Closure device and method for venting, cannulating and pressurizing a vessel
First Claim
1. A method for automatically venting fluids from an interior of a vessel through an opening in the vessel comprising:
- coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening;
sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining first and second passages coupled with the vessel interior;
at least partially uncoupling the vessel from the cap; and
during the uncoupling step, moving the valve plug and cap relative to one another such that the first passage is fluidly coupled to a vent port to allow venting of fluids from the interior of the vessel through the passage and the vent port;
wherein the relative movement of the cap and the valve plug affects the first passage but does not affect the second passage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A closure device (4) and a method for sealing an opening of a vessel (6), while providing access to the interior of the vessel. The device also provides a method for automatically releasing gas and/or toxic vapor from the sealed vessel to protect the operator from harmful vapor without requiring the operator to manually actuate a valve or other mechanism prior to removing the vessel from the closure device. In addition, the device provides a method for pressurizing the interior of the vessel while maintaining a pressure seal against the vessel opening and a method for cannulating the vessel without overpressurizing the vessel interior.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for automatically venting fluids from an interior of a vessel through an opening in the vessel comprising:
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coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining first and second passages coupled with the vessel interior; at least partially uncoupling the vessel from the cap; and during the uncoupling step, moving the valve plug and cap relative to one another such that the first passage is fluidly coupled to a vent port to allow venting of fluids from the interior of the vessel through the passage and the vent port; wherein the relative movement of the cap and the valve plug affects the first passage but does not affect the second passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for cannulation of a vessel having an opening comprising:
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coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining a vent passage coupled with the vessel interior; during the coupling step, moving the valve plug such that the vent passage is coupled with a vent port; and directing liquid through a liquid passage into the opening of the vessel, thereby displacing gas from an interior of the vessel through the vent passage and the vent port. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for cannulation of a vessel having an opening comprising:
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coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining a vent passage coupled with the vessel interior; moving the valve plug such that the vent passage is coupled with a vent port; directing liquid through a liquid passage into the opening of the vessel, thereby displacing gas from an interior of the vessel through the vent passage and the vent port; and wherein the moving step is carried out by partially uncoupling the vessel from the cap.
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11. A method for pressurizing an interior of a vessel having an opening comprising:
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coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining a passage coupled to the vessel interior, said passage at least partially contained in said plug; during the coupling step, moving the valve plug such that the passage is coupled to a pressure port; and directing gas through the pressure port and the passage into the vessel interior. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for pressurizing an interior of a vessel having an opening comprising:
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coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining a passage coupled to the vessel interior; during the coupling step, moving the valve plug such that the passage is coupled to a pressure port; directing gas through the pressure port and the passage into the vessel interior; maintaining a pressure seal against the vessel opening during the directing gas step; and wherein the maintaining step is carried out by biasing the valve plug against the vessel opening.
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14. A method for automatically venting fluids from an interior of a vessel through an opening in the vessel comprising:
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coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining a passage coupled with the vessel interior and having an upper port; at least partially uncoupling the vessel from the cap; and during the uncoupling step, moving the valve plug and the cap relative to one another such that the passage is fluidly coupled to a vent port to allow venting of fluids from the interior of the vessel through the passage and the vent port; wherein said moving step includes moving the plug in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper port.
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15. A method for cannulation of a vessel having an opening comprising:
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fluidly coupling a cap to the vessel; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining a vent passage coupled with the vessel interior; moving the valve plug such that the vent passage is coupled with a vent port; directing liquid through a liquid passage into the opening of the vessel, thereby displacing gas from an interior of the vessel through the vent passage and the vent port; and wherein said moving of the valve plug effects only the vent port.
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16. A method for pressurizing an interior of a vessel having an opening comprising:
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coupling a cap to the vessel around the opening; sealing the opening of the vessel with a valve plug, the valve plug defining a passage coupled to the vessel interior; moving the valve plug towards the cap when coupling the passage to a pressure port; and directing gas through the pressure port and the passage into the vessel interior.
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Specification