Slide valve

A manually operated slide valve capable of being intermediately and removably disposed between a tubular aspirator assembly and a resilient tube in communication with a source of negative pressure, said valve characterized by being defined by a plurality of components that are removably connected to one another and may be separated for cleansing purposes, said valve including:

• a. a first valve body component that includes a first elongate body of non-circular transverse cross section that has first and second ends, with a first portion of said first body adjacent said first end of greater transverse cross section than the balance of said first body, said first body having an elongate convex surface thereon of substantial width that extends longitudinally from said second end towards said first portion, and a first bore that extends longitudinally through said first body;
• b. a second valve body component that includes a second elongate body that has first and second ends and a flat upper surface in which an elongate longitudinal opening is defined that is in communication with a cavity in said second body that extends longitudinally from said first end thereof towards said second end of said second body, a tubular member that extends from said second end of said second body and is in communication with a second bore in said second body that extends towards said first end thereof and a transverse concave surface defined in said second body at the junction of said second bore and cavity, said cavity of such transverse cross section as to sealingly engage said first body when the latter is disposed therein, and said first body of such length that when said first portion of said first body is in abutting contact with said first end of said second body a transverse arcuate slot is defined between said convex and concave surfaces;
• c. first means for removably holding said first and second valve body components together to define a valve body;
• d. an elongate resilient slide member longitudinally movable in said slot and extending under said longitudinal opening, said slide member when in a first position blocking communication between said first and second bores, and said slide member when in a second position establishing communication between said first and second bores;
• e. second means for moving said slide member between said first and second positions;
• f. third means for maintaining said slide member in said second position until such time as said slide member is moved manually to said first position by said second means;
• g. fourth means for removably supporting said tubular aspirator assembly from said first end portion of said first body and in communication with said first bore;
• and
• h. fifth means for removably securing said resilient tube to said tubular member.