Probe assembly for use in a closed transfer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11795047-B2
Application number	US-202117646588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2021
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

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:
a probe body with a top end portion, a bottom end portion, an outer wall, and an internal structure defining a plurality of fluid chambers extending from the bottom end portion to the top end portion, a first one of the plurality of fluid chambers has a first inlet at the bottom end portion extending through the outer wall into the first one of the plurality of fluid chambers and a first outlet at the top end portion extending from the first one of the plurality of fluid chambers through the outer wall;
a probe tip configured to engage the top end portion of the probe body, the probe tip including a top surface having a first passage formed therein and extending downward therethrough, the first passage being in fluid communication with the first one of the plurality of fluid chambers; and
wherein the probe body is configured to be inserted within a coupler body and moved relative to the coupler body between a first position where the probe body and the probe tip are received within the coupler body and a second position where the probe body and the probe tip extend at least partially upward from the coupler body to create a fluid flow path through an interior of the coupler body.

2. The probe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rotating head coupled to the probe tip, the rotating head including a plurality of vanes configured to receive fluid from the first outlet and direct the fluid away from the rotating head in a respective flow pattern.

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

4. The probe assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of vanes is a radial vane defined by a channel extending approximately tangential to an inner surface as it extends from the inner surface of the probe tip through an outer surface of the probe tip.

5. The probe assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of vanes includes an axial vane and a radial vane.

6. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the probe tip is integrally molded with the probe body.

7. The probe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of walls positioned in an interior region of the probe body, the plurality of walls defining the plurality of fluid chambers within the interior region.

8. The probe assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of walls extend along a longitudinal axis of the probe assembly between a first location proximate the top end portion of the probe body and a second location proximate to the bottom end portion of the probe body, and wherein the plurality of walls extend outward from the longitudinal axis to an inner wall of the probe assembly.

9. The probe assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of walls evenly divide the interior region to define the plurality of fluid chambers.

10. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first passage is formed in the top surface directly above the first one of the plurality of fluid chambers.

11. The probe assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a second passage and a third passage formed in the top surface directly above the first one of the plurality of fluid chambers, the second passage and the third passage being in fluid communication with the first one of the plurality of fluid chambers.

12. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the top end portion of the probe body is partially received within an internal bore of a rinsing section of the probe tip to couple the probe tip to the probe body.

13. The probe assembly of claim 12 , wherein the probe tip includes a second outlet aligned with, and in fluid communication with, the first outlet, wherein the first outlet is formed in the outer wall of the probe body and the second outlet is formed through the rinsing section to provide a flow path from the first inlet to an external environment.

14. The probe assembly of claim 12 , wherein the probe tip includes a draining section positioned above the rinsing section, wherein the top surface is located above the draining section, and wherein the first passage extends through the draining section.

15. The probe assembly of claim 14 , wherein the probe tip includes a second passage formed in and through the top surface, the second passage being in fluid communication with an interior of the draining section.

16. The probe assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a grate positioned within the interior of the draining section over a second one of the plurality of fluid chambers; and
a check valve positioned over the grate and configured to selectively enable air flow through the grate from the second one of the plurality of fluid chambers based on a pressure differential between the second one of the plurality of fluid chambers and the interior of the draining section.

17. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the probe tip includes a seal engaging section configured to engage with a plug for the coupler body when the probe body is moved from the first position into the second position.

18. A probe assembly at least partially received within a coupler body and configured to be movable relative to the coupler body between a first position and a second position to provide selective fluid communication of a first fluid through an outlet of the coupler body, the probe assembly comprising:
an elongate probe body with an outer wall and an internal structure defining a plurality of fluid chambers each having an inlet and an outlet, a first probe aperture extending through the outer wall into a first fluid chamber of the plurality of fluid chambers at a first end portion of the probe body and a second probe aperture extending through the outer wall into the first fluid chamber at a second end portion of the probe body; and
a probe tip with a rinse outlet and a rinse water passage, the probe tip being coupled to the first end portion of the probe body, the probe tip configured to receive rinse water from the first fluid chamber through the second probe aperture and to direct the rinse water into a container via the rinse outlet, the rinse water passage extending to a top surface of the probe tip;
wherein in the first position the probe tip is received within the coupler body and in the second position the probe tip extends at least partially out from the coupler body to create a fluid flow path from the container through an interior of the coupler body.

19. The probe assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a head coupled to the probe tip, the head including at least one vane configured to receive the rinse water from the rinse outlet and direct the rinse water away from the probe body in a flow pattern defined by a geometry of the at least one vane.

20. The probe assembly of claim 18 , wherein the rinse water passage is configured to supply a portion of the rinse water to an underside of a plug coupled to 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