Probe assembly for use in a closed transfer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214479-B2
Application number	US-201816188975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a probe assembly configured to selectively restrict fluid flow through an outlet of a closed transfer system. The probe assembly has an elongate probe body with a top end portion, a bottom end portion, an outer wall, and an internal structure defining a fluid chamber extending from the bottom end portion to the top end portion. The fluid chamber has a fluid chamber inlet at the bottom end portion extending through the outer wall into the fluid chamber and a fluid chamber outlet at the top end portion extending from the fluid chamber through the outer wall. A probe tip with a cylindrical bore is configured to engage the top end portion of the elongate probe body and a probe tip outlet is configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber outlet. A rotating head located circumjacent to the probe tip and adjacent to the probe tip outlet is configured to rotate about the probe tip. The rotating head having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a vane extending from the inner surface through the outer surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A probe assembly configured to selectively restrict fluid flow through an outlet of a closed transfer system, the probe assembly comprising:
an elongate probe body with a top end portion, a bottom end portion, an outer wall, and an internal structure defining a fluid chamber extending from the bottom end portion to the top end portion, the fluid chamber has a fluid chamber inlet at the bottom end portion extending through the outer wall into the fluid chamber and a fluid chamber outlet at the top end portion extending from the fluid chamber through the outer wall;
a probe tip with a cylindrical bore configured to engage the top end portion of the elongate probe body and a probe tip outlet configured to be aligned with the fluid chamber outlet, the probe tip further including a top surface with at least one passage extending downward from and through the top surface; and
a rotating head located circumjacent to the probe tip and adjacent to the probe tip outlet and configured to rotate about the probe tip, the rotating head having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a vane extending from the inner surface through the outer surface.

2. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vane is an axial vane defined by two parabolic walls angling upwardly and away from each other as they extend from the inner surface through the outer surface.

3. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vane is a radial vane defined by a channel extending approximately tangential to the inner surface as it extends from the inner surface through the outer surface.

4. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotating head comprises a plurality of vanes.

5. The probe assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of vanes includes an axial vane and a radial vane.

6. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotating head comprises two coupled semi-annular components.

7. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the probe tip has a rinse outlet on the top surface, and the passage is a rinse fluid passage extending downward from the rinse outlet and configured to be in fluid communication with the probe tip outlet.

8. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the passage is a drain passage extending downward from the top surface.

9. A probe assembly at least partially received within a body configured to be movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position to provide selective fluid communication of a first fluid through an outlet coupled to the body, the probe assembly comprising:
an elongate probe body with an outer wall and an internal structure defining a fluid chamber with an inlet and an outlet, a first probe aperture extending through the outer wall into the fluid chamber at a first end portion of the probe body and a second probe aperture extending through the outer wall into the fluid chamber at a second end portion of the body;
a probe tip with a probe tip outlet coupled to the first end portion of the probe body, the probe tip outlet positioned to allow fluid communication between the second probe aperture and the probe tip outlet; and
a rotating head positioned around a portion of the probe tip including the probe tip outlet;
the rotating head configured to distribute a second fluid received from the probe tip outlet when the probe assembly is in the second position.

10. The probe assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rotating head comprises two coupled semi-annular components.

11. The probe assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rotating head has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a vane extending from the inner surface through the outer surface.

12. The probe assembly of claim 11 , wherein the vane is an axial vane defined by two parabolic walls angling upwardly and away from each other as they extend from the inner surface through the outer surface.

13. The probe assembly of claim 11 , wherein the vane is a radial vane defined by a channel extending approximately tangential to the inner surface as it extends from the inner surface through the outer surface.

14. The probe assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rotating head has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of vanes extending from the inner surface through the outer surface.

15. The probe assembly of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of vanes includes an axial vane and a radial vane.

16. The probe assembly of claim 9 , wherein the probe tip has a top surface, a rinse outlet on the top surface, and a rinse fluid passage extending downward from the rinse outlet and configured for the second fluid to pass therethrough.

17. The probe assembly of claim 9 , wherein the probe tip has a top surface and a drain passage extending downward from the top surface.

18. A probe assembly for use in a closed transfer system, the probe assembly comprising:
a probe with an internal chamber and a chamber outlet;
a probe tip with a probe tip aperture coupled to the probe with the probe tip aperture aligned with the chamber outlet, the probe tip further including a top surface with at least one passage extending downward from and through the top surface; and
a rotating rinse head positioned circumjacent to the probe tip and having a first axial vane and a second radial vane;
the internal chamber, the chamber outlet, and the probe tip aperture defining a fluid passageway configured to allow passage of a fluid therethrough and from the first axial vane and the second axial vane;
the first axial vane is configured to direct the fluid axially and the second radial vane is configured to direct the fluid tangentially to rotate the rotating rinse head about the probe tip.

19. The probe assembly of claim 18 , wherein the probe tip has a rinse outlet on the top surface, and the passage is a rinse fluid passage extending downward from the rinse outlet and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid passageway.

20. The probe assembly of claim 18 , wherein the passage is a drain passage extending downward from the top surface.

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