# US 12,601,416 B2 · Fluid dispensing element, control valve and dispensing connector constituting said element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,601,416 B2 - Document ID: US12601416B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/245,276 - Filed: 2021-09-07 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-07 - Assignees: A. Raymond Et Cie - Applicants: A. Raymond et cie - Inventors: Ruffing Till; Urs Grether - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601416B2 ## CPC - F16K 27/0236: {Diaphragm cut-off apparatus} - F16K 27/02: of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) - F16K 31/0655: {Lift valves} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract An element for dispensing fluid comprises a control valve and a connector for dispensing the fluid from at least one inlet line to an outlet line. The control valve comprises an inlet passage and a tubular fluid outlet duct. A chamber of the dispensing connector has a main opening traversed by the inlet passage and the tubular fluid outlet duct of the valve, a bottom that faces the main opening, a wall extending from the bottom of the chamber to the main opening, at least one inlet opening formed in the wall of the chamber so as to provide access to the inlet line, and an outlet opening formed in the bottom of the chamber and connecting one end of the tubular outlet duct to the outlet line of the connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid distribution element, comprising: a. a control valve formed by a valve head closing a valve body: the valve head alone defining a fluid inlet passage and a tubular fluid outlet duct, the fluid inlet passage and the tubular fluid outlet duct, respectively, having ends that open into an enclosure of the valve body; and the valve body comprising a plug that is disposed in the enclosure, the plug being configured so as to selectively close and open an outlet end of the tubular fluid outlet duct; and b. a distribution connector for distributing the fluid from at least one inlet channel to an outlet channel, the distribution connector being attached to the valve head and comprising a main body that defines a chamber, the chamber having: a main opening that is traversed by the fluid inlet passage and the tubular fluid outlet duct of the valve head; a bottom that faces the main opening; a wall extending from the bottom of the chamber to the main opening; at least one inlet opening that is formed in the wall of the chamber to provide access to the at least one inlet channel; and an outlet opening that is formed in the bottom of the chamber and connects one end of the tubular fluid outlet duct to the outlet channel of the connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid distribution element of claim 1, wherein the tubular fluid outlet duct is disposed next to the fluid inlet passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid distribution element of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet passage is formed by a duct that is disposed adjacent to the tubular fluid outlet duct. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid distribution element of claim 1, wherein the distribution connector comprises a first seal that is disposed in the chamber to seal a connection between the distribution connector and the control valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid distribution element of claim 4, wherein an internal wall of the chamber comprises, on a side of the bottom of the chamber, a groove in which a second seal resides, providing a tight connection between the tubular fluid outlet duct and the outlet opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid distribution element of claim 1, wherein the distribution connector comprises two inlet openings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluid distribution element of claim 1, wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the distribution connector respectively open into two duct sections, free ends of which respectively define the at least one inlet channel and the outlet channel of the distribution connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid distribution element of claim 1, wherein the distribution connector comprises means for joining to the valve head. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The fluid distribution element of claim 2, wherein the distribution connector comprises a first seal that is disposed in the chamber to seal a connection between the distribution connector and the control valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid distribution element of claim 9, wherein an internal wall of the chamber comprises, on a side of the bottom of the chamber, a groove in which a second seal resides, providing a tight connection between the tubular fluid outlet duct and the outlet opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fluid distribution element of claim 10, wherein the distribution connector comprises two inlet openings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fluid distribution element of claim 11, wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the distribution connector respectively open into two duct sections, free ends of which respectively define the at least one inlet channel and the outlet channel of the distribution connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fluid distribution element of claim 12, wherein the distribution connector comprises means for joining to the valve head. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The fluid distribution element of claim 3, wherein the distribution connector comprises a first seal that is disposed in the chamber to seal a connection between the distribution connector and the control valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fluid distribution element of claim 14, wherein an internal wall of the chamber comprises, on a side of the bottom of the chamber, a groove in which a second seal resides, providing a tight connection between the tubular fluid outlet duct and the outlet opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fluid distribution element of claim 15, wherein the distribution connector comprises two inlet openings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fluid distribution element of claim 16, wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the distribution connector respectively open into two duct sections, free ends of which respectively define the at least one inlet channel and the outlet channel of the distribution connector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fluid distribution element of claim 17, wherein the distribution connector comprises means for joining to the valve head. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The fluid distribution element of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet passage is in fluid communication with an internal volume of the chamber. ### Claim 20 A connector for distributing a fluid from at least one inlet channel to an outlet channel and configured to be attached to a control valve having a fluid inlet passage and a tubular fluid outlet duct, the connector comprising a main body that defines a chamber, the chamber having: a main opening for receiving the control valve when the connector is attached to the control valve; a bottom that faces the main opening; a wall extending from the bottom of the chamber to the main opening; at least one inlet opening that is formed in the wall of the chamber to provide access to the at least one inlet channel; and an outlet opening that is formed in the bottom of the chamber to connect one end of the tubular fluid outlet duct to the outlet channel of the connector when the connector is attached to the control valve.