Patent GB-1169599-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for Connecting Two Relatively Movable Conduits Together for Transfer of Fluid therethrough
Inventor: MILLAR JAMES STARK
IPC: F16L37/00
Filed: 1967-05-01
Abstract: 1,169,599. Pipe couplings. PARKER-HANNIFIN CORP. 1 May, 1967 [17 May, 1966], No. 20120/67. Heading F2G. Apparatus for connecting two relatively movable conduits together for the transfer of fluid therethrough, e.g. in refuelling at sea from ship to ship, comprises a probe and a receiver, the probe 11 including a fluid passage therein and means normally closing the passage, latching means movably carried by the probe for movement between an unlatched position and a latched position, means for effecting movement of the latching means from the unlatched to the latched position upon introduction of the probe into the receiver 10, the probe including means for compensating against forces tending to unlatch the probe whereby a predetermined force is required to unlatch the probe irrespective of the fluid pressure during a fluid pressure transfer operation, the compensating means being defined by an axially movable sleeve exteriorly of the probe body and defining a fluid chamber therewith, the latching means being carried by the sleeve, and a passage for introducing fluid from the passage in the probe to the fluid chamber. The probe is connected to a flexible hose 12 and carried by a trolley 18 supported on a cable 17 connected between a fuel supply ship and the fuel-receiving ship, an in-haul line 21 fixed to the trolley being pulled manually or mechanically to draw the probe 11 into the receiver 10. Receiver.-This component, Fig. 17, has a generally cone-shaped entrance portion 22 formed witn an annular, inclined shoulder 39 defining a cam surface and an annular shoulder 29, and is secured to a housing 25 providing a chamber 28 which communicates with a flexible hose 14 of the fuel-receiving ship. An L-shaped arm 42, Fig. 16, mounted on the housing receives an eye or loop 47 of the cable 17 and is pivoted in a clockwise direction as seen in the figure so that a locking pin 44 of a lever 45 engages in a notch of the arm; the receiver is supported on a bulkhead 16 by an assembly 15. Probe.-An inner housing 141, within a housing 140, has at the forward end thereof fluiddirecting webs forming fluid passages 162 and an annular portion 158 between which and the annular stepped portion of a nose 166 is disposed a sealing gasket 164 against which, in the uncoupled position of the probe, is urged, by a spring 176, the end of a sleeve 175 slidable on the housing 141 and formed with a chamber 181; ports 190 permit fluid under pressure to enter the chamber to act against the shoulder 182 in the direction of arrow F2 whereby the sleeve 175 is pressure balanced. A number of identical latching means 200 includes an axially slidable carrier 201 housed in a chamber 202 and provided with flanges to which are pivotally secured latching bodies 214 carrying rollers 223, 224 and prevented from pivoting in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 17 by holddown mechanisms 230. Each of the latter is formed by a contact block 232 carried on an upwardly offset arm 231 carried by a cylinder 234 slidably received in a bore and biased outwardly by a spring 235. Also associated with each latch body 214 is a cam member 250, secured to the housing 141, having cam surfaces 251, 252. and a plurality of springs 261 housed in a chamber 263 are provided to maintain the latching means in latched or coupled relationship with the latch shoulder 29 of the receiver 10, the force of the springs being adjustable by bolts 273; to compensate for internal fluid pressure tending to uncouple the probe and receiver, the chamber is placed in fluid communication with the interior of the housing 141 by ports 280, the fluid pressure acting on a shoulder 264, when the probe and receiver are fully coupled, counterbalancing the pressure acting leftwardly, as seen in Fig. 17, within the probe and tending to separate the probe from the receiver. Fluid pressure also acts on the carrier 201 and thus load is transmitted to the roller 223 and to the shoulder 29 of the receiver. Operation.-When the probe 10 is introduced into the receiver 11 the sleeve 175 is slid to an open position by contact between the shoulder 184 of the sleeve and the ring 74 of the receiver and the rollers 223 ride along the shoulder 39 of the receiver to depress the arms 217 when the blocks 232 are brought into engagement with the shoulder 240 of the receiver to free the latching means whereby the rollers 224 are urged upwardly by cam surfaces 251 on to the cam surfaces 252 the rollers 223 being brought behind the latching shoulder 29 of the receiver. The springs 26] urged the carrier from right to left, as seen in Fig. 17, causing the probe to be introduced further into the receiver and the rollers 223 to be fully locked in the latching position by the engagement between the rollers 224 and cam surfaces 252. Coupling - indicating means. - To indicate whether or not the probe is effectively coupled or latched to the receiver the latter includes two identical means 50, Fig. 5, each comprising a pivoted body 51 biased by a spring 57 to a retracted position thereof, and a spring-loaded finger 64 the end of which, during a coupling operation, is contacted by the probe so that the body 51 is swung outwardly to visually indicate an effective coupling of the probe and receiver. Uncoupling.-The housing 25 of the receiver 10 carries means 80 for disengaging the probe from the receiver such means comprising a plunger 81 slidably received in the housing and a pivoted handle 93 which, after completion of a refueling operation, is swung away from the housing so that the ends 96 of the handle act against the plunger to cause the probe to break away from the receiver upon automatic disengagement of the latching means 200; the handle may be locked to the housing and in the inoperative position thereof. The device augments the pull exerted on a line 20, Fig. 2.