US4821996A — Fluid flow control valve and transfer set

Claim 1

Independent Claim 104 words

A multi-position mechanical apparatus for controlling fluid flow within a fluid transfer device having multiple, interconnected flexible, conduits normally open for fluid flow therethrough, the apparatus comprising: a base member for receiving a plurality of the interconnected fluid flow conduits; and selecting means, including a rotatable member rotatable in only one direction, said selecting means removably affixable to said base member and supported movably by said base member for selectively blocking fluid flow through at least one of the members of the plurality of flexible fluid flow conduits, said selecting means being affixable to said base member only at a single rotational insertion/removal position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 104 words

A multi-position mechanical apparatus for controlling fluid flow within a fluid transfer device having multiple, interconnected flexible, conduits normally open for fluid flow therethrough, the apparatus comprising: a base member for receiving a plurality of the interconnected fluid flow conduits; and selecting means, including a rotatable member rotatable in only one direction, said selecting means removably affixable to said base member and supported movably by said base member for selectively blocking fluid flow through at least one of the members of the plurality of flexible fluid flow conduits, said selecting means being affixable to said base member only at a single rotational insertion/removal position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said selecting means includes means for applying a clamping force to at least the one member of the plurality thereby temporarily deflecting a portion thereof closing the fluid flow pathway therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said selecting means includes means for indexing through a predetermined sequence of positions thereby clamping shut in said predetermined sequence selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for indexing defines a plurality of predetermined sequence positions angularly displaced from one another.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said force applying means includes a surface for clamping shut selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits and at least one selectively shaped valve opening for selectively permitting fluid flow through at least one selected conduit associated with at least one sequence position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said force applying means includes a selectively shaped valve opening defined on said rotatable member for selectively permitting fluid flow through selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits associated with selected members of said plurality of predetermined sequence positions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said valve opening is formed with a first region, with a selected unclamped fluid flow conduit extendable therethrough, and with a shaped second region for slidably engaging the fluid flow conduit and for applying force thereto to clamp the conduit shut to block the flow of fluid therethrough as said rotatable member is rotated.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

An apparatus as in claim 7 including a second valve opening defined on said rotatable member, spaced from said first valve opening, so as to unclamp a second fluid flow conduit simultaneously with unclamping the first fluid flow conduit permitting fluid flow therebetween.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 43 words

An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said indexing means includes a spring member, affixed at a first end to said base member, with a second member in slidable contact with said rotatable member so as to define said sequence of index positions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein as said rotatable member rotates, said valve opening moves angularly from a first sequence position to a second sequence position in cooperation with said indexing means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said indexing means includes means for retaining said movable member at each selected sequence position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said retaining means exerts a predetermined retaining torque to retain said valve opening at each selected position with said valve opening movable to an adjacent, angularly displaced, position in response to an applied torque in excess of said retaining torque.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said indexing means permits rotation of said rotatable member in a selected direction and includes means blocking rotation opposite said selected direction.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said base member includes a plurality of spaced apart, conduit receiving apertures.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein each said conduit receiving aperture includes first and second spaced apart, surfaces joined by a third surface.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 43 words

An apparatus as in claim 6 including a resilient member carried by said base member with said force applying means selectively clamping selected members of the plurality of fluid flow conduits against selected portions of said resilient member thereby blocking fluid flow therethrough.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said resilient member is a circular member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said resilient member has an essentially square cross section.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said resilient member is a gasket with a planar surface.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said resilient member has an esentially circular cross section.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said circular member is an O-ring.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein as said force applying means clamps at least one of the selected members of the plurality against a selected portion of said resilient member, said portion is deflected.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said selecting means includes a linearly movable member and said means for indexing defines a plurality of predetermined sequence positions linearly displaced from one another.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

An apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said force applying means includes at least one region for selectively applying conduit clamping force to at least one selected conduit associated with at least one sequence position blocking fluid flow therethrough.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

An apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said force applying means includes a selected valve opening, carried by said linearly movable member for selectively removing conduit clamping force from selected members of the plurality associated with said plurality of predetermined sequence positions.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus as in claim 25 wherein as said movable member moves linearly, said valve opening moves linearly from a first sequence location to a second sequence location in cooperation with said indexing means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

An apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said indexing means includes means for retaining said movable member at each selected sequence position.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 46 words

An apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said retaining means exerts a predetermined retaining force to retain said valve opening at each selective position with said opening movable to an adjacent linearly displaced position in response to an applied force in excess of said retaining force.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

An apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said indexing means permits linear movement of said member in a selected direction and includes means blocking movement opposite said selected direction.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said base member has a selectively oriented, cylindrical member with a threaded end; and said selecting means being threaded for engagement with said threaded end of said cylindrical member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 33 words

A mechanical apparatus as in claim 30 including a cylindrical alignment member, carried by said selecting means and slidably receivable within said threaded cylindrical member as said selecting means moves toward said base.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 38 words

A mechanical apparatus as in claim 30 with said threaded end including a plurality of spaced apart biased surfaces to pull said selecting means axially toward said base member as said means is rotated onto said base member.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising flow indicator means associated with said selecting means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 114 words

A multi-position rotary valve for controlling fluid flow within a fluid transfer device having multiple, interconnected, flexible conduits normally open for fluid flow therethrough, the rotary valve comprising: a base member for receiving a plurality of interconnected fluid flow conduits; and selecting means removably, and rotatably mountable on said base member for clamping shut selected of the fluid flow conduits with said selecting means defining at least one rotatably movable valve opening for unclamping selected of the fluid flow conduits and, permitting a flow of fluid therethrough as said selecting means is rotated, said selection means being rotatable in only one direction and mountable on said base only at a single rotational insertion/removal position.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 114 words

A multi-position rotary valve for controlling fluid flow within a fluid transfer device having multiple, interconnected, flexible conduits normally open for fluid flow therethrough, the rotary valve comprising: a base member for receiving a plurality of interconnected fluid flow conduits; and selecting means removably, and rotatably mountable on said base member for clamping shut selected of the fluid flow conduits with said selecting means defining at least one rotatably movable valve opening for unclamping selected of the fluid flow conduits and, permitting a flow of fluid therethrough as said selecting means is rotated, said selection means being rotatable in only one direction and mountable on said base only at a single rotational insertion/removal position.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 33 words

A valve as in claim 34 wherein said base includes means for orienting the fluid transfer device such that said device can be properly positioned on said base with only a single orientation.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

A valve as in claim 35 wherein said means for orienting is centrally located with respect to said base.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 22 words

A valve as in claim 36 wherein said orienting means includes at least one region bounded in part by an arcuate surface.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 26 words

A valve as in claim 37 wherein said orienting means includes a second region, spaced from said one region, bounded in part by an arcuate surface.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 25 words

A valve as in claim 38 wherein said arcuate surface of said second region extends at least through an angle on the order of 60°.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 19 words

A valve as in claim 37 wherein said arcuate surface extends through an angle on the order of 120°.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 51 words

A valve as in claim 35 wherein said base member carries a discontinuous annular flange with said selecting means including a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending members for slidably engaging said discontinuous annular flange as said selecting means is rotated thereby rotatably locking said selecting means to said base member.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 31 words

A valve as in claim 41 wherein said selecting means includes annular sliding means for clamping selected of the fluid flow conduits against at least one region of said base member.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 20 words

A valve as in claim 41, wherein said annular sliding means includes an annular surface interrupted by said valve opening.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 22 words

A valve as in claim 43, wherein said annular surface is interrupted by a second valve opening spaced from said valve opening.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 18 words

A valve as in claim 44 wherein said two valve openings are spaced about 120° from one another.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 28 words

A valve as in claim 43 wherein said valve opening includes a first region through which a section of a selected conduit can extend without being clamped shut.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 58 words

A valve as in claim 46 wherein said valve opening includes a second region adjacent said first region, for slidably engaging the section of the selected conduit and for gradually forcing the section against a part of said base region thereby clamping the conduit shut and blocking the flow of fluid therethrough as said selecting means is rotated.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-04-17	1992-10-17	1993-04-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-04-17	1996-10-17	1997-04-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-04-17	2000-10-17	2001-04-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fluid flow control valve and transfer set

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag