EP0675072A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Valve assemblage and method of use
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1995-03-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A valve assemblage (10, 50) for controlling the flow between first and second containerized systems (C1, C2) having first and second openings (A, B), respectively. The assemblage comprises a first valve assembly (12, 52) positioned at the first opening of the first containerized system and a second valve assembly (14, 54) positioned at the second opening of the second containerized system. A piston (20, 84) in the first valve assembly, when in a first position opens an entrance port (18, 100) for receiving fluid from the first containerized system; and correspondingly, a retractable sleeve (36, 136) in the second valve assembly (14, 54) opens an entrance port (30, 122) in a proboscis member (26, 110) having a channel (28, 118) and outlet (32, 142, 144) to the second containerized system.
Inventors
- 👤 Clark E. C/O Eastman Kodak Company Harris
- 👤 David L. C/O Eastman Kodak Company Patton
- 👤 Bradley S. C/O Eastman Kodak Company Bush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:38
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/02; B67D7/0288; B67D7/0294; B65; B65D; B65D47/00; B65D47/04; B65D47/20; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/0829; B67D1/0831; B67D1/0835; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917; Y10T137/87925; Y10T137/87941; Y10T137/87949
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
383 words
A valve assemblage (10, 50) for adjoining first and second containerized systems (C1, C2) , the first containerized system having a first opening (A), and the second containerized system having a second opening (B), the assemblage comprising: a first valve assembly (12; 52) positioned at the first opening, the first valve assembly comprising a body member (16; 62), a fluid entrance port (18; 100) in the body member to receive fluid from the first containerized system, a piston (20; 88) slideable within the body member from a first position closing the entrance port, to a second position opening the closed entrance port, and a spring member (22; 90) normally biasing the piston to the first position; a second valve assembly (14; 54) positioned at the second opening, the second valve assembly comprising a proboscis member (26; 110), the proboscis member comprising a channel (28; 118) having an inlet end (30; 122) to receive fluid from the fluid entrance port in the body member and an outlet end (32; 142) to deliver the received fluid to the second containerized system, the inlet end being positioned at a first end portion of the proboscis member, a blocking member (36; 136) movable relative to the proboscis member from a first position closing the inlet end to a second position opening the inlet end, and a second spring member (38; 140) normally biasing the blocking member to the position closing the inlet end; wherein, when the first opening is urged toward the second opening, the first body member of the first valve assembly engages and moves the blocking member thereby opening the inlet end of the proboscis member, and the proboscis member displaces the piston into the position opening the entrance port, the opened entrance port then being in fluid communication with the opened inlet end, thereby forming an open fluid flow channel between the first containerized system and the second containerized system; and wherein, when the first opening is urged away from said second opening, the body member is withdrawn from the proboscis member, the blocking member moves to close the inlet end, and the proboscis member disengages from the piston to allow the piston to slide to the position closing the entrance port, thereby preventing flow of fluid between the first and second containerized systems.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
The valve assemblage in Claim 1 wherein the blocking member is a sleeve member surrounding the inlet end of the proboscis member and movable from the position closing the inlet end to the position opening the inlet end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The valve assemblage recited in Claim 2 wherein the first valve assembly is mounted to a flexible bag (56) for a fluid to be transferred.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The valve assemblage recited in claim 3 wherein the flexible bag is enclosed in a substantially rigid housing assemblage (150-156).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The valve assemblage recited in Claim 3 wherein the flexible bag comprises a spout (58) having a central bore (60) into which the body member is installed, the bore comprising a circumferential groove (68) and the body member comprising a pair of axially spaced, circumferentially extended lips (70, 72) for engaging the groove, whereby the body member may be partially inserted in the bore until one of the lips engages the groove or fully inserted in the bore until the other of the lips engages the groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve assemblage recited in Claim 5, wherein the fluid entrance port (100) is between the lips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The valve assemblage recited in Claim 1, further comprising at least one seal (128) between the proboscis member and the blocking member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The valve assemblage recited in Claim 7, wherein the blocking member is a sleeve member (136) surrounding the inlet end (122) of the proboscis member and the seal comprises a base disk (128) engaging the first end portion (120) and a perforated cylindrical wall (130) extended from the base disk past the inlet end, the cylindrical wall being extended between the proboscis member and the sleeve member.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of controlling the flow of fluid between first and second containerized systems (C1, C2), the first system having a first opening (A) and the second system having a second opening (B), the method comprising the steps of: providing a first flow control assembly (12; 52) positioned at the first opening, the first flow control assembly comprising a body member (16; 62), a fluid entrance port in the body member (18; 100), a piston (20; 88) slideable within the body member to open and close the entrance port, and a spring member (22; 90) normally biasing the piston to a position closing the entrance port; providing a second flow control assembly (14; 54) positioned at the second opening, the second flow control member comprising a proboscis member (26; 110) having a through channel (28; 118) with an inlet end (30; 122) and an outlet end (32; 142), a blocking member (36; 136) movable relative to the proboscis member to open and close the inlet end, and a spring member (38; 140) for biasing the blocking member to a position closing the inlet end; urging the first opening toward the second opening so that the body member engages and moves the blocking member to open the inlet end, and the proboscis member displaces the piston thereby positioning the fluid entrance port in fluid communication with the through channel for enabling fluid flow between the first and second containerized systems; and, withdrawing the first containerized system away from the second containerized system so that body member of the first flow control assembly withdraws to permit the blocking member to close the through channel, and the proboscis member retracts to permit the piston to close the entrance port, thereby preventing fluid flow between the first and second containerized systems.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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