Valve connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690279-B2
Application number	US-201815924375-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2018
Priority date	Mar 21, 2017
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A valve connector comprises a body including an inlet port, an outlet port defining a longitudinal axis, at least one aperture extending between an exterior surface of the body and the outlet port. The valve connector also comprises a sleeve arranged about the exterior surface of the body and movable relative to the body between a clamping position and a release position and a biasing member applying a biasing force against the sleeve towards the clamping position. The valve connector further comprises a clamping mechanism including at least one clamping member arranged at least partially within the aperture. When the valve is received in the outlet port, the clamping member is inwardly displaceable into the outlet port in response to the biasing force biasing the sleeve toward the clamping position, such that the clamping member engages the valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve connector comprising:
a body including
an outlet port in which a valve is at least partially receivable to receive compressed gas discharged from the outlet port, the outlet port defining a longitudinal axis,
at least one aperture extending between an exterior surface of the body and the outlet port, and
a contact portion that is defined on the exterior surface of the body opposite the outlet port and is intersected by the longitudinal axis;

a sleeve arranged about the exterior surface of the body, the sleeve movable relative to the body between a clamping position and a release position;
a biasing member applying a biasing force against the sleeve towards the clamping position; and
a clamping mechanism including at least one clamping member arranged at least partially within the aperture,
wherein when the valve is received in the outlet port, the clamping member is inwardly displaceable into the outlet port in response to the biasing force biasing the sleeve toward the clamping position, such that the clamping member engages the valve, and
wherein in response to a first force applied against the contact portion in the direction of the outlet port and a second force applied against the sleeve in a direction opposite the biasing force to overcome the biasing force and move the sleeve toward the release position, the clamping member is separable from the valve.

2. The valve connector of claim 1 , further comprising pin configured to open the valve when the valve is received in the outlet port.

3. The valve connector of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a shoulder that extends radially outward from the sleeve, such that the second force can be applied against the shoulder.

4. The valve connector of claim 3 , wherein the biasing member is a compression spring, and wherein the exterior surface includes a circumferential shoulder against which the compression spring is seated.

5. The valve connector of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve includes a radially inward-extending circumferential flange against which the spring applies the biasing force.

6. The valve connector of claim 5 , further comprising a retaining ring arranged in a groove in the exterior surface of the body, wherein the flange is biased against the retaining ring when the sleeve is in the clamping position.

7. The valve connector of claim 1 , wherein the clamping member is a leaf spring including a first end attached to the exterior surface of the body, an opposite second end arranged at least partially within the aperture, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, and wherein the leaf spring has an internal bias causing the second end to deflect away from the longitudinal axis.

8. The valve connector of claim 7 , wherein the clamping mechanism includes an actuating surface on the sleeve, and wherein the actuating surface engages the intermediate portion of the leaf spring, causing the second end to be moved into the outlet port for engaging the valve, when the valve is received in the outlet port and the sleeve is in the clamping position.

9. The valve connector of claim 8 , wherein the leaf spring deflects away from the longitudinal axis and the second end moves out of the outlet port when the sleeve is in the release position.

10. A valve connector comprising:
a body including
an outlet port in which a valve is at least partially receivable to receive compressed gas discharged from the outlet port, the outlet port defining a longitudinal axis,
at least one aperture extending between an exterior surface of the body and the outlet port, and
a contact portion that is defined on the exterior surface of the body opposite the outlet port;

a sleeve arranged about the exterior surface of the body, the sleeve movable relative to the body between a clamping position and a release position;
a biasing member applying a biasing force against the sleeve towards the clamping position; and
a clamping mechanism including at least one clamping member arranged at least partially within the aperture,
wherein in response to the biasing force biasing the sleeve toward the clamping position, the clamping member is moved into the outlet port, and
wherein in response to a first force applied against the contact portion and a second force applied against the sleeve in a direction opposite the biasing force, the sleeve is moved towards the release position and the clamping member moves out of the outlet port.

11. The valve connector of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve includes a shoulder that extends from the sleeve in a direction away from the longitudinal axis, such that the second force can be applied against the shoulder.

12. The valve connector of claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is a compression spring, and wherein the exterior surface includes a circumferential shoulder against which the compression spring is seated.

13. The valve connector of claim 12 , wherein the sleeve includes a flange against which the spring applies the biasing force.

14. The valve connector of claim 13 , further comprising a retaining ring arranged in a groove in the exterior surface of the body, and wherein the flange is biased against the retaining ring when the sleeve is in the clamping position.

15. The valve connector of claim 10 , wherein the clamping member is a leaf spring including a first end attached to the exterior surface of the body, an opposite second end arranged at least partially within the aperture, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, and wherein the leaf spring has an internal bias causing the second end to deflect away from the longitudinal axis.

16. The valve connector of claim 15 , wherein the clamping mechanism includes an actuating surface on the sleeve, and wherein the actuating surface engages the intermediate portion of the leaf spring, causing the second end to be moved into the outlet port for engaging the valve, when the valve is received in the outlet port and the sleeve is in the clamping position.

17. The valve connector of claim 16 , wherein the leaf spring deflects away from the longitudinal axis and the second end moves out of the outlet port when the sleeve is in the release position.

18. A valve connector comprising:
a body including
an outlet port in which a valve is at least partially receivable to receive compressed gas discharged from the outlet port, the outlet port defining a longitudinal axis,
a plurality of apertures extending between an exterior surface of the body and the outlet port, and
a contact portion that is defined on the exterior surface of the body opposite the outlet port and is intersected by the longitudinal axis;

a sleeve arranged about the exterior surface of the body, the sleeve movable relative to the body between a clamping position and a release position;
a compression spring applying a biasing force against the sleeve towards the clamping position; and
a clamping mechanism including a plurality of leaf springs corresponding to the plurality of apertures, each leaf spring including
a first end attached to the exterior surface,
an opposite second end arranged at least partially within the corresponding aperture, and
an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, each of the leaf springs having an internal bias causing the second end to deflect away from the longitudinal axis,

wherein in response to the biasing force biasing the sleeve toward the clamping position, the sleeve contacts the intermediate portions of the leaf springs, and the second ends of

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Mcintyre Ross
• Mantes Jonathan M

Classifications

• F16K15/20 Primary

  specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres (connecting valves to inflatable bodies B60C29/00) · CPC title

• B60C29/00

  Arrangements of tyre-inflating valves to tyres or rims; Accessories for tyre-inflating valves, not otherwise provided for (tools for mounting or demounting valves B60C25/18) · CPC title

• B60C29/06

  Accessories for tyre-inflating valves, e.g. housings, guards, covers for valve caps, locks, not otherwise provided for {(B60C23/0496 takes precedence; tools for screwing and unscrewing valve caps B25B27/0057; pump connectors F04B33/005)} · CPC title

• F16L37/40 Primary

  with a lift valve being opened automatically when the coupling is applied · CPC title

• F16L37/138

  using an axially movable sleeve · CPC title