Fluid couplings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12055250-B2
Application number	US-202217967657-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2022
Priority date	Oct 18, 2021
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

Fluid coupling devices described herein can used in a bioprocessing facility, for example. In some cases, the fluid coupling devices can be used to couple bioprocessing equipment to a media source in a sterilized environment. The fluid coupling devices can include a two-position valve that is manually actuatable and reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid coupling device comprising:
a main body defining: (i) an open internal space, (ii) a valve seat, and (iii) a longitudinal axis, the main body comprising a first fluid conduit connection location and a second fluid conduit connection location;
a termination body comprising a third fluid conduit connection location;
a guide sleeve defining an open internal space, wherein a portion of the guide sleeve is immovably coupled within the open internal space of the main body, and wherein a portion of the termination body is immovably coupled within the open internal space of the guide sleeve, the guide sleeve defining two longitudinally extending wall slots;
a valve member that is reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the valve member defining an open internal space and comprising two radially extending projections, wherein a portion of the termination body is movably coupled within the open internal space of the valve member;
a seal attached to an end portion of the valve member and configured to seal within the valve seat of the main body when the valve member is in the first configuration and within the open internal space of the guide sleeve when the valve member is in the second configuration; and
an open cylindrical rotary driver disposed around a portion of the main body and being rotatable around the portion of the main body, an inner wall of the open cylindrical rotary driver defining two spiral grooves that spirally extend along the inner wall of the open cylindrical rotary driver,
wherein the two radially extending projections of the valve member extend through the two longitudinally extending wall slots of the guide sleeve and are slidably disposed within the two spiral grooves of the open cylindrical rotary driver.

2. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , further comprising a collar immovably coupled with the open cylindrical rotary driver and being rotatable around the portion of the main body.

3. The fluid coupling device of claim 2 , further comprising a latch member that is: (i) movably coupled with the main body, (ii) releasably coupleable with the collar, and (iii) reconfigurable between a latched position that prevents reconfiguration of the valve member and an unlatched position that allows reconfiguration of the valve member.

4. The fluid coupling device of claim 3 , wherein the collar defines two latch engagement recesses that are configured to releasably receive a portion of the latch member when the latch member is in the latched position.

5. The fluid coupling device of claim 4 , wherein a location of a first latch engagement recess of the two latch engagement recesses corresponds with the first configuration of the valve member, and wherein a location of a second latch engagement recess of the two latch engagement recesses corresponds with the second configuration of the valve member.

6. The fluid coupling device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first seal disposed between the collar and the termination body;
a second seal disposed between the collar and the main body;
a third seal disposed between the termination body and the valve member;
a fourth seal disposed between the valve member and the guide sleeve; and
a fifth seal disposed between the guide sleeve and the main body.

7. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein, when the valve member is in the first configuration, both a front face of the seal and an outer diameter of the seal make contact with and seal against surfaces of the main body that define the valve seat.

8. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the valve member is movably coupled within the open internal space of the guide sleeve.

9. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein, while the valve member is in its first configuration, the first fluid conduit connection location is in fluid communication with the third fluid conduit connection location and the second fluid conduit connection location is dead-ended.

10. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein, while the valve member is in its second configuration, the first fluid conduit connection location is in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit connection location and the third fluid conduit connection location is dead-ended.

11. The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the main body defines two longitudinally extending wall slots, and wherein the two radially extending projections of the valve member extend through the two longitudinally extending wall slots of the main body.

12. A fluid coupling device comprising:
a main body defining: (i) an open internal space, (ii) a valve seat, and (iii) a longitudinal axis, the main body comprising a first fluid conduit connection location and a second fluid conduit connection location;
a guide sleeve defining an open internal space and one or more longitudinally extending wall slots;
a valve member that is reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the valve member defining an open internal space and comprising one or more radially extending projections;
a seal attached to an end portion of the valve member and configured to seal within the valve seat of the main body when the valve member is in the first configuration and within the open internal space of the guide sleeve when the valve member is in the second configuration; and
an open cylindrical rotary driver that is rotatable relative to the main body, the open cylindrical rotary driver defining one or more spiral grooves,
wherein the one or more radially extending projections of the valve member extend through the one or more longitudinally extending wall slots of the guide sleeve and are slidably disposed within the one or more spiral grooves of the open cylindrical rotary driver.

13. The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , further comprising a termination body comprising a third fluid conduit connection location.

14. The fluid coupling device of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the termination body is immovably coupled within the open internal space of the guide sleeve.

15. The fluid coupling device of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the termination body is movably coupled within the open internal space of the valve member.

16. The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the guide sleeve is immovably coupled within the open internal space of the main body.

17. The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , further comprising a latch member that is: (i) movably coupled with the main body and (ii) reconfigurable between a latched position and an unlatched position.

18. The fluid coupling device of claim 17 , further comprising a collar immovably coupled with the open cylindrical rotary driver and defining two latch engagement recesses that are configured to releasably receive a portion of the latch member when the latch member is in the latched position.

19. The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , wherein the valve member is movably coupled within the open internal space of the guide sleeve.

20. The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , wherein rotation of the open cylindrical rotary driver are configured to drive longitudinal translations of the valve member between the first and second configurations of the valve member.

Assignees

• Colder Prod Co

Inventors

• Casura Matthew G
• Czechowski Nicholas B
• Feldhahn Neal W
• Harris Gary J
• Jang Samuel M
• Quick Andrew M
• Truong Loi T
• Vangsgard Krista A

Classifications

• F16K27/041

  cylindrical slide valves · CPC title

• F16K31/528

  with pin and slot · CPC title

• F16K11/044

  with movable valve members positioned between valve seats · CPC title

• F16L29/007

  Joints with cut-off devices controlled separately · CPC title

• F16L37/35 Primary

  at least one of the valves having an axial bore communicating with lateral apertures · CPC title