GB1464301A - Pipe couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

1464301 Pipe couplings BRIDON ENG Ltd 19 March 1975 [11 April 1974] 16093/74 Heading F2G A pipe coupling assembly (Fig. 1) suitable for use in loading or unloading a tank vessel includes a pipe coupling 20 capable of being releasably clamped in use to a pipe or hose end 22, a conduit, including an elbow 19, connected between the coupling 20 and a swivel assembly 17, and a support 13 arranged to support the swivel 17 spaced from a support surface or baseplate 10, such that the coupling 20 is rotatable about the swivel 17 in use between an operative forwardly and downwardly facing position relative to the base 10 (as in Fig. 1) and a rearwardly and/or upwardly facing retracted position relative to the base 10. The coupling 20 and swivel 17 may be as described in Specifications 1,426,172 and 1,417,400 respectively. The coupling 20 is rotatable between its operative and retracted positions by actuating means which may comprise an hydraulic rotary actuator, e.g. a vane motor, or a winch or fluid actuable ram means. The base 10 may support the driving means and also stop members, e.g. 31, to prevent rotation beyond predetermined operative and retracted positions. The conduit may include a second swivel joint, arranged parallel to the swivel 17, to allow the coupling 20 to follow movement of a coupled hose 22, and a ball or butterfly valve may be provided at 15 to control passage of liquid to and from the tank vessel. The end of the hose 22 may be fitted with a butterfly valve 34 (Fig. 3 shows a pair of couplings) such as described in Specification 1,301,099, the valve being connected to a rotatable actuator 37. The actuator has arms 38 which engage with two hydraulic rams 39 (one only shown). An hydraulic circuit is described whereby the valve 34 cannot be opened until the hose 22 is clamped to the coupling 20, and the coupling 20 cannot be unclamped until the valve 34 has been closed. In Fig. 1, the elbow 19 is provided with a hose connection 32 having a manually actuable valve so that a hose may be attached to flush the coupling conduits. The preferred embodiments show pairs of coupling assemblies (as in Fig. 3) arranged to operate in synchronism.