Trykkbalanserte koplinger

摘要

A sub-sea coupling comprises a male probe coupler and a female receiver coupler containing mutually engageable poppet valves which have intermediate valve heads between nose and shank portions which seal with respect to the respective couplers. Each valve has a longitudinal passageway allowing balancing of the poppet valve with respect to external pressure. Further, the poppet valves have substantial equality in effective area between the valve portions and the nose and shank portions so that the poppet valve is substantially balanced with respect to line pressure in the line to which the coupler is connected. The arrangement gives a high resistance to the ingress of sea water to the couplers while substantially avoiding any hydraulic lock or wash-out during make-up and separation of the couplers.