EP-4739937-A1 - FLUID HANDLING COUPLINGS

Abstract

Fluid couplings described herein are designed be assembled efficiently and economically. In example embodiments, the fluid couplings are designed with minimal component parts so that the fluid couplings are additionally economical to produce. A main body of the fluid coupling defines an opening through a side wall. A valve member and a conical spring are insertable into an internal space defined by the main body. The maximum outer diameter of the conical spring is smaller than the opening through the side wall. Accordingly, the conical spring can be inserted through the opening.

Inventors

• BERGGREN, Dylan W.
• FINN, Graydon P.
• SHARRATT, TODD W.
• STURM, BLAINE C.
• WILHELM, GRANT A.

Assignees

• Colder Products Company

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240827

Claims (16)

1. 1. A fluid coupling comprising: a main body comprising a side wall and a valve seat, the main body defining: (i) an open internal space having a central longitudinal axis and (ii) an opening through the side wall; a conical spring disposed within the internal space and comprising: a first end portion having a first outer diameter; and a second end portion opposite of the first end portion and having a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter; and a valve member disposed within the internal space and coupled with the first end portion of the conical spring, wherein the valve member is movable along the central longitudinal axis between a closed position in which the valve member seals against the valve seat and an open position in which a fluid flow path is open through the fluid coupling, wherein the second outer diameter of the conical spring is smaller than the opening through the side wall.
2. 2. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the second end portion of the conical spring is engaged against the main body.
3. 3. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the conical spring biases the valve member to the closed position.
4. 4. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein adjacent coils of the conical spring nest inside of each other when the conical spring is longitudinally compressed.
5. 5. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the conical spring is made of a wound wire having a wire diameter, and wherein a solid height of the conical spring is between two to six times the wire diameter.
6. 6. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the conical spring is a cone-shaped compression spring.
7. 7. The fluid coupling of any one of claims 1 through 6, wherein the main body defines an end opening, and wherein the second end portion of the conical spring is larger than the end opening.
8. 8. The fluid coupling of claim 7, wherein the first end portion of the conical spring is smaller than the end opening.
9. 9. The fluid coupling of claim 7, wherein the main body includes two protrusions that engage with the second end portion of the conical spring to keep the conical spring centered on the central longitudinal axis.
10. 10. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a front face and defines an annular recess concentrically around the front face.
11. 11. The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a portion configured to couple with a bottle or a bag.
12. 12. A method of assembling a fluid coupling, the method comprising: inserting a valve member of the fluid coupling into an internal space defined by main body of the fluid coupling, the main body comprising a side wall and a valve seat, the main body defining an opening through the side wall and a central longitudinal axis; inserting a conical spring through the opening through the side wall and into the internal space defined by the main body; engaging a first end portion of the conical spring with the valve member; and engaging a second end portion of the conical spring against the main body, wherein the first end portion has a first outer diameter, and wherein the second end portion has a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter.
13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the main body defines an end opening, and wherein the second end portion of the conical spring has a second outer diameter that is larger than the end opening.
14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second outer diameter is smaller than the opening through the side wall of the main body.
15. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first end portion of the conical spring has a first outer diameter that is smaller than the end opening.
16. 16. The method of any one of claims 13 through 15, wherein inserting the valve member of the fluid coupling into the internal space comprises inserting the valve member through the end opening.

Description

FLUID HANDLING COUPLINGS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/535,008 filed August 28, 2023. The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of (and is incorporated by reference in) the disclosure of this application. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This document relates to fluid handling devices. For example, this document relates to fluid handling couplings that are designed to be assembled efficiently. BACKGROUND [0003] Fluid handling components such as fluid couplings allow fluid communication between two or more components. Some fluid couplings include features that allow male and female components to be quickly connected or disconnected, and may include one or more internal valve components that selectively block or allow flow of fluid through the fluid couplings. [0004] Fluid couplings with internal valve components typically have multiple component parts that are assembled into a fully completed and functional fluid coupling. The assembly process can be a significant aspect of the manufacturing cost structure of some fluid couplings. SUMMARY [0005] This document describes fluid handling components. For example, this document describes fluid couplings that are designed to be assembled efficiently and economically. Some such fluid couplings are designed to prevent spillage of fluid when connecting and disconnecting the couplings. In some embodiments, the fluid couplings described herein include internal valve components. In example embodiments, the fluid couplings are designed with minimal component parts so that the fluid couplings are economical to produce. [0006] The fluid coupling devices described herein may also be referred to as male couplings, “coupling halves,” and/or “connectors.” The male couplings may also be referred to as “inserts” that are designed to be used in engagement with female couplings that may be referred to as “bodies.” [0007] In one aspect, this disclosure is directed to a fluid coupling that includes a main body, a conical spring, and a valve member. The main body includes a side wall and a valve seat. The main body defines: (i) an open internal space having a central longitudinal axis and (ii) an opening through the side wall. The conical spring is disposed within the internal space and includes a first end portion having a first outer diameter, and a second end portion opposite of the first end portion and having a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter. The valve member is disposed within the internal space and coupled with the first end portion of the conical spring. The valve member is movable along the central longitudinal axis between a closed position in which the valve member seals against the valve seat and an open position in which a fluid flow path is open through the fluid coupling. The second outer diameter of the conical spring is smaller than the opening through the side wall. [0008] Such a fluid coupling may optionally include one or more of the following features. The second end portion of the conical spring may be engaged against the main body. The conical spring may bias the valve member to the closed position. Adjacent coils of the conical spring may nest inside of each other when the conical spring is longitudinally compressed. The conical spring may be made of a wound wire having a wire diameter, and a solid height of the conical spring may be between two to six times the wire diameter. The conical spring may be a cone-shaped compression spring. The main body may define an end opening, and the second end portion of the conical spring may be larger than the end opening. The first end portion of the conical spring may be smaller than the end opening. The main body may include two protrusions that engage with the second end portion of the conical spring to keep the conical spring centered on the central longitudinal axis. The main body may also include a front face and may define an annular recess concentrically around the front face. The main body may also include a portion configured to couple with a bottle or a bag. [0009] In another aspect, this disclosure is directed to a method of assembling a fluid coupling. The method includes: (i) inserting a valve member of the fluid coupling into an internal space defined by main body of the fluid coupling, the main body comprising a side wall and a valve seat, the main body defining an opening through the side wall and a central longitudinal axis; (ii) inserting a conical spring through the opening through the side wall and into the internal space defined by the main body; (iii) engaging a first end portion of the conical spring with the valve member; and (iv) engaging a second end portion of the conical spring against the main body. The first end portion has a first outer diameter, and the second end portion has a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter. [00