EP2542816A1

EP2542816A1 - Safety system for fluid conduit

Info

Publication number: EP2542816A1
Application number: EP11751390A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrew Abrams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-03
Filing date: 2011-03-03
Publication date: 2013-01-09
Also published as: WO2011109664A1

Abstract

In an embodiment, there is disclosed a flexible fluid conduit having a breakaway coupling at one or both ends and a safety system that includes a spring in compression which applies thrust (a pull) to flapper valves at both ends of the flexible fluid conduit through relatively stiff bendable spring rods which push the valves open as long as the flexible hose is intact. Upon a hose failure such as a drive away, a coupling separation, a hose separation, or a longitudinal tear, the spring looses its compression and the pull applied to the valves by the spring in compression changes to a pull which immediately pulls the valves to close.

Description

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR FLUID CONDUIT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

[001] The present invention relates generally to a flexible fluid conduit for transferring a fluid under a high pressure and more particularly to the connection of a flexible fluid conduit having a safety system in combination with a three bolt breakaway coupling where, in the event of a pull of sufficient force in any direction, at least two of the shear bolts in the coupling will separate.

Description of Related Art

[002] When filling containers with compressed or non-compressed gasses or liquids, or operating equipment that relies on pressurized liquid flow or compressed gas, it is necessary for the liquid or gas, hereinafter referred to as fluid, to be transferred from one container to another. Although the fluid can be transferred from one container to another using solid piping, it is common in many situations to use a flexible fluid conduit or hose when connecting one container to another. A flexible fluid conduit allows a user to have a flexible connection/disconnection between the containers, as well as a limited range of motion between the source and destination.

[003] For example, compressed or non-compresses fluids, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, chemicals, petroleum , petroleum products and acids are transported, stored and used in containers of varying size. To fill these containers with the desired product, it is necessary to connect each container to a filling connection at the location of a gas filler/seller. In order to connect each container to the filling connection, a flexible fluid conduit is used which allows for quick connection/disconnection of the container to the filling connection. A filling station manifold is one example of a filling connection. [004] Under certain condition flexible fluid conduits, which are normally made of durable and flexible materials, can fail. A common type of a flexible fluid conduit failure is associated with an operator of a tank truck driving away while the flexible hose is still attached to the tank truck and an existing tank. The failure of the flexible fluid conduit may be either a coupling separation or the hose being stretched and developing a failure if the breakaway coupling does not break away.

[005] A prior art couplings in use today consists of two rectangular plates where each plate has a central opening connected to a conduit with a leak proof seal and four shear bolts. When assembled, the two rectangular plates are positioned opposite each other with four clearance openings and the central openings aligned with each other. A leak proof seal such as an O ring is located in an annular groove around the central opening and shear bolts are placed into each of the four clearance openings. A nut is placed on each bolt and each nut is tightened until each bolt is stressed to the same predetermined force.

[006] A drive away hose failure can be a rupturing of the hose or a partial coupling separation where less than all of the shear bolts break and the plates are held together by the remaining shear bolts.

[007] When a hose fails, it can result in substantial risk of personal injury, as well as property damage. Still further, a hose failure can result in a leak from both the delivery and receiving ends, leading to a costly waste of fluid, the discharge of a hazardous fluid, as well as introducing hazardous fumes into the environment.

[008] U.S. Patent 5,357,998 discloses a fluid conduit safety system that uses a relatively stiff flexible cable inside a hose to maintain a valve body at each end of the hose in an open condition during normal or open operation. When a failure condition, such as a rupture, cut, separation or stretch of the hose occurs, the valves are closed, sealing both ends of the hose. This prevents fluid leaks from both sources, i.e., container and filling apparatus. When a failure of the hose occurs, the stiff flexible cable may be severed, allowing the fluid pressure to force the valve bodies into engagement with the valve seats. If a hose failure does not sever the cable, the valve seats are either forced into engagement with the valve bodies or the valve bodies are forced into engagement with the valve seats. In either circumstance, a seal is accomplished by seating the valve bodies with the valve seats. [009] U.S. Patents 6,260,569 and 6,546,947 disclose additional improvements in such a safety fluid conduit system. These patents disclose a system that operates when there is a drive away hose failure where the hose ruptures or there is a full separation of the plates of a four shear bolt breakaway coupling where all of the shear bolts break away. However, the fluid conduit system may not immediately operate to stop the flow of fluid through the hose when there is a partial coupling separation such as where all of the shear bolts do not break and the plates of the four bolt breakaway coupling remain held together by the remaining shear bolts.

[010] What is needed is a new improved fluid conduit safety system that can be used together with a new improved breakaway coupling where fluid flow through a flexible conduit is immediately stopped in both directions in the event that there is a hose failure due to a drive away, a coupling separation, a hose separation or a longitudinal tear in the hose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[Oil] In an embodiment, there is disclosed a flexible fluid conduit having a breakaway coupling at one or both ends and a safety system that includes a spring in compression which applies thrust (a push) to flapper valves at both ends of the flexible fluid conduit through relatively stiff bendable spring rods which push the valves open as long as the flexible hose is intact. Upon a hose failure such as a drive away, a coupling separation, a hose separation, or a longitudinal tear, the spring looses its compression and the push that was applied to the valves by the spring in compression changes to a pull which immediately pulls the valves closed. The compression spring can work where the hose elongates since the spring coil can be designed to address this elongation. The spring coil can be made so that when it expands from its compressed state to its naturally coiled uncompressed position it can expand by an amount equal to the hoses elongation thereby permitting elongation.

[012] The breakaway coupling that is used with the flexible fluid conduit is readily applied to a new flexible conduit or to retrofitting an existing flexible conduit. The breakaway coupling has two generally triangular flanges of a metal such as stainless steel, steel, iron, brass, bronze, or the like, where each flange has a central opening surrounded by a sealing O ring and openings located at each corner of the triangle for receiving three shear bolts.

[013] To assemble, the breakaway coupling, an O ring is placed around central opening in one of the triangular flanges, and the two triangular flanges are positioned opposite to each other with the openings at the corners of the two triangular flanges aligned with each other. Shear bolts are inserted into the aligned three openings, nuts are threaded onto the ends of the three shear bolts and each shear bolt is tightened to have the same foot/lbs value. The breakaway coupling can be located at one or both ends of the flexible fluid conduit.

[014] In the safety system disclosed, first and second housings are attached to the first and second ends of the flexible fluid conduit and a first flapper type valve is located in the first housing and a second flapper type valve is located in the second housing, where the first and second flapper type valves are located at a first predetermined distance from each other.

[015] The spring in the conduit is in a compressed state. One end of the compressed spring is connected via a relatively stiff spring rod to the flapper type valve at one end of the flexible conduit, and the other end of the spring is connected via a second relatively stiff spring rod to the flapper type valve at the other end of the flexible conduit. The push force, the thrust, of the compressed spring, acting through the relatively stiff spring rods keeps the two flapper type valves open by pushing on the valves with substantially equal force. This thrust is applied to the valves only while the spring is compressed and while the flexible conduit is intact.

[016] In the event of a hose failure where the spacing between the two flapper type valves increases or the spring rod on either side of the compressed spring protrudes through a longitudinal tear in the flexible hose, the compressed spring will expand to its relaxed state and, instead of applying a thrust to the valves at the ends of the conduit, will now pull the valves to their closed condition.

[017] The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[018] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the

accompanying drawings wherein similar reference numeral represent similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

[019] FIG. 1 illustrates a cut away view of an example flexible fluid conduit safety system in an open configuration, according to one embodiment.

[020] FIGs. 2-5 illustrate cut away views of the example flexible fluid conduit safety system in a closed configuration caused by various conditions, according to various

embodiments.

[021] FIG. 6 illustrates an example connection of a fluid transport vehicle to a source/destination container through the example fluid conduit safety system, according to one embodiment.

[022] FIGs. 7-10 illustrate various views of an example three bolt breakaway coupling for use with the example flexible fluid conduit system, according to various embodiments.

[023] FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for filling a cylinder or the like with compressed fluid under high pressure.

[024] Fig. 12 is a cut-away view of a hose or other conduit constructed in accordance with one form of the inventive subject matter with the valves therein positioned to permit fluid flow.

[025] Fig. 13 is a section view taken along lines 3—3 of Fig. 12.

[026] Fig. 14 is a cut-away view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing the valves positioned to block fluid flow.

[027] Fig. 15 is a cut-away view similar to that of Figs. 2 and 4 and shows a valve housing constructed to include a relatively larger compression zone.

[028] Fig. 16 is a cut-away view similar to that of Figs. 2 and 4 and shows a valve housing constructed to include exterior heat-dissipating ribs adjacent the compression zone. [029] Fig. 17 is a cut-away view similar to that of Figs. 2 and 4 and shows a conduit constructed to include a spring rather than a cable.

[030] Fig. 18 is a cut-away view similar to that of Figs. 2 and 4 and shows an additional valve housing in-line with a hose such as that of Figs. 2, 5, and 6 and acting as a one-way check valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[031] FIG. 1 illustrates an example flexible fluid conduit safety system 10 in an open configuration allowing full fluid flow therethrough. The system 10 includes a flexible fluid conduit or hose 22 having connectors 18, 20 on each end thereof. One or both connectors 18, 20 may be connected to the hose 22 utilizing breakaway couplings 16. The breakaway couplings 16 may be a three bolt coupling as will be described in more detail later. The connector 18 (and/or 20) may connect to one side of a breakaway coupling 16 and the hose 22 may connect to the other side of the breakaway coupling 16.

[032] The connectors 18, 20 may include flapper type valves 12, 14 located therewithin. The hose 22 may include a spring 24 and spring rods 26, 28 located therewithin. Each of the spring rods 26, 28 may be connected to a side of the spring 24 and an associated flapper type valve 12, 14. In normal operation the spring 24 may be compressed such that it is exerting a force (pushing) on the rods 26, 28 such that the rods 26, 28 push the flapper valves 12, 14 to their open state and allow a fluid to flow through the system 10. The flapper type valves 12, 14 may be made of a metal such as brass or steel, or a plastic or composite material. Other materials can be used that can withstand the pressure and chemical environment. The rods 26, 28 may be made of a material that transmits a thrust that pushes the valves 12, 14 to their open position to allow fluid flow.

[033] The connectors 18, 20 may be identical in design, except that they are positioned at opposite ends of hose 22. The connectors 18, 20 may be made of a metal such as brass or steel. Other materials can be used that can withstand the pressure and chemical environment. The connectors 18, 20 may be substantially hollow (having a center cavity 32) and include a first opening 30 to the outside and a second opening to the hose 22 so as to allow fluids to flow therethough. The connectors 18, 20 may include a means for connection to a valve, container, manifold or other connection to receive or discharge a fluid. The distance between the connectors 18, 20 is determined by the length and configuration of the hose 22 (maximum distance apart is the length of the hose 22). Fluids may flow through the hose 22 from one connector 18 (or 20) to the other 20 (or 18), depending upon whether a container is being filled or being emptied. [034] During normal operation, the hose 22 has a specific length and the overall length of the spring 24 in a compressed state and the spring rods 26, 28 is such that it will apply a thrust to the flapper type valves 12, 14 that are at a fixed distance from each other. At any instant that the hose 22 experiences a failure, its length will increase and the space between the valves 12, 14 will increase in length by a distance that is greater than the increase in length of the spring 24 as it looses its compression. Thus, when a hose 22 fails, the distance between the valves 12, 14 increase by a distance that is greater than the increase in the length of the spring 24 and the thrust that was applied to the flapper type valves 12, 14 now becomes a pull which is used to close the valves 12, 14. Therefore, at the instant that a hose 22 fails the valves 12, 14 are pulled close and the flow of a fluid through the hose 22 is stopped.

[035] A failure of hose 22 which causes the spring 24 to lose compression will cause the valves 12, 14 to close. The compression spring 24 can work where the hose 22 elongates since the spring coil can be designed to address this elongation. The spring coil can be made so that when it expands from its compressed state to its naturally coiled uncompressed position it can expand by an amount equal to the hoses 22 elongation thereby permitting elongation.

[036] FIG. 2 illustrates a cut away view of the example flexible fluid conduit safety system 10 in a closed state caused by the breakaway coupler 16 separating (possibly caused by a truck driving away with hose still connected). When the drive away hose failure occurred, the breakaway coupler 16 separated which allowed the valves 12, 14 to move apart. This increase in valve separation allowed spring 24 to loose its compression and convert the push that was applied to the valves 12, 14 to a pull which pulls the valves 12, 14 to their closed position. Stated differently, a hose failure changes the thrust that is applied to the valves 12, 14 to a pull which closes the valves 12, 14.

[037] FIG. 3 illustrates a cut away view of the example flexible fluid conduit safety system 10 in a closed state caused by a separation 34 of the hose 22 at a portion containing the rod 28. When the separation occurred, the spacing between the valves 12, 14 increased, the spring 24 expanded to its uncompressed state, and the thrust that was applied to the valves 12, 14 changed to a pull which operated to immediately close the valves 12, 14.

[038] FIG. 4 illustrates a cut away view of the example flexible fluid conduit safety system 10 in a closed state caused by a separation 36 of the hose 22 at a portion containing the spring 24. When the separation occurred, the spacing between the valves 12, 14 increased, the spring 24 expanded to its uncompressed state, and the thrust that was applied to the valves 12, 14 changed to a pull which operated to immediately close the valves 12, 14.

[039] FIG. 5 illustrates a cut away view of the example flexible fluid conduit safety system 10 in a closed state caused by a longitudinal tear 38. When the tear occurs the thrust that was applied to the valves 12, 14 changed to a pull which operated to immediately close the valves 12, 14.

[040] In operation, a first end of the fluid conduit system 10 is connected to a filling container, while the second end of the fluid conduit system 10 is connected to a receiving container. The exact nature of the filling container and the receiving container depends upon the ultimate application. For example, the filling container may be a transport vehicle and may include a hose or routing system. A similar situation may apply to the receiving container.

[041] FIG. 6 illustrates an example connection of a fluid transport vehicle 64 to a source/destination container 66 through the example fluid conduit safety system 10. The transport vehicle 64 may be delivering or receiving fluid, depending upon the particular application. In operation, a first end of the fluid conduit system 10 is connected to a filling container, while the second end of the fluid conduit is connected to a receiving container.

[042] FIGs. 7-10 illustrate various views of an example three bolt breakaway coupling 16 for use with the example flexible fluid conduit system 10. The three bolt breakaway coupler 16 may include a first flange 40 and a second flange 42 each of which has a shape that is triangular and may be composed of steel, iron, bronze, brass or any other suitable metal. Each flange 40, 42 may include three openings 44 for receiving breakaway bolts 60 and a centrally located opening 48 that provides a path for a fluid such as a gas or a liquid to pass through. The openings 44 may be positioned uniformly around the central opening 48 and may be separated from each other by 120 degrees. The openings 44 in the first flange 40 may be clearance openings for a threaded shear bolt 60 and the openings 44 in the second flange 42 may be threaded for receiving the threads of shear bolts 60.

[043] Each flange 40, 42 has an exterior side 50 and an interior side 52 where the interior sides 52 may face each other when the three bolt breakaway coupling 16 is assembled. The exterior side 50 of the flange 40 may be connected to a longitudinally extending tubular member 54 that is aligned with the centrally located opening 48 and supports on its outer surface a plurality of ridges which are provided for clamping a flexible hose (such as the flexible fluid conduit 10 of FIG. 1) to the tubular member 54 in a leak proof manner.

[044] The interior side 52 of each flange 40, 42 may support a groove 58 located around the centrally located opening 48 for receiving an O ring. When the two flanges 40, 42 are bolted together, the O ring provides a leak proof seal. The exterior side 50 of the second fiange 42 may be attached to a connector (such as the connector 20 that includes valve 14 of FIG. 1).

[045] To assemble the three bolt breakaway coupling 16, an O ring may be positioned in the groove 58 in one of the flanges 40, 42 and the interior sides of the two flanges 40, 42 may be positioned opposite each other with the openings 44 in alignment. The threaded ends of breakaway bolts (shear bolts) 60 may then be inserted into clearance openings in the first fiange 40 and threaded into the threaded openings in the second flange 42. The breakaway bolts 60 may have hexagonal heads and may be made of stainless steel. It is understood that a material other than stainless steel can be used for the shear bolts. The three shear bolts 60 may be tightened to torque each shear bolt to the same ft/lbs.

[046] The three bolt breakaway coupling 16, when subjected to a predetermined breaking force at any angle, will break at least two of the three shear bolts. Thus, the shear bolts will break when a breaking force is applied to the three bolt breakaway coupling.

[047] Shear bolts that are of various sizes and/or material can be used to meet specific pressure and load requirements. The three bolt breakaway coupling has three shear bolts.

Because all of the shear bolts will break at the same time, increased safety and protection is provided against an unintended pull away of tank trucks, railcars, barges and ships.

[048] FIG. 11 illustrates an example delivery system for filling containers with compressed fluids. The system includes a fluid supply 110 such as a reservoir, or fluid compressing means, or the like. The supply 110 may be connected by a discharge manifold 112 to a plurality of containers 114 (e.g, gas cylinders) to which the fluid is to be transferred.

Conduits 120 which may be elongated flexible members are connected between the discharge manifold 112 and the containers 114. The conduits 120 may be hoses made of reinforced neoprene, rubber, neoprene, nylon, TEFLON polymer, stainless steel and the like so that they have a high degree of flexibility and are capable of withstanding the high pressures which they encounter from the compressed fluids that move through them.

[049] FIG. 12 illustrates an example conduit 120 in detail. The conduit 120 may include a housing 122 at one end and an identical housing 124 at its other end. The housings 122 and 124 are connectors which enable the conduit 120 to be connected to other elements in the fluid handling system. The two housings 122, 124 may be identical, so the following detailed description of housing 122 will also suffice as a description of housing 124. The housing 122 is connected to conduit 120 by a ferrule 126 which cooperates with a complementary elongated cylindrical hollow member 130 that extends from the end wall 132 of the housing 122 and into the passage 134 defined by the conduit 120.

[050] The housing 122 may be an elongated, hollow, cylindrical element which is connected by end wall 132 and member 130 to the conduit 120 and has threads 136 at its other end for connection to another element in the fluid handling system. The housing 122 has an inner wall that includes a valve chamber 138 which is defined by a ledge 140 that faces away from end wall 132 and a tapered valve seat 142 that lies adjacent end wall 132. The tapered valve seat 142 lies between the ledge 140 and the end wall 132 and faces ledge 140.

[051] The member 130 may cooperate with the ferrule 126 to clamp the conduit 120 between them so that the housing 122 is securely connected to the conduit 120 for the receipt of and transmission of fluid under high pressure. It also serves as a cable guide as will be explained herein. A valve body 144 is disposed in the valve chamber 138. Preferably, the valve body 144 includes an elongated, cylindrical member 146 having a tapered end 148 and a rear wall 150. The taper at end 148 corresponds to the taper of the valve seat 142 so that they can cooperate to prevent the flow of fluid when they are in engagement with each other. A distal end 152 extends from the rear wall 150 of the valve body 140 and comprises an elongated stem-like member 154 of relatively small diameter relative to the elongated, cylindrical member 146. Stem-like member 154 extends away from the valve seat 140.

[052] Each of the valve bodies 144 and stem- like members 154 include a longitudinally extending, axial passage 156 of relatively small diameter through which a relatively stiff cable 158 or other suitable flexible and bendable member of predetermined length can be received. The valve body 144 may be connected to the cable 158 by swaging, welding, or other suitable means so that the cable 158 cannot separated from the valve body 144 under the strong forces which will be present should the conduit 120 rupture. Valve body retainers 160 and 162 are provided in housings 122 and 124 respectively. Since the two retainers 160 and 162 are identical the following detailed description of retainer 160 will also suffice as a description of retainer 62.

[053] FIG. 13 illustrates an example retainer 160 in detail. The retainer 160 is a disc that includes a generally annular central member 164 having a plurality of arms 166 extending radially outwardly from it. The center of the annular member 164 comprises an aperture 168. Retainers 160 and 162 are disposed on ledges 140 in each housing 122 and 124. Each retainer is fixed on the ledge by being force fit, clamped, welded or secured by any suitable means that will hold it in place for a reason that will become apparent. The distance between the retainers 160 and 162 is about the same as the distance between the rear walls 150 of the valve bodies 144.

[054] The member 130 and the stiffness of the cable 158 cause the valve bodies 144 to lie with their rear walls 150 against their respective retainers 160 and 162 with their respective stems 154 extending through the apertures 168. Under normal operating conditions, compressed fluids flow through conduit 120, through the fluid passages 170 defined by the space between the arms 166 on each retainer 160 and 162 and the inner wall of the housings 122 and 124, and through the opening between each valve seat 142 and its respective valve body 144. Since the cable 158 is confined by the wall of conduit 120, and is long enough arid sufficiently stiff to keep the valve bodies in engagement with the retainers 160 and 162.

[055] As is apparent from Fig. 12, neither valve body can move within its chamber since such movement is blocked by the retainer at the other end of the conduit. Should the conduit 120 fail by either splitting or by rupture, the valve bodies 144 and valve seats 142 will move into engagement with each other thereby stopping the flow through the conduit 120 at each of its ends as seen in Fig. 14. Accordingly, not only will discharge from the supply manifold be stopped, but also discharge from the 120 container being filled will be stopped.

[056] If the supply 110 or one of the containers 114 should fall during filling, the conduit 120 may fail. In this case the ends of the conduit will move with the item to which they are connected. Therefore, the valve seats 142 will be drawn away from each other and into engagement with their respective valve bodies 144 since the cable 158 will be drawn taut by the movement the conduit ends away from each other. [057] If the supply 110 and containers 114 are fixed, they will not be displaced when the conduit fails. In this case the valve bodies 144 will be urged into engagement with their respective valve seats 142 due to the pressure differential across the valve bodies 144 in that there is still high pressure fluid in the supply 110 and container 114 bearing against the valve bodies 144. When conduit 120 fails, cable 158 is released from its confinement within the conduit and can flex to permit the valve bodies 144 to move toward the valve seats 142. Further, because the cable 158 extends through the conduit 120, it will serve as a guide for a ruptured conduit, thereby preventing the 110 ends of the conduit from being whipped about by the discharging fluid. Still further, even if the cable were to fail as a result of the rupture, fluid flow will still be stopped at each end of the conduit since the cable 158 will not be holding the valve bodies 144 apart. It is significant to note that the advantages of the inventive subject matter are achieved by a structure that is entirely within the conduit. Thus, there is no external apparatus that might be inadvertently snagged, damaged or destroyed thereby rendering the features of the inventive subject matter unavailable when needed.

[058] In various embodiments, it is to be understood that the device and method disclosed above can be used with conduits 120 of varying sizes and materials. For example, the conduit 120 can be a relatively flexible hose or tube or even a relatively rigid pipe or duct, among other things.

[059] Fig. 15 illustrates a plunger-type valve body 144 is provided in the housing 122/124 in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 12. Here, though, the valve body 144 is positioned against the retainer 160 during normal, open operation and is relatively farther from the tapered valve seat 142. Accordingly, during such normal, open operation, the valve body 144 and the valve seat 142 define therebetween a compression zone 1000 within the valve chamber 138 that is relatively larger as compared with that of Fig. 2.

[060] With such a relatively larger compression zone 1000, it should be understood that the housing 122/124 does not suffer as much from excessive heat generated by the fluid flowing therethrough, as compared with the housing 122/124 of Fig. 2. In particular, it is to be appreciated that such heat arises from adiabatic compression that occurs when the fluid enters such compression zone 1000, and such heat can be significant, especially as the pressure and/or the flow rate of the fluid increases. Notably, such heat if extreme can even damage or destroy the housing 122/124. Thus, by increasing the volume of the compression zone 1000 the effect of adiabatic compression is spread out over the increased volume and thereby reduced. As a result, heat generated in connection with such adiabatic compression is likewise reduced.

[061] In various embodiments, the compression zone 1000 is constructed to be relatively larger by reducing the axial length of the plunger-type valve body 144, increasing the axial length of the valve chamber 138, or a combination thereof. While such relatively larger compression zone 1000 may be quantified in many appropriate forms, it is to be appreciated that in the normal, open position of the valve body 144 in Fig. 2, the tapered end 148 of the valve body 144 just contacts the generally transverse plane P (Fig. 15) where the valve chamber 138 begins to taper to the tapered valve seat 142 thereof.

[062] In contrast, in the normal, open position of the valve body 144 in Fig. 5, the tapered end 148 of the valve body 144 has not as yet approached the plane P that separates the cylindrical portion and the tapered portion of the valve chamber 138. As should be understood, the valve body 144 resides within such cylindrical portion when in the normal, open position. Thus, with the relatively larger compression zone 1000 in Fig. 5, the tapered end 148 of the valve body 144 moves into contact with and past the aforementioned plane P when the valve body 144 moves from the normal, open position (as shown in Fig. 15) to the closed position.

[063] Thus the valve body 44 of Fig. 15 as compared to that of Fig. 12 must travel a farther distance to the closed position where the tapered end 148 thereof encounters the tapered valve seat 142. As shown in Fig. 5, such distance is about 50 percent greater than the distance from the plane P to the closed position, although other distances may also be provided.

[064] In another variation of embodiments of the present inventive subject matter, and turning now to Fig. 6, the exterior of the housing 122/124 is provided with ribs 1020 in the axial region of the compression zone 1000. As should be understood, each rib 1020 extends generally circumferentially about the exterior of the housing 122/124 adjacent the compression zone 1000, generally radially from the housing 122/124 a relatively short distance of perhaps an eighth of an inch, a quarter of an inch, a half of an inch, or so, and also generally axially with respect to the housing 122 / 124 a relatively short distance of perhaps an eighth of an inch, a quarter of an inch, or so.

[065] As may be appreciated, such ribs 1020 act to dissipate the heat generated by the fluid flowing through the housing 122/124. Again, it is to be appreciated that such heat arises from adiabatic compression that occurs when the fluid enters such compression zone 1000. Here, and as should be understood, the ribs dissipate the heat by increasing the surface area between the housing 122/124 and the surrounding environment and thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer. Notably, in various embodiments, only a limited number of ribs 1020 are provided, such as for example one or two ribs 1020. Thus, tooling required to impart the housing 122/124 with such ribs 1020 during manufacturing is minimized.

[066] In yet another variation of embodiments of the present inventive subject matter, the cable 158 within the conduit 120 is constructed from a non-ferrous material. As may be appreciated, such a non-ferrous material for the cable 158 is particularly useful when the fluid in the conduit 120 is oxygen or the like which would cause a ferrous cable 158 to rust. Similarly, in yet another variation of embodiments of the present inventive subject matter, the cable 158 within the conduit 120 is constructed from a rod material having increased rigidity. As may be appreciated here, such increased rigidity may be required in situations where the conduit 120 is especially large in cross-sectional diameter, such as for example about four inches or so.

[067] In still another variation of embodiments of the present inventive subject matter, the cable 158 within the conduit 120 is replaced by a generally helical spring. As may be appreciated, the spring 1040 (Fig. 17) is appropriately sized and configured to urge each valve body 144 into the normal, open position against the respective retainer 160 during normal operation of the conduit 120, and also to move each valve body 144 into the closed position against the tapered valve seat 142 in the event that the conduit 120 fails. Thus, the spring 1040 functions in a similar manner as the cable 158.

[068] Notably, the spring 1040 resides within the interior of the conduit 120 and is sized to be in substantially complete contact with the interior wall of the conduit 120. Thus, the spring 1040 additionally functions to provide the conduit 120 with structural strength. As such, the conduit 120 may be constructed from a relatively lighter grade of material, thus reducing material costs in connection with such conduit 120.

[069] As may be appreciated, the use of a spring 1040 in the conduit 120 prompts a consideration of whether the conduit 120 with the spring 1040 therein can be coiled, such as may be performed to store the conduit 120 and/or package the conduit for shipping and the like. In particular, if the spring 1040 is too large in diameter relative to the length of the conduit 120, coiling the conduit 120 with the spring 1040 therein may be difficult if not impossible, especially if the coiling itself has a relatively small diameter.

[070] Essentially, the spring 1040 may bunch if the coiling is too tight, or may prevent such coiling from being performed. Generally, a conduit 120 with a spring 1040 of relatively modest diameter, perhaps on the order of ¼ to ½ inch or so, can be coiled with relative ease, presuming the length of the conduit 120 is beyond of a minimum, perhaps on the order of 7 feet or so. In contrast, a conduit 120 with a spring 1040 of relatively large diameter, perhaps on the order of 4 to 8 inches or so, cannot be coiled in any significant manner regardless of the length of the conduit 120. Thus, in various embodiments of the present innovation, the length of the conduit 120 is taken into consideration when determining whether a spring 1040 of a set diameter is employed therein, and also the need to coil the conduit 120 is taken into

consideration when determining whether a spring 1040 of a set diameter is employed therein.

[071] In yet another variation of embodiments of the present inventive subject matter, and turning now to Fig. 18, a valve housing 1060 similar to if not identical with the valve housings 122/124 is placed in-line / in series with the hose or conduit 120. The valve

arrangement 1060 is a poppet-type valve arrangement, although other types of valve

arrangements may also be employed, such as for example a flapper-type valve arrangement or a multi-wedge valve arrangement.

[072] The valve body 144 within the valve housing 1060 is not tethered to any cable such as the cable 158 set forth above, any spring such as the spring 1040 set forth above, or any other type of tether. Accordingly, the valve body 144 effectively floats within the housing 1060 and is free to slide generally axially from one side where the valve body 144 is generally in contact with the valve retainer 160 to the opposite side where the valve body 144 is generally in contact with the valve seat 142.

[073] As may be appreciated, the position of the valve body 144 is thus determined by the general flow of fluid within the housing 1060 and conduit 125. When fluid is flowing in what has been designated as a normal direction from left to right, the valve body 144 is urged by such normal flow to the right and into stopping contact with the retainer 160. As such, the valve body 144 is in an open position where the normal flow of the fluid is not generally impeded by the valve body 144 and retainer 160. In contrast, when fluid is flowing in a backward direction opposite the normal direction and from right to left, the valve body 144 is urged by such backward flow to the left and into stopping contact with the valve seat 142. As such, the valve body 144 is in a closed position where the backward flow of the fluid is generally impeded by the valve body 144 and valve seat 142. Thus, the housing 1060 as installed in-line / in series with the conduit 120 acts as a one-way check valve that generally allows the normal flow and generally prevents the backward flow of the fluid through the conduit 120.

[074] As may be appreciated, the housing 1060 that implements the one-way check valve for the conduit 120 is placed in-line or in series with such conduit by being appropriately coupled at an appropriate end thereof to one of the housings 122/124 by way of a coupling device 1080. Such coupling device 1080 may be rigid or flexible and may be any appropriate coupling device, such as for example a length of coupling hose, a copper or brass pipe, a length of conduit such as the conduit 120, or the like.

[075] The housing 1060 may be coupled at the other end thereof to an external element by way of threads (not shown) akin to the threads 136, another coupling hose or conduit attached to a ferrule (not shown) on the housing 1060 akin to the ferrule 26, or the like.

[076] As shown in Fig. 8, and again, the normal flow is from the left to the right.

However, such normal flow may be reversed in any of several manners. For example, the housing 1060 may alternately be manufactured with the valve body 142 and retainer 160 switched and with the valve body appropriately repositioned within the housing 1060.

Alternately, the housing 1060 as shown may be detached from the one housing 122/124 and attached to the other housing 122/124. Also alternately, the entire system including the housings 122, 124, 1060 and the conduit 120 may be detached from the external elements, reversed in an end-to-end manner, and then re-attached to the external elements.

[077] While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising:

a flexible fluid conduit having first and second ends;

a first connector having a first end coupled to the first end of the flexible fluid conduit; a second connector having a first end coupled to the second end of the flexible fluid conduit,

a first valve located in the first connector;

a second valve located in the second connector;

a spring having first and second ends located in the flexible fluid conduit;

a first spring rod having a first end coupled to the first end of the spring and a second end coupled to the first valve; and

a second spring rod having a first end coupled to the second end of the spring and a second end coupled to the second valve;

wherein during normal operation of the flexible fluid conduit the spring is maintained in a compressed state and pushes on the first and second spring rods to urge the first and second valves to an open position, and wherein upon a failure in the flexible fluid conduit the spring is no longer compressed and pulls on the first and second spring rods to urge the first and second valves to a closed position.

2. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first and second valves in the first and second connectors is set to a distance that keeps said spring in the compressed state during normal operation.

3. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said first and second spring rods are relatively stiff bendable spring rods.

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said first and second valves are flapper type valves.

5. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the failure is a drive away type of failure.

6. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said failure is a coupling separation.

7. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the failure is a flexible fluid conduit failure.

8. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a breakaway coupling connected between the flexible fluid conduit and the first connector.

9. The safety system of claim 8, wherein the breakaway coupling is a three bolt breakaway coupling.

10. The safety system of claim 9, wherein the three bolt breakaway coupling includes a generally triangular shaped first flange having a centrally located fluid passageway and openings at each of the three corners;

a generally triangular shaped second flange having a centrally located fluid passageway and openings at each of the three corners; and a threaded shear bolt located in each of the three openings for drawing the first and second flanges together forming a leakproof connection between the two flanges; and

11. The safety system of claim 10, wherein when at least two of the three shear bolts of the three bolt breakaway coupling break when the three bolt breakaway coupling is subjected to an impact or a pull of sufficient force, the first and second valves close to stop the flow of fluid through the conduit.

12. A breakaway coupling for use with a flexible fluid conduit comprising:

a generally triangular shaped first flange having an exterior side, an interior side, a centrally located fluid passageway, and an opening located at each of the three corners of the triangular shaped first flange, wherein the exterior side is coupled to an end of the flexible fluid conduit;

a generally triangular shaped second flange having an exterior side, an interior side, a centrally located fluid passageway, and an opening located at each of the three corners of said triangular shaped second flange, wherein the exterior side is coupled to a connector that may include a valve, and wherein the interior sides of the first and second flanges are positioned opposite each other and the centrally located fluid passageway and the openings at the corners are aligned;

a threaded shear bolt located in each of the three aligned openings in the first and second flanges for coupling the first and second flanges together and forming a leak proof connection between the two flanges, wherein when said breakaway coupling is subjected to a predetermined pull from any angle at least two of the shear bolts break and the first flange is separated from the second flange.

13. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the openings in at least one of the first and the second flanges are threaded for receiving a threaded shear bolt.

14. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the openings in at least one of the first and the second flanges include shear bolts that are press fit therein.

15. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the openings in at least one of the first and the second flanges are circular openings.

16. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the openings in at least one of the first and the second flanges are U shaped notches.

17. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the openings in at least one of the first and the second flanges are L shape.

18. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the threaded shear bolts are sized to meet a specific pull requirement.

19. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the threaded shear bolts are sized to meet a specific pressure requirement.

20. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the threaded shear bolts are made of stainless steel.

21. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, wherein the flexible fluid conduit includes a control means that maintains the valve in an open configuration during normal operations and closes the valve when the breakaway coupling separates.

22. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, further comprising a leak proof O ring seal located between the first and second flanges.

23. The breakaway coupling of claim 12, further comprising a leak proof metal-to- metal seal located between the first and second flanges.

24. A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising:

a flexible conduit having first and second ends;

a housing at each end of the conduit defining a valve seat, each valve seat normally being a first predetermined distance from the other, and being movable away from the other when the conduit fails, the housing including a generally cylindrical portion and a generally tapered portion defining the valve seat, the cylindrical portion and the tapered portion meeting at a generally transverse plane;

a valve body disposed within each housing, the valve seats being disposed between the valve bodies, the valve bodies and the valve seats cooperating to define valves; a connector connected to each of the valve bodies and holding the valve bodies apart a second distance which is greater than the first distance so that each valve body resides generally in the cylindrical portion of the corresponding housing until the conduit fails; and

a retainer disposed within each housing and cooperating with the connector to retain the valve bodies against movement to permit fluid to flow through the conduit until the conduit fails, the connector being operative when the conduit fails and the valve seats move away from each other to retain the valve bodies at the second distance so that the valve seats move toward the valve bodies and close the valves, or if the distance between the valve seats does not change, to permit the valve bodies to move toward each other so that the valve bodies move toward the valve seats to close the valves, each valve body moving a third distance into contact with and past the plane and into the tapered portion of the corresponding housing to close the

corresponding valve when the conduit fails, the third distance corresponding to a compression zone between the valve body and the corresponding valve seat and being sufficiently large to reduce heat generated in the compression zone from adiabatic compression of the fluid flowing through the compression zone.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each valve body is disposed between the corresponding retainer and valve seat.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the connector comprises an elongated, stiff, yet flexible member that extends through the conduit.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the connector comprising a generally helical spring residing within the conduit and sized to be in substantially complete contact with an interior wall of the conduit so that the spring provides structural strength to the conduit.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein each housing includes a valve chamber within which resides the corresponding valve body and retainer, the valve chamber defining the corresponding valve seat.

29. A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising:

a flexible conduit having first and second ends;

a housing at each end of the conduit defining a valve seat, each valve seat normally being a first predetermined distance from the other, and being movable away from the other when the conduit fails;

a valve body disposed within each housing, the valve seats being disposed between the valve bodies, the valve bodies and the valve seats cooperating to define valves;

a connector connected to each of the valve bodies and holding the valve bodies apart a second distance which is greater than the first distance; and

a retainer disposed within each housing and cooperating with the connector to retain the valve bodies against movement to permit fluid to flow through the conduit until

the conduit fails, the connector being operative when the conduit fails and the valve seats move away from each other to retain the valve bodies at the second distance so that the valve seats move toward the valve bodies and close the valves, or if the distance between the valve seats does not change, to permit the valve bodies to move toward each other so that the valve bodies move toward the valve seats to close the valves, each valve body moving a third distance into contact with the valve seat of the corresponding housing to close the corresponding valve when the conduit fails, the third distance corresponding to a compression zone within the housing between the valve body and the corresponding valve seat where heat is generated from adiabatic compression of the fluid flowing through the compression zone, the system further comprising two heat-dissipating ribs externally positioned on each housing adjacent the compression zone of the housing to dissipate heat generated thereat, each rib extending generally circumferentially about the housing and generally radially from the housing.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein each valve body is disposed between the corresponding retainer and valve seat.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the connector comprises an elongated, stiff, yet flexible member that extends through the conduit.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the connector comprising a generally helical spring residing within the conduit and sized to be in substantially complete contact with an interior wall of the conduit so that the spring provides structural strength to the conduit.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the helical spring has a diameter of about ¼ to ½ inches and the conduit has a length of at least 7 feet, whereby the conduit can be coiled with the spring therein.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the helical spring has a diameter of about 4 to 8 inches, whereby the conduit cannot be coiled with the spring therein.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein each housing includes a valve chamber within which resides the corresponding valve body and retainer, the valve chamber defining the corresponding valve seat.

36. A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising:

a flexible conduit having first and second ends;

first, second, and third housings, each housing defining a valve seat and having disposed therein a valve body and a retainer, the valve bodies and the valve seats cooperating to define valves, the first and second housings being positioned at respective ends of the conduit, each valve seat of the first and second housings normally being a first predetermined distance from the other, and being movable away from the other when the conduit fails, the valve seats of the first and second housings being disposed between the valve bodies of the first and second housings;

a connector connected to each of the valve bodies of the first and second housings and holding the valve bodies of the first and second housings apart a second distance which is greater than the first distance until the conduit fails; and

a retainer disposed within each of the first, second, and third housings, the retainers of the first and second housings cooperating with the connector to retain the valve bodies of the first and second housings against movement to permit fluid to flow through the conduit until the conduit fails, the connector being operative when the conduit fails and the valve seats move away from each other to retain the valve bodies of the first and second housings at the second distance so that the valve seats of the first and second housings move toward the valve bodies of the first and second housings and close the valves of the first and second housings, or if the distance between the valve seats of the first and second housings does not change, to permit the valve bodies of the first and second housings to move toward each other so that the valve bodies of the first and second housings move toward the valve seats of the first and second housings to close the valves of the first and second housings, the third housing being positioned in series with the conduit and coupled to one of the first and second housings to permit fluid to flow through the conduit in a first direction and to prevent flow through the conduit in a second direction opposite the first direction, the valve body of the third housing being untethered and acting as a one-way check valve.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first, second, and third housings are substantially identical but for the valve body of the third housing being un-tethered.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the valve of each housing is a poppet valve.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the valve of each housing is a multi-wedge valve.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the valve of each housing is a

flapper valve.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the valve body of the third housing is free to slide generally axially within the third housing between a first side where the valve body is generally in stopping contact with the retainer of the third housing and a second side opposite the first side where the valve body is generally in stopping contact with the valve seat of the third housing, according to the flow of fluid through third housing and also through the first and second housings and the conduit.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the valve body of the third housing as urged by the flow of fluid into stopping contact with the retainer of the third housing is in an open position where the flow of the fluid is not generally impeded by the valve body and retainer, and wherein the valve body of the third housing as urged by the flow of fluid into stopping contact with the valve seat of the third housing is in a closed position where the flow of the fluid is generally impeded by the valve body and valve seat.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the third housing is coupled to one of the first and second housings by way of one of a length of coupling hose, a pipe, and a length of conduit.