Fluid loading arm emergency disconnection system
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorEugene Le Devehat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid loading arm emergency disconnection system comprising two pipe elements each including a normally closed valve that can be opened when said pipe elements are connected, means for sensing a connection between the arm and a receptacle, means for sensing a predetermined angular arm configuration, and means for disconnecting the arm when the connection and predetermined arm configuration are sensed simultaneously.
Claims7
A method for disconnecting an articulate fluid loading arm from a tank, where wither the arm or the tank is carried on a mobile vehicle, in the event of untimely departure of the vehicle, the loading arm including a safety disconnector comprising two pipe elements each containing a valve that is normally closed and that moves into an open condition when the pipe elements are connected together, the method comprising:
- (a) sensing the existence of a connection between the loading arm and the tank;
- (b) sensing the existence of a predetermined configuration of the arm;
- and
- (c) disconnecting the arm from the tank when the simultaneous existence of said connection and said configuration is sensed.
A fluid loading arm adapted to be connected to a tank where the arm or the tank is carried by a mobile vehicle, the arm comprising:
- (a) a safety disconnector for disconnecting the arm and the tank in the event of untimely departure of the vehicle, said disconnector comprising two pipe elements each containing a valve that is normally closed and that opens when said pipe elements are placed into connected condition;
- (b) means for sensing a connection between the loading arm and the tank;
- (c) means for sensing a predetermined angular configuration of the loading arm;
- (d) means for unlocking the safety disconnector;
- and
- (e) means for actuating the unlocking means simultaneously senses said connection and said predetermined configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.