US 6,962,321 B1Granted

Fluid coupling with rotary actuation

AssigneeScholle Corporation

InventorsChester Savage, Mark Anderson, Silvio Sandvoss

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Abstract

A two-part coupling structure (22, 32) includes a male coupling part (32) and a female coupling part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the coupling parts (22, 32). For example, the coupling parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between a container (12) and a conduit (14). The coupling parts (22, 32) are disengageable from one another to discontinue fluid communication between them, and also to close communication between ambient and each of the container (12) and the conduit (14). The male coupling part (32) includes a mounting structure (44a-44e) for supporting on the female coupling part (32), and also includes a guide structure (44) effective to guide a male probe portion (36) of the male coupling part (32) into engagement with the female coupling part (22). A rotary actuator member (34), preferably in the form of a handnut is included in the male coupling part (32), and is effective upon rotation of cause axial relative movement of the male probe portion (36) into or out of engagement with the female coupling part (22). A considerably lowered manual engagement and disengagement force is provided, along with increased convenience and ease of use for the coupling structure.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A male coupling portion of the type configured for use with a female coupling portion to form a fluid-flow coupling structure, each of the male and female coupling portions defining a respective fluid flow path and being removably engageable with one another to communicate the respective fluid flow paths, each coupling portion including a respective valve element having a respective closed first position closing the respective fluid flow path from ambient, said respective valve elements moving to respective open second positions when said coupling portions are engaged together to communicate said fluid flow paths with one another, said male coupling portion comprising:

a guide structure including support means for supportingly and releasably engaging onto the female coupling portion;
said guide structure including structure for guiding a male probe portion in reciprocation between a first position disengaged from the female coupling portion and a second position in which said male probe portion is engageable into the female coupling portion when said coupling portions are engaged together,
wherein said guide structure includes a pair of diametrically opposite axially extending and arcuate guide tangs;
said male probe portion reciprocable on said guide structure and carrying said respective valve element of said male coupling portion, and said guide structure and respective valve element including cooperating structure for moving said respective valve element to its open second position in response to reciprocation of said male probe portion to its said second position;
an actuator rotationally carried upon said guide structure, said actuator and said male probe portion defining cooperating structure for reciprocating said male probe portion between its said first position and its said second position in response to rotation of said actuator.

2 more elements

A coupling structure with male and female coupling structure portions each defining a fluid flow path, and each removably engageable with the other to open fluid communication therebetween, and said coupling portions also being disengageable from one another to close communication between each fluid flow path and ambient, each one of the male and female portions of the having a respective movable valve member in a first position closing communication with ambient and in a second position opening communication between the fluid flow paths of the engaged coupling portions, the male coupling portion comprising

a guide structure including support structure for releasably engaging onto the female coupling portion so that the fluid flow passages of each coupling portion are axially aligned, said guide structure including structure for guiding a male probe portion in reciprocation between a first position disengaged from the female coupling portion and in which the respective valve member is in its closed first position and a second position in which said male probe portion is engaged into the female coupling portion and both said respective valve members are moved to their opened second positions, the guide structure including a pair of diametrically opposite axially extending and arcuate guide tangs;
said male probe portion being reciprocable on said guide structure and carrying said respective valve element of said male coupling portion, and said guide structure and respective valve element including cooperating structure for moving said respective valve element axially of said male probe portion to its open second position in response to reciprocation of said male probe portion to its said second position relative to said guide structure;
and
an actuator rotationally carried upon said guide structure, said actuator and said male probe portion defining cooperating structure for reciprocating said male probe portion between its said first position and its said second position in response to rotation of said actuator relative to said guide structure.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.