Patent ID: 6182698
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61M,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve assembly for liquid transfer, the valve assembly comprising:a housing having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an intermediate liquid port, said intermediate port having an inlet and an outlet;a first perforated support plate located between the outlet of the intermediate liquid port and the liquid outlet;a second perforated support plate in the housing located between the inlet and outlet of the intermediate liquid port;a first valve member positioned in the housing located between the first perforated support plate and the liquid outlet and adjacent the first support plate, the first valve member comprising a resilient membrane having one or more holes through it, the holes open upon deformation of the resilient membrane at a selected threshold pressure over the resilient membrane to permit liquid flow through the resilient membrane but which otherwise prevents liquid flow, the support plate preventing the resilient membrane from deforming sufficiently towards the liquid inlet for preventing flow to the liquid inlet; anda second valve member being positioned between the second perforated support plate and the outlet of the intermediate port and adjacent the second support plate, the second valve member comprising a resilient membrane having one or more holes through it, the holes open upon deformation of the resilient membrane at a selected threshold pressure over the resilient membrane to permit liquid flow through the resilient membrane but which otherwise prevents liquid flow, the second support plate preventing the resilient membrane from deforming sufficiently towards the inlet of the intermediate liquid port for preventing flow to the inlet of the intermediate liquid port; anda single pump so constructed and arranged to pump liquid from a first container through the first valve member, upon being reversed, the pump sucks liquid through the second valve member from a second container, and upon being reversed again, the pump pumps liquid through the first valve member.