Patent ID: 7533694

Claim:
A dry break valve assembly, comprising: (a) a first housing portion; (b) a first flow control assembly substantially disposed within said first housing portion; (c) a collar attached to said first housing portion and including at least one engagement member; (d) a second housing portion configured to removably engage said collar, said second housing portion defining at least one groove extending at least partially about a circumference of said second housing portion, said at least one groove being configured and arranged to advance said second housing portion toward said first housing portion by and while rotating said second housing portion relative to said first housing portion and to receive said at least one engagement member and, when said first and second housing portions are engaged with each other so as to at least partially define a fluid passageway, said groove being configured and arranged so that said at least one engagement member is positioned therein so as to be acted upon, at least indirectly, by a force resulting from the presence of fluid pressure in said fluid passageway; (e) a second flow control assembly substantially disposed within said second housing portion; and (f) an actuating mechanism substantially disposed within said fluid passageway for selectively opening and closing said fluid passageway, said actuating mechanism comprising: a cam mechanism adapted for selective rotation to open or close said fluid passageway; a displacement shaft having a first end pivotally coupled to a first side of said cam mechanism and a second end coupled to said first flow control assembly; and a drive shaft having a first end pivotally coupled to a second side of said cam mechanism and a second end adapted to engage said second flow control assembly.