# US 8,539,995 B2 · Coupling lock and attachment module and docking device, each containing said coupling lock

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- Number: US 8,539,995 B2
- Document ID: US8539995B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/568,625
- Filed: 2009-09-28
- Published: 2010-04-08
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2008-09-26
- Assignees: GEA Pharma Systems AG
- Applicants: Thomas Marsden Smith; Peter Lais; Martin Koch
- Inventors: Thomas Marsden Smith; Peter Lais; Martin Koch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539995B2

## CPC

- B65G 69/183: {with co-operating closure members on each of the parts of a separable transfer channel}
- Y10T 137/87957: Valves actuate each other
- Y10T 137/87973: Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Coupling locks, attachment modules, and docking devices allow for re-filling, filling and/or emptying of containers in a manner that is insulated against the environment. An attachment module includes a coupling lock and a locking clamp, where the coupling lock includes a pipe nozzle and a closing flap. A first clamping element is located on an outer side of the pipe nozzle to engage with a second clamping element by means of the locking clamp to create a temporary connection. A docking device includes the first coupling lock or the attachment module, and a second coupling lock, complementary to the first coupling lock. When the closing flaps of the first and second coupling locks are brought into contact with each other, they can be pivoted from a closed position, where they lock the transfer channel formed by the pipe nozzles, around a shared axis into an open position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupling lock for a docking device for the re-filling, filling or emptying of containers or conveyors, the coupling lock having a locking side and a container side, the coupling lock comprising:
a pipe nozzle; and
a closing flap that is disposed on the pipe nozzle and is pivotable around an axis, the closing flap having a front side that faces towards the locking side when in a closed position, wherein the closing flap rests along the axis with a partial shaft or partial shaft stump in a bearing that is open to the locking side, wherein the partial shaft or shaft stump is suitable for forming a shaft or a shaft stump when the partial shaft or shaft stump comes into contact with a complementary partial shaft or shaft stump of a further, complementary coupling lock, and wherein the partial shaft or partial shaft stump includes at least one engagement element into which a complementary engagement element is insertable and which is connectable to a drive,
wherein, in a first alternative, at least one of the partial shaft or shaft stump has a front surface with at least one partially circular guide groove, the opposite ends of which each extend up to a contact surface for a complementary partial shaft or a complementary partial shaft stump of the complementary coupling lock, and the bearing, which is open towards the locking side, comprises at least one guide rail that points to the interior of the pipe nozzle, wherein the guide rail is partially circular and is complementary to the guide groove in the front surface of the partial shaft or partial shaft stump; or
wherein, in a second alternative, the bearing, which is open to the locking side, comprises at least one partially circular guide groove which points to the interior of the pipe nozzle, the opposite ends of which each extend up to the contact surface for a complementary partial shaft or a complementary partial shaft stump of the complementary coupling lock, and wherein at least one partial shaft or shaft stump in the front surface comprises at least one partially circular guide rail which is complementary to the guide groove in the bearing, and
wherein, in both the first alternative and the second alternative, the guide groove and the complementary guide rail are adapted to engage with each other in a form-fit manner when the closing flap is pivoted from the closed position to the open position, the guide groove and the guide rail comprising form-fit engagement elements that are complementary to each other such that a relative axial movement of a partial shaft or shaft stump and the bearing is prevented.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein at least one bearing that is open to the locking side is a component of separate bearing seat units.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The coupling lock according to claim 2, wherein at least one bearing seat unit is connectable with the pipe nozzle in a reversibly detachable manner.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement element is disposed on the front surface of the partial shaft or of the partial shaft stump such that the at least one engagement element can be axially inserted into a complementary engagement element which is connectable to a drive.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The coupling lock according to claim 4, wherein the complementary engagement element comprises at least one groove and/or at least one protrusion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein the pipe nozzle includes a pipe nozzle seal on its inner side, at least in sections.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position, the front side of the closing flap and the side of the partial shaft or partial shaft stump which does not rest in the bearing and which is flattened, are arranged flush at least in sections.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein the bearing in a bearing seat unit is disposed in the pipe nozzle containing the bearing, and is produced at least in sections from at least one synthetic material comprising polyamide, polyetherketone (PEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyketones, polyimides, polyphenylene ether, polyaryl ether ketones, polyacrylnitrile, polyvinylchloride, polyolefins and/or polyoxymethylene.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first circumferential clamping element disposed on an outer side of the pipe nozzle; and
a second circumferential clamping element adapted to engage the first clamping element by way of a locking clamp that creates a temporary connection between the first and second clamping elements,
wherein the pipe nozzle has a first end on the locking side, a second end opposite the first end on the container side, an inner side, and an outer side, and
wherein the closing flap is disposed on the first end of the pipe.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The coupling lock according to claim 9, wherein the first clamping element is disposed on the outer side on the second end of the pipe nozzle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The coupling lock according to claim 9, wherein the closing flap is connected to at least one shaft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The coupling lock according to claim 9, wherein the pipe nozzle includes a pipe nozzle seal on its inner side.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The coupling lock according to claim 12, wherein the pipe nozzle seal extends at least in sections beyond the second end of the pipe nozzle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The coupling lock according to claim 12, wherein the closing flap rests in the pipe nozzle seal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The coupling lock according to claim 9, wherein the first clamping element has a clamping edge which protrudes from the outer side, the first clamping element comprising a circumferential spring.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

An attachment module comprising the coupling lock according to claim 9 and a locking clamp adapted to engage the first clamping element with a second, complementary clamping element to create a temporary connection between the first and second clamping elements.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, wherein the pipe nozzle of the coupling lock has a pipe nozzle end seal which extends at least in sections beyond the second end of the pipe nozzle on the container side.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The attachment module according to claim 17, wherein the opening of the container or the conveyor is complementary in its dimensions to the end of the pipe nozzle seal which extends beyond the pipe nozzle, and wherein the end of the pipe nozzle seal which extends beyond the pipe nozzle and the opening are adapted to create a sealed contact by way of the locking clamps when the first and second clamping elements engage.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The attachment module according to claim 17, wherein the second end of the clamp connection is complementary in its dimensions to the end of the pipe nozzle seal which extends beyond the pipe nozzle, and wherein the end of the pipe nozzle seal which extends beyond the pipe nozzle and the second end of the clamp connection are adapted to create a sealed contact by way of the locking clamps when the first and second clamping elements engage.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The attachment module according to claim 17, wherein the container or the conveyor includes a seal on the opening, the seal being circumferential and complementary to the end of the pipe nozzle seal that extends beyond the pipe nozzle, and which is adapted to create a sealed contact by way of the locking clamps when the first and second clamping elements engage.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The attachment module according to claim 17, wherein the clamp connection comprises on the second end a seal which is circumferential and complementary to the end of the pipe nozzle seal which extends beyond the pipe nozzle, and which is adapted to create a sealed contact by way of the locking clamps when the first and second clamping elements engage.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, further comprising a container or a conveyor having an outer and an inner side, wherein the second complementary clamping element is disposed on the outer side of the container or the conveyor and is formed as an integral component of the container or conveyor.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, further comprising a container or a conveyor having a clamp connection which is connected to the container or conveyor, or is an integral component of said container or conveyor, the clamp connection having a first end that faces towards the container or conveyor and a second end that lies opposite of the first end and which faces or can be turned towards the coupling lock, the clamp connection further having an inner side and an outer side, wherein on the outer side at the second end, the second clamping element is an integral component of the clamp connection.

### Claim 24 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, wherein the first and second clamping elements include clamping edges which protrude from the outer side and comprise circumferential springs.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, further comprising at least one seal ring that is adapted to create a sealed contact between the first and the second clamping elements.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, wherein the first clamping element comprises a flange clamp connection and the second clamping element comprises a groove clamp connection.

### Claim 27 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, wherein the first clamping element comprises a groove clamp connection and the second clamping element comprises a flange clamp connection.

### Claim 28 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, wherein the locking clamp is a tension clamp or a rapid lock.

### Claim 29 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, wherein the locking clamp comprises a tri-clamp connection.

### Claim 30 (depends on 16)

The attachment module according to claim 16, wherein the locking clamp comprises at least two bracket elements that are connected to each other via single or double joint systems, wherein the bracket elements comprise an groove on the side facing towards the first and second clamping elements for form-fitting engagement of the first and the second clamping element.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein the partial shaft or shaft stump includes a head surface in an axial direction, in or on which the engagement element is located, which is insertable axially into a complementary engagement element connectable to the drive.

### Claim 32 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein an outer side of the closing flap includes at least one of a seal section or a circumferential seal, which is arranged at least in sections on or adjacent to a circumference edge.

### Claim 33 (depends on 1)

The coupling lock according to claim 1, wherein the front side of the closing flap is arranged, in the closed position, flush with the edge of at least one of the pipe nozzle or a pipe nozzle seal which faces the locking side.

### Claim 34 (depends on 1)

A docking device for re-filling, filling and/or emptying containers, comprising first and second complementary coupling locks that are each constructed according to claim 1, wherein the coupling locks are adapted to be in contact flush with each other via their respective locking sides, wherein the front sides of the respective closing flaps are in contact with each other, and which when in contact, are pivotable from a closed position to an open position, in which they lock the transfer channel formed by the pipe nozzle of the first coupling lock and the pipe nozzle of the second coupling lock, around a shared axis into the open position.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The docking device according to claim 34, wherein the pipe nozzle seals are flush against each other when said locks are in contact.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The docking device according to claim 34, wherein the closing flaps of the first and second coupling lock are circular in form.