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US 6,283,444 B1Granted
Undersea hydraulic coupling member
AssigneeNational Coupling Company, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Smith, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An undersea hydraulic coupling member is disclosed having a valve actuator extending through the probe section and the leading face, and having angled flow ports in the probe section which help keep the hydraulic system clear of debris when the coupling members are disconnected subsea.
Claims12
An undersea hydraulic coupling member comprising:
- (a) a body section and a probe section, a longitudinal bore extending through both sections, the probe section having a outer surface with a stepped outer diameter and a leading face, the leading face having an aperture therein;
- (b) a poppet valve in the longitudinal bore in the body section for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid through the bore, the poppet valve slideable between an open position and a closed position, the poppet valve being biased to the closed position;
- (c) at least one fluid passage in the probe section having a first end in the bore and a second end through the cylindrical outer surface of the probe section, the fluid passage sloping down from the first end to the second end when the body is positioned with the leading face of the probe section facing up;
- and
- (d) a valve actuator in the longitudinal bore in the probe section, the value actuator attached to the poppet valve and extending longitudinally through the aperture in the leading face of the bore, the actuator being moveable upon application of longitudinal force thereto to urge the poppet valve to the open position for flow of hydraulic fluid through the fluid passage and the bore.
2 more elements
A male undersea hydraulic coupling member for engagement with a female undersea hydraulic coupling member, comprising:
- (a) a female coupling member and a male coupling member including a cylindrical probe having a first section with an outer diameter dimensioned to have a sliding interfit with the female undersea hydraulic coupling member, a second section having an outer diameter smaller than the first section to provide an annulus between the second section and the female undersea hydraulic coupling member sufficient for passage of hydraulic fluid therethrough when the male undersea hydraulic coupling member is engaged to the female undersea hydraulic coupling member, the second section terminating at a leading face, the second section having angled flow ports therethrough, each angled flow port having an inwardly facing end and an outwardly facing end, the outwardly facing end extending through the outer diameter of the second section at a location spaced further from the leading face;
- the male member having a third section having an outer diameter larger than the first section;
- only the first and second sections of the probe dimensioned to fit in the female member;
- and
- (b) a valve in the third section for controlling hydraulic fluid flow through the male undersea hydraulic coupling member, the valve having an actuator extending longitudinally through the first and second sections of the cylindrical probe and out from the leading face, the actuator being compressible to open the valve and allow fluid flow from the male undersea hydraulic coupling member, through the angled flow ports and the annulus, to the female undersea hydraulic coupling member.
2 more elements
An undersea hydraulic coupling member comprising:
- (a) a cylindrical body with a first end and a second end, a stepped outer diameter with a plurality of progressively larger diameters from the first end to the second end, a central bore through the body, and a valve in the central bore in the largest diameter of the body for controlling fluid flow therethrough, the valve having an actuator extending therefrom and through the smallest diameter of the body and out the first end of the cylindrical body, the actuator having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the central bore to form an annulus therebetween;
- and
- (b) a plurality of angled flow ports through the cylindrical body adjacent the first end thereof, the actuator moveable toward the first end of the cylindrical body to open the valve and allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the angled flow ports, the annulus, the central bore, and the second end of the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.