Back to results
US 5,469,887 AGranted
Hydraulic coupling with pressure equalizing valve
AssigneeNational Coupling Company, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Smith, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic coupling having a pressure-equalizing valve in the female coupler body is disclosed. A passage extends between the central bore or receiving chamber and the external surface of the female member. A valve in the passage allows sea water to flow into the annulus during connection or disconnection of the male and female coupling members, thus equalizing the pressure and preventing implosion of seals during disconnection of the coupling members.
Claims16
A hydraulic coupling comprising:
- (a) a female member having an internal bore and a slidable valve inserted therein for controlling fluid flow through the female member bore;
- (b) a male member insertable into the female member bore and having an internal bore and a slidable valve inserted therein for controlling fluid flow through the male member bore;
- (c) at least one seal configured to form a fluid-tight seal between the female member bore and the male member;
- and
- (d) a pressure-equalizing passage extending between the female member bore and an external surface of the female member, and a valve in the passage biased to the closed position and openable in response to pressure at the external surface of the female member exceeding the bias force of the valve and internal pressure in the female member bore.
2 more elements
A female member of an undersea hydraulic coupling comprising:
- (a) a body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending therethrough;
- (b) a first valve in the bore, biased to the normally closed position to prevent fluid flow through the bore, the first valve slidable towards the first end of the body into the open position in response to forces acting on the first valve sufficiently greater than the bias to urge the first valve closed;
- (c) a pressure-equalizing passage connecting between the bore at a point intermediate the valve and the second end of the body;
- and
- (d) a second valve in the pressure-equalizing passage, and bias means to bias the second valve to the closed position to prevent fluid flow out from the bore through the passage, and allow fluid flow into the bore through the passage when external fluid pressure at the second end of the body exceeds the combined force of the bias means and internal fluid pressure in the bore.
2 more elements
An undersea hydraulic coupling comprising:
- (a) a female member having a body with a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, at least one internal circumferential shoulder intermediate the bore, and a valve slidable in the bore and biased to close against a valve seat in the bore;
- (b) at least one circumferential seal insertable into the bore and positionable on the at least one circumferential shoulder;
- (c) a seal retainer engageable with the female member to hold the circumferential seal on the shoulder;
- (d) a male member insertable into the longitudinal bore of the female member, the male member having a leading face and an outer surface sealingly engaging the circumferential seal therein during insertion into the longitudinal bore;
- (e) a pressure-equalizing passage extending between the longitudinal bore and an outer surface of the female member body, the passage being positioned in the female member bore such that the male member remains sealingly engaged with the circumferential seal without blocking the passage;
- and
- (f) a ball valve in the pressure-equalizing passage, and bias means to urge the ball valve into the closed position unless fluid pressure outside the female member body exceeds the combined force of the bias means and the fluid pressure in the longitudinal bore.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.