Endoscope stopcock with a detent device

• US 6,708,948 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nösel, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US10/154,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20020179878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 251/309, 251/312, 251/904, 251/304, 251/288, 251/286
• US Class Current: 251/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/40 with a fracturing member, e.g. fracturing diaphragm, glass, fusible joint valves opening on surplus pressure F16K17/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/02 with plugs having conical surfaces; Packings therefor

Abstract

A stopcock for controlling ducts in a medical endoscopes passing flux media, including a housing made of a hard material and rotatably receiving a conical plug in a conical seat crossed by a duct. The housing subtends, in the direction of the axis of rotation and beyond the larger opening of the conical seat, a bearing collar which supports a rotary body that is rotatable about the axis of rotation. The rotary body is fitted outside said housing with a handle and is rotationally coupled with the plug. The rotary body is axially displaceable and biased by a spring relative to the plug and is further fitted with a radially elastic detent device, which in the assembled state of the stopcock is configured inside the housing. The rotary body, by operation of the detent device, acts in a locking manner against the spring action on the bearing collar. The rotary body includes a prefabricated rupture site that, following deliberate rupture, exposes the snap-in device.

Claims

1. A stopcock for controlling ducts in medical endoscopes passing flux media, comprising a housing (1) made of a hard material and rotatably receiving a conical plug (4) in a conical seat (3) crossed by a duct (2), said housing subtending, in the direction of an axis of rotation and beyond a larger opening of the conical seat (3), a bearing collar (6) that supports a rotary body (9) that is rotatable about the axis of rotation, said rotary body being fitted outside said housing with a handle (10) and being rotationally coupled with the plug, said rotary body being axially displaceable and biased by a spring relative to said plug and further being fitted with a radially elastic detent device (16), which in the assembled state of said stopcock, is configured inside the housing, said rotary body (9) by operation of said detent device (16) acting in a locking manner against the spring action on said bearing collar (6), wherein the rotary body (9) is fitted with prefabricated rupture site (15) that, following deliberate rupture, exposes the detent device (16).

2. The stopcock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prefabricated rupture site is formed as a circumferential groove (15) holding a detent device, which is formed as a snap ring (16).