# US 5,699,823 A · Breakaway coupling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,699,823 A - Document ID: US5699823A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/717,284 - Filed: 1996-09-20 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-09-20 - Assignees: Dover Corporation - Inventors: Jack Gall Thomson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699823A ## CPC - F16L 55/1007: {Couplings closed automatically when broken} - Y10T 137/1662: Tensile or sheer pin or bolt - Y10T 137/87933: Common joint and valve seat faces, or sections joined by closing members - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A breakaway coupling including first and second coupling parts secured together by releasable means, the releasable means permitting separation of the coupling parts in a given direction when exposed to a separating force in excess of a predetermined force in said direction, at least one of the coupling parts including valve means, the valve means being normally retained at an open position and being movable to a closed position when said coupling parts move apart in said direction, the valve means comprising an annular valve seat formed in said one coupling part, a valve element which when seated on the valve seat prevents fluid flow through said one coupling part, the valve element being movably mounted within the coupling part for movement between open and closed positions, the valve element when at said open position being spaced from the valve seat to permit flow of fluid through the coupling part and when at said closed position being seated upon the valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the coupling part, the valve element being pivotally mounted on an elongate support for movement from the open position to an intermediate position whereat it is opposed to said valve seat but spaced therefrom in said given direction, the support extending longitudinally in said given direction and being movable in said given direction between a first position whereat the support locates the valve element at its open position and a second position whereat the support locates the valve element at its closed position, trigger release means for retaining the support at its first position, the valve element being co-operable with the trigger release means to cause release of the support when the valve element moves to its intermediate position to thereby enable the support to move to its second position and the valve element to move to its closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A breakaway coupling including first and second coupling parts secured together by releasable means, the releasable means permitting separation of the coupling parts in a given direction when exposed to a separating force in excess of a predetermined force in said direction, at least one of the coupling parts including valve means, the valve means being normally retained at an open position and being movable to a closed position when said coupling parts move apart in said direction, the valve means comprising an annular valve seat formed in said one coupling part, a valve element which when seated on the valve seat prevents fluid flow through said one coupling part, the valve element being movably mounted within the coupling part for movement between open and closed positions, the valve element when at said open position being spaced from the valve seat to permit flow of fluid through the coupling part and when at said closed position being seated upon the valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the coupling part, the valve element being pivotally mounted on an elongate support for movement from the open position to an intermediate position whereat it is opposed to said valve seat but spaced therefrom in said given direction, the support extending longitudinally in said given direction and being movable in said given direction between a first position whereat the support locates the valve element at its open position and a second position whereat the support locates the valve element at its closed position, trigger release means for retaining the support at its first position, the valve element being co-operable with the trigger release means to cause release of the support when the valve element moves to its intermediate position to thereby enable the support to move to its second position and the valve element to move to its closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said valve element is rotatably mounted for rotation about its axis when moving from said intermediate position to said closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A coupling according to claim 2 wherein the elongate support has a longitudinal axis co-axial with the axis of the annular valve seat, the valve element being pivotally mounted on the support so that at its intermediate position it is co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2, 3) A coupling according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the support is slidably mounted in a boss forming part of the housing of the coupling part, the valve element being mounted on one end of a stem which is pivotally connected to the support about a pivot axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the support, the stem including a projection located on the opposite side of the pivot axis to the valve element, the projection being located at a stop position when the valve element is located in its open position, the projection when at its stop position being in abutment with the boss to prevent movement of the support from its first position to its second position, the projection being located at a release position when the valve element is located in its intermediate position, the projection when at its release position not being in abutment with the boss to permit the support to move from its first position to its second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A coupling according to claim 4 wherein the support is rotatable about its axis during movement from its first position to its second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) A coupling according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the support is biased by resilient biasing means in a direction toward its second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the valve element is biased by resilient biasing means from its open position to its intermediate position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the support includes a sleeve and is slidably mounted in a boss forming part of the housing of the coupling part, the valve element being pivotally connected to the sleeve about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support, the trigger means including a push rod slidably located within the sleeve, one end of the push rod projecting beyond an axial end of the sleeve such that movement of the valve element to its intermediate position causes the valve element to engage the push rod and move it axially within the sleeve to a sleeve release position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the first and second coupling parts are telescopically engaged over a predetermined axial distance and each coupling part containing a valve means, the respective valve elements in each coupling part being in mutual abutment to maintain one another at their open position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the valve element is flexibly mounted on the support.