Flow control valve

Claim 1

An apparatus for controlling fluid communication between a first and a second conduit, said apparatus being characterized by: a valve body having a first port, a second port, and an interior cavity, said cavity having a first portion and a second portion, wherein both said first and second ports are in fluid communication with said interior cavity and said first port is connected to the first conduit, wherein the diameter of said first portion of the interior cavity is larger than the diameter of said second portion, and said first portion is closer to said first port than said second portion is to said first port; a plunger component having a closed end, a hollow interior and a third port connected to the second conduit and to said hollow interior, said plunger component having a side wall connecting said third port with said closed end, said side wall having an aperture positioned therein adapted to establish a fluid communication path between a position outside the plunger component with the hollow interior; said plunger component being inserted into said valve body through said second port closed end first so that said aperture is selectively slidably situated in the first portion and the second portion of the interior cavity; and a first seal located on said plunger component between said closed end and said aperture, wherein said first seal and said aperture are selectively locatable in said first and second portions of said interior cavity, said first seal having a size such that said first seal has an interference fit with said second portion when situated in said second portion, whereby when situated in the second portion, said first seal blocks fluid communication between the first and second conduits; and said valve body and plunger component having exterior surfaces formed to facilitate engagement thereof by a mechanized actuation mechanism; whereby said aperture provides for fluid communication between the first and second conduits when said aperture is positioned in said first portion, and whereby said seal blocks fluid communication between the first and second conduits when said seal is positioned in said second portion.

Claim 2

An apparatus for controlling fluid communication between a first and a second conduit, comprising: a valve body having a first port, a second port, and an interior cavity, said cavity having a first portion and a second portion, wherein both said first and second ports are in fluid communication with said interior cavity and said first port is connected to the first conduit, wherein the diameter of said first portion of the interior cavity is larger than the diameter of said second portion, and said first portion is closer to said first port than said second portion is to said first port; a plunger component having a closed end, a hollow interior, and a third port connected to the second conduit and to said hollow interior, said plunger component having a side wall connecting said third port with said closed end, said side wall having an aperture positioned therein adapted to establish a fluid communication path between a position outside the plunger component with the hollow interior; said plunger component being inserted into said valve body through said second port closed end first so that said aperture is selectively slidably situated in the first portion and the second portion of the interior cavity; and a first seal located on said plunger component between said closed end and said aperture, wherein said first seal and said aperture are selectively locatable in said first and second portions of said interior cavity, said first seal having a size such that said first seal has an interference fit with said second portion when situated in said second portion, whereby when situated in the second portion, said first seal blocks fluid communication between the first and second conduits; and said second portion of said interior cavity includes a first protrusion positioned therein so as to interact with said first seal such that, when said aperture is positioned in said first portion, said first seal is on a first side of said first protrusion and, when said aperture is positioned in said second portion, said first seal is on a second side of said first protrusion, said first side of said first protrusion being closer than said second side of said first protrusion to said first portion of said interior cavity; whereby said aperture provides for fluid communication between the first and second conduits when said aperture is positioned in said first portion, and whereby said seal blocks fluid communication between the first and second conduits when said seal is positioned in said second portion.

Claim 3

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid between a first and a second conduit, comprising: a valve body having a first port, a second port, and an interior cavity, wherein both the first and second ports are in fluid communication with the interior cavity and said first port is connected to the first conduit, said cavity having a section of reduced diameter; a plunger component having a closed end, a hollow interior and a port connected to the second conduit and to the hollow interior, the plunger component having a side wall connecting the port with the closed end, the side wall having an aperture positioned along the side wall such that a flow path is established between the cavity of said valve body and the hollow interior of the plunger component when the plunger component is inserted into the valve body through the second port to a predetermined position; and a seal located on the plunger component, the seal having a size such that it has an interference fit with the reduced diameter section of the cavity, and is located in relation to the aperture such that the seal blocks the flow of fluid between the cavity and the aperture when the plunger component is positioned in the valve body such that the aperture is within the section of reduced diameter.

Claim 4

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said first and second seals are formed as part of said plunger component and said plunger component is formed wholly of a slightly deformable substance, and said first seal has an exterior side and comprises at least one ridge formed on said exterior side of said plunger component, said ridge being located adjacent said aperture, and said apparatus further comprises a second seal and a second protrusion, said second seal comprising at least one ridge formed on said exterior side of said plunger component, said second seal being located between said aperture and said third port and being of sufficient size to have an interference fit with said second portion of said interior cavity when situated in said second portion, said second protrusion being formed in said second portion of said interior cavity, and said first protrusion being closer than said second protrusion to said first portion of said interior cavity, wherein sliding said plunger component in said interior cavity so that said first seal is moved between said first and second portions of said interior cavity causes said first seal to come into and out of contact with said first protrusion, said contact providing a tactile and audible indicator of the presence or absence of fluid communication between the first and second conduits.

Claim 5

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further characterized by an actuation mechanism, comprising: a first clamp attached to said plunger component; a second clamp attached to said valve body; and an actuation element which moves into and out of engagement with one of said clamps and, when in engagement with said clamp, causes said engaged clamp to move in relation to the other clamp to thereby cause said plunger component to move in relation to said valve body.