Fluid handling couplings
AssigneeColder Products Company
InventorElizabeth J. Langer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fluid couplings described herein are designed to prevent spillage of fluid when connecting and disconnecting the couplings. In some embodiments, the fluid couplings described herein include internal valve components. In some example embodiments, the internal valve components include two springs that are arranged to exert their spring forces in parallel with each other to bias a valve component to a normally closed position. Some embodiments include a single spring. In particular embodiments, components of the fluid couplings and fluid flow paths of the fluid couplings have oblong transverse cross-sectional shapes.
Claims18
A fluid coupling system, comprising:
- a male coupling comprising:
- a male coupling body defining a male longitudinal axis and a male coupling internal space;
- a male valve member disposed within the male coupling internal space, wherein the male valve member is movable, parallel to the male longitudinal axis, relative to the male coupling body to open and close a flow path through the male coupling;
- and
- first and second male valve springs that each bias the male valve member to close the flow path through the male coupling, wherein the first and second male valve springs are each laterally offset from the male longitudinal axis on opposite sides of the male longitudinal axis in relation to each other;
- and
- a female coupling comprising:
- a female coupling body defining a female longitudinal axis and a female coupling internal space;
- a valve assembly disposed within the female coupling internal space and comprising a valve stem head and a valve sleeve, wherein the valve sleeve is movable, along the female longitudinal axis, relative to the female coupling body and the valve stem head to open and close a flow path through the female coupling;
- and
- first and second female valve springs that each bias the valve sleeve to close the flow path through the female coupling, wherein the first and second female valve springs are each laterally offset from the female longitudinal axis on opposite sides of the female longitudinal axis in relation to each other.
A male fluid coupling comprising:
- a male coupling body defining a male longitudinal axis and a male coupling internal space;
- and
- a male valve member disposed within the male coupling internal space, wherein the male valve member is movable, parallel to the male longitudinal axis, relative to the male coupling body to open and close a flow path through the male coupling,
- wherein the male valve member has an oblong outer profile shape when viewed along the male longitudinal axis.
A female fluid coupling, comprising:
- a female coupling body defining a female longitudinal axis and a female coupling internal space;
- and
- a valve assembly disposed within the female coupling internal space and comprising a valve stem head and a valve sleeve, wherein the valve sleeve is movable, along the female longitudinal axis, relative to the female coupling body and the valve stem head to open and close a flow path through the female coupling,
- wherein the valve sleeve has an oblong outer profile shape when viewed along the female longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.