Quarter turn adapter connective outlet fitting for liquid color dispensing

• US 9,637,283 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Original Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Macade Nichols, P.
• Application Number:
  US14/617,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20150158638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 137533, 137535, 137539
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/24 with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 15/02 the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/02 having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms F04B43/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1002 Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1087 Valve seats
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/044 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/252 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating in the corresponding slots provided in the female part
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/38 with fluid cut-off means in only one of the two pipe-end fittings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7837 Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]

Abstract

Apparatus for allowing a quick connection and disconnection of pump components to a liquid color pump. Apparatus includes a male member received with a female member. The female member is formed from three plates layered on top of each other. Preferably, a quarter turn rotation of the male member in relation to the female member results in the securing of the pump component to the liquid color pump.

Claims

1. A fitting for delivery of liquid color in one direction only therethrough, comprising:

a. an undercut-shaped annular recess defining an inset pocket at a first end of the fitting for receiving an external O-ring therein for sealing the fitting against a liquid color source upon a manually applied quarter turn of the fitting;

b. a cylindrical housing having a passageway therethrough;

c. a check valve residing in the passageway;

d. a lug extending laterally from the housing for engaging with and disengaging from a receptacle upon a manually applied turn of the fitting, having a lower surface that is co-planar with an end surface of the cylindrical housing;

wherein an outwardly facing surface of the lug is curved and parallel with a curved side of the cylindrical housing.

2. The fitting of claim 1 wherein the housing has inner and outer portions that facingly contact one another, with the passageway passing through the inner and outer portions and being axial respecting the cylindrical housing within the outer portion.

3. The fitting of claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of lugs.

4. The fitting of claim 3 wherein the lugs subtend angles of between 30 and 150 degrees.

5. The fitting of claim 4 wherein the lugs have rectangular cross sections.

6. The fitting of claim 4 wherein the lugs have square cross sections.

7. A fitting for delivery of liquid color in one direction only therethrough, comprising:

a. a cylindrical housing having a passageway therethrough;

b. a check valve residing in the passageway;

c. a lug extending laterally from the housing for engaging with and disengaging from a receptacle upon a manually applied turn of the fitting, having a lower surface that is co-planar with an end surface of the cylindrical housing;

wherein an outwardly facing surface of the lug is curved and parallel with a curved side of the cylindrical housing.

8. A quarter turn adapter outlet fitting for controlled delivery of liquid color therethrough from a supply, comprising:

a. an generally cylindrical outer portion, having

i. a pair of outwardly extending arcuate lugs formed on a first end thereof, lower surfaces of the lugs being co-planar with a first end surface of the outer portion, outwardly facing surfaces of the lugs being curved and parallel with a curved cylindrical outer surface of the outer portion, the lugs subtending angles of less than 90 degrees;

ii. a first axial passageway extending through the outer portion, the first axial passageway having first and second annular internal shoulders formed therein intermediate first and second ends of the outer portion, the second shoulder defining an end of a central cylindrical portion of the first axial passageway, the second shoulder being of larger diameter than the first shoulder and being more proximate the first end of the outer portion;

the first axial passageway having an undercut-shaped annular recess at the first end of the cylindrical outer portion;

b. an inner portion having

i. a cylindrical outer surface extending axially lengthwise partway along the length of the inner portion;

ii. an annular protrusion extending from terminus of the inner portion cylindrical outer surface to define a first end of the inner portion, the annular protrusion having a greater diameter at a juncture with the inner portion cylindrical outer surface and a lesser diameter remote from the juncture with the inner portion cylindrical outer surface, the juncture defining a perpendicular shoulder relative to the inner portion cylindrical outer surface;

iii. a second axial passageway extending from the first end towards the second end, the second axial passageway having an lateral opening in the lesser diameter portion of the annular protrusion proximate the first end of the inner portion, the second axial passageway having a conical surface between the first end and a second end to define a valve seat;

c. a first o-ring within the inner portion, positioned at a juncture of a minimum diameter part of the conical surface and a tubular part of the second axial passageway;

d. a ball residing on the conical surface and contacting the first o-ring;

e. a spring between the ball and the first annular internal shoulder, for biasing the ball against the first o-ring;

f. the cylindrical outer surface of the inner portion being in facing complemental contact with the central cylindrical portion of the first axial passageway, a first end of the inner portion abutting the second shoulder of the first axial passageway, the undercut-shaped annular recess in the outer portion and the perpendicular shoulder of the annular protrusion of the inner portion forming an inset pocket at the first end of the fitting for receiving an o-ring therein for sealing the fitting against the supply, the first and second axial passageways being coaxial and communicating with one another.