US3794057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety breakaway fluid coupling
Assignee: Textron Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-26
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A fluid coupling assembly having a pair of housing parts which are held together by a prestressed solid bolt. The poppet valves are disposed at each end of the bolt and are spring-loaded toward respective valve seats. One of the body parts has a reduced area portion which will fracture upon application thereto of a force directed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body parts (a side-load force) of a predetermined magnitude. The solid bolt has a reduced cross-sectional area and will fracture upon application thereto of a tensile or side-load force of a predetermined magnitude. The side-load forces and tensile forces may hereinafter be referred to as non-compressive forces even though such forces may include components compressive in nature. Upon the application of an appropriate force, both the body and the prestressed bolt will sequentially fracture releasing the poppets allowing them to engage the seats and thereby close a fluid flow path through the coupling assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 E Badger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:55
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/10; F16L55/1007; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/36; F16K17/40; F16K17/406; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1654; Y10T137/1662; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917; Y10T137/87925; Y10T137/87941
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
Fluid coupling assembly comprisinG: separable body portions defining a fluid flow path therethrough; rigid bolt means securing said body portions together; one of said body portions and said rigid bolt means having reduced area, portions which are aligned during normal operation but which will fail upon application of a noncompressive load of predetermined magnitude thereto; means for prestressing said rigid bolt means a predetermined amount less than that required to cause said bolt means to fail; and valve means mounted in said flow path operative responsive to failure of said prestressed bolt means or said body portion having said reduced area to close said flow path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
Fluid coupling assembly comprisinG: separable body portions defining a fluid flow path therethrough; rigid bolt means securing said body portions together; one of said body portions and said rigid bolt means having reduced area, portions which are aligned during normal operation but which will fail upon application of a noncompressive load of predetermined magnitude thereto; means for prestressing said rigid bolt means a predetermined amount less than that required to cause said bolt means to fail; and valve means mounted in said flow path operative responsive to failure of said prestressed bolt means or said body portion having said reduced area to close said flow path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
Fluid coupling assembly comprising: separable body portions defining fluid flow paths therethrough; rigid bolt means extending through abutting parts of said body portions; poppet means disposed at each end of said bolt means and engaging said body portions to retain said body portions together during normal operation; one of said body portions and said bolt means defining reduced area portions which are aligned during normal operation but may fracture upon being subjected to side-load forces of predetermined value; seat means carried by said body means; and, spring means continuously urging said poppet means toward said seat means, whereby upon fracture of said bolt means said poppet means sealingly engage said seat means blocking said fluid flow path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
Fluid coupling assembly comprising: separable body portions defining fluid flow paths therethrough; rigid bolt means extending through abutting parts of said body portions; poppet means disposed at each end of said bolt means and engaging said body portions to retain said body portions together during normal operation; one of said body portions and said bolt means defining reduced area portions which are aligned during normal operation but may fracture upon being subjected to side-load forces of predetermined value; seat means carried by said body means; and, spring means continuously urging said poppet means toward said seat means, whereby upon fracture of said bolt means said poppet means sealingly engage said seat means blocking said fluid flow path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
Fluid coupling assembly comprising: first and second separate tubular body portions each defining a flow cavity and having inwardly-directed means defining first and second radially-disposed surfaces; poppet valve means interconnected with rigid bolt means having a reduced cross-sectional area and extending through said inwardly-directed means releasably securing said body portions together with said first radially-disposed surfaces in abutting engagement; one of said body portions having a reduced cross-sectional area aligned with the reduced cross-sectional area of said bolt means; first and second spring means continuously urging said poppet valve means away from said inwardly-directed means; and, valve seat means carried by said body means for cooperation with said poppet means to block said flow cavity when said coupling is subjected to side-load forces sufficient to rupture said bolt at said reduced area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
Fluid coupling assembly comprising: first and second separate tubular body portions each defining a flow cavity and having inwardly-directed means defining first and second radially-disposed surfaces; poppet valve means interconnected with rigid bolt means having a reduced cross-sectional area and extending through said inwardly-directed means releasably securing said body portions together with said first radially-disposed surfaces in abutting engagement; one of said body portions having a reduced cross-sectional area aligned with the reduced cross-sectional area of said bolt means; first and second spring means continuously urging said poppet valve means away from said inwardly-directed means; and, valve seat means carried by said body means for cooperation with said poppet means to block said flow cavity when said coupling is subjected to side-load forces sufficient to rupture said bolt at said reduced area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fluid coupling assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said poppet valve means includes first and second poppets and said valve seat means includes first and second valve seats, one of said poppets being threadably secured to said bolt means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fluid coupling assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said second body portion is received internally of said first body portion and said first body portion has said reduced area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fluid coupling assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the other of said poppets is formed integrally with said bolt means, said poppets being disposed on opposite ends of said bolt means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fluid coupling assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said poppet means abuts said second surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fluid coupling assembly as defined in claim 2 which further includes means for prestressing said rigid bolt means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fluid coupling assembly as defined in claim 3 which further includes means for prestressing said rigid bolt means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A fluid coupling assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for prestressing includes one of said poppet valve means threadably secured to said rigid bolt means, said poppet valve means engaging said second radially-disposed surfaces whereby up tightening said threadably secured poppet valve means tensile force is applied to said rigid bolt means thereby prestressing said rigid bolt means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |