BLOCKING MECHANISM FOR A STOPCOCK MANIFOLD

Abstract

A stopcock manifold system includes: a manifold provided with one or several stopcocks, each having a rotary opening/closing control apparatus with at least one finger or crank pin; a rotary mechanized actuator coupling part for each manifold, a rotary axis of the coupling part corresponding in use to a rotation axis of the control apparatus, the coupling part coupling with the stopcock by insertion of each crank pin into a closed notch in the coupling part, the closed notch of each coupling part receiving one of the crank pins of the corresponding stopcock, such that the crank pin is insertable into the corresponding coupling part by tilting the manifold and then straightening it, until it abuts on a first bearing point comprised of an edge of the closed notch; and a maintaining system that enables each coupling part to individually maintain the corresponding stopcock in place.

Claims

1: A stopcock manifold system, comprising; a manifold provided with one or several stopcocks, each having a rotary opening/closing control apparatus with at least one finger or crank pin; a rotary mechanized actuator coupling part for each manifold, a rotary axis of the coupling part corresponding in use to a rotation axis of the control apparatus, the coupling part coupling with the stopcock by insertion of each crank pin into a closed notch in the coupling part, the closed notch of each coupling part being configured to receive one of the crank pins of the corresponding stopcock, such that the crank pin is insertable into the corresponding coupling part by tilting the manifold and then straightening it, until it abuts on a first bearing point comprised of an edge of the closed notch; a maintaining system configured such that each coupling part individually maintains the corresponding stopcock in place; and a latch configured to maintain the manifold as a whole in this straightened position, by pressing one end of the latch on the manifold, defining a second bearing point.

2: The stopcock manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a passive latch, of the spring type.

3: The stopcock manifold system according to claim 2, wherein the spring latch comprises a tongue configured to move away from its equilibrium point when the manifold, while being inserted obliquely into the closed notches of the coupling parts, to simultaneously push on the end of the latch, and to return to its equilibrium point once the manifold has been straightened, while blocking the manifold by abutting at a level of its second bearing point.

4: The stopcock manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the latch comprises an active or automated latch.

5: The stopcock manifold system according to claim 4, wherein the latch comprises a position sensor configured to detect a position of the manifold and an actuator configured to trigger a push-piece when the sensor detects the straightened position of the manifold.

6: The stopcock manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the first bearing point comprises a front bearing point.

7: The stopcock manifold system according to claim 1, wherein the second bearing point comprises a rear bearing point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:

[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate examples of stopcock manifolds according to the state of the art.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the general principle of a coupling with open notches, according to the state of the art.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the different steps of the coupling with open notches.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows an example mechanism for maintaining a stopcock manifold according to the state of the art, by means of a part for maintaining the manifold as a whole.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows the general principle of a coupling with closed notches, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 7 shows the different steps of the coupling with closed notches and spring leaf, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a device that allows to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art.

[0031] In particular, in an embodiment, the invention guarantees easy positioning of a stopcock valve manifold and allows the reliable maintaining or blocking of said manifold in the usage position.

[0032] In an embodiment, the invention further provides an original solution for maintaining a stopcock valve manifold in place, directly integrated into the couplings themselves.

[0033] In an embodiment, the invention further provides a mechanism where each coupling maintains its own manifold.

[0034] The present invention relates to a stopcock manifold system, comprising a manifold provided with one or several stopcocks, each having a rotary control apparatus for opening/closing with at least one finger or crank pin, a rotary mechanized actuator coupling part for each manifold, the rotary axis of said coupling part corresponding in use to the rotation axis of said control apparatus, the coupling with the stopcock being produced by inserting each crank pin into a notch made in said coupling part and a maintaining system designed so that each coupling part individually maintains the corresponding stopcock in place, characterized in that: [0035] the coupling part comprises a closed notch, made to receive one of the crank pins of the corresponding stopcock, such that this crank pin can be inserted into the corresponding coupling part by tilting the manifold (forward) and then straightening it, until it abuts on a first bearing point, called front bearing point, aligned with the closed notch; [0036] a latch allows to maintain the manifold as a whole in this straightened position, by pressing one end of said latch on the manifold, defining a second bearing point, called rear bearing point.

[0037] It will be noted that, in the configuration of the invention, the normal usage position of the stopcock valve manifold is the vertical position, i.e., corresponding to a vertical flow. The front position of the manifold designates a proximal position of the device, and the rear position of the manifold designates a distal position of the device.

[0038] Thus, according to the invention, one of the open notches of the coupling parts, commonly used in the state of the art, is replaced by a closed notch. According to the invention, once the crank pin is obliquely inserted into this closed notch, the edge of the notch serves as a stop and will prevent, near the device, any return movement of the crank pin moving away from the device (front stop). The other bearing point will be the end of the latch that pushes on a rear part of the manifold (rear stop), which prevents, at a distance from the device, any movement of the manifold approaching the device. Since the two bearing points are located in separate and opposite positions, no torque can tilt/pivot the manifold any longer, making its withdrawal impossible in that state.

[0039] According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the stopcock valve manifold system further comprises one of the following features, or a suitable combination of several thereof: [0040] the latch is a passive latch, of the spring type; [0041] the spring latch is a tongue designed to move away from its equilibrium point when the manifold, while obliquely inserting into the closed notches of the coupling parts, simultaneously pushes on the aforementioned end of the latch, and to return to its equilibrium point once the manifold has been straightened, while blocking the manifold by abutting at the level of its rear bearing point; [0042] the latch is an active or automated latch; [0043] the latch comprises a sensor for detecting the position of the manifold and an actuator triggering a push-piece when the sensor detects the straightened position of the manifold.

[0044] The invention consists in implementing a principle for maintaining stopcock valve manifolds on the actuating mechanism in which the manifolds are maintained individually in their coupling. The stopcock valve manifold are positioned in one simple movement.

[0045] The device consists of the following combination of elements (FIGS. 6 and 7): [0046] one of the open notches 12 of the coupling part 10 is replaced by a closed hole 11. As the manifold is positioned, one of the fingers 4 of each stopcock 2 is inserted into this hole 11. The manifold is brought obliquely closer to allow the insertion. Once the stopcock 2 is inserted into the coupling 10, the manifold is tilted such that the rotation axes of the stopcock and of the actuator are aligned. Each stopcock 2 is then maintained in its coupling 10, with a bearing point 14 at the front of the manifold, at the level of the edge of the closed hole 11; [0047] a latch 13, for example on a spring or automated, then bears on the rear 15 of the body of the stopcock valve manifold, which then prevents the manifold from rotating, which would allow it to come out of the couplings 10. The manifold is therefore strictly kept in place in the actuators by means of two simple bearing points, located at the front 14 and rear 15, respectively of the device or of the stopcock valve manifold.

Advantages of the Invention

[0048] The invention in particular provides the following advantages: [0049] quick positioning in a single, simple and natural movement; [0050] simplified locking mechanism, whether passive (on spring) or active (automatically actuated): [0051] easier to manipulate latch device; [0052] easy to automate latch device; [0053] no risk of forgetting to actuate.

[0054] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.

[0055] The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article a or the in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of or should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of A or B is not exclusive of A and B, unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of at least one of A, B and C should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of A, B and/or C or at least one of A, B or C should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.

KEY

[0056] 1 Stopcock manifold body

[0057] 2 Stopcock

[0058] 3 Inlet/outlet coupling

[0059] 4 Stopcock finger or crank pin

[0060] 5 Rotary actuator coupling with open notch(es)

[0061] 6 Manifold blocking latch

[0062] 7 Stopcock manifold

[0063] 10 Rotary actuator coupling with closed notch

[0064] 11 Closed notch or hole

[0065] 12 Open notch

[0066] 13 Passive latch (spring) or active (automated) latch

[0067] 14 Front bearing point

[0068] 15 Rear bearing point