Rotatable stopcock for a male coupling having a 90° offset connecting piece

• US 6,607,179 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Original Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Inventors: Moretti, Erminio, Perrin, Gilles
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US10/204,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 251/309-312, 251/297, 251/904, 251/304
• US Class Current: 251/309
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/065 with cylindrical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0414 Plug channel at 90 degrees to the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 251/904 Snap fit plug valves

Abstract

A rotatable stopcock for a plug-type coupling with an angled piece for connecting fluid lines. The stopcock including a turning knob portion and an integrally formed hollow pin portion. The knob portion includes two opposing ring segments having detent catches that positively engage a flange ring formed on the coupling housing wall. The pin portion is dimensioned to be received into a contact hole of the plug-type coupling such that rotating the stopcock after insertion causes the hollow pin portion to regulate the fluid flow through the plug-type coupling.

Claims

1. A stopcock for a plug type coupling, the coupling having a housing having an axial through-bore having a coupling at one end and a mounting hole at an opposite end, said housing having a connector portion for mounting to a fluid line extending at an angle to the through-bore, the stopcock comprising:

a tube portion having a passage for receiving fluid from the through-bore, the inner passage portion curved through an angle to fluidly connect with the connector portion, a ring seal disposed in said through-bore between an outer surface of the stopcock and the housing;

a turning knob integral to said hollow pin portion and detachedly fixed relative to the coupling housing in axial direction of the contact hole, said turning knob comprising;

two opposing ring segments integrally formed on an end wall of said knob that extend concentrically to the housing wall about said contact hole, said ring segments having inwardly directed detents operative to positively engage a flange ring formed on the housing wall about said contact hole after elastically expanding during insertion of said tube portion into said contact hole.

2. The stopcock according to claim 1 further including a detent limb integrally formed with the turning knob between the ring segments and extending past said flange ring on the housing wall, said detent limb comprising:

an elastically extendable end that projects in the direction of the angled through-bore; and

at least one detent tooth that complements a detent notch formed integrally with the housing wall such that when said at least one detent tooth and complementary detent notch are engaged said turning knob is locked in the open position whereby the stopcock is held open.

3. The stopcock according to claim 1 wherein the detent surfaces of said inwardly directed detents form an angle of more than 90 degrees relative to the radial contact surface of said flange ring formed on the housing wall, said angle being measured in a direction opposite the attachment direction of said turning knob.

4. The stopcock according to claim 2 wherein detent surfaces of said inwardly directed detents form an angle of more than 90 degrees relative to the radial contact surface of said flange ring formed on the housing wall, said angle being measured in a direction opposite an attachment direction of said turning knob.