Tension actuated uncoupler

Claim 1

In a fuel dispensing system including a fuel storage tank, a fuel dispensing station stationarily mounted on a foundation, a fuel supply line between said tank and said dispensing station, and a pump for delivering fuel via said fuel supply line from said tank to said dispensing station, the latter including a line therewithin connected to said fuel supply line and a flexible dispensing line having a free end and having a selectively operable nozzle on the free end for controlling delivery of fuel into the fuel tank of a vehicle or the like, wherein the improvement comprises: a tension actuated coupler installed in one of said lines for permitting the flow of fuel therethrough when coupled and for uncoupling at least a portion of said one line from another portion thereof in the event a tension load above a predetermined limit being applied to said one line thereby to minimize damage to said dispensing station, said coupler comprising a female quick disconnect fitting secured to one of said line portions and a male quick disconnect fitting secured to the other portion of said one line with the male fitting being sealably secured within said female fitting when said male and female fittings are coupled together thereby to permit the flow of fuel through said line, means carried by one of said fittings engagable with the other of said fittings for positively securing the fittings together in coupled relation, said securing means being carried by said female fitting and being engagable with a circumferential groove in said male fitting thereby to positively connect said male fitting in sealing engagement with said female fitting, said securing means being movable radially inwardly and outwardly relative to said female fitting between a locking position in which said male fitting is positively coupled to said female member and an unlocking position in which said male and female fittings are free of one another, a collar slidably movable on the exterior of the female fitting surrounding said securing means and being movable from a locking position in which said securing means are positively maintained in locking engagement with the male fitting and an axially shifted position in which the securing means are free to move radially outwardly to their unlocking position, and means interconnecting said collar with said hose portion for applying a force to said collar upon the application of a tension load to one of said hose portions above a predetermined value so as to move said collar from its locking to its unlocking position; further including a shear member engagable with said collar adapted to fail upon the application of a shear load thereto by said collar of a predetermined value, said means interconnecting said collar with said hose portion applying said shear load to said shear member.