Fluid sampling valve

• US 6,899,315 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Maiville, Randolph L., Flynn, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K.
• Application Number:
  US10/200,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 251/149.6, 251/149.4, 251/349, 251/350, 251/352, 251/353, 251/354, 738/638.4, 738/638.5, 738/638.6, 738/643.5, 738/643.4
• US Class Current: 251/149.4
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/42 the valve having an axial bore communicating with lateral apertures

Abstract

A valve for connecting a fluid sampling device to a fluid source is provided that includes a body adapted to be secured to the fluid source and a valve member moveably disposed within the body. The body includes a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the sampling device. The valve member is actuated by the sampling device during attachment of the sampling device to the valve body. The sampling device actuated valve member is moveable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the sampling device is open. When the fluid flow path is open, the sampling device can withdraw a fluid sample for inspection and return the fluid sample to the fluid source without exposing the fluid to the surrounding environment.

Claims

1. A valve for connecting a fluid sampling device to a fluid source, comprising:

a body adapted to be secured to the fluid source, the body including a longitudinal channel having a sealing portion tapering radially inwardly and away from a distal end of the body and a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the fluid sampling device, the coupling interface including the sealing portion of the longitudinal channel; and

a fluid sampling device actuated valve member movable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is open.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the coupling interface is a luer fitting.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the coupling interface includes an externally threaded surface.

4. The valve of claim 1, wherein the coupling interface includes an internally tapered surface.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein the sampling device includes a luer tip.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein the valve member is positioned to be actuated toward the second position by the luer tip.

7. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve member is configured to permit sampled fluid to be returned to the fluid source while the fluid sampling device is attached to the valve.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve member includes a sealing member for sealing against the body to close the flow path when the valve member is in the first position.

9. The valve of claim 1, wherein the body includes a sealing member for sealing against at least one of the fluid sampling device and the valve member.

10. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve member is biased into the first position by a resiliently compressible member.

11. The valve of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal channel includes a sealing member that seals against the fluid sampling device.

12. A system for sampling fluid in a fluid source, comprising:

a fluid sampling device; and

a valve, the valve including a body adapted to be secured to the fluid source and a fluid sampling device actuated valve member movable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is open, wherein one of the body and the valve member includes a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the fluid sampling device, and wherein the coupling interface includes a longitudinal channel having a sealing portion tapering radially inwardly and away from a distal end of the body that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device or a valve member duct of fixed diameter that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the coupling interface is a luer fitting.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the coupling interface includes an externally threaded surface.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the coupling interface includes an internally tapered surface.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the fluid sampling device includes a luer tip.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the valve member is positioned to be actuated toward the second position by the luer tip.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the valve member includes a sealing member for sealing against the body to close the flow path when the valve member is in the first position.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the body includes a sealing member for sealing against at least one of the fluid sampling device and the valve member.

20. A method of sampling fluid in a fluid source comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid sampling device and a valve secured to the fluid source, the valve including a body and a fluid sampling device actuated valve member movable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is open, wherein one of the body and the valve member includes a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the fluid sampling device, and wherein the coupling interface includes a longitudinal channel having a sealing portion tapering radially inwardly and away from a distal end of the body that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device or a valve member duct of fixed diameter that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device;

simultaneously connecting the sampling device to the valve and actuating the valve toward the second position; and

drawing the fluid into the fluid sampling device through the flow path.

21. A valve for connecting a fluid sampling device to a fluid source, comprising:

a body adapted to be secured to the fluid source, the body including a longitudinal channel and a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the fluid sampling device, the coupling interface including at least a portion of the longitudinal channel adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device; and

a fluid sampling device actuated valve member movable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is open, the valve member including a sealing member for sealing against the body to close the flow path when the valve member is in the first position.

22. A valve for connecting a fluid sampling device to a fluid source, comprising:

a body adapted to be secured to the fluid source, the body including a longitudinal channel and a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the fluid sampling device, the coupling interface including at least a portion of the longitudinal channel adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device; and

a fluid sampling device actuated valve member movable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is open, the body including a sealing member for sealing against at least one of the fluid sampling device and the valve member.

23. A system for sampling fluid in a fluid source, comprising:

a fluid sampling device; and

a valve, the valve including a body adapted to be secured to the fluid source and a fluid sampling device actuated valve member movable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is open, the valve member including a sealing member for sealing against the body to close the flow path when the valve member is in the first position, and wherein one of the body and the valve member includes a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the fluid sampling device, the coupling interface including a longitudinal channel of the body that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device or a valve member duct of fixed diameter that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device.

24. A system for sampling fluid in a fluid source, comprising:

a fluid sampling device; and

a valve, the valve including a body adapted to be secured to the fluid source and a fluid sampling device actuated valve member movable between a first position in which a flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is closed and a second position in which the flow path between the fluid source and the fluid sampling device is open, the body including a sealing member for sealing against at least one of the fluid sampling device and the valve member, and wherein one of the body and the valve member includes a coupling interface configured to sealingly mate with the fluid sampling device, the coupling interface including a longitudinal channel of the body that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device or a valve member duct of fixed diameter that is adapted to sealingly engage the fluid sampling device.