BALL VALVE ASSEMBLY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a coupling assembly for a fluid flow system:
- a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces and a bore for each of at least certain of said faces, the bores being of the same diameter and extending into said block from respective faces and being interconnected to form a space within the block;
a ball valve member removably receivable within said space through any of said bores and having a fluid passage therethrough;
means mounting said valve member within said space for rotation relative to the block about an axis extending through the valve member;
means extending into one of the bores and coupled with said valve member for rotating the latter from one position with the fluid passage in alignment with a pair of bores to a second position with said passage out of said alignment; and
a fitting member for each of the remaining bores respectively, said block having a slot for each bore respectively, each slot extending transversely of the respective bore, the fitting members having extensions removably receivable within respective bores, each extension having means sealingly engaging the inner surface defining a bore and provided with groove structure aligned with the corresponding slot when the extension is received within the bore, whereby a locking clip can be moved in the slot and into the groove structure of each extension to releasably lock the corresponding fitting member to the block.
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Abstract
An assembly comprised of a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces with each of at least certain of the faces provided with a bore extending into the block and a ball valve member disposed within the block to provide a fluid flow path therethrough. A fitting member is provided for each bore respectively with the fitting members being of any desired configuration to permit the entire assembly to be quickly connected and disconnected in building block fashion, to form a fluid valve from any one of a number of different combinations of blocks and fitting members.
68 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a coupling assembly for a fluid flow system:
- a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces and a bore for each of at least certain of said faces, the bores being of the same diameter and extending into said block from respective faces and being interconnected to form a space within the block;
a ball valve member removably receivable within said space through any of said bores and having a fluid passage therethrough;
means mounting said valve member within said space for rotation relative to the block about an axis extending through the valve member;
means extending into one of the bores and coupled with said valve member for rotating the latter from one position with the fluid passage in alignment with a pair of bores to a second position with said passage out of said alignment; and
a fitting member for each of the remaining bores respectively, said block having a slot for each bore respectively, each slot extending transversely of the respective bore, the fitting members having extensions removably receivable within respective bores, each extension having means sealingly engaging the inner surface defining a bore and provided with groove structure aligned with the corresponding slot when the extension is received within the bore, whereby a locking clip can be moved in the slot and into the groove structure of each extension to releasably lock the corresponding fitting member to the block.
- a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces and a bore for each of at least certain of said faces, the bores being of the same diameter and extending into said block from respective faces and being interconnected to form a space within the block;
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2. In a coupling assembly for a fluid flow system:
- a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces and a bore each of at least certain of said faCes respectively, the bores extending into the block from respective faces and terminating at a space interiorly of the block, there being a slot for each bore respectively, each slot extending parallel to respective faces and adapted to mount a locking slip therein;
a fitting member for each bore respectively, the fitting members being interchangeably receivable within the bores, each fitting member having means thereon for sealingly engaging the inner surface defining a bore and provided with groove structure aligned with the corresponding slot when the fitting member is received within the bore to permit a clip mounted in the slot to releasably lock the fitting member to the block;
a ball valve member having a fluid passage therethrough;
means mounting the valve member within said space for rotation relative to the housing about the axis of one of the bores to permit the valve member to move from a first position with said fluid passage in alignment with a pair of other bores to a second position with the fluid passage out of said alignment, the pair of fitting members receivable within said pair of bores being tubular, whereby a fluid flow path is established through said pair of fitting members when said valve member is in said first position, said mounting means sealing the junctions between said valve member and said pair of fitting members when the latter are locked to said block, the fitting member received in said one bore being rotatable relative to said housing and having means releasably connected to said valve member for rotating the same from said first position to said second position and return.
- a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces and a bore each of at least certain of said faCes respectively, the bores extending into the block from respective faces and terminating at a space interiorly of the block, there being a slot for each bore respectively, each slot extending parallel to respective faces and adapted to mount a locking slip therein;
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3. In a coupling assembly for a fluid flow system:
- a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces and a bore for each of at least certain of said faces respectively, the bores extending into the block and intersecting each other interiorly of the block, each bore having a slot extending transversely thereof and parallel to the respective face;
a fitting member for each bore respectively, the fitting members being interchangeably receivable within said bores, each fitting member having an extension provided with a seal for engaging the inner surface of a bore when the extension is in an operative location therewithin, said extension having groove structure aligned with the slot of the bore when the extension is in said operative location whereby a locking clip mounted in the slot can be shifted into locking relationship to the corresponding fitting member;
a ball valve member having a fluid passage therethrough;
means mounting said valve member at the intersection of said bores for rotation about an axis through one of the bores, the fitting member in said one bore having means releasably coupled to the valve member for rotating the same about said axis from a first position with said passage in alignment with a pair of tubular fitting members in a pair of other bores to a second position with said passage out of said alignment, whereby a fluid flow path will be established by said pair of fitting members and said passage when said valve member is is said first position, said mounting means being disposed to seal said valve member at locations to confine a fluid flow only to said fluid flow path.
- a distribution block having a plurality of outer faces and a bore for each of at least certain of said faces respectively, the bores extending into the block and intersecting each other interiorly of the block, each bore having a slot extending transversely thereof and parallel to the respective face;
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4. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein is provided a locking clip for each fitting member respectively said clips being mounted in corresponding slots and movable relative to the block into and out of the groove structures of respective fitting members to permit the latter to be releasably locked to the block.
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5. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said rotating means includes a shaft journaled on the fitting member in said one bore, said valve member having a recess therein, said shaft extending into said recess and being disposed to rotate the valve member when the shaft is rotated relative to its fitting member.
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6. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said recess extends transversely of said axis, said shaft having a projection on the normally innermost end thereof, said projection being substantially complemental to and extending along at least a portion of said recess.
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7. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said mounting means includes at least a pair of bearing elements, each element having an inner face substantially complemental to and normally engaging the outer surface of said valve member.
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8. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein said bearing elements are removably positioned within said block on opposed sides of the valve member.
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9. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein each bearing element has a central opening therethrough and an outer face provided with a seal in surrounding relationship to the opening, the latter being aligned with a respective bore, said seal being in engagement with the extension received within the respective bore when the extension is in its operative location.
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10. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said seal is resilient, the extension in the bore aligned with the opening corresponding to the seal being disposed to compress the seal to cause the latter to urge the corresponding bearing element against the valve member.
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11. In a coupling assembly for a fluid flow system:
- a distribution block having a plurality of faces and a bore for each of at least certain of said faces respectively, the bores extending into the block from respective faces and intersecting each other at a central location within the block, a pair of said bores being in axial alignment with each other;
a ball valve member at said location and having a fluid passage therethrough;
a pair of bearing elements disposed within respective bores of said pair and normally engaging said valve member at a pair of opposed sides thereof for mounting the valve member for rotation about an axis extending through a third bore;
a pair of fitting members removably received within respective bores of said pair;
a third fitting member removably received within said third bore and having structure rotatable relative to the block about said axis;
means for each fitting member respectively for releasably holding the same in an operative position within the respective bore, the fitting members of said pair being in sealing engagement to respective bearing elements when the pair of fitting members are in their operative positions; and
means releasably coupling said structure to the valve member to cause the latter to be rotated about said axis as the structure is rotated relative to said block.
- a distribution block having a plurality of faces and a bore for each of at least certain of said faces respectively, the bores extending into the block from respective faces and intersecting each other at a central location within the block, a pair of said bores being in axial alignment with each other;
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12. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said pair of fitting members are tubular, each bearing element having a central opening therethrough, said fluid passage being aligned with said tubular fitting members when the valve member is in a first operative disposition.
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13. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fluid passage extends diametrically through the valve member, said block having a number of side faces and a pair of end faces, the bores being provided only for said side faces.
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14. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein is included a second pair of bearing elements within a second pair of bores and normally engaging the valve member at a second pair of opposed sides thereof, there being a second pair of fitting members for respective bores of said second pair, means coupled to each fitting member of the second pair respectively for releasably holding the same in an operative position within the respective bore, the fitting members of said second pair being in sealing engagement to respective bearing elements when the last-mentioned fitting members are in their operative positions.
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15. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said block is provided with a number of side faces and a pair of end faces, the bores being provided for said side and end faces.
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16. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein each bearing element is formed from a resilient material and has a central opening, an inner face, and an outer face with the inner and outer faces surrounding said opening, the inner face being substantially complemental to said valve member and the outer face having a groove provided with a resilient O-ring therein for engaging the inner end of the corresponding fitting member.
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17. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said material is Teflon.
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18. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein each bearing element has a cylindrical outer surface complemental to the respective bore.
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19. In a coupling assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein is provided a second pair of bearing elements for a second pair of bores, each of said bearing elements having an inner face, an outer face, and a beveled side face extending between the inner and outer faces.
Specification