Back to results
US 12,285,303 B2Granted
Valve for fluid ejector
AssigneeCrosstex International, Inc.
InventorRichard P. Bushman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly for a dental suction system. The valve assembly includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly also includes a valve plug positioned at least partially within the valve body and including a through-passage. The valve plug is rotatable relative to the valve body to selectively alter a flow of fluid along the fluid flow path. The fluid flow path exhibits a varied cross-sectional area along a length of the fluid flow path.
Claims17
A valve assembly for a dental suction system, comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet configured for direct connection with an ejector tube, an outlet configured for direct connection with a vacuum hose, and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet;
- a valve plug positioned at least partially within the valve body, the valve plug including a through-passage, the valve plug being rotatable relative to the valve body to selectively alter a flow of fluid along the fluid flow path, wherein the fluid flow path exhibits a varied cross-sectional area along a length of the fluid flow path, wherein the through-passage includes a first opening on a first side of the valve plug, and a second opening on a second side of the valve plug;
- and
- a ramped surface positioned in the fluid flow path of the valve body located outside of the valve plug between a proximal end of the valve plug and the outlet of the valve body providing a transition to the outlet of the valve body;
- wherein an outlet opening of the outlet has a larger cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the through-passage in the valve plug;
- wherein the through-passage has a constant semi-circular cross-sectional geometry and the fluid flow path has a semi-circular cross-sectional geometry at a first end of the ramped surface and a circular cross-sectional geometry at a second end of the ramped surface.
3 more elements
A valve assembly for a dental suction system, comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet configured for direct connection with an ejector tube of the dental suction system, an outlet configured for connection with a vacuum hose of the dental suction system, and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet;
- a valve plug positioned at least partially within the valve body, the valve plug including a through-passage, the valve plug being displaceable relative to the valve body to selectively alter a flow of fluid along the fluid flow path;
- and
- a backflow prevention device disposed in the fluid flow path between the valve plug and the inlet of the valve body or between the valve plug and the outlet of the valve body, the backflow prevention device being movable between open and closed positions to control fluid flow through the fluid flow path independent of operation of the valve plug;
- and
- a ramped surface positioned in the fluid flow path, wherein the ramped surface is not located in the through-passage of the valve plug;
- wherein an outlet opening of the outlet has a larger cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the through-passage in the valve plug,
- wherein the through-passage has a constant semi-circular cross-sectional geometry and the fluid flow path has a semi-circular cross-sectional geometry at a first end of the ramped surface and a circular cross-sectional geometry at a second end of the ramped surface.
5 more elements
A valve assembly for a dental suction system, comprising:
- a first valve body having a first inlet configured for direct connection with an ejector tube, a first outlet, and a first fluid flow path extending between the first inlet and the first outlet;
- a second valve body having a second inlet, a second outlet configured for connection with a vacuum hose, and a second fluid flow path extending between the second inlet and the second outlet;
- a backflow prevention device located between the first and second valve bodies, the backflow prevention device being movable to control fluid flow along at least one of the first and second fluid flow paths;
- a valve plug positioned at least partially within the second valve body, the valve plug including a through-passage, the valve plug being displaceable relative to the second valve body to selectively alter a flow of fluid along at least one of the first and second fluid flow paths;
- and
- a ramped surface positioned in the second flow path between the valve plug and the second outlet of the second valve body;
- wherein an outlet opening of the second outlet has a larger cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the through-passage in the valve plug,
- wherein the through-passage has a constant semi-circular cross-sectional geometry and the fluid flow path has a semi-circular cross-sectional geometry at a first end of the ramped surface and a circular cross-sectional geometry at a second end of the ramped surface.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.