Abstract:
A shutoff valve that in open state provides unobstructed straight flow through of the carried media. Operating without any critical metal to metal contact by utilizing elastic seals. The valve can be easily disassembled and reassembled without the use of tools, and constructed with fully interchangeable, replaceable and autoclavable parts.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/195,848, filed Apr. 7, 2000, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to new valves. Valves of the invention provide a shut-off mechanism and preferably in the open state provide an unobstructed straight-through flow of the carried media (e.g. gas or liquid or other fluid). An elastic seal is preferably included in the valve. Preferably, the valve can be readily disassembled and assembled without the use of tools and is constructed with fully interchangeable, replaceable and autoclavable parts. Preferably valves of the invention operate through a rotary turn operation. Other aspects of the invention are discussed infra. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the disassembled valve.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 is a cross section of the valve in open condition.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 is a cross section of the valve in closed condition.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the valve illustrating the rotational stop arrangement. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    Referring to FIG. 1, the valve consists of the main elastic seal  10 , the operating spindle  11 , the two O-rings  12  and  13 , the cap-nut  14 , the handle  15 , and the main valve body  16 . In assembled state, the main seal  10  is inserted in the through hole  17  in the spindle  11  so that the through hole  18  in the seal  10  is lining up with the through hole  19  in the spindle  11 . The spindle assembly consisting of the seal  10 , the spindle  11 , the two O-rings  12  and  13 , the cap nut  14  and the handle  15  are then inserted into the main valve body  16  and then locked in place by the cap nut  14 .  
         [0008]    Referring to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in open condition, the spindle  11  is turned by means of handle  15 , so that hole  19  in spindle  11  and hole  18  in the main seal  10  are lining up with the in/out ports  20  and  21  in the main body  16 . Thereby the carried media can freely flow through valve from port  20  to port  21  or from port  21  to port  20 . The O-rings  12  and  13  prevent any media from leaking to the outside of the valve. O-rings also can be omitted if desired.  
         [0009]    Referring to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, in closed condition the spindle  11  turned by means of handle  15 , so that the main seal  10  is blocking the in/out port  20  and in/out port  21 . In this condition the pressure difference between port  20  and port  21  is pressing the main seal  10  against the port having the lowest pressure and thereby preventing any media from flowing through the valve.  
         [0010]    Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a cylindrical pin  22  at the bottom end of the spindle  11  is extending into the cutout  23  in the bottom of the valve body  16 . This arrangement limits the rotation of the spindle to 90° and thereby providing stop at fully open and fully closed valve.  
         [0011]    Valves of the invention preferably contain only a single seal member, which and preferably is an elastomer material such as silicon or Viton. Preferably, the seal member has a durometer of from about 50 to about 90, more preferably from about 65 to about 85.  
         [0012]    Valves of the invention preferably have high pressure ratings (i.e., no leakage), e.g., at least about 70 psi gas flow tolerances, more preferably about 80 or 85 psi gas tolerance. Valves of the invention preferably have a fluid flow tolerance of at least about 100 psi, more preferably about 130 psi.  
         [0013]    Valves of the invention preferably are of stainless steel construction.  
         [0014]    As shown in the drawings, valves of the invention provide for straight-through flow of fluid or gas.  
         [0015]    Valves of the invention can be constructed in a variety of dimensions, including quite small dimensions. For example, referring to the valve length dimension x as shown in FIG. 1, and valve width dimension y as shown in FIG. 1. Referring to those dimensions depicted in FIG. 1, x can be suitably about 6 inches or less, more typically about 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches or less, or even more typically 0.2, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5 or 1.75 inches or less; y can be suitably about 2 inches or less, more typically about 2 or 3 inches or less, or even preferably 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5 or 1.75 inches or less.  
         [0016]    Valves of the invention can be used in a variety of applications. Valves of the invention are particularly useful for medical applications, such as in orthoscopic and laproscopic instruments. Valves of the invention also can be employed in analytical and dispensing devices, e.g., devices that dispense glues, various liquids and the like.