Coupling device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12123540-B2
Application number	US-202217987494-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2022
Priority date	Nov 15, 2021
Publication date	Oct 22, 2024
Grant date	Oct 22, 2024

Abstract

A detachable coupling device with automatic closure for the transport of fluid, including two fluid transport pipes extending in a longitudinal direction and each having, at one connection end, a valve mechanism, the device also including an external tube disposed around each transport pipe and, in the coupled position, the two connection ends are configured to be relatively longitudinally displaceable between a first configuration, in which the valve mechanisms are closed, and a second configuration, in which the valve mechanisms are open, the transition from the first configuration to the second configuration being realized by a relative longitudinal movement of the two valve mechanisms close to one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable coupling device with automatic closure for the transport of cryogenic fluid, comprising two fluid transport pipes extending in a longitudinal direction and each comprising, at one connection end, a valve mechanism configured to automatically close the pipe when the connection ends are separated and to enable the pipe to be opened when the connection ends are coupled, the device comprising an external tube disposed around each transport pipe and defining a space under vacuum for the thermal insulation of the transport pipe, wherein, in the coupled position, the two connection ends are configured to be relatively longitudinally displaceable between a first, closed configuration, in which the valve mechanisms are closed and prevent fluidic communication between the two transport pipes, and a second, open configuration, in which the valve mechanisms are open and ensure fluidic communication between the two transport pipes, the transition from the first, closed configuration to the second, open configuration being realized by a relative longitudinal movement of the two fluid transport pipes close to one another and/or by a relative movement of the two valve mechanisms close to one another, wherein the connection end of a first one of the two pipes comprises a sealing ring secured to the external tube, the sealing ring being movable in translation in the longitudinal direction relative to the external tube between two distinct positions during the transition from the first, closed configuration to the second, open configuration, wherein the sealing ring comprises a set of seal(s) that is (are) configured to ensure sealing with respect to the outside between the two connection ends when the two connection ends are coupled.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a return member which urges the sealing ring towards the first position.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring comprises an internal face provided with at least one seal which sealingly interacts with the tube to which the sealing ring is secured.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one seal located on the internal face of the sealing ring ensures sealing by being compressed in a plane which is not parallel to the longitudinal direction and/or compressed in a plane which is parallel to the longitudinal direction.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring comprises an end face provided with at least one seal which is intended to sealingly interact with the other connection end when the two connection ends are coupled.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one seal located on the end face ensures sealing by being compressed in a plane which is not parallel to the longitudinal direction.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the connection ends comprises a movable locking member displaceable between a locking position, thereby ensuring that the two coupled connection ends are secured to one another, and an unlocking position, in which thereby ensuring that the two coupled connection ends are secured to one another.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein, in the locking position, the locking member ensures that the sealing ring borne by a first connection end is secured to the other connection end.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first, closed configuration, the valve mechanisms are in contact or are not in contact, and, in the second, open configuration, the valve mechanisms are in contact and exert a thrust force towards one another that ensures the displacement and opening thereof.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism of a first one of the transport pipes comprises a movable valve urged by a return member towards a closed position against a fixed seat disposed around the valve.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein, the valve mechanism of the second transport pipe comprises a reference valve and a movable seat disposed around the reference valve, in the first, closed configuration, the reference valve of the second transport pipe does not push the movable valve of the first transport pipe out of the seat, keeping the valve mechanism closed, the movable seat being in the closed position against the reference valve, and, in the second, open configuration, the connection ends are in contact and the reference valve of the second transport pipe pushes the movable valve of the first transport pipe out of the seat and causes the valve mechanism to open.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism of the second transport pipe comprises a reference valve and a movable seat disposed around the reference valve, the movable seat being urged towards a closed position against the reference valve by a return member.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism of one of the two transport pipes is housed inside the external tube to a relatively more recessed extent than the other valve mechanism is in the tube, so as to form a male and female type system in which, in the joined position of the two transport pipes, one connection end enters the other connection end.

14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the space under vacuum between the external tube and the transport pipe comprises a thermal insulator.

15. A method for coupling two transport pipes of a device according to claim 1 , comprising a step of moving the two connection ends close to one another, in which the two connection ends are coupled in a sealed manner with respect to the outside, a step of placing the two valve mechanisms in contact, a step of opening two valve mechanisms, and a step of causing cryogenic fluid to flow from one pipe to the other.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein, before the step of opening the two valve mechanisms, said method has an intermediate configuration in which the two connection ends are coupled in a sealed manner with respect to the outside and the two valve mechanisms are in the closed position, the step of opening the two valve mechanisms being performed via an additional relative movement of the two fluid transport pipes close to one another and/or a relative displacement of at least part of the two valve mechanisms.

Assignees

• Air Liquide

Inventors

• Coleiro Gaëtan
• Pennec Yan

Classifications

• F16L59/065 Primary

  using vacuum (F16L59/075 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L37/32

  at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied · CPC title

• Y02E60/32

  Hydrogen storage · CPC title

• F16L59/188 Primary

  Couplings of the quick-acting type · CPC title

• F16L37/36 Primary

  with two lift valves being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal · CPC title