Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SLIDE VALVE AND COUPLER ASSEMBLY
The invention relates to a slide valve ~nd
coupler assembly for controlling fluid flow,
A slide valve and coupler asse~ly of this general
ty~e is described in CH-A~352 205.
The assembly in the first place is intended for
use when body fluids are to be emptied or re~oved
fronl the body, for ex.ample when urine is to be
collected from incontinent persons, or when fluids for
example blood medicaments or other treatment fluids
are to be administered to the body as in transfusion,
infusion, or peritoneal dialysis (bag dialysis).
The purpose of the invention is to simplify the
construction of the slide valve and coupler assembly
and to m~e the use thereof easier without neglecting
:~ the ~equirement of complete sealing between the
different elements of the assembly and the
possibility of maintaining steri1ity in relation to
the surroundings as well as the person connected in
one way or the~other to the slide valve and coupler
asse~bly.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a slide valve and coupling unit for flow control,
comprising a slide valve including a valve housing fonming a first
: 30 fluid flow passage, and a first slide valve element in said valve
housing, guided for lateral displacement between a closed position
in which the first slide valve element is positioned across said
first passage to keep it closed, and an open position in which said
passage is uncovered by said first slide element; and a coupling
element including a coupling housing forming a second fluid flow
passage which can be connected to said first passage, a second
slide valve element in said coupling housing, guided for
displacement between a closed position in which ~he second slide
valve element is posit.ioned across said second passage to keep it
closed, and an open position in which said second passage is
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uncovered by the second slide element, said coupling housing also
forming a recess to receive therein at least the portion of the
valve housing containing the first slide valve element, a sealing
element located in the coupling housing around the opening of said
second fluid f low passage, said valve housing being displaceabl~ in
relation to the coupling housing to a displaced position to engage
said second slide valve element for displacement thereof to the
open position, and forming an interface surface t.o be engaged by
the sealing element at said surface in said displaced position,
said valve hausing further including means for re~aining the first
slide valve element in said recess during the displacement of the
first slide val~e element, a sealed fluid flow connection being
established through said first and second fluid flow passages in
said displaced position. In order to explain the invention in more
detail, a number of preferred embodiments thereof will be described
below, reference being made to the accompanying dra~ings in which:
FIG 1 is an axial sectional view of the slide
valve and coupler assembly in one embodiment
with the slide valve in the position for
connection with the coupler,
FIG 2 is a plan view from below of the coupler,
FIG 3 is a fragmentary view of the slide valve
along line III-III in FIG 1,
FIG 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV
in FIG 1,
FIG 5 is an axial sectional view of a second
embodiment of the slide valve and coupler
assembly having the slide valve and the coupler
separated,
FIG 6 is a view of the coupler along line VI-VI
in FIG 5,
FIG 7 is a plan view of the slide valve in FIG 5,
FIG 8 is a view similar to FIG 5 with the
elements of the slide valve and coupler assembly
a~ in position for interconnection,
2a
FIG 9 is a view similar to FIG 5 with the
elements of the assembly interconnected,
FIG lO is an an axial sectional view of a third
embodiment of the slide valve and coupler
assembly of the invention
FIG 11 is a cross-sectional view along line
:~ 20
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XI-XI in FIG 10,
FIG 12 is a cross-sectional view along line
XII-XII in FIG 10,
FIG 13 is a cross-sectional view along line
XIII-XIII in FIG 10~
FIG 14 is a view similar to FIG 10 having the
eLements of the slide valve and coupler assembly
interconnected,
FIG 15 is an axial sectional view o-f the slide
valve in the embodiment of FIGS 10 to 14 with
sterile means, and
FIG 16 is an axial sectional view of the coupler
of the slide valve and coupler assembly of FIGS
10 to 1~ with sterile means.
In the drawings the slide valve is indicated
generally at A and the coupler is indicated generally
at B. In the embodiment of FIGS 1 to 4 the slide
valve comprises a valve housing 10 forming a passage
11 for fluid flow. The valve housing is shaped for
passing a hose thereon with narrow leakproof fit,
whereby the passage 11 will be connected with a
container or other device, but the valve housing can
also form part of a container or other device. The
~ valve housing 10 forms an undercut groove 12
;~; 25 receiving a slide valve member 13 which closes off
the mouth of the passage 11. The slide valve member
is displaceably guided on ribs 14 facing each other
which are received by groovs 15 in the slide valve
member 13 so that this member can be displaced
between the position shown in FIG 1 which is the
closed position, and another position in which the
mouth of the passage is uncovered and which
accordingly is an open position.
The coupler B comprises a coupler housing 16
having a passage 17 for fluid flow, and also the
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coupler housing is shaped for passing a hose thereon
with leakproof fit. A sealing ring L8 surrounds the
mouth of the passage 17. The coupler housing forms a
cavity 19 which is shaped and dimensioned so as to
receive therein the mouth portion of the slide valve
A provided with the slide valve member 13. In the
coupler housing there is displaceably guided by means
of flanges 20 a thin slide sheet 21 forming an
aperture 22 which is shaped and dimensioned in order
that the mouth portion of the slide valva A can be
passed upwards through the slide sheet into the
cavity 19 when the slide sheet is in the position
shown with the aperture 22 in register with the
cavity 19. Then the slide sheet engages the sealing
element 18 and forms a leakproof seal of the mouth of
the passage 17. In the coupler housing 16 cavities 23
~ are provided one at each side of the mouth portion of
: the passage 17 forming grooves 24 which are
~: positioned such that they are in register with the
ribs 14 as a rectilinear extension thereof when the
mouth portion of the slide valve A is inserted into
the cavity 19, and are dimensioned and shaped so as
~ to receive the ribs 14.
: When the slide valve A at the mouth portion
:~ 25 thereof has been introduced into the cavity 19 in the
coupler housing 16 the slide valve member 13 being in
: the closed position, the slide valve A can be
' displaced to the right as seen in FIG 1, the ribs 14
~: being inserted into the grooves 24 for the
~; 30 interconnection of the sli.de valve A and the coupler,
the slide valve member at the same time being cleared
from the slide valve and remains in the cavity 19
wherein the slide valve member 13 is supported by the
slide sheet 21 which follows the slide valve A when
it is being displaced, and thus will be pulled
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underneath the slide valve member 13. By displacement
of the slide valve A to the right the passages 11 and
17 are brought into register and thus will
communicate with each other the sealing element 18
maintaining the seal between the valve housing and
the coupler housing 16 in the interface between the
two housings. It should be noted that the end surface
of the valve housing 10 at the mouth of the passage
11 which can be closed off by means of the valve
member 13, and the end surface of the coupler housing
16 at the mouth of the passage 17 which can be closed
off by means of the slide sheet 21, never are exposed
to the surroundings, transfer of bacteria or
impurities between the passages 11 and 17 and the
surroundings being prevented thereby.
While the interconnection of the two elements,
the slide valve A and the coupler B, of the slide
valve and coupler assembly in the embodiment
described with reference to FIGS 1 to 4 is effected
by linear displacement of the slide valve A in the
coupler B, this operation takes place in the
embodiment of FIGS 6 to 9 by relative rotation of the
two elements of the assembly. Referring to FIGS 5 to
9 the slide valve A comprises a similar circular
slide valve member 113 which is displaceable inside a
collar 101 formed by the slide valve housing 110 and
is displaceably guided by means of a rib 102 in a
guide groove 103 formed by the valve housing 110.
Between the end surface of the valve housing 110 at
the mouth of the passage 111 formed therein, and the
valve member 113 a sealing element 104 is provided.
To the coupler housing 116 forming a passage 117
a semicircular slide sheet 121 is pivotally mounted
by means of a pin 105. The slide sheet is arranged so
as to close off the mouth of the passage 117 a
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sealing element 118 being provided between the slide
sheet and the coupler housing. The coupler housing
116 forms a recess 119 to receive therein the mouth
portion of the slide valve housing 110 and the slide
valve member 113 arranged thereon, when the slide
valve member is in the closed position.
When the two elements of the slide valve and
coupler assembly are brought together as shown in FIG
8 the coupler housing being inserted into the space
surrounded by the collar 101 and the mouth portion of
the valve housing 110 with the slide valve member 113
being received by the recess 119, the two elements of
the assembly can be rotated in relation to each other
to the position of FIG 9, the slide sheet 121 being
rotated away from the mouth of the passage 117 by
means of the slide valve housing 110 and the slide
valve member 113 being moved away from -the mouth of
the passage 111 by means of the coupler B, the two
passages being brought into register. Sealing is
maintained in the interface between the passages by
means of the sealing element 104. The slide valve
member 113 and the slide sheet 121 will be positioned
one upon the other, and the two elements of the
assembly are interconnected by a rib 106 on the
coupler housing 116 being inserted into the groove
103 in the valve housing 110, said groove previously
receiving the rib 102 on the slide valve member 113.
As will be seen the operation is the same as in the
embodiment of FIGS 1 to 4.
In the third embodiment of the invention which
is shown in FIGS 10 to 14 to which reference now is
made, the two elements of the assembly are arranged
for relative axial displacement at the
interconnection. The valve housing 210 forms a
passage 211 which extends centrally through the valve
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housing formed as a cylindrical body, and forms an
angled mouth portion 211' which opens in the curved
surface of the valve housing. The slide valve member
213 is displaceably guided in an undercut groove 212
a groove 201 connecting to groove 212 to receive and
guide an arm 202 connected with the slide valve
member 213. This arm is biassed by means of a helical
spring 203 encircling the valve housing 210, which
keeps the slide valve member 213 in the closed
position shown in FIG 10 wherein the slide valve
member covers the mouth of the passage 211 at the
mouth portion 211'.
The coupler housing 216 is also cylindrical and
forms an axial cavity 219 a radial passage 217
connecting to said cavity in a socket 20~ formed by
the coupler housing and projecting therefrom~ A slide
body 221 is displaceably guided in the cavity 219
said slide body being biassed by means of a he]ical
spring 205 positioned in the passage, to the position
shown i.n FIG 10 wherein the slide body 221 shuts off
the connection between the cavity 219 and the passage
217 thereof. The coupler housing 216 forms inside the
cavity 219 two ribs 206 received by corresponding
grooves in the slide body 221, which form a shoulder
207 at the passage 217. A resilient hook 208 is
provided on the slide valve for cooperation with a
shoulder 209 on the coupler housing 216.
When the two elements of the assembly, the slide
valve A and the coupler B, are brought together the
; 30 slide valve housing 210 being received by the cavity
219 o~ the coupler, the slide valve member 213 will
be retained by the shoulder 207 and will be moved
away from the mouth portion 211' against the bias of
the spring 203 the slide body 221 at the same time
being depressed to uncover the cavity 219 against the
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bias of the spring 205. When the hook 208 by snap
action engages the shoulder 209 to keep the two
elements of the assembly toge-ther the mouth portion
211' registers with the passage 217 and thus a
connection is established between this passage and
-the passage 211 in the slide valve housing 210.
Existing sealing elements in the embodiments
described - such sealing elements can be provided
also in the embodiment of FIGS 10 to 14 although they
have not been shown therein - can be of such
character that they can absorb a disinfectant. For
example the sealing element can consist of a
resilient porous material. However, a sterile inside
environment in the slide valve and coupler assembly
at repeated connection and disconnection of the two
elements of the assembly also can be maintained by
the arrangement shown in FIGS 15 to 16. According -to
FIG 15 a sleeve 225 of bactericidal material is
pushed onto the housing 210 of the slide valve A so
as to cover the mouth portion of the housing and the
slide valve member 213.
In FIG 16 a layer 226 of bactericidal material
is provided on the slide body 221. Moreover, a sleeve
227 of bactericidal material is inserted into the
cavity 219 said sleeve being provided with a
removable lid 228, and a bactericidal substance 229
is received in the sleeve 227. This sleeve forms an
expansion space which can receive the substance 229
when the slide valve A is inserted into the coupler
B. Instead of being removable the lid 228 can be of
such character that it can be punctured by means of
the valve housing 210. Analogous arrangements can be
provided in the other embodiments of the invention.
