enables each of the one or more feet to slide along the lock to an unlocked position and pushes the lock to overcome a biasing force and into the contracted position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The coupling nozzle of claim 10, further comprising an arm coupled to and extending from the shaft of the pneumatic cylinder, wherein the arm extends between the shaft and the flow body to couple the shaft to the flow body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The coupling nozzle of claim 12, wherein the lock is fixedly coupled to at least one of the arm and the shaft such that the lock slides with the shaft as the pneumatic cylinder transitions between the extended position and the contracted position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The coupling nozzle of claim 13, wherein the lock is positioned to: engage the one or more feet to prevent movement of the first locking mechanism when the pneumatic cylinder is in the extended position; and be disengaged from the one or more feet to enable movement of the first locking mechanism when the pneumatic cylinder is in the contracted position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The coupling nozzle of claim 6, further comprising a frame extending between the cylinder body of the pneumatic cylinder and the mounting ring, wherein the mounting ring is coupled to the frame, wherein the cylinder body is coupled to the frame to fixedly position the cylinder body relative to the mounting ring that is coupled to the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The coupling nozzle of claim 15, wherein the redundant locking mechanism further comprises a plurality of stoppers fixed to the frame adjacent to the lock, wherein each of the plurality of stoppers is configured to engage a top surface of the lock to prevent rotation of the lock. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The coupling nozzle of claim 16, wherein the lock includes a set of opposing arms, wherein each of the plurality of stopper is configured to engage a respective one of the set of opposing arms to prevent rotation of the lock. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The coupling nozzle of claim 5, wherein the redundant locking mechanism includes a linkage and a slot, wherein the linkage is configured to at least partially extend into the slot when the pneumatic cylinder is in the extended position to prevent the first locking mechanism from transitioning from the locked position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The coupling nozzle of claim 18, wherein the redundant locking mechanism further comprises a fixed linkage, wherein the linkage is coupled to the mounting ring via the fixed linkage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The coupling nozzle of claim 19, wherein the slot is fixedly positioned relative to the mounting ring. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The coupling nozzle of claim 20, further comprising a bushing fixedly positioned adjacent and relative to the mounting ring, wherein the bushing defines the slot. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The coupling nozzle of claim 20, wherein the linkage is operatively coupled to the flow body via an operating linkage. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The coupling nozzle of claim 22, wherein, to prevent the first locking mechanism from transitioning from the locked position, the linkage is configured to extend into the slot as the flow body is pushed toward the receptacle by the pneumatic cylinder transitioning to the extended position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The coupling nozzle of claim 22, wherein, to enable the first locking mechanism to transition from the locked position, the linkage is configured to retract out of the slot as the pneumatic cylinder transitions to the contracted position to cause the flow body to retract from the receptacle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The coupling nozzle of claim 18, wherein the linkage includes a proximal end and a distal end. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The coupling nozzle of claim 25, wherein the distal end of the linkage is configured to rotate into the slot as the pneumatic cylinder transitions to the extended position and rotate out of the slot as the pneumatic cylinder transitions to the contracted position. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The coupling nozzle of claim 25, wherein the redundant locking mechanism further comprises a fixed linkage fixedly coupled to the mounting ring, wherein the linkage is rotatably coupled to the fixed linkage between the distal end and the proximal end to enable the distal end to rotate into and out of the slot. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The coupling nozzle of claim 25, wherein the redundant locking mechanism further comprises an actuating linkage that includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is hingedly coupled to the proximal end of the linkage, wherein the second end defines a pin slot of a pin-and-slot connection. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The coupling nozzle of claim 28, further comprising a pin that is received by the pin slot of the pin-and-slot connection, wherein the pin of the pin-and-slot is configured to slide with the flow body to actuate the actuating linkage, wherein the actuating linkage is configured to cause the linkage to transition into and out of the slot to transition the redundant locking mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position.