Parker-hannifin Corporation

Paul E LeMay

Jason Thomas Dunn

Dennis C Giesler

Jason T Mikulski

Daniel T Nicolino

Benjamin D Kaminski

A cap for closing an opening of a receptacle such as for a liquefied natural gas container. The cap includes a main body and a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the receptacle. A lock/release mechanism is provided to lock the cap onto the receptacle, or enable the cap to be removed from the receptacle. A relief valve of the cap is activatable to relieve pressure within the receptacle. A grip overlies the main body and a relief valve actuator, enabling a user to activate the relief valve via the grip. The cap is configured to relieve pressure in a first stage of removal, and then unlock from the receptacle in a second stage of removal. A catch and secondary pressure relief features are provided to control removal of the cap. Magnets may be provided for proximity sensors to indicate proper closure of the cap on the receptacle.

Pressure containing/relieving cap for a liquified natural gas receptacle

A female coupling member for a low-spill, quick-disconnect coupling where a male coupling member has a valve with a conical head projecting axially forward of a forward end of a body of the male coupling member. The female coupling member includes a body having an axially-extending internal cavity with a forward end dimensioned to receive the body of the male coupling member. An annular piston sleeve is spring-biased forwardly within the internal cavity of the female body. A radially-inward projecting annular valve seat in the female body separates a rear cavity portion of the internal cavity from a forward cavity portion. A valve stem assembly is slideably received within the internal cavity of the female body. The valve stem assembly includes i) a poppet valve dimensioned to be sealingly seated forwardly against the valve seat in the female body when the female coupling member is in an uncoupled condition; and ii) a valve stem portion connected to the poppet valve and extending forward of the poppet valve. The valve stem portion includes an enlarged valve head sealingly mating with a valve seat on the piston sleeve when the female coupling member is in the uncoupled condition. The valve head includes a forwardly-opening conical cavity dimensioned to closely receive the conical valve head of the male coupling member. The male coupling member axially-displaces the piston sleeve and the valve stem assembly rearward in the female body away from their respective valve seats when the male coupling member is inserted into the female coupling member to provide a flow path through the female coupling member.

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Shoreview, MN, United States of America

Paul E LeMay