Disconnector for hydraulic circuits

A hydraulic disconnecting apparatus for interposition between an in-flow circuit and an out-flow circuit comprising:

• A hollow body having an in-flow conduit and an out-flow conduit co-axial therewith about a flow axis, said conduits being adapted to be connected respectively to and between said in-flow circuit and said out-flow circuit and to flow a liquid under a fluid pressure therebetween and having an intermediate chamber interposed therebetween, said hollow body further having a cover member, an intermediate roof, and a floor, said floor comprising a bottom boundry of said intermediate chamber and having a first discharge aperture therethrough along a discharge axis orthogonal to said flow axis, said first discharge aperture when open communicating said intermediate chamber with the atmosphere, said cover member and said intermediate roof defining a membrane chamber therebetween intersecting said discharge axis, and said intermediate roof having an annular wall depending downwards from said membrane chamber along and about said discharge axis and further having roof opening means spaced radially outboard of said annular wall, said annular wall defining an atmospheric chamber and having a second discharge aperture about said discharge axis, said second discharge aperture when open communicating said atmospheric chamber and said intermediate chamber;
• an automatic primary spring valve and an automatic secondary spring valve located along said flow axis on opposite sides of said discharge axis respectively in said in-flow connection conduit and said out-flow conduit;
• membrane means vertically movable along said discharge axis and sealingly secured between said cover member and said intermediate roof to divide said membrane chamber into a pressure chamber communicating with said in-flow conduit and a lower chamber communicating with said intermediate chamber through said roof opening means;
• and
• discharge valve means comprising spring means and a tubular member having a lower end and an upper end extending respectively through said first and second discharge apertures to permanently communicate said atmospheric chamber with the atmosphere, said tubular member further having first and second sealing elements spaced axially along said tubular member on opposite sides of said flow axis and adapted to respectively close said first and second discharge apertures, said first sealing element closing said first discharge aperture in a direction with said fluid pressure in said intermediate chamber and said second sealing element closing second discharge aperture in a direction against said fluid pressure, said tubular member having arms means extending radially outwards and upwards about said annular wall and through said roof opening means, said arm means being affixed to said membrane means, whereby said spring means normally urge said membrane means and said tubular member affixed thereto upwards along said discharge axis to open said first and second discharge apertures.