Claims
- 1. A valve assemblage for controlling flow of fluid between a first system containing fluid to be dispensed and a second system for receiving the fluid, the first system having a first opening, and the second system having a second opening, the assemblage comprising:
- a first valve assembly adapted to be positioned at the first opening, the first valve assembly comprising a body member, a fluid entrance port in the body member to receive fluid from the first system, a piston slideable within the body member from a first position closing the entrance port, to a second position opening the closed entrance port, and a first spring member normally biasing the piston to the first position;
- a second valve assembly adapted to be positioned at the second opening, the second valve assembly comprising a proboscis member, the proboscis member comprising a channel having an inlet end to receive fluid from the fluid entrance port in the body member and an outlet end to deliver the received fluid to the second system, the inlet end being positioned at a first end portion of the proboscis member, a blocking member movable relative to the proboscis member from a first position closing the inlet end to a second position opening the inlet end, and a second spring member normally biasing the blocking member to the position closing the inlet end;
- wherein, when the first opening is urged toward the second opening, the first body member of the first valve assembly engages and moves the blocking member thereby opening the inlet end of the proboscis member, and the proboscis member displaces the piston into the position opening the entrance port, the opened entrance port then being in fluid communication with the opened inlet end, thereby forming an open fluid flow channel between the first system and the second system;
- wherein, when the first opening is urged away from said second opening, the body member is withdrawn from the proboscis member, the blocking member moves to close the inlet end, and the proboscis member disengages from the piston to allow the piston to slide to the position closing the entrance port, thereby preventing flow of fluid between the first and second systems; and
- wherein when the first opening is urged toward the second opening, the blocking member opens the inlet end before the piston is displaced sufficiently to position the entrance port in communication with the through channel; and when the first opening is urged away from the second opening, the piston closes the entrance port before the blocking member closes the inlet end, whereby leakage from the first system containing fluid to be dispensed is prevented when the first opening is urged toward or away from the second opening.
- 2. The valve assemblage in claim 1 wherein the blocking member is a sleeve member surrounding the inlet end of the proboscis member and movable from the position closing the inlet end to the position opening the inlet end.
- 3. The valve assemblage recited in claim 2 wherein the first valve assembly is mounted to a flexible bag for a fluid to be transferred.
- 4. The valve assemblage recited in claim 3 wherein the flexible bag is enclosed in a substantially rigid housing assemblage.
- 5. The valve assemblage recited in claim 3 wherein the flexible bag comprises a spout having a central bore into which the body member is installed, the bore comprising a circumferential groove and the body member comprising a pair of axially spaced, circumferentially extended lips for engaging the groove, whereby the body member may be partially inserted in the bore until one of the lips engages the groove or fully inserted in the bore until the other of the lips engages the groove.
- 6. The valve assemblage recited in claim 5, wherein the fluid entrance port is between the lips.
- 7. The valve assemblage recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one seal between the proboscis member and the blocking member.
- 8. The valve assemblage recited in claim 7, wherein the blocking member is a sleeve member surrounding the inlet end of the proboscis member and the seal comprises a base disk engaging the first end portion and a perforated cylindrical wall extended from the base disk past the inlet end, the cylindrical wall being extended between the proboscis member and the sleeve member.
- 9. The valve assemblage recited in claim 1, further comprising a frame plate in the second system for mounting the proboscis member;
- a through hole defined by the frame plate, the through hole having a first end and a second end, the proboscis member being mounted in the through hole;
- a radially extended stop on the proboscis member;
- a flat washer engaged between the stop and the frame at the first end of the through hole;
- a threaded portion on the proboscis member extended through the second end of the through hole; and
- a threaded nut engaged with the threaded portion and the frame at the second end of the through hole, whereby the proboscis member is positioned for engagement with the first valve assembly.
- 10. The valve assemblage in claim 1, wherein the body member of the first valve assembly comprises a bore in which the piston is located, the bore being tapered inwardly to seal the piston against the bore of the body member.
- 11. The valve assemblage in claim 1, wherein the first valve assemblage is mounted to a flexible container for a fluid to be transferred, the flexible bag comprising a spout with a central bore into which the body member is installed, the bore comprising a circumferential groove and the body member comprising a circumferentially extended lip for engaging the groove, the lip including a circumferentially extended seal flange for engaging the groove and providing a seal between the central bore and the body member.
- 12. The valve assemblage in claim 1, wherein the first system contains photographic processing chemicals.
- 13. A valve assemblage according to claim 1, wherein the blocking member is a sleeve surrounding the inlet end, further comprising a seal between the proboscis member and the sleeve, the seal comprising a base disk engaging the first end portion and a perforated cylindrical wall extended from the base disk past the inlet end, the cylindrical wall being extended between the proboscis member and an inside surface of the sleeve.
- 14. A valve assemblage according to claim 13, wherein engaging surfaces between the base disk and the piston comprise means for preventing entrapment of fluid there between.
- 15. A method of controlling the flow of fluid between a first system for containing a fluid to be dispensed and a second system for receiving the fluid, the first system having a first opening and the second system having a second opening, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first flow control assembly positioned at the first opening, the first flow control assembly comprising a body member, a fluid entrance port in the body member, a piston slideable within the body member to open and close the entrance port, and a first spring member normally biasing the piston to a position closing the entrance port;
- providing a second flow control assembly positioned at the second opening, the second flow control member comprising a proboscis member having a through channel with an inlet end and an outlet end, a blocking member movable relative to the proboscis member to open and close the inlet end, and a second spring member for biasing the blocking member to a position closing the inlet end;
- urging the first opening toward the second opening so that the body member engages and moves the blocking member to open the inlet end, and the proboscis member displaces the piston thereby positioning the fluid entrance port in fluid communication with the through channel for enabling fluid flow between the first and second;
- withdrawing the first system away from the second system so that body member of the first flow control assembly withdraws to permit the blocking member to close the through channel, and the proboscis member retracts to permit the piston to close the entrance port, thereby preventing fluid flow between the first and second containerized systems,
- wherein, during the urging step, the blocking member opens the inlet end before the piston is displaced sufficiently to position the entrance port in communication with the through channel; and during the withdrawing step, the piston closes the entrance port before the blocking member closes the inlet end, whereby leakage from the first system containing fluid to be dispensed is prevented during the urging and withdrawing steps.
- 16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the fluid is a photographic processing chemical which flows from the first system to the second.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 08/380,878 filed 30 Jan. 1995 by Clark E. Harris, David L. Patton and Bradley S. Bush now abandoned, which, is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/220,984 filed 31 Mar. 1994 by Clark E. Harris and David L. Patton and now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (42)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
229612 |
Oct 1963 |
ATX |
276994 |
Mar 1988 |
EPX |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
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380878 |
Jan 1995 |
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Parent |
220984 |
Mar 1994 |
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