Fluid couplings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12535166-B2
Application number	US-202418782411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2024
Priority date	Oct 18, 2021
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

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; an open cylindrical rotary driver that is rotatable relative to the main body; a valve member that is reconfigurable along the longitudinal axis between a first configuration and a second configuration, the valve member defining an open internal space and being threadedly coupled with the open cylinder rotary driver; a guide sleeve disposed between the open cylindrical rotary driver and the valve member, the guide sleeve defining an open internal space; and 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.

2 . The fluid coupling device of claim 1 , further comprising a collar immovably coupled with the open cylindrical rotary driver and being user 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 open cylindrical rotary driver defines one or more spiral grooves, wherein the guide sleeve defines one or more wall openings, and wherein the valve member comprises one or more projections that extend through the one or more wall openings of the guide sleeve and are slidably disposed within one or more spiral grooves of the open cylindrical rotary driver.

9 . The fluid coupling device of claim 8 , wherein the main body defines two wall openings, and wherein the one or more projections of the valve member extend through the two wall openings of the main body.

10 . 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; a valve member that is reconfigurable along the longitudinal axis between a first configuration and a second configuration, the valve member defining an open internal space and comprising one or more 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 grooves that comprise helical portions and non-helical portions, wherein the one or more projections of the valve member are slidably disposed within the one or more grooves of the open cylindrical rotary driver.

11 . The fluid coupling device of claim 10 , wherein the guide sleeve defines one or more longitudinally extending wall slots, and wherein the one or more projections of the valve member extend through the one or more longitudinally extending wall slots of the guide sleeve.

12 . The fluid coupling device of claim 10 , further comprising a collar immovably coupled with the open cylindrical rotary driver and being user rotatable around the portion of the main body.

13 . The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , 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.

14 . The fluid coupling device of claim 13 , 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.

15 . The fluid coupling device of claim 14 , 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.

16 . The fluid coupling device of claim 12 , 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.

17 . The fluid coupling device of claim 10 , wherein, when the valve member is in the first configuration, both a front face of the seal and an annular contoured projection of the seal make contact with and seal against surfaces of the main body that define the valve seat.

18 . The fluid coupling device of claim 10 , wherein the guide sleeve defines one or more wall slots, wherein the one or more projections of the valve member extend through the one or more wall slots of the guide sleeve.

19 . The fluid coupling device of claim 18 , wherein the main body defines one or more wall slots, and wherein the one or more projections of the valve member extend through the one or more wall slots of the main body.

20 . 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 fixedly coupled to the main body and defining an open internal space; a valve member that is translatable within the open internal space of the guide s

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

• F16L37/35 Primary

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

• F16K27/041

  cylindrical slide valves · CPC title

• F16L37/23 Primary

  by means of balls · CPC title

• F16K31/528

  with pin and slot · CPC title

• F16K11/044

  with movable valve members positioned between valve seats · CPC title