US 12,474,007 B2
Coupling device and method
Gaetan Coleiro, Sassenage (FR)
Assigned to L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
Appl. No. 18/709,711
Filed by L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
PCT Filed Oct. 7, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/077911
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 13, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/083533, PCT Pub. Date May 19, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2112047 (FR), filed on Nov. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0003542 A1, Jan. 2, 2025
Int. Cl. F16L 37/34 (2006.01); F16L 55/10 (2006.01); F16L 59/18 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/1007 (2013.01) [F16L 37/34 (2013.01); F16L 59/188 (2013.01); Y10T 137/1654 (2015.04)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling device for cryogenic fluid transport with emergency separation and automatic closure, the coupling device comprising:
two fluid transport pipes extending in a longitudinal direction and each of the two fluid transport pipes comprising, at a respective connection end, a valve mechanism configured to automatically close the respective fluid transport pipe when the two connection ends are separated and to enable the respective fluid transport pipe to open when the two connection ends are coupled;
an outer tube arranged about each of the two fluid transport pipes and defining a space under vacuum to thermally insulate the respective fluid transport pipe;
a quick-connection mechanism for the two fluid transport pipes comprising mating mechanical attachment members located respectively at the two connection ends; and
an emergency separation system configured to enable the two fluid transport pipes to be separated when the two connection ends are coupled using the quick-connection mechanism,
wherein the emergency separation system is located at a connection end of a first pipe and comprises a set of linking parts movable between a first configuration ensuring a rigid mechanical link between the connection end provided with an attachment member or members for said first pipe and the rest of the first pipe and a second split configuration in which the connection end of the first pipe provided with a mechanical attachment member or members of the quick-connection mechanism is separated from the rest of the first pipe,
wherein the connection end provided with the emergency separation system comprises a structure with two separable segments, the emergency separation system comprising a mechanical link separably linking the two separable segments,
wherein the emergency separation system comprises a set of balls mounted at a joint between the two separable segments, the set of balls being mounted movably relative to the two separable segments between a first cooperating position butting against or clamping the two separable segments to provide a rigid link between the two separable segments, and a second position in which the set of balls are neither butting against nor clamping one of the two separable segments to enable separation of the two separable segments, the emergency separation system comprising a locking ring that is movable between a locked position blocking the set of balls in their first position and an unlocked position enabling the set of balls to move toward their second position, the emergency separation system comprising a return member urging the locking ring toward its locked position.