| 摘要 |
<p>An improved system and method are provided for normally interconnecting a stationary flow line and a flexible flow line, and for automatically separating the flow lines in response to movement of the flexible flow line in excess of a preselected limit. A connection (10) comprises a socket housing (18) sealed to one flow line and a ball housing (16) sealed to another flow line. The housings (16,18) are separated automatically when a lateral force is transmitted through the flexible flow line (2) to cause excess pivoting movement of one housing related to the other housing. The connection (10) of the present invention is particularly useful for preventing rupture of a flow line during an intermittent pullaway of a portable vessel with respect to a stationary holding tank. In one embodiment, the connection includes at least three ball swivel surfaces (48) for mating engagement with a socket swivel surface (44). Valve members (24,26) in each of the housings (16,18) are held out of engagement with respective seating surfaces when the housings (16,18) are mated, and automatically close to prevent fluid loss when the housings (16,18) separate. A seal (80) is provided for maintaining sealed engagement between the ball housing (16) and socket housing (18) when the ball housing (16) normally pivots within a preselected arc limit with respect to the socket housing (18). The elastomeric (80) seal preferably engages a seating surface forming a portion of an imaginary sphere having a center (46) coincident with a sphere which defines the ball swivel surface and socket swivel surface (44,50).</p> |
