Cryogenic coupling assembly

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in handling fluids at cryogenic temperatures in an environment in which ice forms on the apparatus during the handling of the fluids, said apparatus comprising first conduit means for conducting fluids at cryogenic temperatures, second conduit means for conducting fluids at cryogenic temperatures, and coupling means for connecting said first and second conduit means in fluid communication, said coupling means being operable manually against the influence of the ice formed thereon from an engaged condition interconnecting said first and second conduit means to a disengaged condition in which said coupling means is ineffective to interconnect said first and second conduit means, said coupling means including a plug element having an axially extending passage for conducting fluid at cryogenic temperatures and socket means for receiving said plug element, said socket means including a socket wall which at least partially defines an axially extending cavity for receiving said plug element, first surface means for defining a first plurality of openings extending through said socket wall into said cavity, said first plurality of openings being disposed in a generally circular array about said socket wall and having central axes extending transversely to the central axis of said cavity, a plurality of locking elements disposed on said socket wall, each of said locking elements being associated with one of said first plurality of openings and movable between a release position and a retaining position extending through the associated one of said openings into engagement with said plug element to hold said plug element against axial movement relative to said socket means, and second surface means for defining a second plurality of openings extending through said socket wall into said cavity to receive ice formed when said coupling means is in the engaged condition, said second plurality of openings bEing interspersed with said first plurality of openings and being unrestricted by said locking elements to enable said second openings to receive ice formed during the flow of fluid at cryogenic temperatures through said coupling means and to enable said coupling means to be manually actuated from the engaged condition to the release condition against the influence of the ice.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use in handling fluids at cryogenic temperatures in an environment in which ice forms on the apparatus during the handling of the fluids, said apparatus comprising first conduit means for conducting fluids at cryogenic temperatures, second conduit means for conducting fluids at cryogenic temperatures, and coupling means for connecting said first and second conduit means in fluid communication, said coupling means being operable manually against the influence of the ice formed thereon from an engaged condition interconnecting said first and second conduit means to a disengaged condition in which said coupling means is ineffective to interconnect said first and second conduit means, said coupling means including a plug element having an axially extending passage for conducting fluid at cryogenic temperatures and socket means for receiving said plug element, said socket means including a socket wall which at least partially defines an axially extending cavity for receiving said plug element, first surface means for defining a first plurality of openings extending through said socket wall into said cavity, said first plurality of openings being disposed in a generally circular array about said socket wall and having central axes extending transversely to the central axis of said cavity, a plurality of locking elements disposed on said socket wall, each of said locking elements being associated with one of said first plurality of openings and movable between a release position and a retaining position extending through the associated one of said openings into engagement with said plug element to hold said plug element against axial movement relative to said socket means, and second surface means for defining a second plurality of openings extending through said socket wall into said cavity to receive ice formed when said coupling means is in the engaged condition, said second plurality of openings bEing interspersed with said first plurality of openings and being unrestricted by said locking elements to enable said second openings to receive ice formed during the flow of fluid at cryogenic temperatures through said coupling means and to enable said coupling means to be manually actuated from the engaged condition to the release condition against the influence of the ice.

Claim 7

A method of handling fluids at cryogenic temperatures in an environment in which ice forms on apparatus utilized to handle the fluids, said method comprising the steps of providing a plug element connected with a first conduit, providing a socket assembly connected with a second conduit and having a first plurality of socket wall openings through which locking elements are extendable to engage the plug element and a second plurality of openings which are unrestricted by locking elements, said socket assembly including a sleeve member movable axially between an engaged position holding said locking elements in engagement with said plug element and a release position in which said locking elements are free to move out of engagement with said plug element, connecting said first and second conduits in fluid communication by inserting said plug element into said socket assembly with said sleeve member in the release position and thereafter moving said sleeve member to the engaged position to hold said locking elements in engagement with said plug element, flowing fluids at cryogenic temperatures through the first and second conduits, plug element, and socket assembly, allowing ice to form on the socket assembly during the flow of fluids through the socket assembly at cryogenic temperatures, and manually disconnecting the first and second conduits by manually moving the sleeve against the influence of the ice formed on the socket assembly, said step of manually disconnecting the first and second conduits includes the step of allowing ice formed on the socket assembly during the flow of cryogenic fluid through the socket assembly to move into the second plurality of openings.

Claim 8

A method of handling fluids at cryogenic temperatures in an environment in which ice forms on apparatus utilized to handle the fluids, said method comprising the steps of providing a plug element connected with a first conduit, providing a socket assembly connected with a second conduit and having a first plurality of socket wall openings through which locking elements are extendable to engage the plug element and a second plurality of openings which are unrestricted by locking elements, said socket assembly including a sleeve member movable axially between an engaged position holding said locking elements in engagement with said plug element and a release position in which said locking elements are free to move out of engagement with said plug element, connecting said first and second conduits in fluid communication by inserting said plug element into said socket assembly with said sleeve member in the release position and thereafter moving said sleeve member to the engaged position to hold said locking elements in engagement with said plug element, flowing fluids at cryogenic temperatures through the first and second conduits, plug element, and socket assembly, allowing ice to form on the socket assembly during the flow of fluids through the socket assembly at cryogenic temperatures, and manually disconnecting the first and second conduits by manually moving the sleeve against the influence of the ice formed on the socket assembly, said step of manually disconnecting the first and second conduits includes the step of allowing ice formed on the socket assembly during the flow of cryogenic fluid through the socket assembly to move into the second plurality of openings.