Patent ID: 6182695
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: B67D,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
In combination, a breakaway coupling and a coupler to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the breakaway coupling which is inserted in a fuel line between a fuel dispensing nozzle and a source of fuel;the breakaway coupling comprising:a first fitting; the first fitting including a hollow sleeve defining a fuel flow path, a check valve movable in the sleeve between a closed position and an opened position to close and open the fuel flow path, at least one opening at a distal end of the first fitting sleeve, and at least one detent ball received in the at least one opening and movable radially in the at least one opening; anda second fitting; the second fitting including:an outer hollow sleeve sized to receive the first fitting sleeve, the outer sleeve having a groove on an inner surface, the groove being positioned on the outer sleeve to receive the at least one first fitting detent ball when the first and second fittings are assembled together;an inner hollow sleeve slidingly received in the outer sleeve and defining a fuel flow path through the second fitting; the inner sleeve including a check valve movable in the sleeve between a closed position and an opened position to close and open the fuel flow path;the inner sleeve having a reduced diameter section defining an annular space between the inner and outer sleeves; the reduced diameter section including a latch ring positionally fixed to the reduced diameter section outer surface;a stop on an inner surface of the outer sleeve, the stop limiting axial movement of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve;a spring member positioned between the outer sleeve stop and the latch ring; the spring member biasing the inner sleeve to normally bear against the stop; the latch ring being positioned to be substantially aligned with the groove when the inner sleeve is in its normal position;the coupler including:a housing opened at one end, the housing having a side wall, an end wall, and an end surface on the end wall at the opened end of the housing;a plate received in the housing for axial movement within the housing; the plate being mountable to the second fitting inner sleeve; anda cam on an outer surface of the housing end wall and operatively connected to the plate by a rod extending through the housing end wall; the cam having a camming surface; the cam being pivotable between a first position in which the camming surface is out of engagement with the housing end wall and a second position in which the camming surface engages the housing end wall as the cam; the housing end wall being sized to abut an end surface of the second fitting outer sleeve when the plate is mounted to the second fitting inner sleeve and the cam is in the first position; whereby, as the cam is moved to the second position, the plate is pulled toward the housing end wall, thereby pulling the second fitting inner sleeve axially in the outer sleeve against the force of the spring to move the latch ring out of alignment with the groove sufficiently to enable the detent ball to move radially in its associated opening and to disengage the groove.