Duckbill valve assemblies and apparatus and methods including same

A gas chromatograph (GC) system comprising:

• a GC injection port including:
• a chamber;
• and
• a duckbill valve assembly positioned to control fluid flow into and/or out of the chamber, wherein the duckbill valve assembly includes:
• a duckbill valve having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and opposed proximal and distal ends spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the duckbill valve defining a valve direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the duckbill valve including:
• a first port at the proximal end;
• and
• first and second opposed sidewalls, wherein the first and second sidewalls taper inwardly toward one another in the valve direction to form a duckbill structure, the duckbill structure including a slit proximate the distal end;
• wherein the duckbill valve is transitionable from a closed position, wherein the slit is closed, and an open position, wherein the first and second sidewalls are laterally separated proximate the slit to form a second port;
• and
• a spring member including a spring leg disposed laterally adjacent the first side wall, wherein the spring leg exerts a spring load on the first sidewall, the spring load forcing the first and second sidewalls together to maintain the slit in the closed position;
• wherein the duckbill valve assembly is configured such that, when the first and second sidewalls are displaced laterally outward to open the slit, the spring leg is displaced in the valve direction and in a laterally outward direction;
• a column fluidly connected to the chamber;
• and
• a detector fluidly connected to the column;
• wherein the GC system is configured to sweep a sample from the chamber, through the column and to the detector.

A method for handling a fluid, the method comprising:

• providing an apparatus comprising:
• a chamber;
• and
• a duckbill valve assembly positioned to control fluid flow into and/or out of the chamber, wherein the duckbill valve assembly includes:
• a duckbill valve having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and opposed proximal and distal ends spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the duckbill valve defining a valve direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the duckbill valve including:
• a first port at the proximal end;
• and
• first and second opposed sidewalls, wherein the first and second sidewalls taper inwardly toward one another in the valve direction to form a duckbill structure, the duckbill structure including a slit proximate the distal end;
• wherein the duckbill valve is transitionable from a closed position, wherein the slit is closed, and an open position, wherein the first and second sidewalls are laterally separated proximate the slit to form a second port;
• and
• a spring member including a spring leg disposed laterally adjacent the first side wall, wherein the spring leg exerts a spring load on the first sidewall, the spring load forcing the first and second sidewalls together to maintain the slit in the closed position;
• wherein the duckbill valve assembly is configured such that, when the first and second sidewalls are displaced laterally outward to open the slit, the spring leg is displaced in the valve direction and in a laterally outward direction;
• inserting a needle through the duckbill valve assembly and into the chamber;
• using the needle, extracting a fluid from the chamber and/or introducing a fluid into the chamber through the needle;
• and thereafter
• removing the needle from the duckbill valve assembly.

A duckbill valve assembly comprising:

• a duckbill valve having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and opposed proximal and distal ends spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the duckbill valve defining a valve direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the duckbill valve including:
• a first port at the proximal end;
• and
• first and second opposed sidewalls, wherein the first and second sidewalls taper inwardly toward one another in the valve direction to form a duckbill structure, the duckbill structure including a slit proximate the distal end;
• wherein the duckbill valve is transitionable from a closed position, wherein the slit is closed, and an open position, wherein the first and second sidewalls are laterally separated proximate the slit to form a second port;
• and
• a spring member including:
• a first spring leg disposed laterally adjacent the first side wall, wherein the first spring leg exerts a first spring load on the first sidewall;
• and
• a second spring leg disposed laterally adjacent the second side wall and laterally opposite the first spring leg, wherein the second spring leg exerts a second spring load on the second sidewall;
• wherein the first and second spring loads force the first and second sidewalls together to maintain the slit in the closed position;
• wherein the duckbill valve assembly is configured such that, when the first and second sidewalls are displaced laterally outward to open the slit, the first and second spring legs are displaced in the valve direction and in opposing laterally outward directions;
• and
• wherein:
• the spring member includes a base portion having opposed first and second side edges;
• the first spring leg is cantilevered from the first side edge of the base portion, the first spring leg having a proximal end joined to the base portion and a distal end that applies the first spring load to the first sidewall;
• and
• the second spring leg is cantilevered from the second side edge of the base portion, the second spring leg having proximal end joined to the base portion and a distal end that applies the second spring load to the second sidewall;
• and
• the spring member is unitarily formed.

A duckbill valve assembly comprising:

• a duckbill valve having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and opposed proximal and distal ends spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the duckbill valve defining a valve direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the duckbill valve including:
• a first port at the proximal end;
• and
• first and second opposed sidewalls, wherein the first and second sidewalls taper inwardly toward one another in the valve direction to form a duckbill structure, the duckbill structure including a slit proximate the distal end;
• wherein the duckbill valve is transitionable from a closed position, wherein the slit is closed, and an open position, wherein the first and second sidewalls are laterally separated proximate the slit to form a second port;
• and
• a spring member including a spring leg disposed laterally adjacent the first side wall, wherein the spring leg exerts a spring load on the first sidewall, the spring load forcing the first and second sidewalls together to maintain the slit in the closed position;
• wherein the duckbill valve assembly is configured such that, when the first and second sidewalls are displaced laterally outward to open the slit, the spring leg is displaced in the valve direction and in a laterally outward direction;
• and
• wherein the spring member includes:
• a base portion;
• and
• a spring leg cantilevered from the base portion, the spring leg having a proximal end joined to the base portion and a distal end that applies the spring load to the first sidewall;
• and
• wherein the spring leg has opposed axially extending side edges that taper inwardly in a direction from the base portion to the distal end.