Two-part coupling structure having cooperating parts effecting fluid flow upon connection and mutual resealing upon disconnection

A two-part coupling structure having a female coupling part and a male coupling part each with a respective fluid flow path therein, said coupling parts being removably engageable with one another for establishing fluid flow communication of said respective fluid flow paths, and being disengageable to both discontinue said fluid flow communication and also to mutually close fluid flow communication between ambient and each of said respective fluid flow paths;

• said two-part coupling structure comprising:
• said female coupling part including:
• a female cap member having a through bore defining a respective fluid flow path;
• a disk-like plug member having a wall portion for spanning said through bore of said cap member to close said fluid flow path of said cap member;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for both sealingly engaging one another to close said fluid flow path of the cap member with said wall portion of said plug member and for removably attaching together and detaching from one another in response to respective oppositely-directed first and second axial forces;
• said male coupling part including:
• an elongate probe member having an axial passage defining said respective fluid flow path, and a wall portion closing said axial passage adjacent a forward end of said probe member, said probe member defining a stepped outer diameter with an enlarged-diameter forward flange portion cooperating with a smaller-diameter portion of said probe member to define a rearwardly-disposed shoulder, said probe member defining a lateral aperture opening outwardly from said axial passage on said smaller-diameter portion rearwardly of and adjacent to said shoulder;
• a sleeve member carried slidably on said smaller-diameter portion of said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral aperture and a second position at least partially rearwardly of and opening said lateral aperture, said sleeve member having an elongate cylindrical outer surface portion of a size to be received closely into said through bore of said cap member, said sleeve member having a forwardly-disposed circumferential end edge surface engageable in said first position of said sleeve member with said rearwardly-disposed shoulder of said probe member;
• said sleeve member and said cap member defining cooperating abutment means for sliding said sleeve member from said first position to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part;
• said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means for removably attaching together and detaching from one another in response to respective oppositely-directed third and fourth axial forces, which third axial attaching force is less than said second axial force so that upon insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member first sequentially attaches with said plug member and then disengages said plug member from said cap member for movement of said plug member inwardly of said female coupling part along with said inserting probe member, said sleeve member abutting said cap member and moving to said second position thereof relative to said inserting probe member to uncover said lateral aperture and to open fluid flow communication between said respective flow paths;
• and which fourth axial force is greater than said first axial force so that upon withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part said probe member first sequentially re-engages said plug member with said cap member followed by said probe member detaching from said plug member;
• said second cooperating means including said plug member defining an outwardly disposed annular ring portion disposed within and radially spaced from said cap member, said annular ring portion including a radially outwardly disposed groove circumscribing said ring portion;
• and said probe member flange portion defining an respective annular ring portion extending axially of said probe member and circumscribing said ring portion of said plug member, said probe member ring portion defining a radially inwardly projection ridge which is receivable into said groove of said plug member ring portion to retain said plug member on said probe member.

A two-part coupling structure comprising:

• a female coupling part having a tubular cap member defining a through bore which forms a first fluid flow path for communicating with a vessel;
• and a plug member defining a wall portion for spanning and closing said through bore;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a first axial force so that said plug member wall closes fluid communication through said cap member and for disengaging from one another in response to an oppositely directed second axial force to free said plug member from said cap member allowing fluid flow through said first fluid flow path of said cap member bore;
• a male coupling part having a elongate tubular probe member sealingly receivable axially into said through bore of said cap member, said probe member having an exterior surface facing an interior fluid flow path surface of said cap member and an interior surface facing away from said exterior surface, said probe member defining a second fluid flow path therein and a lateral opening from said second fluid flow path on said exterior surface of said probe member for communicating fluidly with said vessel, said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means acting separately from said first cooperating means on said interior surface of said probe member for removably attaching to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction and of a higher level than said first axial force, so that in response to forceful axial insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member engages with and attaches to said plug member prior to said plug member detaching from said cap member, and in response to axial withdrawing movement of said probe member from said cap member said plug member reattaches to said cap member prior to disengaging from said probe member;
• a sleeve member which is carried on said probe member and sealingly engageable within said cap member, said sleeve member sliding along said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral opening of said second flow path and a second position opening said second flow path;
• said sleeve member and said probe member defining cooperating frictional means for retaining said sleeve member in each of said first and said second positions;
• and said sleeve member and said cap member defining cooperating means for sliding said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part to open said flow path communication with said vessel, and for sliding said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part.

A two-part coupling structure comprising:

• a female coupling part having a tubular cap member defining a through bore which forms a first fluid flow path for communicating with a vessel;
• and a plug member defining a wall portion for spanning and closing said through bore;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a first axial force so that said plug member wall closes fluid communication through said cap member and for disengaging from one another in response to an oppositely directed second axial force to free said plug member from said cap member allowing fluid flow through said first fluid flow path of said cap member bore;
• a male coupling part having a elongate tubular probe member sealingly receivable axially into said through bore of said cap member, said probe member defining a second fluid flow path therein and a lateral opening from said second fluid flow path on an exterior surface of said probe member for communicating fluidly with said vessel, said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means separate from said first cooperating means for removably attaching to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging from one another in response to a fourth axial force in the same direction and of a higher level than said first axial force, so that in response to forceful axial insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member engages with and attaches to said plug member prior to said plug member detaching from said cap member, and in response to axial withdrawing movement of said probe member from said cap member said plug member reattaches to said cap member prior to disengaging from said probe member;
• a sleeve member which is carried on said probe member and sealingly engageable within said cap member, said sleeve member sliding along said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral opening of said second flow path and a second position opening said second flow path;
• said sleeve member and said probe member defining cooperating frictional means for retaining said sleeve member in each of said first and said second positions;
• and said sleeve member and said cap member defining cooperating means for sliding said sleeve member to said second position thereof in response to insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part to open said flow path communication with said vessel, and for sliding said sleeve member from said second position to said first position thereof to close said flow path in response to withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part;
• wherein said second cooperating means for removably attaching said probe member and said plug member to one another in response to a third axial force in the same direction and of lower level than said second axial force, and for disengaging said probe member and said plug member from one another in response to a forth axial force in the same direction and of a greater level than said first axial force includes said plug member defining another ring portion radially inwardly of and radially spaced from said ring portion, said another ring portion including an outer radially outwardly disposed circumferential groove defined by the cooperation of respective forwardly and a rearwardly tapering surfaces, said probe member having an enlarged-diameter flange portion defining a respective annular ring portion extending axially and receivable about said another ring portion, and said probe member ring portion having an inner radially inwardly extending rib defined by the cooperation of respective forwardly and a rearwardly tapering surfaces, upon engagement of said flange portion ring portion of said probe member about said another ring portion of said plug member the forwardly tapering surfaces of said probe member engaging said another ring portion to allow said rib to enter said outer groove with application of said third axial force, and said rearwardly tapering surfaces of said probe member ring portion and said plug member another ring portion engaging one another to retain said plug member upon said probe member until said forth axial force is applied in a disengaging direction.

A two-part coupling structure having a female coupling part and an elongate male coupling part, each with a respective fluid flow path therein;

• said male coupling part being inserted into said female coupling part to establish fluid flow communication of said respective fluid flow paths with one another, and being withdrawn from said female coupling part to both disconnect said fluid flow communication and to mutually close fluid flow communication between each of said respective fluid flow paths and ambient;
• said two-part coupling structure comprising:
• said female coupling part including a cap member defining a through bore, said through bore of said cap member defining a part of said respective fluid flow path;
• a disk-like plug member having a wall portion, in a first position of said plug member said wall portion spanning and closing said through bore and closing said respective fluid flow path of said cap member;
• said cap member and said plug member defining first cooperating means for both engaging one another in said first position to sealingly close said respective fluid flow path of the cap member and for removably attaching together and detaching from one another in response to respective oppositely-directed first and second axial forces;
• said male coupling part including:
• an elongate probe member having an axial passage defining a respective fluid flow path for said male coupling part, said probe member defining a lateral aperture opening outwardly from said axial passage on said probe member;
• a sleeve member carried slidably on said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral aperture and a second position at least partially rearwardly of and opening said lateral aperture, said sleeve member being sealingly engageable with said cap member, and said cap member and sleeve member each defining respective parts of cooperative abutment means for moving said sleeve member between said first and said second positions thereof in response to respective insertion into and withdrawal of said probe member from said cap member;
• said probe member and said plug member defining second cooperating means for removably attaching together and detaching from one another in response to respective oppositely-directed third and fourth axial forces, which third axial attaching force is less than said second axial force so that upon insertion of said male coupling part into said female coupling part said probe member first sequentially attaches with said plug member in said first position of the latter and then disengages said plug member from said cap member to a second position on said probe member for movement of said plug member inwardly of said female coupling part along with said inserting probe member communicating said fluid flow paths with one another, and which fourth axial force is greater than said first axial force so that upon withdrawal of said male coupling part from said female coupling part said probe member first sequentially re-engages said plug member with said cap member in said first position thereof while said plug member and probe member remain in said second position thereof, followed by said probe member detaching from said plug member and withdrawing from said cap member;
• said second cooperating means including said plug member defining an outwardly disposed annular first ring portion disposed within and radially spaced from said cap member, said annular first ring portion including a radially outwardly disposed groove circumscribing said first ring portion;
• and said probe member flange portion defining an annular second ring portion extending axially of said probe member and circumscribing said plug member first ring portion, said second ring portion defining a radially inwardly projection ridge which is receivable into said groove of said first ring portion to retain said plug member on said probe member.