Patent ID: 8251346

Claim:
A valve for controlling flow along a fluid line, comprising: an outer shell comprising a substantially enclosed first end, an open second end, and a passage extending therebetween; an inner housing slidably disposed within the outer shell and comprising a first end adjacent the outer shell first end, a second end adjacent the outer shell second end, and a passage extending therebetween, the second end comprising a set of connector threads surrounding a boss for connecting the valve to a fluid line, the connector threads defining a first helical axis, the inner housing passage comprising a tapered region within the boss; a shaft comprising a base extending from the outer shell first end towards the outer shell second end, a tapered sealing pin disposed within the tapered region of the inner housing passage, and a fluid passage extending through the base to one or more outlets in the sealing pin; and cam features on the inner housing and the outer shell for limiting movement of the inner housing helically within the outer shell between a first position wherein the sealing pin engages the boss to substantially seal the one or more outlets and a second position wherein the inner housing is directed away from the sealing pin to create an annular passage within the tapered region of the inner housing passage that communicates with the one or more outlets, the cam features comprising a set of camming threads on the inner housing defining a second helical axis opposite the first helical axis, such that when a connector from a fluid line is threaded into the second end of the inner housing to engage the set of connector threads, the inner housing is directed helically from the first position to the second position to open a fluid path through the shaft fluid passage within the base, the one or more outlets, and the annular passage within the boss.