UNIDIRECTIONAL FLOW VALVE

• US 3,601,152 A
• Filed: 08/15/1969
• Issued: 08/24/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grant F. Kenworthy
• Original Assignee: Grant F. Kenworthy
• Inventors: Kenworthy, Grant F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geiger, Laverne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, William H.
• Application Number:
  US04/850,436
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 137/525,551,112
• US Class Current: 137/843
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2433 Valve comprising a resilient or deformable element, e.g. flap valve, deformable disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/244 Hinged closure member, e.g. flap valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2473 Valve comprising a non-deformable, movable element, e.g. ball-valve, valve with movable stopper or reciprocating element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2486 Guided stem, e.g. reciprocating stopper
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/141 the closure elements not being fixed to the valve body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A nipple is engaged by a generally cup-shaped elastomeric oneway flow control member to block flow of fluid in reverse through the discharge end of the nipple but permits fluid flow from the discharge end of the nipple by elastic expansion of a nippleembracing sleeve. During flow from the nipple the control member is retained in position relative to the nipple to enable quick resumption of reverse flow blocking engagement with the nipple.

Claims

1. A unidirectional flow valve structure, comprising:

a tubular spacer body having opposite end closures spaced apart and providing a closed chamber;

said end closures being imperforate except for aligned passages therethrough and a nipple comprising an extension of the passage of one of said end closures into said chamber, with the discharge end of the nipple substantially spaced from the other of said end closures;

a generally cupshaped elastomeric one-way flow-controlling valve member having a sleeve portion shorter than said nipple but longer than the space between said nipple and said other end closure and open at one end and telescoped in releasable contractile fluid-sealing embracing fit engagement about said nipple;

a closure web of substantially thicker cross section than said sleeve so as to be substantially resistant to pressure fluid deformation under pressures which will cause elastic expansion of the sleeve in response to internal fluid pressure applied thereto by discharge from said nipple to open a flow passage from said discharge end past the nipple from said open end of the sleeve portion into said chamber;

said other end closure providing a stop surface toward which said web moves away from said discharge end responsive to thrust of fluid from said discharge end for thereby effecting a fluid escaped spaced relation between the nipple and the web and the fluid-expanded sleeve portion into said chamber; and

spacer means between said web and said stop surface to provide a gap between said web and said stop surface for flow between said chamber and said passage in said other end closure and enabling quick sealing thrust of said web toward and against said discharge end of the nipple and sealing contraction of the sleeve portion about said nipple when a back pressure develops through said passage of said other closure.

2. A valve structure according to claim 1, in which said tubular body is a transparent spacer sleeve to enable ready inspection of said chamber from outside the valve structure.

3. A valve structure according to claim 2, in which said sleeve and said end closures are secured together by interference fit.

4. A valve structure according to claim 2, in which said sleeve and end closures are plastic elements bonded together.

5. A valve structure according to claim 1 adapted for medical and veterinary medicine transfusion and infusion apparatus operating at a low pressure on the order of 2 to 3 ounces per square inch and wherein the valve member is constructed of a very low durometer material, said passage in said one end closure having means for attachment communication with a tube leading from a solution container, and said passage in said other end closure having means for connecting in communication therewith an end of a catheter.

6. A valve structure according to claim 1, including a tapered socket in the outer end portion of the passage in said one end closure for reception in press fit relation of means for connecting a tube in communication with such passage, and a tapered nipple extending from the outer end of said other end closure and providing an extension of the passage in said other end closure and adapted to receive an end of a catheter thereon in interference fit.

7. A valve structure according to claim 1, wherein said end closures comprise members threadedly engaged in respective opposite ends of said tubular spacer body, and respective tapped outer end portions of said passages being adapted to receive threaded nipple-type connectors.