Flexible exhaust coupling including a heat dissipable washer

Claim 1

A FLEXIBLE COUPLING COMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH AND AN ANNULAR SURFACE ON ONE END THEREOF, A SECOND MEMBER HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PASSAGE IN SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID SECOND MEMBER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY TURNED ARCUATE FLANGE SLIDINGLY ENGAGING SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, A PRESSURE PLATE DISPOSED ABOUT SAID SECOND MEMBER AND RETAINING SAID FLANGE IN SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, MEANS INCLUDING A SPRING CONNECTING SAID PRESSURE PLATE TO SAID FIRST MEMBER FOR PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF SAID PRESSURE PLATE AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS, AND A FUSIBLE WASHER DISPOSED BETWEN SAID SPRING AND SAID PRESSURE PLATE TO RETAIN SAID SPRING IN A FULLY COMPRESSED POSITION AND HAVING A MELTING POINT SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THE REMAINDER OF THE COUPLING ELEMENTS AND ADAPTED TO BE MELTED BY FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID COUPLING TO ALLOW SAID SPRING TO EXPAND INTO PROPER OPERATING LENGTH AND RETAIN SAID COUPLING IN FLUID TIGHT RELATION.