US3916929A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-sealing break-away fitting
Assignee: Schrader Automotive Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-16
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-08-16
Abstract
Abstract An inexpensive, fool-proof, self-sealing, break-away fitting in which parts in the halves are identical and a breaking of the housing will result in a stop of the liquid flow from either side of the fitting.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Edward Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:50
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/36; B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/01; F16K17/20; F16K17/22; F16K17/24; F16K17/26; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/10; F16L55/1007; B60K15/03; B60K2015/03328; B60K2015/03381; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S137/00; Y10S137/91; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1654; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917; Y10T137/87925; Y10T137/87941; Y10T137/87949; Y10T137/87957
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An inexpensive, compact, self-sealing break-away fitting comprising a simple tubular molded plastic housing portion having a neck comprising a V-shaped peripheral groove with a corresponding annular rib inside the housing portiOn, the neck being of reduced wall thickness, the neck disposed intermediate two halves, and a pair of molded end cap portions closing either end of the housing respectively, the housing having inside it and defined by the rib an axial central opening with valve seat means closely proximate to and surrounding the opening on each side and facing the adjacent end cap portions respectively, the end cap portions having openings each adapted to be connected to a conduit, plug means disposed in each half, spring means in each half disposed compressively between the plug means and the respective and cap portion and urging the associated plug means toward engagement with the adjacent seat to close it off, the plug means fixedly carrying centrally protuberances of lesser diameter than the central opening, and shoulder means in each half limiting movement of the plug means away from the seat, whereby when the housing portions are together, the protuberances engage each other at contact surfaces to mutually hold the plug means off the seats thereby permitting flow through the fitting, but when the fitting breaks at the neck, the spring means urge the respective plug means to seat, preventing leakage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An inexpensive, compact, self-sealing break-away fitting comprising a simple tubular molded plastic housing portion having a neck comprising a V-shaped peripheral groove with a corresponding annular rib inside the housing portiOn, the neck being of reduced wall thickness, the neck disposed intermediate two halves, and a pair of molded end cap portions closing either end of the housing respectively, the housing having inside it and defined by the rib an axial central opening with valve seat means closely proximate to and surrounding the opening on each side and facing the adjacent end cap portions respectively, the end cap portions having openings each adapted to be connected to a conduit, plug means disposed in each half, spring means in each half disposed compressively between the plug means and the respective and cap portion and urging the associated plug means toward engagement with the adjacent seat to close it off, the plug means fixedly carrying centrally protuberances of lesser diameter than the central opening, and shoulder means in each half limiting movement of the plug means away from the seat, whereby when the housing portions are together, the protuberances engage each other at contact surfaces to mutually hold the plug means off the seats thereby permitting flow through the fitting, but when the fitting breaks at the neck, the spring means urge the respective plug means to seat, preventing leakage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inside of each half of the housing portion, has a plurality of inward ribs extending longitudinally from the valve seat up to the end cap portion, and adapted to center and guide the plug means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plug means are made of rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end cap portions on their inside surfaces carry radial ridges serving as said shoulder means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 4 wherein in each half the length of the plug means is such that the distance from the contact surface of the protuberance to the opposite end of the plug means is substantially equal to the distance between the center of the neck and the radial ridges, whereby in assembly the protuberances, acting mutually on the plug means, serve to hold the plug means away from their respective conical seats with the plug means of at least one half in engagement with its associated ridges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
A self-sealing break-away fitting comprising a plastic housing having identical halves joined by a reduced neck at which fracture is intended to occur, plug means in each of the halves, spring means in each of the halves urging the plug means towards a seat at said neck, protuberances on each of the plug means adapted to mutually hold the plug means away from seating condition, and shoulder means in each of the housings holding the plug means from retreating away from said seating condition farther than a position in which the tip of the protuberance is aligned with said neck, and channel means in the housing on each side of the neck permitting flow around the respective plug means, the channel means being adapted to be connected to conduit means disposed on the opposite sides of the plug means respectively from the neck, whereby, when fracture occurs, the spring means urges the plug means respectively to seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
A self-sealing break-away fitting comprising a plastic housing having identical halves joined by a reduced neck at which fracture is intended to occur, plug means in each of the halves, spring means in each of the halves urging the plug means towards a seat at said neck, protuberances on each of the plug means adapted to mutually hold the plug means away from seating condition, and shoulder means in each of the housings holding the plug means from retreating away from said seating condition farther than a position in which the tip of the protuberance is aligned with said neck, and channel means in the housing on each side of the neck permitting flow around the respective plug means, the channel means being adapted to be connected to conduit means disposed on the opposite sides of the plug means respectively from the neck, whereby, when fracture occurs, the spring means urges the plug means respectively to seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A fitting as claimed in claim 6 wherein in each half the plug means are cup-shaped and receive an end of an axial spring comprising the spring means and the channel means include a shoulder adjacent the extreme end of the fitting adapted to serve as a bottom for said spring respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |