Coupler

Abstract

A couple 10 includes a valve seal member 71 ( 36 ) provided in a flow path between a valve 35 and a coupler main body 31 which can be opened and closed, and a container-inside-outside seal member ( 73 ) which is used as both a container seal member ( 73 ) for forming a seal between the container main body 31 and a valve holder 38 and a holder seal member ( 73 ) for forming a seal between the coupler main body 31 and the valve holder 38. By this arrangement, the number of the seal members can be reduced, processes for assembling can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be saved. Mounting position of the holder 38 can be controlled by a mounting position control section 74 to enable sealing for maintaining energizing force by energizing means 39 constant and ensuring opening of the coupler as well as for securing the sealed state accurately.

1 : A coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug, said socket and plug respectively comprising a coupler main body mounted on a container main body to form a flow path, a valve for opening and closing the flow path of the coupler main body, a valve holder housing the valve and being mounted on the container main body in sealed state, and energizing means provided in the valve holder for energizing the valve in a closing direction, the coupler main bodies of the socket and plug being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to each other to open the valves and thereby to enable the coupler main bodies to communicate with each other in the fitted and coupled state, characterized in that at least one of the socket arid the plug comprises:
 a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and the valve holder; and   a double-purpose seal member which is used as both a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder and a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed.   
   
   
       2 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein the double-purpose seal member is made of a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape. 
   
   
       3 . A coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug, said socket and plug respectively comprising a coupler main body mounted on a container main body to form a flow path, a valve for opening and closing the flow path of the coupler main body, a valve holder housing the valve and being mounted on the container main body in sealed state, and energizing means provided in the valve holder for energizing the valve in a closing direction, the coupler main bodies of the socket and plug being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to each other to open the valves and thereby to enable the coupler main bodies to communicate with each other in the fitted and coupled state, characterized in that at least one of the socket and the plug comprises:
 a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed; and   a container-inside-outside seal member which is used as both a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder.   
   
   
       4 . A coupler as defined in  claim 3  wherein the container-inside-outside seal member is made of an O-ring. 
   
   
       5 . A coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug, said socket and plug respectively comprising a coupler main body mounted on a container main body to form a flow path, a valve for opening and closing the flow path of the coupler main body, a valve holder housing the valve and being mounted on the container main body in sealed state, and energizing means provided in the valve holder for energizing the valve in a closing direction, the coupler main bodies of the socket and plug being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to each other to open the valves and thereby to enable the coupler main bodies to communicate with each other in the fitted and coupled state, characterized in that at least one of the socket and the plug comprises:
 a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed;   a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder; and   a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder,   and the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member are formed integrally around the outer periphery of the flange portion of the valve holder.   
   
   
       6 . A coupler as defined in  claim 5  wherein the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member are formed integrally through a communicating section formed in the flange portion of the valve holder. 
   
   
       7 . A coupler as defined in  claim 5  or  6  wherein a lip portion is formed in at least one of the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member. 
   
   
       8 . A coupler as defined in any of  claims 1 - 4 , and  6  comprising further a mounting position control section for controlling mounting position of the valve holder which is mounted in a sealed state in such a manner that the valve holder can be sealed and the energizing force by the energizing means can be maintained constant. 
   
   
       9 . A coupler as defined in  claim 8  wherein the mounting position control section is provided in at least one of the valve holder and the coupler main body. 
   
   
       10 . A coupler as defined in  claim 8  comprising the mounting position control section, a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder, and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder.