Method of supplying and discharging pressurized fluid

A method of supplying and discharging pressurized fluid, the method including a first block (1) which has a first coupling (21) and a first supply and discharge port (51), a second block (2) which has a second coupling (22) and a second supply and discharge port (78), and a locking means (3) which is switched over between a locking condition (X) and an unlocking condition (Y) so as to fix and unfix the first block (1) and the second block (2) to each other,

• the first coupling (21) having a first stop member (45) within a first flow passage (44),
• the second coupling (22) having a second stop member (67) within a second flow passage (66), a check valve seat (71), a check member (72) within a check valve chamber (70), and a resilient member (73) which urges the check member (72) toward the check valve seat (71),
• the method further including an actuation means (59) which forcedly opens the check member (72) against the resilient member (73),
• when supplying pressurized fluid from the first supply and discharge port (51) to the second supply and discharge port (78), the method comprising the steps of:
• first, bringing the first block (1) and the second block (2) closer mutually to thereby hermetically communicate the first flow passage (44) with the second flow passage (66) and bringing the first stop member (45) into butting contact with the second stop member (67) to form a contact gap (B) between the second stop member (67) in that butting contact state, and the check member (72);
• next, switching over the locking means (3) to the locking condition (X) to thereby fix the first block (1) and the second block (2) to each other, in that state, supplying pressurized fluid to the first supply and discharge port (51) to thereby supply the pressurized fluid to the second supply and discharge port (78) through the first flow passage (44), the second flow passage (66), an interior area of the check valve seat (71) and the check valve chamber (70);
• subsequently bringing the check member (72) into closing contact with the check valve seat (71) through an urging force of the resilient member (73);
• and
• thereafter, discharging the pressurized fluid at the first supply and discharge port (51) to an exterior area and switching over the locking means (3) from the locking condition (X) to the unlocking condition (Y) to thereby separate the first block (1) and the second block (2) from each other,
• contrary to the above, when discharging the pressurized fluid supplied to the second supply and discharge port (78) to the first supply and discharge port (51), the method comprising the steps of:
• first, bringing the first block (1) and the second block (2) closer mutually to thereby hermetically communicate the first flow passage (44) with the second flow passage (66) and bringing the first stop member (45) into butting contact with the second stop member (67);
• next, switching over the locking means (3) to the locking condition (X) to thereby fix the first block (1) and the second block (2) to each other, in that state, separating the check member (72) from the check valve seat (71) by the actuation means (59) through the first stop member (45) and the second stop member (67) in the mentioned order to thereby discharge the pressurized fluid at the second supply and discharge port (78) to the first supply and discharge port (51) through the check valve chamber (70), the interior area of the check valve seat (71), the second flow passage (66) and the first flow passage (44);
• and
• thereafter, switching over the locking means (3) from the locking condition (X) to the unlocking condition (Y) to thereby separate the first block (1) and the second block (2) from each other.