Quick disconnect safety shield
OwnerWilliam E. Browninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety shield, suitable for use in a marine environment, which can be quickly and easily removed from around the end flange of a pipeline or hose. It is used to aid in the containment of any leaking fluid from the end flange, such escaping fluid being collected in a drip barrel or the like. The shield incorporates a housing, open at the bottom, with a notch in the front wall for a pipeline to pass through. The housing is fastened to the pipeline by selectively engaging or disengaging the outer circumference of the end flange with an adjustable open annular ring or strap. A window may be included in the top wall of the housing of this shield so that the user can view the end flange prior to installation and/or removal.
Claims20
A shield for surrounding or covering an end flange of a pipeline or hose comprising:
- (a) a housing having a front wall, a back wall and a top wall, said top wall depending downwardly to form side walls intermediate said front and back walls thus forming a closure having a bottom which is open to the atmosphere;
- (b) a notch provided in said front wall of said housing, said notch being configured to accept a pipeline therein with the apex of said notch being generally centrally located within said front wall of said housing;
- and,
- (c) attachment means secured to said housing for positioning said housing upon said pipeline, said attachment means comprising an open annular ring whose diameter can be adjusted to selectively engage or disengage the end flange.
A shield for surrounding or covering an end flange of a pipeline or hose comprising:
- (a) a housing having a front wall, a back wall and a top wall, said top wall depending downwardly to form side walls intermediate said front and back walls thus forming an integral closure having a bottom which is open to the atmosphere;
- (b) a notch provided in said front wall of said housing, said notch being configured to accept a pipeline therein with the apex of said notch being generally centrally located within said front wall of said housing;
- (c) means for positioning said housing upon said pipeline, said means including a bearing surface provided along said apex of said notch for accepting said pipeline therealong;
- and,
- (d) means for temporarily fastening said housing to said pipeline, said fastening means being secured to said back wall of said housing and comprising an adjustable strap extending around and compressible against the outer circumference of the end flange.
A method of shielding or surrounding an end flange of a pipeline or hose comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a housing having a front wall, a back wall and a top wall depending downwardly to form side walls intermediate said front and back walls thus forming a closure having a bottom which is open to the atmosphere;
- (b) providing said housing with a notch in said front wall of said housing, said notch being configured to accept a pipeline therein with the apex of said notch being generally centrally located within said front wall of said housing;
- (c) providing means for positioning said housing upon the pipeline;
- and,
- (d) temporarily fastening said housing to the pipeline via fastening means, said fastening means being secured to said back wall of said housing and comprising an adjustable strap extending around and compressible against the outer circumference of the end flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.