Connection system having a threaded nut

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection system for components through which fluid flows in medicine and medical equipment, comprising a male connection cone (6, 30) and a threaded nut (7) least partially surrounding the connection cone (6) and having an internal thread (9), for captively connecting the male connection cone (6, 30) to a female receptacle of an additional component through which fluid flows. The invention is characterised in that the threaded nut (7) has radially circumferential through-holes (10) at least in some sections in the axial section of the circumferential jacket of the threaded nut and webs (11, 11) are formed adjacent to the through-holes in the circumferential jacket, sections of the internal thread (9) being arranged on the inside of said webs in relation to the circumferential jacket. Furthermore, the invention also relates to the production of the connection system and to its use.

Claims

1. A connection system for components through which fluid flows in medicine and medical equipment, the connection system comprising: a male connection cone; and a threaded nut including a circumferential jacket having an axial section at least partially surrounding the connection cone and having an internal thread, the threaded nut captively connecting the male connection cone to a female receptacle of an additional component through which fluid flows, the threaded nut having through-holes radially spaced about a circumference of the circumferential jacket in at least some portions of the axial section of the circumferential jacket, wherein webs are formed in the circumferential jacket adjacent to the through-holes, wherein sections of the internal thread are arranged on an inner surface of said webs in opposing relation to the through-holes and the internal thread sections are capable of being formed by projections of a mould through the through-holes opposing the internal thread sections, wherein the through-holes are at least as large as the opposing internal thread sections, wherein the internal thread sections are at least flanks of the internal thread, and wherein the internal thread sections are limited to regions of the webs; wherein reinforcement braces are also formed in the circumferential jacket adjacent to the through-holes and the reinforcement braces are arranged at an angle to the webs; and wherein an edge of each of two of said through-holes is defined along one side of one of the reinforcement braces, with an edge of each of another two of said through-holes defined along another side of said one of the reinforcement braces.

2. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the internal thread is a double thread or a triple thread.

3. The connection system according to claim 2, wherein for each thread of the double thread or the triple thread at least two through-holes are provided.

4. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the radially spaced through-holes and/or sections of the internal thread extend over at least of the circumference of the circumferential jacket.

5. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) a maximum diameter of the internal thread is greater than 7.83 mm and smaller than 20 mm, and (ii) a pitch of the internal thread is greater than 1.3 mm and smaller than 5 mm.

6. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein at least some parts of the connection system are made from a material selected from a group consisting of duroplastics and thermoplastics and polyphenylene sulfide, polypropylene, poly-1-butene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polymethyl metaacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polysulfone, polyacetal, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), mixtures comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and polyethylene, ethylene vinylacetate copolymer (EVAC) ionomers, fluorocarbon plastic, polyethylene, polyamide, a partially aromatic polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polyvinyl acetal, polyurethane, and chlorinated polyether, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose ether, phenolic resin, urea resin, thiourea resin, melamine resin, alkyl resin, allyl resin, silicon, polyimide, polybenzimidazole, epoxy resin, casein plastic, crosslinked polyurethane, unsaturated polyester resin, antimicrobial or antiseptic material, highly-porous silver, silver manufactured without ions, silver alloys and microsilver, metal-ions-releasing compounds, materials free of bisphenol A, Tritan, Terlux, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and combinations thereof.

7. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the threaded nut is designed as a Luer lock component and is rotatably connected to the connection cone.

8. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the connection system is capable of being used with infusion tubes, transfusion tubes, Y-connectors, multiway valves, multiple distributors, injection equipment, syringes, access devices, and combinations thereof.

9. An injection moulding method for the manufacture of a connection system, the method comprising: selecting a mould configured to make a threaded nut including a circumferential jacket having an axial section configured to at least partially surround a male connection cone and having an internal thread, the threaded nut configured to captively connect the male connection cone to a female receptacle of an additional component through which fluid flows, the threaded nut having through-holes radially spaced about a circumference of the circumferential jacket in at least some portions of the axial section of the circumferential jacket, wherein webs are formed in the circumferential jacket adjacent to the through-holes, wherein sections of the internal thread are arranged on an inner surface of said webs in opposing relation to the through-holes and are formed by projections of the mould through the through-holes opposing the internal thread sections, wherein the through-holes are at least as large as the opposing internal thread sections, wherein the internal thread sections of the internal thread are at least the flanks of the internal thread, wherein the internal thread sections are limited to regions of the webs; wherein reinforcement braces are also formed in the circumferential jacket adjacent to the through-holes and the reinforcement braces are arranged at an angle to the webs; and wherein an edge of each of two of said through-holes is defined along one side of one of the reinforcement braces, with an edge of each of another two of said through-holes defined along another side of said one of the reinforcement braces; closing the mould; injecting a plastic material; cooling the plastic material in the mould; and opening the mould and demoulding the threaded nut having the internal thread sections formed by the projections of the mould through the through-holes opposing the internal thread sections.

10. A connection system for components through which fluid flows in medicine and medical equipment, the connection system comprising: a male connection cone; and a threaded nut including a circumferential jacket having an axial section at least partially surrounding the connection cone and having an internal thread, the threaded nut captively connecting the male connection cone to a female receptacle of an additional component through which fluid flows, the threaded nut having through-holes radially spaced about a circumference of the circumferential jacket in at least some portions of the axial section of the circumferential jacket, wherein webs are formed in the circumferential jacket adjacent to the through-holes, wherein sections of the internal thread are arranged on an inner surface of said webs in opposing relation to the through-holes and the internal thread sections are capable of being formed by projections of a mould through the through-holes opposing the internal thread sections, wherein the through-holes are at least as large as the opposing internal thread sections, wherein the internal thread sections are at least flanks of the internal thread, and wherein the internal thread sections are limited to regions of the webs; wherein reinforcement braces are also formed in the circumferential jacket adjacent to the through-holes and the reinforcement braces are arranged at an angle to the webs; and wherein two of said reinforcement braces, opposed to each other, extend axially along the circumferential jacket and an edge of each of two of said through-holes is defined along one side of each of the two reinforcement braces, with an edge of each of another two of said through-holes defined along another side of the respective reinforcement brace.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following are shown:

(2) FIGS. 1a to 1c a three-way valve with a connection system according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b the three-way valve of FIG. 1 but without the plug;

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b an alternative embodiment, in which the union nut is rotatably arranged in a further manufacturing step;

(5) FIGS. 4a to 4d diagrammatic illustrations of the plastic injection moulding tools for manufacturing a three-way valve with a connection cone with and without a threaded nut; and

(6) FIGS. 5a to 5e an alternative embodiment of the threaded nut with reinforcement webs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the connection system according to the invention in combination with a three-way valve 1. Apart from the housing 2 the plug 3 and the connection points 4a, 4b and 5 are shown. On the connection 5 the connection cone 6 with the threaded nut 7 is shown, wherein FIG. 1a in a lateral view apart from the circumferential jacket also shows the internal thread 9. According to the embodiment shown in the diagram, said internal thread 9 extends in each case by approximately 135 degrees so that on the right-hand side and on the left-hand side of the circumferential jacket spaces 19 result. The top view 1c clearly shows the through-holes 10 that determine the web 11 or the web section 11. In FIG. 1b the three-way valve 1 with the connection system according to the invention is shown in a further lateral view, wherein here again in particular the through-holes 10 and the web section 11 are shown. In the embodiment shown, the threaded nut 7 is firmly connected to the connection cone 6 or to the connection point 5. To establish a connection with a female receptacle, the aforesaid is screwed into the nut 7 so that the male connection cone is received and is connected in a fluid-proof manner to the female receptacle (not shown).

(8) FIGS. 2a and 2b show a perspective view of the housing 2 with the threaded nut 7 according to the invention, wherein for the sake of clarity the plug is not shown. These illustrations again, apart from the connections 4a and 4b, show the connection 5 on which the threaded nut 7 is arranged. As already shown in FIG. 1c, said threaded nut 7 comprises the through-holes 10 and the web 11 or web section 11. The component of FIG. 2b corresponds to the component of FIG. 2a, wherein in this illustration, in addition, the connection cone 6 is clearly shown. Furthermore, internally, the screw threads 12 and 13 are shown that extend on the inside adjacent to the through-holes 10.

(9) FIGS. 3a and 3b show an alternative embodiment of the arrangement of the connection system according to the invention, wherein in this embodiment a union nut (not shown) can be clipped onto the connection cone 30, which union nut then correspondingly snaps into the circumferential groove 31. As a result of this joining of the two components a rotatable union nut is created which in particular provides an advantage in that the three-way valve, for example in the application for connecting the male connection cone 30 to a female receptacle (not shown), need not be rotated. The diagram shows particularly clearly that the connection cone 30 apart from the conical gradation 32 at the front end comprises a further conical thickening 33 that is used, in particular, in connection with the female receptacle, to provide a corresponding seal of the connection system. In this design preferably an embodiment of a union nut is selected as shown with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, however, without the corresponding three-way valve but with a central aperture at the rear for receiving the connection point 30 and for clicking into the circumferential groove 31.

(10) FIGS. 4a to 4d show the two mould components 40 and 40 (4a and 4c: internal view; 4b and 4d: external view) for the manufacture of the connection system according to the invention in combination with a three-way valve, wherein apart from the recesses for the fluid connections 51 and 52 on the right-hand side the connection 53 is also shown, at which in conjunction with the connection cone by means of the projections 55 the jacket of the threaded nut is perforated and on the inside corresponding screw threads are produced. To this effect, during manufacture, a corresponding slide gate moves into the space of the connection 53, with the aforesaid forming the internal counterpart to the external mould. Analogously the same also applies to the fluid connections 51 and 52, which do not comprise a union nut or an internal screw thread. FIGS. 4c and 4d show the counterpart to the tool of FIGS. 4a and 4b, wherein apart from the corresponding component elements the injection points 45 and 56 are also shown. FIG. 4d shows the injection points on the rear of the tool.

(11) According to the established method for the manufacture of such injection moulding components, in the injection moulding process the two components 4a/4b and 4c/4d are joined, thus forming the base body of the three-way valve with the threaded nut or union nut according to the invention. As a result of the insertion of corresponding slide gates (not shown) into the apertures 51, 52, 53 or 41, 42, 43 the spaces for the fluid paths are created. With this injection mould, furthermore, apart from producing the nut with the internal thread as described above, it is also possible to produce the three-way valve with a fixed threaded nut on the right-hand side and a three-way valve with a circumferential groove 44 for receiving or arranging a union nut on the left-hand side. Thus the embodiment shown in the diagram forms both alternatives of a connection system with a fixed threaded nut and a rotatable union nut, wherein the latter needs to be produced and arranged in at least one further manufacturing step.

(12) FIGS. 5a to 5e show a further embodiment of the present invention. Thus, FIG. 5a shows a lateral view from the right-hand side, FIG. 5b a front view, FIG. 5c a lateral view from the left-hand side, and FIG. 5d a top view. FIG. 5c shows a partial section view of the connection points 4a and 4b and the region of the threaded nut with the connection point 5. In this embodiment the radially circumferential webs 11 or 11 have been supplemented by means of reinforcement braces 60. These reinforcement braces, which in the present example are arranged so as to be parallel to the main direction of extension of the connection point 5, are used, among other things, to prevent any breaking of the thread when a female connector is screwed in. Thus, the female connectors or connection pieces are usually provided with circumferential segments or with two segments on the thread. Above all in the case of a double thread, the load on the thread section of the threaded nut is increased, and time and again breakage of the thread has been observed. The reinforcement braces shown in this exemplary embodiment can prevent such breaking, and therefore also provide the option of using female connectors/connection devices comprising various plastics (for example duroplastics and thermoplastics and in particular polyphenylene sulfide, polypropylene, poly-1-butene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polymethyl metaacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polysulfone, polyacetal, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), mixtures comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and polyethylene, ethylene vinylacetate copolymer (EVAC) for example Elvax or Evatane, ionomers, fluorocarbon plastic, polyethylene, polyamide in particular a partially aromatic polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polyvinyl acetal, polyurethane, and chlorinated polyether, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose ether, phenolic resin, urea resin, thiourea resin, melamine resin, alkyl resin, allyl resin, silicon, polyimide, polybenzimidazole, epoxy resin, casein plastic, crosslinked polyurethane, unsaturated polyester resin, antimicrobial or antiseptic material such as for example highly-porous silver, silver manufactured without ions, silver alloys and in particular microsilver, metal-ions-releasing compounds, materials free of bisphenol A for example Tritan, Terlux, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, combinations thereof and the like). Furthermore, in FIGS. 5a to 5e components that essentially correspond to the exemplary embodiments of the above-mentioned designs have the same reference characters.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(13) 1 Three-way valve 2 Housing 3 Plug 4a, 4b, 5 Connection points 6, 30 Male connection cone 7 Threaded nut 9 Internal thread 10 Through-holes 11, 11 Webs 12, 13 Screw threads 19 Space 30 Connection cone 31 Groove 32 Conical gradation 33 Thickening 40, 40 Mould components 41, 42, 43 Apertures 44 Circumferential groove 45 Injection gate 51, 52, 53 Fluid connections/apertures 53 Connection 55 Projections 56 Injection gate 60 Reinforcement brace