Abstract:
An embodiment includes a coupling system having a rapid-connect coupler configured to engage a male fuel receptacle to convey a fluid. The coupling system may be configured to transition between a coupled configuration and a de-coupled configuration. When transitioning between configurations, significant pressure may build up inside various coupling orifices such that when a disconnection procedure is invoked, the pressure may cause significant forces to push the rapid-connect coupler off of the male receptacle. This may lead to damage and injury. Thus, coupling system may further include vent holes configured to allow pressure inside to be relieved when transitioning from the coupled configuration to the de-coupled configuration.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/785,382 filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
       RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0002]    This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/426377, entitled RAPID-CONNECT COUPLER WITH VENT-STOP filed Mar. 21, 2012, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Cold fluids at cryogenic temperatures (e.g., less than −150° C.) pose special handling problems, principally because the temperature of such fluids may quickly lower the temperature of any valve or coupling through which they flow. 
         [0004]    When such a coupling is used to transfer a cryogenic fluid, freeze-up problems may occur if the transfer takes place in a moist or high-humidity environment. Any water within, or immediately outside of, the coupling will quickly freeze, thereby potentially impeding subsequent movement of mechanical parts within the coupling. Moreover, successive transfers from a fluid source with the same pre-chilled coupling half to mating coupling halves communicating with different receptacles at warmer ambient temperatures, have been known to result in freeze-up and leakage because of ice formation at the sealing surfaces. 
         [0005]    These problems are present in the area of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In order for LNG to be considered as a viable alternative automotive fuel, it must be easily transferred to the vehicle in which it will be used. In addition, it may be desirable for fuel storage tanks on such vehicles be refilled as quickly as possible. This leads to the prospect of multiple quickly-successive short-duration transfers of LNG, at cryogenic temperatures, between a chilled nozzle and a warm receptacle in a potentially-moist environment. 
         [0006]    Additionally, when de-coupling a nozzle and receptacle, there may be gas present between the connection that must be vented as de-coupling occurs. Such remainder gas may be at high pressure, and may cause a forceful de-coupling, which can result in injury to users and equipment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An embodiment of the present disclosure includes a rapid-connect coupling system including a male fueling receptacle configured to convey a fluid. The male fueling receptacle further includes aligned holes near an isolation seal configured to provide protection to the seal when seating and unseating to a rapid-connect coupler body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present subject matter disclosure will be described by way of exemplary embodiments but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross section of a coupling system having rapid-connect coupler and a male fueling receptacle in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of a coupling system having rapid-connect coupler in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross section of a male fueling receptacle in accordance with the embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Illustrative embodiments presented herein include, but are not limited to, systems and methods for providing a rapid-connect gas coupler. 
         [0013]    Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rapid-connect coupling system  100  in accordance with an embodiment. The system may comprise a male coupling apparatus  201  (male fueling receptacle  201  hereinafter) and a female coupling apparatus  100  (rapid-connect coupler  101  hereinafter). The male fueling receptacle  201  comprises a male coupling body  210 , which includes a lip  220 , and a recess  225  behind the lip  220 . The male coupling body  210  defines a male poppet orifice  230 . A male poppet assembly  240  is disposed within the poppet orifice  230 . 
         [0015]    As discussed herein, the rapid-connect coupler  101  may be operable to couple with the male fueling receptacle  201 . For example, the rapid-connect coupler  101  may be placed on the male fueling receptacle  201  while in a first configuration, put into a second configuration to lock the rapid-connect coupler  101  on the male fueling receptacle  201 , and then returned to the first configuration to release the rapid-connect coupler  101  from the male fueling receptacle  201 . 
         [0016]    For example, referring to  FIG. 1 , the male coupling body  210  is operable to be slidably received within the female coupling orifice  130 , and the female poppet assembly  135  is operable to be slidably received within the male poppet orifice  230  such that the female poppet assembly  135  bears against the male poppet assembly  240 . 
         [0017]    The rapid-connect coupler  101  may generally comprises a first architecture  103 , (for example a sleeve  105  as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a second architecture  102  (for example a ball cage  125  as shown in  FIG. 1 ), which are configured to move relative to each other along a central axis X as further described herein 
         [0018]    In this embodiment, the first architecture  102  comprises a sleeve  105 , one or more drive pins  110 , and a probe assembly  115 , which includes a coupling end  120 . The one or more drive pins  110  extends through a respective drive slot  140  defined by a portion of the second architecture  103 . 
         [0019]    The second architecture  103  comprises a ball cage  125 , which defines a coupling orifice  130  having a coupling orifice housing  120  and includes one or more balls  145 . Within the coupling orifice  130  resides a female poppet assembly  135 , which is biased by a poppet assembly spring  180 , and the female poppet assembly  135  further comprises a retainer  140 , and seal assembly  160 . The second architecture  103  further comprises one or more guide pins  150 , and a housing barrel  155 . In an embodiment, the one or more guide pins  150  may be configured to provide a positive guide the second architecture  103  about the female poppet assembly  135 . Additionally, in an embodiment, the second architecture  102  or portions thereof may be removable, and may be configured for easy and swift removal and replacement, which may be required due to damage or maintenance needs. 
         [0020]    The second architecture  103  of the rapid-connect coupler  101  further comprises one or more venting holes  104  that are disposed within a venting channel  105 . The venting channel  105  may comprise a groove that is formed on the inside of the coupling orifice housing  120  These venting holes  104  may be aligned about the coupling orifice housing  120 . In the embodiment shown, there are five pairs of venting holes circumferentially disposed about coupling orifice housing  120  in line with the venting channel  105 . Thus, one can see a first pair of venting holes aligned at the top (e.g., at 0 degrees) and at the bottom (e.g., 180 degrees) of the cross sectional view. Additional pairs of venting holes are spaced evenly about the 360 degrees of the coupling orifice housing  120 . The venting holes  104  in the rapid connect coupler are discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0021]    Similarly, the male coupling body  210  also includes venting holes  221  disposed within a venting channel  222  that is similar to the venting channel  105  of the coupling orifice housing  120 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the male coupling body  210  includes a set of three pairs of aligned holes  221 . These holes  221  allow for pressure to be relieved when seating and unseating the male coupling body  210  with the rapid-connect coupler  101 . For example, as the male coupling body  210  is received within the female coupling orifice  130 , the lip  220  is operable to push the one or more balls  145  outward, and thereby allow the lip  220  to pass past the balls  145 . The balls  145  may then be able to fall into or be forced into the recess  225  behind the lip  220 . Therefore, the venting holes  221  allow for pressure to be relieved when seating and unseating the male coupling body  210 . This allows for an extended life of any seal. 
         [0022]    When the rapid-connect coupler  101  is moved to the second configuration, this causes the sleeve  105  to slide over the balls  145 , which pushes the balls  145  into the recess  225  behind the lip  220  and then locks the balls  145  in a position wherein the balls  145  extend into the female coupling orifice  130  in the recess  225  of the male coupling body  210 . Accordingly, the male coupling body  210  may be locked within the female coupling orifice  130 . 
         [0023]    Additionally, in such a configuration the male and female poppet  240 ,  135  may be operable to allow fluid (e.g., liquid natural gas) to pass from the rapid-connect coupler  101  into male coupling body  210 . Also, the sealing assembly  160  may be operable to provide a seal by bearing against the interior surface of the male coupling body  210  within the male poppet orifice  230 . In an embodiment the sealing assembly  160  may be a two piece seal with an energizing spring. 
         [0024]    Additionally, while embodiments of a system  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  are disclosed herein, various embodiments may be adapted to couple with a receptacle having other configurations. For example, various embodiments may relate to coupling with male and female receptacles and receptacles having holes, slots, lips, shoulders or threads both internally or externally. 
         [0025]    Turning attention to the next figure,  FIG. 2  is a cross section of a coupling system  100  having a rapid-connect coupler  101  in accordance with an embodiment. In this embodiment, handles  330 A and  330 B are rotatably coupled to the housing barrel  156 , via a first and second barrel flange  370 A,  370 B respectively. The handles  330 A and  330 B are configured to rotate about the a barrel flanges  370 A,  370 B respectively over a range of motion including coupled and de-coupled configurations In some embodiments, these configurations may be a de-coupled configuration A, a coupled configuration B, and a semi-coupled configuration C. 
         [0026]    As the first and second handle  330 A,  330 B rotate between the A and B configurations, for example, the first architecture  102  and a second architecture  103  move relative to each other along the central axis X. The probe assembly  115  translates within the housing barrel  155 , and is biased by a probe spring  165 . Additionally, the ball cage  125  is operable to translate within the sleeve  105 . For example,  FIG. 2  depicts the ball cage  125  extending substantially past the sleeve  105 . Additionally,  FIG. 2  depicts the ball cage  125  extending substantially past the female poppet assembly  135 . 
         [0027]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , as the handles  330 A,  330 B may be pulled back from configuration B toward configuration A, the rapid-connect coupler  101  may be operable to generate a positive stop of the handles  330 A,  330 B at configuration C, which may allow the rapid-connect coupler  101  to vent while in configuration C before returning to configuration A, where the rapid-connect coupler  101  may be released from the male fueling receptacle  201 . The positive stop mechanism is described in related patent application Ser. No. 13/426,377 entitled Rapid Connect Coupler with Vent-Stop which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
         [0028]    During the venting, any pressurized buildup of gases or liquid may be expelled from the coupling orifice  130  on the rapid-connect coupler  101  via venting holes  104  and/or from the poppet orifice  230  via the venting holes  221  from the male fueling receptacle  201  side. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the rapid-connect coupler  101  may remain substantially coupled to the male fueling receptacle  201  while in configuration C, but still allow the rapid-connect coupler  101  to vent via vent holes  104  and  221 . The venting holes  221  at the male fuel receptacle may be substantially aligned with the venting holes  104  of the rapid-connect coupler so as to assist with allowing pressure to be relieved or may be offset so as to assist with arresting the velocity of escaping gas or liquid. The specific nature and shape of venting holes  104  or  221  is described below with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a cross section of a male fueling receptacle  201  in accordance with the embodiment. Although only the male fueling receptacle  201  cross section is shown here, the skilled artisan understands that the descriptions pf the venting holes  221  may apply equally to venting holes  104  of the rapid-connect coupler  101  as well. As can be seen, three pairs of holes  221  are disposed in the male coupling body  210  about an aperture  395  in a equidistant and uniform manner. The holes  221  are all shown at 60 degrees away from any other hole  221  and all disposed within the venting channel  222 . Thus, the pairs are shown at the 0/180 degree pairing, the 60/240 degree pairing and the 120/300 degree pairing. Other configurations are possible that may or may not be equidistant or uniform. 
         [0030]    Further, one hole  221  has been shown in an exploded view such that the interior end of the hole  221  is shown to have a recess  390 . That is, a groove is formed at the interior end of the venting channel  220  as well as the hole  221  as cut into the male coupling body  210 . The recess  390  comprises a first face at a first angle with respect to the aperture  395  and a second face and a second angle with respect to the aperture  395 . This recess  390  assists with prolonging the life of the seal when engaged and disengaged over repeated uses during the life of the apparatus. With the venting channel  222 , pressure may be relieved more equally through all of the holes  221  simultaneously. This is because a small cavity is formed that surrounds the circumference of the aperture such that each of the venting holes  221  are in fluid communication with each other when sealing and unsealing. In this manner, the venting holes  221  act together as a system with the venting channel as opposed to six separate venting holes  221 . 
         [0031]    Additionally, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art and others, that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the embodiments described herein. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiment discussed herein. While various embodiments have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein.