Dry break coupling assembly with cam-locking connection system

A dry break coupling assembly for interconnecting and controlling fluid flow between first and second components in a fluid handling system, the coupling assembly comprising:

• a first valve attachable to the first fluid handling system component, said first valve including:
• a body including a valve connection end, said body further comprising a fluid passageway;
• a valve element rotatably supported within said body, said valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position;
• a handle operatively connected to said valve element for selectively rotating said valve element between said open position, wherein said fluid passageway is opened, and said closed position, wherein said fluid passageway is closed;
• and
• at least one camming lever pivotally mounted to said body, said camming lever pivotable between a release position and a locking position;
• a second valve attachable to the second fluid handling system component, said second valve including:
• a body including a valve connection end, said body further comprising a fluid passageway;
• a valve element rotatably supported within said body, said valve element rotatable between an open position and a closed position;
• a handle operatively connected to said valve element for selectively rotating said valve element between said open position, wherein said fluid passageway is opened, and said closed position, wherein said fluid passageway is closed;
• and
• at least one locking component disposed on said body for cooperating with said camming lever;
• wherein said first valve and said second valve are movable relative to each other between a disconnected arrangement and a connected arrangement, wherein said valve connection ends of said first and second valves are disposed in facing relationship when said first valve and said second valve are disposed in said connected arrangement;
• wherein said valve element of one of said first and second valves includes a recess arranged to face said valve element of the other of said first and second valves when said first and second valves are positioned in said connected arrangement and said valve element of said one of said first and second valves is disposed in said closed position, wherein rotation of said valve element of one of said first and second valves from said closed position rotates said recess out of facing relationship with said valve element of the other of said first and second valves;
• wherein said valve element of said other of said first and second valves includes a portion conforming to the shape of said valve element recess that nests within said valve element recess when said first and second valves are positioned in said connected arrangement and said valve elements of said first and second valves are disposed in said closed positions;
• said camming lever and said locking component being complementarily structured and arranged such that said camming lever engages said locking component when said first and second valves are positioned in said connected arrangement and said camming lever pivots from said release position to said locking position, whereby said first and second valves are locked together in said connected arrangement and permit fluid flow therethrough when said valve elements of said first and second valves are disposed in their open positions;
• and
• said first valve further comprising a yoke assembly mounted on said body for locking said camming lever in said locking position when said valve element of said first valve is rotated from said closed position to said open position, wherein said yoke assembly comprises a first portion structured to operatively engage and be moved in a first direction by said first valve handle when said valve element of said first valve is rotated from said closed position to said open position, and wherein said yoke assembly comprises a locking member movable in concert with said first portion, wherein said locking member is structured to engage said camming lever to prevent further pivoting of said camming lever when said camming lever is disposed in said locking position and said first portion is moved in said first direction.

A coupling assembly for interconnecting and controlling fluid flow between first and second components in a fluid handling system, the coupling assembly comprising:

• a first valve attachable to the first fluid handling system component, and a second valve attachable to the second fluid handling system and connectable to said first valve;
• wherein each of said first and second valves comprises:
• a body including a fluid passageway and a valve connection end;
• a valve element rotatably supported within said body and rotatable between a closed position closing said fluid passageway and an open position opening said fluid passageway, wherein at least a majority portion of said valve element is located in a rearward direction from its respective valve connection end;
• and
• a handle operatively connected to said valve element for selectively rotating said valve element between said open position and said closed position, wherein said handle is disposed in a first position when said valve element is arranged in said closed position and a second position when said valve element is arranged in said open position;
• wherein at least one of said first and second valves comprises an automatic locking assembly for preventing rotation of its respective handle from said first position toward said second position when said first and second valves are disconnected and permitting rotation of its respective handle from said first position toward said second position when said first and second valves are connected, said locking assembly comprising:
• a locking component slidably disposed relative to said body and movable between a forward position and a rearward position;
• a biasing element for biasing said locking component toward said forward position when said first and second valves are disconnected;
• wherein said locking component is complementarily configured with the other of said at least one of said first and second valves to be engaged thereby during connection of said first and second valves such that said locking component is forced rearwardly to said rearward position during valve connection;
• a handle engaging member connected to said locking component;
• and
• a recess formed in said handle;
• wherein said handle engaging member is structured and arranged to be in abutting contact with a portion of said handle arranged in said first position when said locking component is disposed in said forward position such that rotation of said handle relative to said locking component is prevented;
• and
• wherein said handle engaging member is aligned with said handle recess when said locking component is disposed in said rearward position such that said handle may rotate from said first position toward said second position as said handle engaging member slides within said recess.

A dry break coupling assembly for use with first and second components of a fluid handling system, said coupling assembly comprising:

• a first valve attachable to the first fluid handling system component, said first valve including a body with a fluid passageway therethrough, a rotatable valve element disposed within said body for opening and closing said fluid passageway, and handle means for selectively rotating said valve element;
• a second valve attachable to the second fluid handling system component, said second valve including a body with a fluid passageway therethrough, a rotatable valve element disposed within said body for opening and closing said fluid passageway, and handle means for selectively rotating said valve element;
• wherein said first valve and said second valve further comprise means for locking together said first valve and said second valve when arranged in a connected relationship, wherein said locking means comprises at least one pivotable camming lever;
• wherein said valve elements of said first and second valves are cooperatively structured and arranged such that a portion of one valve element projects into and conforms to a recess formed in the other valve element when said first and second valves are arranged in said connected relationship and said handle means of said first and second valves are arranged such that both said valve elements are oriented to close their respective fluid passageways, whereby a dry disconnect is provided;
• and
• means, cooperating with said first valve handle means, for preventing pivoting of said camming lever when said first and second valves are locked together and said rotatable valve element of said first valve is arranged to open said fluid passageway, whereby disconnection of said first valve and said second valve when said first valve is opened is prevented.

A dry break coupling assembly for use with first and second components of a fluid handling system, said coupling assembly comprising:

• a first valve attachable to the first fluid handling system component, said first valve including a body with a fluid passageway therethrough, a rotatable valve element disposed within said body for opening and closing said fluid passageway, and handle means for selectively rotating said valve element;
• a second valve attachable to the second fluid handling system component, said second valve including a body with a fluid passageway therethrough, a rotatable valve element disposed within said body for opening and closing said fluid passageway, and handle means for selectively rotating said valve element;
• wherein said first valve and said second valve further comprise means for locking together said first valve and said second valve when arranged in a connected relationship, wherein said locking means comprises at least one pivotable camming lever;
• wherein said valve elements of said first and second valves are cooperatively structured and arranged such that a portion of one valve element projects into and conforms to a recess formed in the other valve element when said first and second valves are arranged in said connected relationship and said handle means of said first and second valves are arranged such that both said valve elements are oriented to close their respective fluid passageways, whereby a dry disconnect is provided;
• and
• wherein each of said first and second valves further comprises means for preventing rotation of their respective valve elements from an arrangement closing the fluid passageway to an arrangement opening the fluid passageway when said first and second valves are disconnected, said rotation preventing means of each of said first and second valves structured and arranged for deactivation by operative engagement with the other of said first and second valves when said first and second valves are locked together in said connected arrangement, whereby upon deactivation said rotation preventing means allow rotation of their respective valve elements from said closed position to said open position.