Frangible intertank valve assembly

A crashworthy flexible hose and valved fittings assembly characterized by the fact that the hose constitutes the sole interconnection between the valved fittings comprising, in combination, a flexible hose having ends and a known resistance to rupture under tension forces, a self sealing valved fitting mounted upon each end of said hose each having an axis, each fitting including a tubular adapter received within a hose end selectively axially displaceable with respect to an associated fitting body between valve retaining and valve release positions, fitting mounting means defined on each fitting body, each fitting body including a flow passage defined therein communicating with said hose through the associated adapter and a normally open valve within said flow passage, valve retaining means mounted upon each fitting interposed between the associated fitting body and adapter normally retaining the associated valve in its open condition, frangible means interposed between said adapters and the associated fitting body maintaining said adapters in said valve retaining position, said frangible means fracturing upon the tension within said hose reaching a predetermined value permitting said adapters to move to said valve release position solely in response to the tension within said hose to release the associated valve to a closed condition prior to the tension within said hose exceeding said known resistance to rupture, sealing means interposed between each adapter and the associated fitting body establishing a sealing relationship therebetween at said adapter's valve retaining and valve release positions, and abutment means interposed between each adapter and the associated fitting body preventing separation of said adapters from the associated fitting body under hose tension forces until the tension within said hose is solely sufficient to fracture said frangible means of both fittings to permit both adapters to be displaced to said valve release positions to operate said valve retaining means to release and close the valves of both of said fitting bodies.