Connection device for providing selective fluid communication between first and second conduits

Claim 1

A connecting device for providing selective fluid communication between first and second fluid conduits, said connecting device comprising: a first member having a first open end for connection to a first fluid conduit, a second open end, and a first fluid passageway defined between said first and second open ends of said first member, said first fluid passageway including a seating surface between said first and second ends and a hollow interior between said second open end and said seating surface; a second member having a first open end for connection to a second fluid conduit, and a second end disposed within said hollow interior of said first end and including a substantially closed end surface having a corresponding seating surface for sealingly mating against said seating surface of said first member, said second member being rotatable relative to said first member, and said second member having a bore extending along substantially the length thereof and further including at least one hole in the sidewall thereof disposed adjacent said second end for providing communication between said hollow interior of said first member and said bore in said second member; cooperating guide pins and inclined guide grooves on said first and second members, said guide pins extending radially from one of said first and second members toward the other of said first and second members, and said inclined grooves being provided in the wall of the other of said first and second members for receiving said guide pins so that upon relative rotational movement between said first and second members, said inclined grooves positively axially shift said guide pins and said one member to provide relative axial movement between said first and second members between a closed position in which said seating surface and said cooperating seating surface sealingly mate to prevent fluid communication between said first ends of said first and second members and an open position in which fluid communication is provided from said first end of said first member to said first end of said second member through the gap between said seating surface and said corresponding seating surface of said first and second members, said hollow interior of said first member, said at least one hole in said second member and said bore in said second member; sealing means interposed in said hollow interior of said first member between the sidewalls of said first and second members for sealingly enclosing said second end of said second member in said hollow interior of said first member; and a resilient sleeve engagable with said first and second members adjacent said first ends thereof for sealingly enclosing said second ends of said first and second members while at the same time permitting relative axial and rotational movement between said first and second members.