US 5,529,085 AGranted

Breakaway hose coupling

AssigneeRichards Industries, Inc.

InventorsAlton E. Richards, Walter M. Carow

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Abstract

A breakaway hose coupling device (10) for releasably joining two fluid dispensing devices in fluid communications, and for selectively disengaging the dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on the coupling device. The coupling device (10) includes first and second valve assemblies (12, 14) for being secured on, and being placed in flow-though communication with dispensing devices and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from such dispensing device. The first and second valve assemblies including first and second valve housings (16, 18) each having a valve mechanism mounted therein for selectively terminating the flow of fluid through the valve assembly. The device also includes a plurality of shear pins (48A-C) mounted in the second valve housing (18), and at least one stop member (50) carried by the first valve housing (16) for engaging only certain shear pins when the valve housings are engaged in selected relative rotational positions. Accordingly, when certain of the shear pins (48A-C ) are sheared by reason of force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on the coupling, the relative rotational positions of the first and second valve housing can be change to effect the securing of the coupling with certain of the remaining shear pins.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A breakaway hose coupling device for releasably joining two fluid dispensing devices in fluid communication, and for selectively disengaging the dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on said coupling device, said coupling device comprising:

a first valve assembly for being secured on, and being placed in flow-through communication with, a first dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from the first dispensing device, said first valve assembly including a first valve housing having a first valve mechanism mounted therein for selectively terminating the flow of fluid through said first valve assembly;
a second valve assembly for being secured on, and being placed in flow-though communication with, a second dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from said second dispensing device, said second valve assembly including a second valve housing for releasably engaging said first valve housing thereby establishing fluid communication therebetween, said second valve housing having a second valve mechanism mounted therein for selectively terminating the flow of fluid through said second valve assembly;
an automatic disconnect mechanism including at least first and second shear pins mounted in said second valve housing, and at least one stop member carried by said first valve housing for engaging said first shear pin when said first valve housing is in a first rotational position relative to said second valve housing thereby maintaining the engagement of said first and second valve housings, and for engaging said second shear pin when said first valve housing is in a second rotational position relative to said second valve housing thereby maintaining the engagement of said first and second valve housings;
and
a multi-position locking mechanism for selectively and releasably securing said first and second valve housings in at least said first and second rotational positions.

2 more elements

A breakaway hose coupling device for releasably joining two fluid dispensing devices in fluid communications, and for selectively disengaging said dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on said coupling device, said coupling device comprising:

a first valve assembly for being secured on, and being placed in flow-though communication with, a first dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from said first dispensing device, said first valve assembly including a first valve housing having a first valve mechanism mounted therein for selectively terminating the flow of fluid through said first valve assembly, said first valve housing defining a forward portion;
a second valve assembly for being secured on, and being placed in flow-though communication with, a second dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from said second dispensing device, said second valve assembly including a second valve housing for releasably engaging said first valve housing thereby establishing fluid communication therebetween, said second valve housing having a second valve mechanism mounted therein for selectively terminating the flow of fluid through said second valve assembly, said second valve housing defining a forwardly disposed receptor for closely receiving said forward portion of said first valve housing to accomplish the engagement of said first and second valve housings;
and
automatic disconnect mechanism including at least first and second shear pins mounted in said second valve housing, each said first and second shear pin defining a distal end portion extending into said receptor of said second valve housing, and including at least one stop member carried by said forward end portion of said first valve housing for engaging said first shear pin when said first valve housing is in a first rotational position relative to said second valve housing, thereby maintaining the engagement of said first and second valve housings, and for engaging said second shear pin when said first valve housing is in a second rotational position relative to said second valve housing, thereby maintaining the engagement of said first and second valve housings;
and
a multi-position locking mechanism for selectively and releasably securing said first and second valve housings in at least said first and second rotational positions.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.