Manifold coupling assembly

• US 4,804,208 A
• Filed: 08/11/1986
• Issued: 02/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Original Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Dye, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US06/895,554
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 285/921, 285/65, 285/70, 285/71, 285/72, 285/73, 285/79, 285/319, 285/26, 285/29, 285/914, 285/93, 285/137.1, 285/308
• US Class Current: 285/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1094 at least partly incompatible with standard connectors, e.g. to prevent fatal mistakes in connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/56 for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/914 Irreversible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

The present invention comprises a manifold coupling for connecting a plurality of conduits which carry pressurized fluid in a sequential manner. Each portion of the manifold coupling is a duplicate of the other portion. Each portion has locking means and alignment means to prevent the misaligned connection of the conduits. The alignment means includes a keying arrangement built into the housing walls of each portion of the coupling. A reinforcement means is configured into the walls to prevent yielding thereof, and inadvertent misalignment of the coupling portions.

Claims

1. A manifold coupling for the oriented interconnection of a plurality of fluid conduits, comprising:

a pair of manifold halves, each halve including an upper housing and a lower housing;

an arrangement of sidewalls and end walls defining each of said housings;

a bulkhead disposed between each of said housings, with a conduit means disposed through said bulkhead;

a locking arrangement disposed on the end walls, so as to lock each halve to the other, regardless of which is utilized as a receiving halve;

each of said housings having a keying arrangement to permit proper orientation only, of one halve when it is mated with the other halve;

a particular number of keys are disposed on one side of said sidewalls of said housing in the coupling, and a same particular number of keyways are disposed in the contiguous side of said sidewalls of the other housing in the coupling; and

only said sidewalls having straight reinforcing means extending along their peripheral edges to prevent yielding thereof and improper interconnection therebetween.

2. A manifold coupling as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing means extending along the peripheral edges comprises a reinforcing lip to prevent the sidewalls from bending.