GB2126302A - Dry break coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling member 12.1 for use in forming part of a dry break coupler comprises a casing 16 which defines a terminal mouth 18 at one end, a passage 20 leading from the terminal mouth, and a cylindrical valve seat 22 adjacent the mouth 18. In the passage 20 there is a valve member 28 which co-operates with the valve seat 22 in order to close the mouth. By depressing the valve member mechanically against the bias of a spring 44, the valve member can be unseated from the valve seat, thereby opening the mouth 18 and permitting the flow of fuel through the passage 20. A pneumatically operated plunger 50 is biased by means of a coil spring 52 into engagement with the valve member 28, thereby locking the valve member in its closed position. The coupling member could be mounted, for example, on a fuel transport vehicle. The plunger can be disengaged from the valve member pneumatically by means of a pneumatic line 60. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dry break couplers This invention relates to dry break couplers. A dry break coupler is a device comprising a pair of disconnectably connectiable coupling members which, when connected together, form a flow passage forthetransfertherethrough of liquid, the coupling members being constructed in such a manner that spillage of liquid upon coupling/decoupling of the coupling members is reduced to a minimum. More particularly, the invention relates to a coupling mem berfor use in forming part of such a dry break coupler.

It also relates to a fuel storage tank including such a coupling member, and more particularlyto a fuel transport vehicle which has such a storage tank and coupling member.

According to the invention there is provided a coupling memberfor use in forming part of a dry break coupler, the coupling member comprising: a casing which defines a terminal mouth, a passage leading from the mouth, and a valve seat at or near the mouth; a valve memberdisplacable between a closed position in which it co-operates with the seat to close the mouth, and an open position in which it is unseated from the seat to open the mouth; biasing means for biasing the valve member towards its closed position; and locking meansdisengageablyengageablewith the valve member to lock the valve member against displacementfrom the closed position.

The locking means may be remote controlled.

The locking means maythuscomprise: a locking member displaceable from a first position in which it engages with the valve memberto lock the valve member against displacement from the closed position, and a second position in which it is disengaged from the valve memberto permit displacement of the valve member from the closed position; an actuator for displacing the locking memberfrom one said position to the other; a controlling device remote from the casing; and a control line leading from the controlling device to the actuator.

The actuator may be a pneumatically or hydraulically operable actuator, the control line being, respectively, a pneumatic or hydraulic line.

The controlling device may be key-operated, e.g. it may be a key-operated valve.

The invention extends to a fuel storage tank which is provided with a coupling member as defined above said passage ofthe coupling member being in fluid flow communication with the interior ofthe tank.

Further according to the invention there is provided afuel storagetankwhich is provided with a coupling member, the coupling member comprising: a casing which defines a terminal mouth, a passage leading from the mouth, and a valve seat at or near the mouth; a valve member displacable between a closed position in which it co-operates with the seat to close the mouth, and an open position in which it is unseated from the seat to the open mouth; biasing means for biasing the valve member towards its closed position; and locking means for preventing displacement of the valve member from the closed position, the locking means comprising: a locking member displaceable from a first position in which it prevents such displacement of the valve member, and a second position in which it permits such displacementofthe vlavemember; an actuatorfordisplacingthe locking member from one said position to the other; a controlling device remote from the casing; and a control line leading from the controlling device to the actuator.

The invention further extends to a fuel transport vehicle which includes a fuel storage tank as defined above.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompany ing drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a dry break coupler including a coupling member in accordance with the invention, the two coupling members of the coupler being shown disconnected; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the coupling member ofthe invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 ofthe drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a dry break coupler which comprises a pair of coupling members 12.1 and 12.2, the coupling member 12.1 being constructed in accordance with the invention. The coupling member 12.1 is intended for mounting on a fuel transport vehicle, there being a fluid flow connection (not shown) between the coupling member 12.1 and the storage tank ofthe vehicle. The coupling member 12.2 is, as shown in the drawing, connected to a hose 14.

Referring nowto Figure 2, it will be seen that the coupling member 12.1 comprises a casing 16 which defines a terminal mouth 18 at one end, a passage 20 leading from the terminal mouth, and a cylindrical valve seat 22 adjacent the mouth 18. Atthe end opposite the mouth 18, the casing is provided with a relatively large flange 24, whereas atthe end adjacent the mouth 18, there is a relatively small falnge 26. The flange 26 is provided with slots 27 whereby it is adapted to co-operate with the coupling member 12.2 bayonetfashion, as will be described in more detail later on inthespecification.

Within the passage 20 there is a valve member 28 which comprises a disc-shape valve head 29 carrying an O-ring seal 30, a valve stem 32, and a neck portion 34 between thevalve head and the valve stem. The neck portion 34 hasatapering part36,agroove38, and a collar40.

At the end opposite the mouth 18, there is a spider member 42 which is secured to the casing 16 by means of a screw connection and in which the valve stem 32 is slidable, to supportthevalve member 28.

Between the collar 40 and the spider member 42 there is a coil spring 44. The free end of the valve stem 32 protrudes beyond the spider member42, is screw threaded, and carries two nuts 45 which limitdisplace- ment of the valve member 28 with respect to the casing 16.

Externally, on the side ofthe casing 16, there is mounted a cylindrical housing 46, the housing being secured to the casing by means of a screw connection.

Within the housing 46 there is a piston 48, the piston carrying the plunger 50. The piston 48 and the housing 46 togetherform a pneumatic actuator, and the plungerforms a locking member. The plunger 50 extends slideablythrough the bottom end of the housing 46, there being a seal 51, and enters the passage 20. When the plunger 50 is in the position shown in Figure 2, its free end is located in the groove 38 and itthus locks the valve member 28 against displacement relative to the casing 16.

In the cylindrical housing 46 there is further a coil spring 52 which extends between the piston 48 and an end member 54 closing offthe upper end ofthe housing 46. The spring 52 biases the plunger 50 towards the position shown in Figure2, i.e. the position in which it locks the valve member 28 against displacement relative to the casing 16. Adjacent the end member54there is avent hole 55through the wall ofthecylindrical housing.

Near its bottom end, the cylindrical housing 46 is provided with an inlet connection 56, the inlet connection being connected to the vehicle supply of compressed air (not shown) via a flexible hose 60. In the hose 60 there is an on-offvalve 62 (see Figure 1) which can only be actuated by means of a keyoperated barrel 64, the key for operating the barrel being indicated by reference numeral 66.

The coupling member 12.2 has a body 70which is connected to the end of the hose 14, the body carrying a collar72which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis ofthe body 70. Handles 74 are attached to the collar 70 so as to facilitate rotation. The collar 72 is provided with suitable formations (not shown) for engaging bayonetfashion with the flange 26 of the connecting member 12.1 .As is known in the art, the connecting member 12.2 has a terminal mouth and a valve head which are similar to the mouth 18 and valve head 29 shown in Figure 2, the valve head forming part of a valve memberwhich carries cam followers, and the cam followers co-operating with cams associated with the rotatable collar 72.The cams are arranged such that, upon clockwise rotation of the collar72 relative to the housing 70, the valve head of the connecting member 12.2 is displaced longitudinally so as to protrude from the terminal mouth of that connecting member.

In operation, the person in charge will operate the key 66 to unlockthe barrel 64, which will open the valve 62 and cause compressed air to enter the bottom ofthecylindrical housing 46 and displace the piston 48 and the plunger 50 upwardly, out of engagement with the groove 38. The connecting member 12.2 is then placed againstthe connecting member 12.1 andthe collar72 rotated in a clockwise direction. This establishes a fluid tight passage forthetransfer of liquid from the hose 14 into the storage tank of the vehicle.At the same time, as indicated above, rotation of the co I I a r 72 ca uses the va Ive mem ber of th e connecting member 12.2 to protrude from the terminal mouth of that connecting member, it abuts against the valve head 29, displacing the valve member 28 into the passage 20, against the bias of the spring 44. Both thevalveheadoftheconnecting member 12.2 and the valve head 29 enterthe passage 20, clearing the valve seat 22,sothattransfer of liquid from the hose 14 into the storage tank can now take place. Upon decoupling ofthecoupling members 12.1,12.2, the collar72first has to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction.This again causes the valve heads of the two coupling members to return to their original positions in which they close offthe terminal mouths of the respective coupling members. The only fuel that is spilt is that which is contained between the adjacent ends of the valve heads ofthetwo coupling members. The key-operated barrel 64 is locked and the key 66 removed, closing off the air supply to the cylindrical housing 46. The spring 52 causes the piston 48 and the plunger 50 to return to the position shown in Figure 2, in which the plunger 50 locks the valve member28 against longitudinal displacememt. Accordingly, unless the key 66 has been operated to unlock the barrel 64, it is not possible to depress the valve member 28 and cause wastage offuel.

Should the barrel 64 be unlocked priorto the coupling members 12.1 and 12.2 having been discon nected, or should the compressed air supply fail or the hose 60 be cut, the plunger50 will enter the passage 20 and simply seat against the tapered portion 34 of the valve member 28. Should the rotatable collar 72 now be rotated to disconnectthe coupling members 12.1 and 12.2, the plunger 50 will slide along the surface ofthetapered portion 34 and eventually enter the groove 38.

If desired, there may betwo or more ofthe coupling members 12.1, all served by the same on-offvalve 62.

The coupling member 12.1 may alternatively form part of a fixed storage tank installation, in which event the connection 56 may be in the form of a quick coupler. When fuel is to be off-loaded from a vehicle provided with a hose 14 and coupling member 12.2, the vehicle's compressed air supply may be con nected to the cylinder46 by means of the quick coupler, the key-operated barrel 64 and valve 62 being mounted, for example, in the driver's cabin ofthe vehicle.

It will be appreciated that the locking member need not be linearly displaceable as in the case of the plunger 50. It could be mounted so asto be pivotally displaceable with respectto the casing 16. The cylinder 46 could be machined in the casing 16 or could be formed by a sleeve located entirely in a recess machined in the casing 16.

Claims (10)

1. Acoupling memberforuseinforming partofa dry break coupler, the coupling member comprising: a casing which defines a terminal mouth, a passage leading from the mouth, and a valve seat at or near the mouth; a valve member displacable between a closed position in which it co-operates with the seat to close the mouth, and an open position in which it is unseated from the seat to open the mouth; biasing means for biasing the valve member towards its closed position; and locking means disengageably angageable with the valve memberto lock the valve member again displacement from the closed position.

2. Acoupling memberasclaimedinclaiml, wherein the locking means is remote controlled.

3. Acoupling member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking means comprises: a locking member displaceable from a first position in which it engages with the valve memberto lock the valve member against displacementfrom the closed position, and a second position in which it is disengaged from the valve memberto permit displacement of the valve memberfrom the closed position; an actuator for displacing the locking memberfrom one said position to the other; a controlling device remote from the casing; and a control line leading from the controlling device to the actuator.

4. Acoupling member as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuator is a pneumatically or hydraulical- ly operable actuator, the control line being, respectively, a pneumatic or hydraulic line.

5. Acoupling member as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the controlling device is keyoperated.

6. A coupling member as claimed in claim 4.

wherein the controlling device is a key-operated valve.

7. A coupling member substantially as herein described and illustrated.

8. Afuel storage tank which is provided with a coupling member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said passage of the coupling member being in fluid flow communication with the interiorofthetank.

9. Afuel storage tank which is provided with a coupling member, the coupling member comprising: a casing which defines a terminal mouth, a passage leading from the mouth, and a valve seat at or near the mouth; a valve seat member displacable between a closed position in which it co-operates with the seat to close the mouth, and an open position in which it is unseated from theseatto open the mouth; biasing means for biasing the valve member towards its closed position; and locking means for preventing displacementofthe valve memberfrom the closed position,the locking means comprising: a locking member displaceable from a first position in which it prevents such displacement of the valve member, and a second position in which it permits such displacement ofthe valve member; an acutuatorfor displacing the locking member from one said position to the other; a controlling device remote from the casing; and a control line leading from the controlling device to the actuator.

10. Afuel transportvehicle which includes a fuel storage tank as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9.