Breakaway coupling, conduit system utilizing the coupling and methods of making the same

Claim 1

In a breakaway coupling for incorporation into a conduit system and comprising a pair of tubular coupling members each having opposed end means one of which is adapted to be interconnected to a part of said conduit system and the other of which is held in sealing and coupling engagement with the other end means of the other coupling member until uncoupled therefrom by a certain axial force means being created therebetween, said breakaway coupling having frangible means holding said coupling members in their coupling engagement until said certain axial force means breaks said frangible means to thereby uncouple said coupling members, said frangible means comprising a tubular sleeve means having opposed ends and an annular frangible section intermediate said ends of said sleeve means that breaks in an annular manner when said certain axial force means is applied between said coupling members, said frangible section comprising a tubular sleeve that is disposed in telescoped relation on said sleeve means and has opposed ends that are respectively disposed in spaced inboard relation relative to said ends of said sleeve means, said sleeve having an annular frangible area between said ends of said sleeve, said sleeve means having two parts respectively provided with free ends disposed adjacent each other and respectively having said opposed ends of said sleeve means outboard of said free ends, said sleeve having said ends thereof provided with means respectively interconnected to said free ends of said two parts, the improvement wherein said sleeve is threaded onto said sleeve means.