Importance

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Abstract

A breakaway valve fitting includes a housing which defines a passage therein and a breakaway assembly connecting the housing to a conduit. The breakaway valve fitting further includes a poppet valve element mounted for axial movement within the housing between open and closed positions, the poppet valve element defining a first axial fluid flow path about the perimeter thereof when in the open position. A first valve seat is defined in the housing passage and cooperates with the poppet valve element when in its closed position to obstruct the first fluid flow path. The breakaway valve fitting further includes a rotatable valve element mounted for axial and rotational movement within the housing between open and closed positions. The rotatable valve element includes a central bore which defines in conjunction with the poppet valve element a second axial fluid flow path when the rotatable valve element is in its open position. A second valve seat is also defined in the housing passage and cooperates with the rotatable valve element when in its closed position to obstruct the second fluid flow path. A mechanism is provided for interconnecting the poppet valve element and the rotatable valve element for permitting simultaneous axial and rotational movement of the rotatable valve element relative to the poppet valve element when moving from the open to the closed positions to thereby engage the rotatable valve element against the second valve seat and obstruct the second fluid flow path. A mechanism is also provided for releasably retaining the rotatable valve element in its open position, and a device is provided for biasing the poppet valve element and the rotatable valve element, respectively, toward the first and second valve seats. Finally, a valve operating assembly is provided for sensing the connection of the housing to the conduit and controlling the operation of the poppet valve element and the retaining device by permitting the poppet valve element to axially move to its closed position and the retaining device to release the rotatable valve element to obstruct the fluid flow paths upon activation of the breakaway assembly.

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First Claim