Closure device and method for venting, cannulating and pressurizing a vessel
AssigneeArgonaut Technologies, Inc.
InventorChristopher Kilcoin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure device (4) is used to seal an opening of a vessel (6), while providing access to the interior of the vessel. The closure device automatically releases gas and/or toxic vapor from the sealed vessel to protect the operator from harmful vapor without requiring the operator to manually actuate a valve or other mechanism prior to removing the vessel from the closure device. The closure device is constructed so the interior of the vessel can be pressurized while maintaining a pressure seal against the vessel opening, and the vessel can be cannulated without overpressurizing the vessel interior.
Claims37
A closure device for sealing an opening of a vessel comprising:
- a cap adapted for being removably coupled to the vessel around the opening, the cap defining a port;
- and
- a valve plug disposed for biased axial movement within the cap for controlling fluid flow therethrough while said cap remains in contact with the vessel, the valve plug having a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the vessel and defining a passage coupling the opening of the vessel through the sealing surface, the valve plug being movable between a first position, where the passage directly couples the opening with the port, and a second position, where the opening is fluidly isolated from the port.
A fluid distribution system comprising:
- a vessel defining an inner chamber and an opening;
- a closure device for sealing the vessel opening, the closure device comprising:
- a cap removably coupled to the vessel around the opening, the cap defining a port;
- and
- a valve plug disposed for biased axial movement within the cap for controlling fluid flow therethrough, the valve plug having a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the vessel and defining a passage coupled with the opening of the vessel through the sealing surface, the valve plug being movable between a first position, where the passage directly connects the opening with the port, and a second position, where the opening is fluidly isolated from the port;
- wherein the valve plug moves between the first and second positions when the vessel is coupled to and uncoupled from the cap.
The closure device 21 further comprising means for biasing the valve plug toward the first position such that the valve plug moves from the third position, through the second position, to the first position, as the vessel is unscrewed from the body.
A closure device for sealing an opening of a vessel comprising:
- a cap adapted for being removably coupled to the vessel around the opening, the cap defining a first port and a second port;
- and
- a valve plug disposed within the cap for controlling fluid flow therethrough, the valve plug having a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the vessel and defining a passage coupling the opening of the vessel through the sealing surface, wherein the valve plug and cap are rotatable relative to one another;
- wherein said cap is movable to a first position where the first port is open and the second port is closed, and wherein the cap is movable to a second position where the first port is closed and the second port is open.
A closure device for sealing an opening of a vessel comprising:
- a cap adapted for being removably coupled to the vessel around the opening, the cap defining a first port and a second port;
- and
- a valve plug disposed within the cap for controlling fluid flow therethrough, the valve plug having a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the vessel and defining a passage coupling the opening of the vessel through the sealing surface, wherein the valve plug and the cap are rotatable relative to one another;
- wherein said cap is movable to a first position where the first port is open and the second port is closed, wherein the cap is movable to a second position where the first port is closed and the second port is open, and wherein the valve plug is configured to automatically move between the first and second positions when the vessel is coupled to and uncoupled from the cap.
A closure device for sealing an opening of a vessel comprising:
- a cap adapted for being removably coupled to the vessel around the opening, the cap defining a port;
- and
- a valve plug disposed for biased axial movement within the cap for controlling fluid flow therethrough, the valve plug having a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the vessel and defining a passage coupling the opening of the vessel through the sealing surface, the valve plug being movable between a first position, where the passage directly couples the opening with the port, and a second position, where the opening is fluidly isolated from the port;
- wherein the cap includes an annular body adapted for being removably coupled to the vessel around the opening and a manifold attached to the body, wherein the port is a vent port located within the manifold for discharging fluid from the vessel.
A fluid distribution system comprising:
- a vessel defining an inner chamber and an opening;
- a closure device for sealing the vessel opening, the closure device comprising:
- a cap removably coupled to the vessel around the opening, the cap defining a port;
- and
- a valve plug movably disposed within the cap for controlling fluid flow therethrough, the valve plug having a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the vessel and defining a passage coupled with the opening of the vessel through the sealing surface, the valve plug being movable between a first position, where the passage connects the opening with the port, and a second position, where the opening is fluidly isolated from the port;
- wherein the valve plug moves between the first and second positions when the vessel is coupled to and uncoupled from the cap;
- and
- a pressure line adapted for coupling to a source of pressurized gas, the cap further defining a pressure port, the valve plug being movable to a third position in which the first passage couples the opening of the vessel with the pressure port to deliver pressurized gas to the vessel interior, the pressure port being fluidly isolated from the first passage in the first and second positions of the valve plug, and the vent port being fluidly isolated from the first passage in the second and third positions.
The closure device 35 further comprising means for biasing the valve plug toward the first position such that the valve plug moves from the third position, through the second position, to the first position, as the vessel is unscrewed from the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.