Patent ID: 8127785
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A pipeline breakaway coupling comprising: a pair of valve housing members fixedly attached to each other by means of one or more breakaway coupling members, the valve housing members defining a hollow bore along which flowable material may flow and the breakaway coupling members permitting the valve housing members to separate from each other when exposed to a tensile load exceeding a predetermined limit; an end cap releasably connected to each valve housing member to allow connection of the valve housing members to respective inlet and outlet pipelines via the end cap members; and a valve cassette releasably retained between each valve housing member and the respective end cap, each valve cassette including a valve member movable between a valve open position and a valve closed position, the valve member when at its valve closed position being sealingly engaged with a valve seat formed as a single piece with the respective valve housing member to close the hollow bore through the respective valve housing member, and each valve member being biased to move to its valve closed position on separation of the valve housing members, wherein each valve cassette is slidably received at least in part within the hollow bore of the respective valve housing member and the valve cassettes are located in the valve housing members in an opposed configuration such that the valve members interengage and the bias applied to each valve member acts on the valve member to oppose movement of the other valve member to its valve closed position wherein each valve cassette includes an annular sub-housing and a valve mount extending radially from an inner surface of the sub-housing, the valve member being pivotally mounted on the valve mount, and the valve cassette further including a spring engaged between the valve member and the sub-housing to bias the valve member to the valve closed position in which it sealingly engages against said valve seat defined about an outer circumference of the sub-housing.