Fluid coupling system

• US 6,739,577 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technology Container Corporation
• Original Assignee: Technology Container Corporation
• Inventors: Haake, Robert, Clancy, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEASEL, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US10/305,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 251/149.1, 251/149.6, 251/231, 251/236, 251/237, 251/336, 137/614.04, 137/537, 285/24, 285/27, 285/914, 267/73, 267/74
• US Class Current: 251/149.6
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/60 Identification or marking
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/40 with a lift valve being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/914 Irreversible

Abstract

A fluid coupling system is provided including a fluid coupling having a cooperative key coding system and latching mechanism, a valve biasing mechanism with corrosion resistance, and other advantageous features. The key coding system permits interconnection of only matched coupling members while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched coupling members notwithstanding the presence of many coupling, both matched and mismatched. The coupling includes first and second coupling members that are releasably slideably, axially interfitted with their passageways in fluid communication. The key coding system includes key coding elements on the coupling members that are axially movable into matched interengagement when the coupling members are matched but are precluded from moving into matched interengagement when they are mismatched, all without rotation of the couplings or the key coding elements irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the couplings members or coding elements. The latching mechanism is movable axially and radially of the coupling members between latching and unlatching positions, again without relative rotation of the latching mechanism and coupling members. The key coding system allows the latching mechanism to move into latching position when the key coding elements match but precludes such movement when there is a mismatch. Although the key coding system and the latching mechanism do not require rotation to function, they allow relative rotation of the coupling members. Furthermore, the coupling incorporates a valve biasing mechanism that does not use a metallic spring or other corrodible parts in contact with the corrosive chemicals.

Claims

1. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

a resiliently extensible member coupled under tension to the biasing device and yieldably urging the biasing device against the valve and thereby urging the valve toward or away from the seat,

wherein the resiliently extensible member is located outside of the passageway,

wherein a lever is pivoted in the body having an inner end in the passageway and an outer end outside of the passageway; and

wherein the resiliently extensible member is coupled to the outer end of the lever and yieldably urges the inner end to apply pressure against the biasing device causing it to urge the valve toward or away from the valve seat.

2. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

a resiliently extensible member coupled under tension to the biasing device and yieldably urging the biasing device against the valve and thereby urging the valve toward or away from the seat,

wherein the biasing device includes a piston slideably moveably mounted in the passageway and coupled to the valve,

wherein a lever is pivoted in the body having an inner end in the passageway against the piston and an outer end outside of the passageway; and

wherein the resiliently extensible member is coupled to the outer end of the lever and yieldably urges the inner end to apply pressure against the piston.

3. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

a resiliently extensible member coupled under tension to the biasing device and yieldably urging the biasing device against the valve and thereby urging the valve toward or away from the seat,

wherein the biasing device includes a piston slideably moveably mounted in the passageway and coupled to the valve,

wherein the piston has a notch extending transversely therein;

wherein the body has a longitudinal bore extending substantially parallel to the passageway and offset therefrom;

wherein the body has a transverse bore extending from the longitudinal bore to the passageway in alignment with the notch;

wherein an anchor is located in the longitudinal bore in spaced relation to the transverse bore;

wherein a lever is positioned in the transverse bore having an end extending into the notch in engagement with the piston and an end in alignment with the longitudinal bore, the lever being fulcrummed within the transverse bore for pivoting movement therein; and

wherein the resiliently extensible member is a band that encircles the anchor and the outer end of the lever and yieldably urges the inner end against the piston.

4. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

a resiliently extensible member coupled under tension to the biasing device and yieldably urging the biasing device against the valve and thereby urging the valve toward or away from the seat,

wherein the biasing device includes a piston slideably moveably mounted in the passageway and coupled to the valve,

wherein the piston has aligned slots on opposite sides thereof;

wherein the biasing device includes an anchor secured to the body and extends through the slots transversely of the passageway;

wherein a pin is connected to the piston in spaced relation to the anchor; and

wherein the resiliently extensible member is a band that encircles the pin and the anchor and yieldably urges the piston and the valve toward or away from the valve seat.

5. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

a resiliently extensible member of non-metallic, non-corrodible material having opposite end portions and being coupled to the biasing device, the resiliently extensible member having a first condition wherein it is under tension and urges the valve toward or away from the valve seat and wherein the opposite end portions are spaced from each other a first predetermined distance and a second condition wherein the end portions are spaced from each other a second predetermined distance less than the first predetermined distance, the resiliently extensible member exerting a resultant force that is directed lengthwise of the fluid passageway and against the biasing device in at least said first condition,

wherein the resiliently extensible member is an endless, resiliently expandable band that is maintained under tension in its coupled relationship to the biasing device.

6. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

a resiliently extensible member of non-metallic, non-corrodible material having opposite end portions and being coupled to the biasing device, the resiliently extensible member having a first condition wherein it is under tension and urges the valve toward or away from the valve seat and wherein the opposite end portions are spaced from each other a first predetermined distance and a second condition wherein the end portions are spaced from each other a second predetermined distance less than the first predetermined distance, the resiliently extensible member exerting a resultant force that is directed lengthwise of the fluid passageway and against the biasing device in at least said first condition,

wherein there is an anchor mounted in the coupling body; and

wherein the resiliently extensible member is an endless, resiliently expandable band that is in tensioned, circumscribing relation to the anchor and the biasing device.

7. A fluid coupling comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

an endless resiliently expandible band having elongated side-by-side portions interconnected by arcuate opposite end portions that are coupled to the biasing device thereby placing the band under tension and yieldably urging the biasing device against the valve and the valve toward or away from the seat, the elongated portions of the band extending lengthwise of the fluid passageway generally parallel thereto, the band exerting resultant forces that are directed lengthwise of the passageway along the elongated portions when the band is under tension.

8. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat; and

an elongated flexible piece of elastic material having end portions interconnected by a substantially straight intermediate portion, the intermediate portion being resiliently stretchable between the end portions wherein the intermediate portion may be placed under varying degrees of tension, the intermediate portion extending length wise of the fluid passageway generally parallel thereto with one of said end portions anchored to the coupling body and the other end portion coupled to the valve, the intermediate portion being under tension and yieldably urging the valve toward or away from the seat.

9. A coupling member comprising:

a coupling body having a fluid passageway therein;

a valve seat in the passageway;

a valve movably mounted in the passageway for movement into and out of seating engagement in the valve seat;

a biasing device yieldably bearing against the valve; and

a resiliently extensible member coupled under tension to the biasing device and yieldably urging the biasing device against the valve and thereby urging the valve toward or away from the seat,

wherein there is an anchor mounted in the coupling body;

wherein the biasing device includes a fulcrum pivotally mounted in the coupling body and having one end yieldably biasing the valve into closed position and an opposite end; and

wherein the resiliently extensible member is an endless, resiliently expandable band that is in tensioned, circumscribing relation to the anchor and said opposite end of the fulcrum.

10. A The coupling member of claim 9,

wherein said one end of the fulcrum yieldably bears against the plunger.