Importance

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Abstract

An emergency release coupler for releasably coupling together two pipes comprises first and second valves each adapted to be connected to a respective pipe and a band coupler for coupling together said valves. Each valve comprises a casing housing a valve member movable between closed and open positions. The band coupler comprises segments which are pivotally interconnected and on which are mounted clamping members adapted to be held together by a clamping device. The segments and clamping members serve to clamp the valve casings together. Gear quadrants, mounted on the valve casings, are arranged to be driven via a linkage by the piston rod of a hydraulic ram which, when driven in one direction, is effective to cause the gear quadrants to move the associated valve members to the open position and, when moved in the opposite direction, is effective to cause the gear quadrants to move the associated valve members to the closed position. The clamping device is acted on by the linkage so that, after the valve members have been moved to the closed position, continued movement of the piston rod in said opposite direction causes the linkage to operate the clamping device to release the clamping members so that the clamping members ane segments are no longer effective to clamp the valve casings together whereby the casings can be separated from each other. Since the valves are closed before the casings are separated, spillage of a product in the pipes is avoided.

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First Claim