Breakaway Coupling Shear Groove Valve Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid systems, such as natural gas lines, are vulnerable to damage from external forces, leading to potential leaks that can be hazardous, as existing solutions fail to quickly and reliably shut off fluid flow to damaged areas.
Innovation Solution
A breakaway coupling with a shear groove and valve assembly that cracks or separates under predefined conditions, using a biasing member and sealing element to shut off fluid flow, preventing further leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a breakaway coupling is designed to shut off fluid flow upon damage, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases due to the valve assembly and shear groove mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling body is divided into a first portion and a second portion connected by a shear groove, allowing the coupling to break into separable segments when subjected to excessive force. This segmentation enables the preferential failure mechanism that protects the rest of the fluid system while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly is pre-configured with a sealing element and biasing member that automatically activate upon shear groove failure. The pins are positioned to hold the sealing element in an open position during normal operation, but are designed to disengage when the shear groove cracks, allowing the biasing member to automatically close the valve without requiring external intervention.
2Reliability
If the shear groove is designed to crack under external forces, then the ability to detect damage and shut off flow is improved, but the strength of the coupling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shear groove is created with specific local characteristics including a reduced thickness region and a notch that concentrate stress at a predetermined location. This local quality modification allows the coupling to maintain high overall strength while having a specific weak point that will preferentially fail under excessive force, enabling reliable damage detection through controlled cracking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively limits or prevents fluid leakage from damaged areas, ensuring safety by quickly isolating the affected portion of the fluid system upon exposure to external forces.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member positioned within the fluid conduit between the sealing element and the second portion. The one or more pins hold the sealing element in an open position while the shear groove is intact, and allow the sealing element to move to a closed position (with the help of the biasing member) in the event the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates
Data Source
AI summary
A breakaway coupling includes a body and a valve assembly inside the body. The body includes a fluid conduit and a shear groove between first and second portions. The shear groove is designed to crack, break, or separate under certain conditions. The valve assembly is designed to shut off fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates. The valve assembly includes a valve seat, a sealing element, one or more pins, and a biasing member. The one or more pins hold the sealing element in an open position while the shear groove is in tack, and allow the sealing element to move to a closed position (with the help of the biasing member) in the event the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates.