Vacuum demand valve

• US 6,712,095 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Yardimci, Atif M., Prisco, Michael R., Ariagno, Scott R., Bilstad, Arnold C., Smith, Sidney T., DiPerna, Paul M., Perry, Mark C., Bellotti, Marc, Williamson, Mark E., Pennington, David W., Marttila, Alan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/266,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 137/854, 137/512.15, 137/512.4, 137/907, 137/843, 220/710, 220/705, 220/714
• US Class Current: 137/854
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/185 Mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0046 Cups, bottles or bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0053 Syringes, pipettes or oral dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2406 designed to quickly shut upon the presence of back-pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/244 Hinged closure member, e.g. flap valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2486 Guided stem, e.g. reciprocating stopper
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/227 Valves actuated by a secondary fluid, e.g. hydraulically or pneumatically actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/14 with flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1472 the closure elements being fixed onto an internally extending mount
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/148 the closure elements being fixed in their centre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/907 Vacuum-actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7781 With separate connected fluid reactor surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7836 Flexible diaphragm or bellows reactor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7882 Having exit lip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/789 Central mount

Abstract

A vacuum demand valve for delivering a flowable material is disclosed. The valve has a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, an intermediate segment therebetween defining a passageway wherein the flowable substance can flow from the proximal end to the distal end. The housing can be a tubing. A valve member is located along the intermediate segment. The valve member has a closed condition wherein the flow of the flowable material from the proximal end to the distal end is stopped and an open condition wherein the flow of the flowable material from the proximal end to the distal end is unstopped. The valve member is biased in the closed condition and is responsive to a partial vacuum provided by the user through the passageway for placing the valve member in the open condition.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a housing having an inner surface defining a passageway between an outlet opening and an inlet opening for a flowable material to pass therethrough;

a flexible bladder positioned within the passageway, the flexible bladder having a first position wherein the bladder is in sealing engagement with the inner surface preventing flow of material, the bladder further having a second position wherein the bladder is spaced from the inner surface wherein flowable material is allowed to pass through the passageway, the flexible bladder being movable between the first position and second position by a partial vacuum applied through the passageway.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the flexible bladder has a sealing ring within the bladder.

3. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a retainer engaging the inner surface, the retainer having a stem connected to the flexible bladder.

4. The valve of claim 3 wherein the retainer has a plurality of holes therethrough.

5. The valve of claim 1 wherein the flexible bladder is a pressurized vessel.

6. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a support member extending into the passageway from the inner surface and positioned between the flexible bladder and the outlet.

7. The valve of claim 6 wherein the support member comprises a plurality of ribs.

8. The valve of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a tube.

9. The valve of claim 1 wherein the flexible bladder is responsive to pressure enabling said bladder to actuate the valve member.

10. The valve of claim 3 wherein the retainer has at least one hole therethrough.

11. A valve comprising:

a housing having an inner surface defining a passageway between an outlet opening and an inlet opening for a flowable material to pass therethrough;

a flexible bladder positioned within the passageway, the flexible bladder having a first position wherein the bladder is in sealing engagement with the inner surface preventing flow of material, the bladder further having a second position wherein the bladder is spaced from the inner surface wherein flowable material is allowed to pass through the passageway; and

a support member extending into the passageway from the inner surface and positioned between the flexible bladder and the outlet,

wherein the support member comprises a plurality of ribs.

12. A tubing for delivering a fluid substance from a container to a user, the tubing comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

an intermediate segment between the proximal end and the distal end;

a passageway between the proximal end and the distal end wherein a fluid substance can flow from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a valve member located along the intermediate segment, the valve member having a closed condition wherein a flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is stopped and an open condition wherein the flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is unstopped, the valve member being biased in the closed condition and responsive to an external force provided by a user in the form of a partial vacuum provided by the user through the passageway for placing the valve member towards in the open condition,

wherein the valve member includes a flexible bladder responsive to the external force supplied by the user, wherein the flexible bladder includes a sealing ring and the valve member includes a receiver for accepting the sealing ring, the sealing ring and the receiver cooperating to form the substantially fluid-tight seal when the valve member is in the closed condition.

13. A tubing for delivering a fluid substance from a container to a user, the tubing comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

an intermediate segment between the proximal end and the distal end;

a passageway between the proximal end and the distal end wherein a fluid substance can flow from the proximal end to the distal end;

a valve member located along the intermediate segment, the valve member having a closed condition wherein a flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is stopped and an open condition wherein the flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is unstopped, the valve member being biased in the closed condition and responsive to an external force provided by a user in the form of a partial vacuum provided by the user through the passageway for placing the valve member towards in the open condition, wherein the valve member includes a flexible bladder responsive to the external force supplied by the user; and

the tubing further comprising a support member extending along a length of the inner wall from the valve member to the distal end of the tubing.

14. A tubing for delivering a fluid substance from a container to a user, the tubing comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

an intermediate segment between the proximal end and the distal end;

a passageway between the proximal end and the distal end wherein a fluid substance can flow from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a valve member located along the intermediate segment, the valve member having a closed condition wherein a flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is stopped and an open condition wherein the flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is unstopped, the valve member being biased in the closed condition and responsive to an external force provided by a user in the form of a partial vacuum provided by the user through the passageway for placing the valve member towards in the open condition,

wherein the valve member includes a flexible bladder responsive to the external force supplied by the user, wherein the support member comprises a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the inner wall wherein a cross-sectional area of the passageway is decreased by the plurality of ribs.

15. A tubing for delivering a fluid substance from a container to a user, the tubing comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

an intermediate segment between the proximal end and the distal end;

a passageway between the proximal end and the distal end wherein a fluid substance can flow from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a valve member located along the intermediate segment, the valve member having a closed condition wherein a flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is stopped and an open condition wherein the flow of the fluid substance from the proximal end to the distal end is unstopped, the valve member being biased in the closed condition and responsive to an external force provided by a user in the form of a partial vacuum provided by the user through the passageway for placing the valve member in the open condition,

wherein the valve member includes a flexible bladder responsive to the external force supplied by the user and the valve member includes a retainer extending inwardly from the inner wall of the tubing, the retainer having flow holes therethrough, a portion of the bladder being joined to the retainer.

16. The tubing of claim 15 wherein the external force provided by the user is a partial vacuum pressure.