Coupler for use in a closed transfer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014801-B2
Application number	US-201816188850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a coupler for use in a closed transfer system configured to selectively engage a container seated in fluid communication with the coupler. The coupler has a body with a slot having an axial component, and an outlet. A probe extends from a first end portion to a second end portion and is at least partially received within the body, the probe is configured to be movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position to selectively control a flow of fluid through the outlet. A probe tip with a cylindrical bore is configured to engage the second end portion of the probe, and a handle is coupled to the probe and configured to interface with the slot. Axial movement of the handle along the slot moves the probe between the first position and the second position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A coupler for use in a closed transfer system configured to selectively engage a container seated in fluid communication with the coupler, the coupler comprising:
a body with a slot having an axial component;
an outlet;
a probe that extends from a first end portion to a second end portion and at least partially received within the body, wherein the probe has a chamber defined by an outer wall and an inner wall extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, a probe inlet extending into the chamber through the outer wall at the first end portion, and a probe outlet extending into the chamber through the outer wall at the second end portion, the probe configured to be movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position to selectively control the flow of fluid through the outlet;
a probe tip with a cylindrical bore configured to engage the second end portion of the probe, the probe tip having a probe tip outlet configured to be substantially alignable with the probe outlet when the probe is engaged within the probe tip; and
a handle coupled to the probe and configured to interface with the slot, wherein axial movement of the handle along the slot moves the probe between the first position and the second position.

2. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the probe is configured to restrict the flow of fluid through the outlet when the probe is in the first position and allow substantially unrestricted flow of fluid through the outlet when the probe is in the second position.

3. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured to meter the flow of fluid through the outlet through movement of the handle along the axial component of the slot.

4. The coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a rinse head configured to rotate about the probe tip, the rinse head has an outer surface, an inner surface, and a vane extending from the inner surface through the outer surface.

5. The coupler of claim 4 , wherein the vane of the rinse head is an axial vane.

6. The coupler of claim 5 , wherein the axial vain is defined by two parabolic walls extending away from each other from the inner surface through the outer surface.

7. The coupler of claim 4 , wherein the vane of the rinse head is a radial vane.

8. The coupler of claim 7 , wherein the radial vane is defined by a channel extending tangentially from the inner surface through the outer surface.

9. The coupler of claim 4 , wherein the rinse head comprises two semi-annular components.

10. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the probe tip has a top surface, a rinse outlet on the top surface, and a rinse fluid passage that extends downward from the rinse outlet configured to be in fluid communication with the probe tip outlet.

11. The coupler of claim 10 , wherein the probe tip has a drain passage that extends downward from the top surface.

12. A coupler for use in a closed transfer system, the coupler comprising:
a body with an axial slot;
an outlet;
a probe with an inlet near a first end of the probe, a probe tip near a second end of the probe, and a channel configured to supply a fluid from the inlet to the probe tip, the probe at least partially received within the body and axially movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position to provide selective fluid communication through the outlet; and
a handle coupled to the probe and configured to move within the axial slot;
wherein movement of the handle within the axial slot directly corresponds to movement of the probe within the body.

13. The coupler of claim 12 further comprising a rinse head coupled to the probe.

14. The coupler of claim 13 wherein the rinse head further comprises an outer surface and an inner surface received around a portion of the probe tip and configured to rotate around the probe tip.

15. The coupler of claim 14 , wherein the rinse head has an axial vane defined by two parabolic walls extending away from each other from the inner surface through the outer surface.

16. The coupler of claim 14 , wherein the rinse head has a radial vane is defined by a channel extending tangentially from the inner surface through the outer surface.

17. A coupler for use in a closed transfer system, the coupler comprising:
a body having a slot with an axial slot portion and a radial slot portion;
the axial slot portion has a top end and a bottom end;
the radial slot portion has a terminal end and an intersecting end that intersects the bottom end of the axial slot portion;
a probe received within the body and movable between a first position and a second position;
a probe tip coupled to the probe; and
a handle coupled to the probe and movable along the slot, wherein movement of the handle from the terminal end to the intersecting end of the radial slot portion positions the probe for axial movement between the first position and the second position.

18. The coupler of claim 17 further comprising a rinse head with an outer surface and an inner surface received around a portion of the probe tip and configured to rotate around the probe tip.

19. The coupler of claim 17 , wherein the probe tip has a top surface and a probe tip passage configured to provide fluid communication between the probe tip outlet and the top surface of the probe tip.

Assignees

• Pentair Flow Tech Llc

Inventors

• James Roger
• Freeston Ben
• Potter Claire
• Garnett Richard
• Pullen Sam

Classifications

• B67D3/0035

  the bottle or container being held upside down and not provided with a closure, e.g. a bottle screwed onto a base of a dispenser · CPC title

• F16K11/0856

  having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug · CPC title

• G01F11/28

  with stationary measuring chambers having constant volume during measurement · CPC title

• G01F3/36

  with stationary measuring chambers having constant volume during measurement (with measuring chambers which expand or contract during measurement G01F3/02) · CPC title

• A01C23/008

  Tanks, chassis or related parts · CPC title