Coupling element and coupling system for a closed fluid transfer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12303661-B2
Application number	US-202117908026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2021
Priority date	Mar 6, 2020
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A coupling member for a closed fluid transfer system includes a housing having a fluid connection and a coupling side. A first channel extends from the fluid connection toward the coupling side for fluidly connecting the fluid connection and the coupling side. An elastomer member surrounds an opening of the first channel, or forms a second channel adjoining the first channel. An elastomer member opening of the second channel is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The sealing surface is formed between a first position, in which the sealing surface seals the opening or the elastomer member opening of the second channel, and a second position, in which the sealing surface exposes the opening of the first channel or the elastomer member opening of the second channel for fluid communication with the coupling side.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A coupling member for a closed fluid transfer system, the coupling member comprising:
A) a coupling member housing comprising a fluid connection and a coupling side, wherein a longitudinal axis of the coupling member housing extends from the fluid connection to the coupling side;
B) a first fluid channel extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coupling member housing from the fluid connection toward the coupling side to a fluid channel opening facing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupling member, for fluidly connecting the fluid connection and the coupling side;
C) at least one elastomer member, which:
i) surrounds the fluid channel opening of the first fluid channel; or
ii) forms a second fluid channel adjoining the fluid channel opening of the first fluid channel, wherein an elastomer member opening of the second fluid channel faces perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupling member housing; and

D) a sealing member having a sealing surface facing the fluid channel opening of the first fluid channel or the elastomer member opening of the second fluid channel,
wherein the sealing surface is movable along the longitudinal axis of the coupling member housing between a first position, in which the sealing surface seals the fluid channel opening of the first fluid channel or the elastomer member opening of the second fluid channel, and a second position, in which the sealing surface exposes the fluid channel opening of the first fluid channel or the elastomer member opening of the second fluid channel for fluid communication with the coupling side,
wherein the coupling member housing comprises on an inner surface of the coupling member housing an undercut, and
wherein the coupling member housing comprises on the coupling side a radial projection with respect to the longitudinal axis, which forms a coupling side stop for the sealing member in the first position, and wherein the undercut is formed by the radial projection.

2. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastomer member is formed by at least two separate elastomers.

3. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is retainable in the first position in a direction of the coupling side via a spring member which is supported on a side of the sealing member facing away from the coupling side on a fluid connection side portion or on a portion of the coupling member housing located between a fluid connection side portion and the sealing member.

4. The coupling member according to claim 3 , wherein the spring member is a metal spring or elastomer spring.

5. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is at least partially elastic and is supported on a side of the sealing member facing away from the coupling side on a fluid connection side portion or on a portion of the coupling member housing located between a fluid connection side portion and the sealing surface.

6. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is guided between an inner wall of the coupling member housing, which surrounds the first fluid channel in a longitudinal direction or extends longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis on one side of the first fluid channel, and an outer wall, which is parallel to the inner wall and distanced thereto in an outward direction.

7. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is guided between an inner wall of the coupling member housing, which surrounds the first fluid channel in a longitudinal direction or extends longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis on one side of the first fluid channel, and an outer wall, which is parallel to the inner wall and distanced thereto in an outward direction, and wherein the radial projection is formed by a coupling side portion of the outer wall extending radially inward.

8. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling member comprises on a coupling side front surface, a closed coupling surface and a coupling side opening, wherein the coupling side opening is limited to an area closable by a side of the sealing member facing the coupling side front surface.

9. The coupling member according to claim 8 , wherein a rigid surface of the coupling side opening perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is larger than a rigid surface of the closed coupling surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

10. The coupling member according to claim 9 , wherein the rigid surface of the coupling side opening perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is larger than the rigid surface of the closed coupling surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

11. The coupling member according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one elastomer member defines a portion of the closed coupling surface.

12. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein an external wall of the coupling member housing extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis comprises a housing projection projecting radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis.

13. The coupling member according to claim 12 , wherein the housing projection is formed as an elastic snap hook.

14. The coupling member according to claim 13 , wherein the elastic snap hook is attached to a remainder of the external wall of the coupling member housing with a movement gap configured to allow flexing movement of the elastic snap hook.

15. The coupling member according to claim 12 , wherein an area of the external wall located on a side of the first fluid channel facing away the sealing member comprises the housing projection projecting radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis.

16. The coupling member according to claim 12 , wherein the external wall of the coupling member housing further comprises an unlocking mechanism that extends radially from the external wall and along the longitudinal axis towards the housing projection.

17. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is guided between an inner wall of the coupling member housing, which surrounds the first fluid channel in a longitudinal direction or extends longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis on one side of the first fluid channel, and an outer wall, which is parallel to the inner wall and distanced thereto in an outward direction, and wherein the inner surface is the inner surface of the outer wall.

18. A coupling system comprising two coupling members according to claim 1 , wherein the respective sealing member of the coupling members is movable from the first position to the second position by the respective other coupling member for fluidly connecting the first fluid channels to each other.

19. The coupling system according to claim 18 , wherein an external wall of the coupling member housing of at least one of the coupling members extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis comprises a housing projection projecting radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the coupling member housing of at least the other one of the coupling members comprises on an inner surface of the coupling member housing an undercut, and wherein the sealing member of at least the one of the coupling members is retained in the second position by engagement of the housing projection of at least the other one of the coupling members comprising the undercut.

Assignees

• Braun Melsungen Ag

Inventors

• Fischer Nathanael
• Kopp Florin
• Berg Karl Martin

Classifications

• F16L37/367

  with two gate valves or sliding valves · CPC title

• A61M2039/262

  having a fluid space within the valve remaining the same upon connection and disconnection, i.e. neutral-drawback valve · CPC title

• A61M2039/1061

  Break-apart tubing connectors or couplings · CPC title

• A61M2039/1027

  Quick-acting type connectors · CPC title

• A61M39/26

  Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)} · CPC title