Sanitary coupling
AssigneeSnap-Tite, Inc.
InventorSteven Wilkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sanitary coupling comprising a coupler member and a nipple member. The coupler member and the nipple member have first and second passageways including first and second transverse ports and first and second longitudinal bores such that, when engaged, fluid and/or fluid and solids may flow unobstructed through the coupler and nipple members. Means for orienting the coupler member with respect to the nipple member provide alignment of said passageways of said nipple and coupler members with respect to each other for full, unobstructed flow.
Claims16
A sanitary coupling comprising a coupler member and a nipple member, said coupler includes a first body member having a first passageway and a first valve means, said nipple member includes a second body member having a second passageway and a second valve means, said first and second valve means permit communication of said first and second passageways during union of said coupler and nipple members, said first body member of said coupler member includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion, said first passageway includes a first longitudinal bore and a first transverse port disposed in said intermediate portion of said first body member intersecting said first longitudinal bore, said second body member of said nipple member includes a first end potion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion, said second body member includes a second longitudinal bore extending from said first end portion to said second end portion of said second body member, said second passageway includes a second transverse port disposed in said intermediate portion of said second body member intersecting said second longitudinal bore, said first body member of said coupler member includes first and second shoulders thereon and said first valve means includes first and second shoulders thereon, a first spring disposed between said first shoulder of said first body member and said first shoulder of said valve means, said first spring urging said valve means toward said second end portion of said first body member, said second shoulder of said first body member engaging said second shoulder of said valve means restraining movement of said first valve means past said second end portion of said first body member when said coupler and nipple members are disunited, said second longitudinal bore of said second body member of said nipple member includes a first shoulder and retaining means adapted to reside within said second longitudinal bore, said second valve means of said second body member includes a first shoulder and a second shoulder, a second spring disposed between said retaining means and said first shoulder of said second valve means urging said second valve means toward said second end portion of said second body member, said second shoulder of said second valve means engages said first shoulder of said second longitudinal bore restraining movement of said second valve means when said coupler and nippler member are disunited.
A sanitary coupling comprising a coupler member and a nipple member, said coupler member having a first body member, said first body member having a first longitudinal bore and a face, said first body member having first and second shoulders, a first valve movable between first and second positions, a first spring, said first valve having first and second shoulders, said first spring disposed between said first shoulder of said first body and said first shoulder of said valve, said first spring urging said first valve toward a first position and against said second shoulder of said body, said first body member having a first transverse port, said first transverse port communicating with said first longitudinal bore, said nipple member having a second body member, said second body member having a second longitudinal bore therethrough, said second longitudinal bore having first and second shoulders thereon, a second valve movable between first and second positions, said second valve member having first and second shoulders and a face, a second spring, a clip, a washer, said clip adapted to reside within said longitudinal bore of said second body member, said clip retaining said washer, said second spring residing between said first shoulder of said second valve and said washer, said second spring urging said second valve toward a first position and against said first shoulder of said second longitudinal bore, said second shoulder of said second valve engaging said first shoulder of said second longitudinal bore, said second body member having a second transverse port, said face of said first body member of said coupler member engaging said face of said second valve of said nipple member urging said second valve toward second position, said first valve of said coupler member engaging said second shoulder of said second longitudinal bore of said second body member urging said first valve toward a second position, whereby, said first transverse port of said first body member of said coupler member communicates with said second transverse port of said second second body member of said nipple member permitting passage of fluids and/or solids through said coupler and nipple members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.