Single use aseptic fluid couplings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10022532-B2
Application number	US-201615133950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

Some fluid coupling devices described herein are configured for use in fluid systems for purposes of providing a single-use, aseptic disconnection functionality that substantially prevents fluid spillage when being disconnected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid coupling device, comprising:
a male connector component defining a first male connector internal space and defining a second male connector internal space, the male connector component comprising:
a male coupling shuttle valve member partially disposed within the first male connector internal space and partially disposed within the second male connector internal space; and
a locking sleeve movably coupled to other portions of the male connector component; and

a female connector component releasably matable with the male connector component, the female connector component defining a female connector internal space and comprising:
a female coupling shuttle valve member at least partially disposed within the female connector internal space,

wherein the female coupling shuttle valve member is partially disposed within the second male connector internal space when the female connector component is releasably mated with the male connector component.

2. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein, while the female connector component is releasably mated with the male connector component, the locking sleeve is operably coupled with the male coupling shuttle valve member such that a movement of the locking sleeve causes a corresponding movement of the male coupling shuttle valve member.

3. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the male coupling shuttle valve member and the female coupling shuttle valve member are each the same physical shape.

4. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the locking sleeve is slidably coupled to the other portions of the male connector component.

5. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of each of the male coupling shuttle valve member and the female coupling shuttle valve member is circular.

6. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the male coupling shuttle valve member and the female coupling shuttle valve member each include one or more apertures.

7. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein all elements of the fluid coupling device are non-metallic.

8. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein, when the male connector component is fully disconnected from the female connector component, the male coupling shuttle valve member blocks fluid flow through the first male connector internal space and blocks fluid flow through the second male connector internal space, and wherein the female coupling shuttle valve member blocks fluid flow through the female connector internal space.

9. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the male connector component and the female connector component are releasably coupled via a bayonet connection, and wherein a slot of the bayonet connection is at least partially non-orthogonal in relation to a longitudinal axis of the fluid coupling device.

10. A fluid coupling device comprising:
a male connector component comprising:
a male coupling shuttle valve member disposed within the male connector component; and
a locking sleeve coupled to other portions of the male connector component; and

a female connector component releasably matable to the male connector component, the female connector component comprising:
a female coupling shuttle valve member,

wherein while the female connector component is releasably mated with the male connector component: (i) the female coupling shuttle valve member is partially disposed within the male connector component and partially disposed within the female connector component and (ii) the locking sleeve is operably coupled with the male coupling shuttle valve member such that a movement of the locking sleeve causes a corresponding movement of the male coupling shuttle valve member.

11. The fluid coupling device of claim 10 , wherein the locking sleeve is slidably coupled to the other portions of the male connector component.

12. The fluid coupling device of claim 11 , wherein sliding the locking sleeve longitudinally along the male connector component also longitudinally slides the male coupling shuttle valve member and the female coupling shuttle valve member within the fluid coupling device.

13. The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , wherein the sliding the locking sleeve causes a blockage of fluid flow through the fluid coupling device.

14. The fluid coupling device of claim 13 , wherein the blockage of the fluid flow through the fluid coupling device is irreversible such that the fluid flow cannot be reestablished by another reconnection of the fluid coupling device.

15. The fluid coupling device of claim 10 , wherein the fluid coupling device is metallic-free.

16. The fluid coupling device of claim 10 , wherein a fluid flow path is defined through the fluid coupling device, and wherein the fluid flow path extends through:
a) a first male connector internal space defined by the male connector component,
b) an internal male coupling shuttle valve member space defined by the male coupling shuttle valve member,
c) a second male connector internal space defined by the male connector component,
d) an internal female coupling shuttle valve member space defined by the female coupling shuttle valve member, and
e) a female connector internal space defined by the female connector component.

17. The fluid coupling device of claim 16 , wherein sliding the locking sleeve along the other portions of the male connector component toward the female connector component causes a corresponding sliding of the male coupling shuttle valve member that results in blockage of the fluid flow path.

18. The fluid coupling device of claim 17 , wherein the blockage of the fluid flow path is irreversible such that the fluid flow path cannot be reopened by another reconnection of the fluid coupling device.

Assignees

• Colder Prod Co

Inventors

• Burdge David Alan

Classifications

• F16L37/33

  the lift valves being of the ball type · CPC title

• F16L37/32

  at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied · CPC title

• F16L37/248

  Bayonet-type couplings · CPC title

• F16L37/24

  in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet-action · CPC title

• F16L37/084

  combined with automatic locking · CPC title