Hydraulic manifold with automatic flow control

Claim 2

An automatic manifold access and flow control fitting comprising, in combination, a body having a fixed flow passage defined therethrough, a fixed fitting passage defined in said body transversely disposed to and intersecting said flow passage, an inlet port defined in said fitting passage spaced from said flow passage, an elongated tubular valve element axially displaceable within said fitting passage between a fitting sealing position sealing said inlet port at said inlet port and a flow passage blocking position wherein said valve element is located within said flow passage and blocks said flow passage against flow therethrough, a seat defined on said valve element, a seating surface defined in said fitting passage adjacent said inlet port engagable by said valve element seat at said valve element fitting sealing position to seal said inlet port, a bypass passage defined within said valve element having a first port in communication with said inlet port and a second port in communication with said flow passage when said valve element is in said blocking position, conduit attachment means defined upon said body at said inlet port, an abutment defined on said valve element adjacent said inlet port engagable with a conduit to be selectively connected to said inlet port which automatically displaces said valve element from said sealing position to said blocking position, and spring means biasing said valve element toward said sealing position.

Claim 3

An automatic manifold access and flow control fitting comprising, in combination, a body having a flow passage defined therein, a fitting passage defined in said body transversely disposed to and intersecting said flow passage, an inlet port defined in said fitting passage spaced from said flow passage, an elongated tubular valve element axially displaceable within said fitting passage between a fitting sealing position sealing said inlet port and a flow passage blocking position wherein said valve element is located within said flow passage and blocks said flow passage against flow therethrough, a bypass passage defined within said valve element having a first port in communication with said inlet port and a second port in communication with said flow passage when said valve element is in said blocking position, said valve element having a cylindrical side surface, said bypass passage second port intersecting said valve element side surface whereby said bypass passage communicates solely with one portion of said flow passage upon said valve element being located within said flow passage at said blocking position, a key groove defined in said valve element side surface, a key within said fitting passage engaging said key groove to orient said valve element and said second port to said flow passage upon said valve element being in said blocking position, conduit attachment means defined upon said body at said inlet port, an abutment defined on said valve element adjacent said inlet port engagable with a conduit to be selectively connected to said inlet port which automatically displaces said valve element from said sealing position to said blocking position, and spring means biasing said valve element toward said sealing position.

Claim 4

An automatic manifold access and flow control fitting comprising, in combination, a body having a flow passage defined therein, a fitting passage defined in said body transversely disposed to and intersecting said flow passage, an inlet port defined in said fitting passage spaced from said flow passage, an elongated tubular valve element axially displaceable within said fitting passage between a fitting sealing position sealing said inlet port and a flow passage blocking position wherein said valve element is located within said flow passage and blocks said flow passage against flow therethrough, a bypass passage defined within said valve element having a first port in communication with said inlet port and a second port in communication with said flow passage when said valve element is in said blocking position, said valve element having a cylindrical side surface, said bypass passage second port intersecting said valve element side surface whereby said bypass passage communicates solely with one portion of said flow passage upon said valve element being located within said flow passage at said blocking position, a key groove defined in said valve element side surface, a key within said fitting passage engaging said key groove to orient said valve element and said second port to said flow passage upon said valve element being in said blocking position, conduit attachment means defined upon said body at said inlet port, an abutment defined on said valve element adjacent said inlet port engagable with a conduit to be selectively connected to said inlet port which automatically displaces said valve element from said sealing position to said blocking position, and spring means biasing said valve element toward said sealing position.

Claim 5

In a manifold access and flow control fitting as in claim 2, said key groove being of a spiral configuration, and said key comprising a ball whereby said valve element is rotated about its axis as it is translated between said sealing and blocking positions.

Claim 6

In a manifold access and flow control fitting as in claim 5, a tubular sleeve mounted within said fitting passage about said valve element, a pair of diametrically related holes defined in said sleeve, a key ball received within each sleeve hole, and a pair of spiral key grooves defined in said valve element each receiving a key hole.