Patent ID: 6840277

Claim:
A breakaway coupler for coupling an upstream hose with a downstream hose for passing fluid therebetween when coupled and closing flow when uncoupled, the breakaway coupler comprising: an upstream housing securable to the upstream hose; an upstream coupling member secured to the upstream housing and having a flow passage for fluid communication with the upstream hose; a downstream housing securable to the downstream hose; a downstream coupling member secured to the downstream housing and having a flow passage for fluid communication with the downstream hose; a locking member carried by one of the upstream and downstream coupling members for selectively locking with the other of the upstream and downstream coupling member; an upstream flapper pivotally secured with respect to the upstream housing and movable between an open and closed position to open and close flow through the upstream coupling member, the upstream flapper having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface angled with respect to the first engagement surface, the first and second engagement surfaces radially spaced from a flapper axis of rotation; and a pushrod axially movable with respect to the upstream housing in response to axial movement of the coupling members, the pushrod having an end surface engageable with the first engagement surface for moving the upstream flapper to the open position and engageable with the second engagement surface to retain the upstream flapper in the open position, such that locking the upstream and downstream coupling members opens the upstream flapper and unlocking the upstream and downstream coupling members allows the upstream flapper to close.