Abstract:
Various embodiments are directed to a modular valve apparatus. The modular valve apparatus includes a retaining component having an opening on either end. The modular valve apparatus further includes a cap component having a hole bored through. The cap component may be adapted to be coupled with the retaining component. A generally annular spring component may be disposed within the retaining component and seated on a lower end extending axially toward an upper end of the retaining component. A check ball may be disposed within the retaining component and seated on the spring component. The check ball may be adapted to block the opening bored through the cap component while being held in place by the spring component.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/533,921 filed Sep. 13, 2011 and entitled, “Modular Valve Apparatus”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Valve assemblies are commonplace in syringe assemblies used in the veterinary industry. Such syringe assemblies may be used to inject or inoculate livestock as necessary. Many of these syringe assemblies are reusable and utilize relatively large amounts of fluid that need to be regulated from source through needle tip to ensure a proper dosage is given during an injection. Sometimes the fluid comes from a reservoir and is delivered to a syringe assembly through a hose that is coupled to an input port. Sometimes the fluid is stored in a disposable/replaceable bottle that is mountable to the syringe gun itself. In either case, fluid is typically drawn from its source into a barrel chamber and out a needle tip. Along the way multiple valve assemblies may be used to help regulate the flow of the fluid through the larger syringe assembly. 
         [0003]    Inserting the valve assemblies into the syringe assemblies can be difficult since the valve assemblies are comprised of multiple components. If the components are not inserted properly the valve assembly may malfunction causing the entire syringe assembly to malfunction. 
         [0004]    Simplifying the valve assembly may reduce the time required to assemble the syringe assembly and reduce the potential of errors during assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a modular valve apparatus showing various components in an exploded view. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a cap component of a modular valve apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a spring component of a modular valve apparatus. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a retainer component of a modular valve apparatus. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of an assembled modular valve apparatus. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of an assembled modular valve apparatus to be coupled between a nib component and a barrel component of a syringe assembly. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of two assembled modular valve apparatus implemented in a bottle mount syringe assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In various embodiments, a modular valve apparatus may address common deficiencies associated with regulating the flow of a fluid to be dispensed in a syringe assembly. The modular valve apparatus may combine a spring and a check ball within a cage-like retainer. Current implementations of valve assemblies within a larger syringe assembly make assembly difficult because the check ball and spring may be handled and installed separately into the fluid path of the syringe assembly. The chance that either the ball or spring is incorrectly inserted exists. In creating a sealable cage-like retainer for the ball and spring, the chance of incorrectly inserting the spring or ball is eliminated. 
         [0013]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a modular valve apparatus  100  showing various components in an exploded view including a cap component  110 , a check ball  120 , an annular spring component  130 , and a retainer component  140 . The cap component  110  may be adapted to couple with the retaining component  140  such that check ball  120  and spring  130  are securely contained within the confines of the retaining component  140  when coupled together. When assembled in this manner the cap component  110 , check ball  120 , spring  130 , and retaining component  140  form a modular valve apparatus  100 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a cap component  110  for the modular valve apparatus  100 . The cap component  110  is shown in a top view  110   a , a side view  110   b , a perspective view  110   c , and a bottom view  110   d . In general, the cap component  110  may include an opening  112  that allows fluid to flow through when the check ball  120  is not blocking the opening  112 . In some embodiments, the cap component  110  may be generally cylindrical in shape and include a circular opening  112  through its center axis that allows fluid to flow through when the check ball  120  is not blocking the opening  112 . The cap component  110  may be threaded such that it can be screwed to the retaining component  140  which may be reciprocally threaded. For example, in the bottom view  110   d , the cap component  110  may include outer threads  114  positioned on the inner portion of an outer rim  111  of the cap component  110 . The cap component  110  may also include inner threads  116  positioned on the outer portion of an inner rim  113  of the cap component  110 . The inner threads  116  and outer threads  114  may be adapted to couple with reciprocal threads on the retaining component  140 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a spring component  130  of a modular valve apparatus  100 . The spring component  130  is shown in a top view  130   a , a side view  130   b , and a perspective view  130   c . The spring component  130  may be generally annular along a vertical axis and have a diameter slightly smaller than that of the check ball  120 . This allows the check ball  120  to be seated upon spring  130  when confined within retaining component  140 . The spring component  130  may be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material. The spring component  130  may be designed to completely restrict the flow of fluid in an inactive state. For instance, the spring component  130  is gauged to exert enough force to hold the check ball  120  against the opening  112  in cap component  110  when confined and seated within the retaining component  140  with no other forces acting upon the spring component  130 . In this state, the check ball  120  completely blocks opening  112  and no fluid can enter the through the opening  112  into the cap component  110 . When an opposing force greater than that exerted by the spring component  130  is applied against the check ball  120 , the spring component  130  may be compressed. In this active state, the check ball  120  no longer blocks opening  112  thereby allowing fluid to flow through opening  112 . It is typically the pressure applied to the fluid that overcomes the force of the spring component  130 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a retainer component  140  of a modular valve apparatus  100 . The retaining component  130  is shown in a top view  140   a , a side view  140   b , and a perspective view  140   c . In one embodiment, the retaining component  140  may be generally cylindrical and tapered having an opening on both the smaller diameter end  148  and the larger diameter end  149 . The retaining component  140  may be comprised of molded plastic, metal or other suitable material. On the larger opening end  149 , the retaining component  140  may be threaded on both its outer surface  142  and also threaded on the inner surface of the opening  144  such that corresponding threads in the cap component  110  may cooperatively engage the retaining component  140  and seal the spring component  130  and check ball  120  within the retaining component  140 . An O-ring  145  may be seated atop the larger opening end  149  to provide an air and liquid tight seal between cap component  110  and retaining component  140 . The O-ring  145  may be made from rubber, plastic or other suitable material. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the retaining component  145  may be comprised of rib-like structures  146  that provide structural integrity for the modular valve apparatus  100 . There may be multiple rib-like structures  146  arranged to form a cage. The space between each rib-like structure  146  is determined so as to allow neither the spring component  130  nor the check ball  120  to escape the cage. The spaces between each rib-like structure  146  further allow fluid to flow through the modular valve apparatus  100  when the check ball  120  is unseated from its position against opening  112 . The base of the retaining component  140  may include an opening  148  but also includes a rim adapted to seat the spring component  130  and retain it in an operative position with the check ball  120 . Thus, the diameter of the spring component  130  exceeds that of the opening  148  at the base of the retaining component  140 . 
         [0019]    The retaining component  140  need not be tapered in design. The retaining component  140  may have similar sized openings on either end so long as the design permits the spring component  130  and check ball  120  to be securely seated within the retaining component  140  and further allows fluid to flow unrestricted through the modular valve apparatus  100  when the check ball  120  is unseated from its position against opening  112 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of an assembled modular valve apparatus  100 . In this illustration, the cap component  110  has been screwed onto the retaining component  140  using the threaded characteristics of both the retaining component  140  and the cap component  110 . The O-ring  145  (not seen) is slightly compressed between the cap component  110  and the top of the retaining component  145  in this coupling to provide a fluid tight seal. Prior to coupling the cap component  110  with the retaining component  140 , the spring component  130  and the check ball  120  were placed within the retaining component  140 . The spring component  130  may be seated on the bottom rim on the interior of the retaining component  140 . The spring component  130  may extend upward toward the larger opening end  149  of the retaining component  140 . While not visible in this figure, the check ball  120  may sit atop the spring component  130  and may be forced upward by the tension in the spring component  130 . This tension causes the check ball  120  to be held against the cap component  110  firmly blocking the opening  112  of the cap component  110 . When a superior opposing force on fluid is applied against the check ball  120 , the spring component  130  may compress causing the check ball  120  to become displaced from opening  112  and allow fluid to flow through the modular valve apparatus  100 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of an assembled modular valve apparatus  100  to be coupled between a nib component and a barrel component of a syringe assembly. The syringe assembly is only partially shown here illustrating a bottle mount and barrel portion  300  as well as nib portion  200  that leads to a needle assembly. The modular valve assembly  100  is adapted to fit within the nib portion  200  via opening  210 . The entire nib portion  200  may then be inserted into the barrel portion  300  via opening  310 . The modular valve apparatus  100  completely blocks, in a fluid tight manner, the open space between the barrel portion  300  and the nib portion  200  when the barrel portion  300  is coupled with the nib portion  200 . Thus, no fluid can flow from the barrel portion  300  through the nib portion  200  and ultimately out a needle portion without the cooperation of the modular valve apparatus  100 . Fluid may only flow through the modular valve apparatus  100  when a pressure on the fluid in the barrel portion  300  overcomes the tension in the spring component  130  of the modular valve apparatus  100 . The embodiments are not limited to this example. For instance, the modular valve apparatus may be used at several points within the syringe assembly to regulate the flow of fluid. 
         [0022]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of two assembled modular valve apparatuses  100 - 1 ,  100 - 2  implemented in a bottle mount syringe assembly  700 . The first modular valve assembly  100 - 1  may be positioned at a coupling point between a bottle mount  710  and a draw tube  720  that leads to a barrel chamber  730 . In operation, a plunger/piston mechanism (not shown) is pulled away from the needle end of the syringe assembly  700  causing vacuum pressure to pull at the check ball  120  in modular valve assembly  100 - 1 . When the force is sufficient to compress spring mechanism, the check ball will move away from opening in the cap component allowing fluid to flow from the bottle through the draw tube  720  and into the barrel chamber  730 . Once the chamber is full or has a desired amount of fluid the piston mechanism is released and the pressure on the check ball  120  in modular valve assembly  100 - 1  subsides allowing the spring component  130  to re-seat the check ball  120  against the opening  112  in the cap component  110  effectively closing off access to the bottle. 
         [0023]    The second modular valve assembly  100 - 2  may be used in dispensing the fluid out of the barrel chamber  730  and into the nib portion  740  of the syringe assembly. The nib portion  740  ultimately connects with a needle portion (not shown). To dispense fluid, the plunger/piston (not shown) is forced down the barrel compressing the fluid through the opening  112  of the cap component  110  of the modular valve assembly  110 - 2  and against the check ball  120 . When pressure from the compressed fluid reaches a sufficient level, the check ball  120  will compress the spring component  130  and fluid will be allowed to flow through the opening  112  and around the check ball  120  into and about the chamber of the retaining component  140 . So long as sufficient pressure on the plunger/piston mechanism is maintained fluid will flow out the other end  148  of the retaining component  140  and into the nib portion  740 . When the pressure on the plunger/piston mechanism is released the spring component  130  will compress the check ball  120  back against the opening  112  of the cap component  110  such that no fluid can flow through the opening  112  of the cap component  110  in modular valve assembly  110 - 2 . 
         [0024]    It should be noted that the modular valve assembly  100  is a one-way valve in that fluid may only flow in one direction and cannot flow in the reverse direction through the modular valve assembly  100 . 
         [0025]    It is emphasized that the Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow a reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein,” respectively. Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. 
         [0026]    What has been described above includes examples of the disclosed architecture. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the novel architecture is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.