Dual-mode fluid connector having rotatable element and supporting two different operating modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12116259-B2
Application number	US-202318375114-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2023
Priority date	Nov 6, 2020
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

A dual-mode fluid connector includes: a hollow connecting element, comprising a chamber inside the hollow connecting element, wherein a protuberant block element is arranged on an inner surface of the chamber; a material tube, positioned on the hollow connecting element and connected through the chamber; a cleaning tube, positioned on the hollow connecting element and connected through the chamber; a head portion, positioned on one terminal of the hollow connecting element and having a connecting opening, wherein the connecting opening can be detachably connected to a material container; a rear portion, positioned on another terminal of the hollow connecting element and having a through hole; and a rod, inserted into the chamber via the through hole; and a rotatable element, covered on the rear portion and engaged with the rod and comprising a guiding element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ), comprising:
a hollow connecting element ( 310 ), comprising a chamber ( 411 ) inside the hollow connecting element ( 310 ), wherein a protuberant block element ( 415 ) is arranged on an inner surface of the chamber ( 411 );
a material tube ( 322 ), positioned on the hollow connecting element ( 310 ) and connected through the chamber ( 411 );
a cleaning tube ( 324 ), positioned on the hollow connecting element ( 310 ) and connected through the chamber ( 411 );
a head portion ( 330 ), positioned on one terminal of the hollow connecting element ( 310 ) and comprising a connecting opening ( 431 ), wherein the connecting opening ( 431 ) is connected through the chamber ( 411 ) and capable of being detachably connected to a material container ( 130 );
a rear portion ( 340 ), positioned on another terminal of the hollow connecting element ( 310 ) and comprising a through hole ( 441 ), wherein a track ( 443 ) and a block wall portion ( 447 ) are arranged on an outer surface of the rear portion ( 340 ), and the block wall portion ( 447 ) is positioned on one side of an end section of the track ( 443 );
a rod ( 360 ), inserted into the chamber ( 411 ) via the through hole ( 441 ) and comprising a rod head ( 461 ) and a sealing portion ( 463 ); and
a rotatable element ( 380 ), covered on the rear portion ( 340 ) and engaged with the rod ( 360 ) and comprising a guiding element ( 487 );
wherein when the rotatable element ( 380 ) drives the rod ( 360 ) to move forward so that the sealing portion ( 463 ) abuts the block element ( 415 ), the guiding element ( 487 ) enters the end section of the track ( 443 ).

2. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable element ( 380 ) is arranged to operably drive the rod ( 360 ) to move forward or backward.

3. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 2 , wherein the rod ( 360 ) comprises an outer flange ( 467 ), the rotatable element ( 380 ) comprises a block portion ( 489 ), the guiding element ( 487 ) is positioned in an interior of the rotatable element ( 380 ) and arranged to operably engage with the track ( 443 ), and the block portion ( 489 ) is positioned in the interior of the rotatable element ( 380 ) and arranged to operably engage with the outer flange ( 467 );
wherein the guiding element ( 487 ) is arranged to operably move along the track ( 443 ).

4. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 3 , wherein the block element ( 415 ) divides an interior space of the chamber ( 411 ) into a first space ( 412 ) and a second space ( 413 ), and when the rotatable element ( 380 ) is rotated toward a first predetermined direction, the rotatable element ( 380 ) moves forward while rotating and drives the rod ( 360 ) to move forward until the sealing portion ( 463 ) abuts the block element ( 415 );
wherein when the sealing portion ( 463 ) abuts the block element ( 415 ), the first space ( 412 ) and the second space ( 413 ) are separated by the sealing portion ( 463 ) and the block element ( 415 ) so that the first space ( 412 ) and the second space ( 413 ) are isolated with each other, and the rod head ( 461 ) pushes a stopper ( 242 ) on the outlet check valve ( 140 ) inward to render an output terminal of the outlet check valve ( 140 ) to become an open status.

5. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 4 , wherein after the sealing portion ( 463 ) abuts the block element ( 415 ), if the rotatable element ( 380 ) is rotated toward a second predetermined direction, then the rotatable element ( 380 ) moves backward while rotating and drives the rod ( 360 ) to move backward together, so that the sealing portion ( 463 ) detaches from the block element ( 415 );
wherein after the sealing portion ( 463 ) detaches from the block element ( 415 ) for a predetermined distance, the first space ( 412 ) and the cleaning tube ( 324 ) are enabled to communicate with each other, and the rod head ( 461 ) detaches from the stopper ( 242 ) to render the output terminal of the outlet check valve ( 140 ) to become a close status.

6. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 5 , wherein an outer surface of the rotatable element ( 380 ) comprises a first area ( 581 ) and a second area ( 582 ), the dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) operates in a serve mode when the rotatable element ( 380 ) is rotated to a status where the first area ( 581 ) faces upward, and the dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) operates in a clean mode when the rotatable element ( 380 ) is rotated to a status where the second area ( 582 ) faces upward.

7. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 5 , further comprising:
a bended plate ( 370 ), positioned between the rotatable element ( 380 ) and the rear portion ( 340 ), and an outer surface of the bended plate ( 370 ) comprises a first marked region ( 471 ) and a second marked region ( 473 );
wherein the rotatable element ( 380 ) further comprises a first window ( 781 ) and a second window ( 782 ), and when the rotatable element ( 380 ) is rotated to a status where the first window ( 781 ) faces upward, the first marked region ( 471 ) is exposed from the first window ( 781 ) and the dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) operates in a serve mode; and
when the rotatable element ( 380 ) is rotated to a status where the second window ( 782 ) faces upward, the second marked region ( 473 ) is exposed from the second window ( 782 ) and the dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) operates in a clean mode.

8. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 4 , wherein when the guiding element ( 487 ) enters the end section of the track ( 443 ), the block wall portion ( 447 ) supports the guiding element ( 487 ).

9. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 8 , further comprising:
a spring ( 350 ), positioned between the rear portion ( 340 ) and the rotatable element ( 380 ) or between the rear portion ( 340 ) and the outer flange ( 467 ), and when the rotatable element ( 380 ) drives the rod ( 360 ) to move forward, the block portion ( 489 ) or the outer flange ( 467 ) compresses the spring ( 350 );
wherein when the guiding element ( 487 ) disengages with the block wall portion ( 447 ), the spring ( 350 ) applies an elastic restoring force on the block portion ( 489 ) or the outer flange ( 467 ) to push the rotatable element ( 380 ) or the rod ( 360 ) backward.

10. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 3 , further comprising:
a spring ( 350 ), positioned between the rear portion ( 340 ) and the rotatable element ( 380 ) or between the rear portion ( 340 ) and the outer flange ( 467 ), and when the rotatable element ( 380 ) drives the rod ( 360 ) to move forward, the block portion ( 489 ) or the outer flange ( 467 ) compresses the spring ( 350 );
wherein when the guiding element ( 487 ) disengages with the block wall portion ( 447 ), the spring ( 350 ) applies an elastic restoring force on the block portion ( 489 ) or the outer flange ( 467 ) to push the rotatable element ( 380 ) or the rod ( 360 ) backward.

11. The dual-mode fluid connector ( 150 ) of claim 10 , wherein the hollow connecting element ( 310 ) further comprises a second restriction element ( 417 ) extended outward from an outer surface of the hollow connecting element ( 310 ), and the rotatable element ( 380 ) further comprises a second elongated portion ( 484 ) extended from an edge of a front opening ( 481 ) of the rotatable element ( 380 ) toward the head portion ( 330 );
wherein when the rotatable element ( 380 ) is rotated toward a second predetermined direction to a certain extent, the second elongated portion ( 484 ) engages with the second restriction element ( 417 ) to prevent the rotat

Assignees

• Botrista Inc

Inventors

• Lee Yu-Min
• Kuo Wu-Chou

Classifications

• B67D1/1277

  Flow control valves · CPC title

• B67D1/0892

  the beverage container being stored in a rack or shelf · CPC title

• B67D1/07 Primary

  Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus {(B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence)} · CPC title

• A61J1/2096

  Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents · CPC title

• F16L37/248

  Bayonet-type couplings · CPC title