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US 4,137,930 AGranted
Single operation normally closed coupling valve
AssigneeScholle Corporation
InventorWilliam R. Scholle
Life of this patent
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AssigneeScholle Corporation
InventorWilliam R. Scholle
Estimating the term…
A normally closed valve is characterized by an integral valve body forming a fluid passage between an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, and a flow barrier within the passage integrally joined with the body to hermetically seal the passage. The barrier is movable or rupturable by a fluid coupler, inserted into the outlet end of the passage, to open the passage between the inlet thereto and the coupler. Preferably, the valve is economically formed of a plastic material, such as polyethylene, and connects at its outlet with a fluid coupler having a normally closed, movable seal at its inlet. In the use of the valve, upon movement of the inlet end of the coupler into the outlet end of the passage, the valve passage forms a fluid seal therewith prior to engagement of the barrier thereby. Continued movement of the coupler into the valve then moves the flow barrier to open the passage, and engages the coupler seal with a plunger to move the seal from a seat at the inlet to the coupler to establish the fluid passage between the inlet to the valve passage and the inlet to the coupler. In consequence of forming a seal between the valve and coupler prior to opening of either the flow barrier or the coupler seal, a connection may be established between the coupler and the valve in a drip-free manner, and the fluid to be valved is at all times maintained out of contact with the atmosphere and in a sanitary condition.
In a hermetically sealed fluid valve for interconnecting with and being opened by a coupler therefor upon movement of said coupler into an outlet from said valve, said coupler being of a type having a tubular body with a passage therethrough and a passage seal normally closing the passage therein, said passage seal being movable into said coupler passage to open said passage, a valve body having an inlet and an outlet and a passage between said inlet and said outlet, and a breakable flow barrier interposed in said passage spaced from said outlet and hermetically sealing said inlet from said outlet, said coupler body and passage seal being movable into said valve body passage through said outlet and said flow barrier being engageable by said coupler passage seal, upon movement of said coupler into said outlet, with a force sufficient to break said barrier to remove said hermetic seal between said passage inlet and outlet to open said valve, said valve passage being of a size to accommodate movement of said coupler body and passage seal therein while forming a fluid seal between said coupler body and the surface of said valve passage, said barrier being spaced from said outlet a distance sufficient to form said fluid seal prior to engagement of said barrier with said coupler passage seal, said valve including means for releasably latching with said coupler after engagement of said barrier by said coupler and means in said valve body passage for moving said coupler passage seal into said coupler passage after the breaking of said barrier and when said valve and coupler are releasably latched, whereby said valve passage forms a common conduit with said coupler passage.
In combination, a bag of flexible thermoplastic material, a hermetically sealed valve on the bag communicating at an inlet thereto with the contents in the bag, and a tubular coupler for connecting with and opening said valve upon movement of said coupler into an outlet from said valve, said coupler being of a type including a tubular body portion having a passage therethrough and a passage seal within said passage at an inlet thereto, said passage seal normally being urged against a seat to close said coupler passage inlet, and being movable from said seat into said passage to open said coupler passage;
In a combination of a fluid valve and coupler therefor, said valve comprising a valve body having an inlet and an outlet and a passage therethrough between said inlet and said outlet and a breakable flow barrier in said passage spaced from said outlet and hermetically sealing said inlet from said outlet, said coupler comprising a coupler body having an inlet end and a channel therethrough and a channel seal normally closing the inlet end of said channel, said seal being movable into said channel to open said channel, said coupler body and channel seal being movable into said valve passage outlet to engage and break said flow barrier with said channel seal to open said passage, and means connected with said valve body within said passage to the side of said barrier toward said passage inlet for moving said channel seal into said channel after the breaking of said barrier to establish a fluid conduit between said passage and said channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.