US 5,492,147 A · Dry break coupling

Abstract

A dry break coupling for joining together opposing passageways includes a male member and a female member, each of which includes a resiliently deformable rubber flap with cross-hair slits positioned to engage each other as the male and female members are moved axially toward their coupled position. Each of the male and female members also is provided with a normally closed but resiliently openable rubber septum position on the opposite side of its rubber flap from the engagement end of the respective members. The male member is provided with a blunt cannula which is fixed and a moveable carrier supporting the rubber septum. The female member is provided with an axially moveable support for the rubber flap and a fixed support for the rubber septum. As the male member and the female member move to the fully coupled position, the peripheral portions of the abutting rubber flaps are moved axially with the female carrier member while the central portions are prevented from moving by the fixed septum support with the result that the slits of the rubber flaps are pulled open thereby permitting the respective septums to engage each other. Further movement of the male and female members toward one another causes the moveable support for the male member septum to be retracted with the result that the cannula is urged through the resiliently openable abutting septums to open the passageway to the flow of fluid.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A coupling comprising

(a) a male member extending along an axis including
(1) a first septum having a normally closed, resiliently openable leading end and a rearward end;
(2) a cannula having a forward end positioned at said first septum rearward end;
and
(3) a carrier member supporting said first septum and mounted for imparting relative movement between said first septum and said cannula from a first position in which said cannula forward end is spaced rearwardly from said first septum leading end to a second position extending through and opening said first septum leading end;
and
(b) a female member extending along an axis including
(1) a second septum having a normally closed, resiliently openable leading end and a trailing end, said second septum leading end positioned to be engaged by said first septum leading end;
and
(2) a support member having a leading end and an opposing end, said support member, in the area of said leading end engaged to said second septum and having a passageway extending from said leading end to said opposing end;
axial movement of said male member toward said female member along said axis causing said first septum leading end to engage said second septum leading end and continued movement causing said cannula to extend through said first septum and said second septum to open communication between said cannula and said passageway.

8 more elements

A coupling comprising:

(a) a female member including
(i) a housing extending along an axis from an open receiving end to an opposing end;
(ii) a valve mounted on said housing and extending to a leading end facing away from said housing opposing end, said valve having an axially extending passageway and a first septum positioned in said passageway, said first septum extending axially from an abutment end facing said leading end toward said opposing end, said abutment end having a normally closed, resiliently openable, slit lying on said axis, said valve having a cylindrical exterior surface portion;
(iii) a carrier member encircling said valve in axially movable, slideable relationship with said cylindrical exterior surface portion from a forward position in the vicinity of said valve leading end to a retracted position closer to said housing opposing end;
(iv) a compression spring urging said carrier member toward said housing receiving end;
(v) a first flexible flap engaged to said carrier member leading end extending transversely of said axis, said first flexible flap having a slit permitting it to be moved from a substantially closed, generally planar position to an open position;
and
(b) a male member movable relative to said female member along said axis from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said male member including
(i) a housing having an end wall and an annular wall extending therefrom to a leading end, said housing having a cylindrical interior surface portion;
(ii) a cannula mounted on said housing and having a passageway extending therethrough to an open end;
(iii) a carrier positioned in said male member housing for axial movement in slideable engagement with said cylindrical interior surface from an extended position to a retracted position closer to said end wall;
(iv) a second septum mounted on said carrier, said second septum having a forward end with a normally closed, resiliently openable, slit, said forward end positioned to engage said abutment end of said female member first septum, said cannula open end being spaced from said leading end and thereby permitting said slit to be closed when said carrier is in the extended position and extending through and opening said slit when said carrier is in said retracted position;
(v) a compression spring urging said carrier toward said extended position;
and
(vi) a second flexible flap mounted on said housing leading end and extending transversely of said axis, said second flexible flap having a slit permitting it to be moved from a substantially closed generally planar position to an open position;
movement of said male member into engagement with said female member causing in sequence
(A) said second flexible flap to engage said first flexible flap with annular portions of said first and second flexible flaps being clamped between said housing leading end and said carrier member;
(B) said carrier member to be moved axially to said retracted position carrying therewith said clamped portions of said first and second flexible flaps to open said slits thereby opening said flaps;
(C) said second septum end to engage said first septum end;
and
(D) said male member carrier and said second septum moving to said retracted position thereby causing said cannula open end to extend through both said second septum slit and said first septum slit.

18 more elements

A coupling comprising:

(a) a female member including
(i) a housing extending along an axis from an open receiving end to an opposing end;
(ii) a valve mounted on said housing and extending to a leading end facing away from said housing opposing end, said valve having an axially extending passageway and a first septum positioned in said passageway, said first septum extending axially from an abutment end facing said leading end toward said opposing end, said septum end having a normally closed, resiliently openable, slit lying on said axis, said valve having a cylindrical exterior surface portion;
(iii) a carrier member encircling said valve in axially movable, slideable relationship with said cylindrical exterior surface portion from a forward position in the vicinity of said valve leading end to a retracted position closer to said housing opposing end;
(iv) a compression spring urging said carrier member toward said housing receiving end;
and
(b) a male member movable relative to said female member along said axis from a disengaged position to an engaged position, said male member including
(i) a housing having an end wall and an annular wall extending therefrom to a leading end, said housing having a cylindrical interior surface portion;
(ii) a cannula mounted on said housing and having a passageway extending therethrough to an open end;
(iii) a carrier positioned in said male member housing for axial movement in slideable engagement with said cylindrical interior surface from an extended position to a retracted position closer to said end wall;
(iv) a second septum mounted on said carrier, said second septum having a forward end with a normally closed, resiliently openable, slit, said forward end positioned to engage said abutment end of said female member septum, said cannula open end being spaced from said leading end and thereby permitting said slit to be closed when said carrier is in the extended position and extending through and opening said slit when said carrier is in said retracted position;
(v) a compression spring urging said carrier toward said extended position;
movement of said male member into engagement with said female member causing
(A) said second septum end to engage said first septum end;
and
(B) said male member carrier and said second septum moving to said retracted position thereby causing said cannula open end to extend through both said second septum slit and said first septum slit.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dry break coupling

Life of this patent

Dry break coupling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16