Fluid coupling valve assembly

• US 6,626,419 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colder Products Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Colder Products Company (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert K., deCler, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Application Number:
  US09/904,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20020014608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 251/148, 251/149.9, 251/311, 251/367, 251/904, 251/343, 251/344, 251/345
• US Class Current: 251/149.9
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/263 between tubular parts
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/045 with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction parallel to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/047 with a closing element having a rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0414 Plug channel at 90 degrees to the inlet

Abstract

A fluid coupling valve assembly includes a coupler connected with a closure. The closure includes a closure valve rotatably connected with a closure body. The closure valve is actuatable to open/close the closure to allow/prevent fluid dispensing. The coupler is connected to the closure to transmit fluids to a fluid system.

Claims

1. A fluid coupling valve assembly comprising:

a closure actuatable between an open and a closed position;

a coupler actuatable between an open and a closed position;

the coupler being rotatably connected to the closure; and

the closure and the coupler including a retention mechanism retaining the closure and the coupler in a coupled state;

the retention mechanism including the closure having a closure handle including an end, said end is a protruding end, and including the coupler having a projection edge thereon said coupler;

the protruding end and the projection edge are in communication rotating the fluid coupling valve assembly in a open or closed position, wherein the coupler and the closure can only be separated when both the closure and the coupler are in a closed position.

2. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure comprises a closure body and a closure valve, wherein the closure body and the closure valve are rotatably connected to each other, the closure body having a sleeve portion with an opening and a fitment extended outwardly from a side of the sleeve portion, the closure valve having an opening corresponding to the opening of the sleeve portion of the closure body, and a closure handle, wherein the closure handle rotates the closure valve relative to the closure body between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

3. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 2;

wherein the fitment is attached to a fluid source.

4. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises an interlock releasably locking the closure and the coupler in an open position.

5. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein the interlock comprises a recess or detent.

6. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein the closure body and the closure valve form an interference fit.

7. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein the closure body and the closure valve are each a one-piece, integrally molded structure.

8. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises an coupler body and an outlet.

9. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the outlet is attached to a fluid system.

10. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the coupler comprises a retaining sleeve disposed within the coupler body and including an opening aligned with the outlet.

11. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein a poppet is disposed within the retaining sleeve, and a biasing member that biases the poppet in a position to block fluid flow to the outlet of the coupler body when the coupler is not connected to the closure.

12. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 11, wherein the poppet member is pushed retracting the biasing member when the coupler is connected to the closure such that fluid flow is not blocked to the outlet of the coupler body.

13. The fluid coupling valve assembly according to claim 11, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

14. A method of dispensing fluids comprising:

providing a closure, wherein the closure includes a closure body and a closure valve, wherein the closure body and the closure valve are rotatably connected to each other, the closure body having a sleeve portion with an opening and a fitment extended outwardly from a side of the sleeve portion, the closure valve having an opening corresponding to the opening of the sleeve portion of the closure body, and a closure handle, wherein the closure handle rotates the closure valve relative to the closure body between an open configuration and a closed configuration and providing a coupler, wherein the coupler includes a coupler body and a coupler valve, wherein the coupler body and the coupler valve are rotatably connected to each other, the coupler body having a projecting edge and an opening extended from a side of the coupler body, the coupler valve having an opening corresponding to the opening of the coupler body and a coupler valve handle, wherein the coupler valve handle rotates the closure valve relative to the coupler body between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and the coupler valve handle having an engagement pocket;

connecting the closure and the coupler, wherein the engagement pocket of the coupler valve handle engages the closure handle connecting the closure and the coupler;

attaching the closure to a fluid source and attaching the coupler to a fluid system;

simultaneously rotating the closure handle and the coupler valve handle, thereby actuating an open or a closed configuration of both the closure and the coupler to permit or prevent dispensing of a fluid;

retaining connection between the closure and the coupler through an end of the closure handle engaged to the projecting edge of the coupler, thereby preventing the closure and coupler from pulling apart while rotating the closure and the coupler to the open or the closed configuration; and

interlocking the closure handle and the coupler valve handle through an interlock on the projecting edge engaged to the end of the closure handle.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein simultaneously rotating the closure handle and the coupler valve handle includes rotating the closure handle of the closure valve relative to the closure body and applying a force to the closure handle.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein simultaneously rotating the closure handle and the coupler valve handle includes rotating the coupler valve handle of the coupler valve relative to the coupler body and applying a force to the coupler valve handle.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein interlocking the closure handle and the coupler handle includes increasing resistance to movement of the engaged closure handle and coupler valve handle.

18. A fluid coupling valve assembly comprising:

a closure including a closure body and a closure valve, wherein the closure body and the closure valve are rotatably connected to each other, the closure body having a sleeve portion with an opening and a fitment extended outwardly from a side of the sleeve portion, the closure valve having an opening corresponding to the opening of the sleeve portion of the closure body, and a closure handle, wherein the closure handle rotates the closure valve relative to the closure body between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and

a coupler including a coupler body and a coupler valve, wherein the coupler body and the coupler valve are rotatably connected to each other, the coupler body having a projecting edge and an opening extended from a side of the coupler body, the coupler valve having an opening corresponding to the opening of the coupler body and a coupler valve handle, wherein the coupler valve handle rotates the coupler valve relative to the coupler body between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and the coupler valve handle having an engagement pocket, wherein the engagement pocket of the coupler valve handle engages the closure handle connecting the closure and the coupler; and

wherein the closure handle and the coupler valve handle rotate simultaneously in an open or close configuration.

19. A fluid dispensing system comprising:

a fluid source;

a coupling valve assembly including a closure actuatable between an open and a closed position and a coupler actuatable between an open and a closed position, the coupler being rotatably connected to the closure, the closure and the coupler including a retention mechanism retaining the closure and the coupler in a coupled state;

the retention mechanism including the closure having a closure handle including an end, said end is a protruding end, and including the coupler having a projection edge thereon said coupler;

the protruding end and the projection edge are in communication rotating the fluid coupling valve assembly in a open or closed position,

wherein the coupler and the closure can only be separated when both the closure and the coupler are in a closed position; and

a fluid line attached to the coupler.