US-12624784-B2 - Fluid couplings with an in-line flow valve

Abstract

Some fluid couplings, as described in this document, have an actuatable valve. In some examples, the actuatable valves provide an unobstructed flow path when switched to the “open” position and a closed flow path when switched to the “closed” position.

Inventors

• Samuel M. JANG
• Jack T. Stangl
• Loi T. Truong

Assignees

• COLDER PRODUCTS COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240913

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A selectively actuatable shut-off valve comprising: a body termination comprising a first fluid connection end and defining a longitudinal axis and an open internal space; a cartridge fixedly coupled to the body termination within the open internal space; a collar rotatably coupled to an outer diameter of the body termination, the collar comprising one or more protrusions; an insert termination comprising a valve member and a second fluid connection end, the insert termination defining one or more grooves extending around and along the longitudinal axis, wherein each protrusion of the one or more protrusions is slidably coupled within one groove of the one or more grooves; and a flexible bellow located within the open internal space and comprising: (i) a first end attached to the cartridge and (ii) a second end attached to the insert termination, wherein the second end of the bellow is radially spaced apart from an inner wall surface of the body termination.
2. 2 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more grooves helically extend around and along the longitudinal axis.
3. 3 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve is reconfigurable between: (i) an open configuration in which a fluid flow path is opened between the first fluid connection end and the second fluid connection end and (ii) a closed configuration in which the fluid flow path is blocked between the first fluid connection end and the second fluid connection end.
4. 4 . The shut-off valve of claim 3 , wherein the shut-off valve is configured such that rotation of the collar relative to the body termination reconfigures the shut-off valve between the open configuration and the closed configuration.
5. 5 . The shut-off valve of claim 3 , further comprising a latching mechanism that can be actuated to detain or release the shut-off valve in or from one or more of the open configuration and the closed configuration.
6. 6 . The shut-off valve of claim 3 , wherein an end of the valve member protrudes beyond the first fluid connection when the shut-off valve is in the closed configuration.
7. 7 . The shut-off valve of claim 3 , wherein an entirety of the valve member is within the internal space when the shut-off valve is in the closed configuration.
8. 8 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , further comprising a tamper-evident member configured to make a previous rotation of the collar visually detectable.
9. 9 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , further comprising a first seal member disposed in a first annular groove defined by the cartridge and the body termination, wherein the first seal member seals against an outer diameter of the valve member when the shut-off valve is in the closed configuration.
10. 10 . The shut-off valve of claim 9 , wherein the first annular groove has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.
11. 11 . The shut-off valve of claim 9 , further comprising a second seal member and a third seal member that are each disposed between the cartridge and the body termination.
12. 12 . The shut-off valve of claim 11 , further comprising a fourth seal member disposed between the insert termination and the cartridge.
13. 13 . The shut-off valve of claim 11 , wherein the third seal member is positioned in a second annular groove defined by the cartridge and the body termination.
14. 14 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , further comprising a first seal member and a second seal member, wherein the first seal member and the second seal member are each positioned on shoulders of the cartridge.
15. 15 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more grooves includes exactly two grooves and the one or more protrusions includes exactly two protrusions.
16. 16 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more grooves includes exactly three grooves and the one or more protrusions includes exactly three protrusions.
17. 17 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more grooves includes exactly four grooves and the one or more protrusions includes exactly four protrusions.
18. 18 . The shut-off valve of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge snaps into the fixedly coupled arrangement with the body termination.
19. 19 . A selectively actuatable shut-off valve comprising: a body termination comprising a first fluid connection end and defining a longitudinal axis and an open internal space; a cartridge coupled to the body termination within the open internal space; a collar coupled to an outer diameter of the body termination; an insert termination comprising a valve member and a second fluid connection end; and a bellow located within the open internal space and comprising: (i) a first end attached to the cartridge and (ii) a second end attached to the insert termination, wherein the second end of the bellow is radially spaced apart from an inner wall surface of the body termination.
20. 20 . The shut-off valve of claim 19 , wherein the bellow is configured to be flexible.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/538,726 filed Sep. 15, 2023. The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of (and is incorporated by reference in) the disclosure of this application. BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field This document relates to fluid couplings with an actuatable valve that provides an unobstructed flow path when configured in the “open” position and that closes the flow path when reconfigured to the “closed” position. 2. Background Information In typical aseptic connectors, due to the requirements of radiation and/or autoclave sterilizations methods, the use of metals is prohibited and only a limited range of polymer materials (both thermoplastic and thermoset) can be used. Therefore, the use of ball valves and other “full flow path” designs that require metals or soft polymers are impractical or impossible. As a result, the industry has typically utilized O-ring seals as the seal of choice, and therefore required a component that resided at the center of the flow path to house the seal. This arrangement impedes flow and limits the ability to maximize fluid transfer rate. The fluid couplings disclosed herein resolve these limitations while maintaining the practicality and cost efficiency of a polymer-based fluid connector valve. SUMMARY This document describes fluid couplings with an actuatable valve that provides an unobstructed flow path when configured to the “open” position and that closes the flow path when reconfigured to the “closed” position. In one aspect, this disclosure is directed to a selectively actuatable shut-off valve, or fluid coupling, that includes a body termination comprising a first fluid connection end and defining a longitudinal axis and an open internal space; a cartridge fixedly coupled to the body termination within the open internal space; a collar rotatably coupled to an outer diameter of the body termination, the collar comprising one or more protrusions; an insert termination comprising a valve member and a second fluid connection end, the insert termination defining one or more grooves extending around and along the longitudinal axis, wherein each protrusion of the one or more protrusions is slidably coupled within one groove of the one or more grooves; and a flexible bellow located within the open internal space and comprising: (i) a first end attached to the cartridge and (ii) a second end attached to the insert termination, wherein the second end of the bellow is radially spaced apart from an inner wall surface of the body termination. Such a shut-off valve, or fluid coupling, may optionally include one or more of the following features. The one or more grooves may helically extend around and along the longitudinal axis. The may be reconfigurable between: (i) an open configuration in which a fluid flow path is opened between the first fluid connection end and the second fluid connection end and (ii) a closed configuration in which the fluid flow path is blocked between the first fluid connection end and the second fluid connection end. The shut-off valve may be configured such that rotation of the collar relative to the body termination reconfigures the shut-off valve between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The shut-off valve may also include a latching mechanism that can be actuated to detain or release the shut-off valve in or from one or more of the open configuration and the closed configuration. In some embodiments, an end of the valve member protrudes beyond the first fluid connection when the shut-off valve is in the closed configuration. In select embodiments, an end of the valve member is recessed within the internal space in comparison to the first fluid connection when the shut-off valve is in the closed configuration. The shut-off valve may also include a tamper-evident member configured to make a previous rotation of the collar visually detectable. In some embodiments, the insert termination includes one or more radially extending projections, wherein the body termination includes one or more longitudinally extending grooves, and each radially extending projection of the one or more radially extending projections is slidably disposed within one longitudinally extending groove of the one or more longitudinally extending groove. The shut-off valve may also include a first seal member disposed in an annular groove defined between the body termination and the cartridge. The first seal member may seal against an outer diameter of the valve member when the shut-off valve is in the closed configuration. In some embodiments, the annular groove has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The shut-off valve may also include a second seal member and a third seal member that are each disposed between the cartridge and the body termination. The shut-off valve may also include a fourth seal member disposed between the insert termination and the