초록 ▼

A stopcock is provided with multiple ports joining multiple fluid conduits leading between fluid sources and fluid destinations. A central hub manifold resides within a valve body supporting the ports, and can rotate relative to the valve body. Fluid flow paths within the central hub are selectively

A stopcock is provided with multiple ports joining multiple fluid conduits leading between fluid sources and fluid destinations. A central hub manifold resides within a valve body supporting the ports, and can rotate relative to the valve body. Fluid flow paths within the central hub are selectively aligned or not aligned with the ports. The stopcock indicates which ports are open by providing marks corresponding with positions of the ports. When the marks are visible, the corresponding ports are open. With different positioning of ports and different configurations of fluid flow paths within the central hub, stopcocks having different numbers of operable positions are provided including two, three, four, six and eight way stopcocks. By providing an axial flow path through a central axis of the central hub intersecting the embedded fluid flow paths within the central hub, still further numbers of operational states are provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A stopcock with intuitive functional state display identifying flow through the stopcock, the stopcock comprising in combination: a valve body having a recess;at least two fluid pathways joined to said valve body;each fluid pathway adapted to route fluid into and out of said valve body;a central

1. A stopcock with intuitive functional state display identifying flow through the stopcock, the stopcock comprising in combination: a valve body having a recess;at least two fluid pathways joined to said valve body;each fluid pathway adapted to route fluid into and out of said valve body;a central manifold located within said recess of said valve body;said central manifold having an adjacently connected offset handle;said central manifold adapted to be rotated relative to said valve body through said handle;said central manifold having at least one multi-ended flow path therein;said central manifold having ends of said at least one multi-ended flow path selectively alignable with various ones of said at least two fluid pathways of said valve body;a first indicator portion separably fixed relative to said valve body and having markings thereon;a second indicator portion separably coupled to said central manifold and overlying said first indicator portion;said second indicator portion adapted to rotate when said central manifold rotates;said first indicator portion and said second indicator portion interacting to display said markings indicative of a functional state of said stopcock;wherein said first indicator portion includes at least one of said markings adjacent each fluid pathway;said second indicator portion including an object configured to block all of said markings of said first indicator except those markings which are adjacent fluid pathways of said valve body which are open through said central manifold;wherein said second indicator portion includes a surface with windows therein, said windows located adjacent to the ends of said at least one multi-ended flow path of said central manifold, such that when said ends of said flow paths of said central manifold are aligned with said fluid pathways of said valve body, said markings of said first indicator portion are aligned with said windows of said second indicator portion and can be visualized through said surface of said second indicator portion;wherein said first indicator portion includes a plate with said markings thereon, said plate located adjacent said surface of said second indicator portion; andsaid first indicator portion and said second indicator portion in the form of thin parallel plates, said valve body recess and said central manifold having a matching cylindrical form, said first indicator plate having a central circular hole through which said valve body extends. 2. The stopcock of claim 1 wherein said plate of said first indicator portion and said surface of said second indicator portion are both located on a side of said valve body having said handle,said handle adapted to be manipulated by a user to cause said central manifold to be rotated. 3. The stopcock of claim 2 wherein said stopcock includes a finger grip fixed to said valve body on a side opposite said handle, such that a user can apply counter torque when rotating said handle. 4. The stopcock of claim 1 wherein said central manifold includes an axial flow path extending along a rotational axis of said central manifold, said axial flow path intersecting at least one of said multi-ended flow paths within said central manifold which extend to said ends of said central manifold, such that an additional flow pathway axially through said stopcock is facilitated, said axial flow path unaffected by rotation of said central manifold. 5. The stopcock of claim 4 wherein said valve body includes two fluid pathways extending radially from said valve body substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of said central manifold and spaced from each other approximately 180°, said central manifold including a single flow path extending radially to opposing ends spaced 180° away from each other, said two ends of said flow path within said central manifold adapted to be selectively aligned with said two fluid pathways of said valve body. 6. The stopcock of claim 4 wherein said valve body includes three fluid pathways each oriented within a common plane substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of said central manifold, two of said three fluid pathways oriented substantially 180° away from each other and one of said fluid pathways oriented substantially 90° away from each of the other of said three fluid pathways; and said central manifold including three ends of said flow path open to each other, two of said ends oriented 180° away from each other and one of said ends oriented 90° away from the other two ends, said ends of said central manifold adapted to be aligned with said fluid pathways of said valve body in at least four configurations including a first configuration with all three ends of said central manifold aligned with all three fluid pathways of said valve body, a second orientation with two 180° spaced ends of said central manifold aligned with two 180° opposed fluid pathways of said valve body, and third and fourth orientations with different adjacent pairs of said ends of said central manifold aligned with different adjacent pairs of said fluid pathways of said valve body. 7. The stopcock of claim 1 wherein said valve body includes four fluid pathways oriented in a common plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said central manifold, said four fluid pathways each spaced substantially 90° from two adjacent said fluid pathways, said central manifold including four ends of said at least one multi-ended flow path, said four ends including two ends spaced substantially 180° away from each other and two ends spaced substantially 90° away from each other. 8. The stopcock of claim 7 wherein said central manifold includes a circular perimeter with a first embedded fluid flow path extending between two ends spaced 180° from each other, and second and third fluid flow paths intersecting with said first fluid flow path and extending to ends on a common side of said first fluid flow path with said ends of said second and third fluid flow paths spaced 90° away from each other. 9. The stopcock of claim 7 wherein said central manifold includes a circular perimeter with a first flow path extending between first and second ends and a second flow path extending between third and fourth ends, said first flow path having ends spaced 180° from each other, said second flow path having said ends spaced 90° from each other, said second flow path located substantially parallel with said first flow path and spaced laterally from said first flow path. 10. The stopcock of claim 7 wherein said central manifold includes a substantially circular perimeter with a first flow path extending between first and second ends spaced 180° from each other substantially, with a third flow path joined to said first flow path and having an end spaced 45° away from one of said ends of said first flow path, and a fourth flow path joined to said first flow path and having an end spaced 45° away from one of said ends of said first flow path and 90° away from said end of said third flow path, said third flow path and said fourth flow path located on opposite sides of said first flow path. 11. The stopcock of claim 7 wherein said central manifold includes at least two multi-ended flow paths extending between ends thereof, a first one of said at least two flow paths having said ends located 180° from each other and a second one of said at least two flow paths having ends thereof located 90° away from each other and with at least one of said flow paths having a curving form following a circular perimeter of said central manifold between said ends. 12. The stopcock of claim 1 wherein said valve body includes at least three fluid pathways joined to said valve body and oriented in a common plane perpendicular to a rotational axis of said central manifold, said central manifold including an axial fluid path extending through a center of said central manifold in an axial direction perpendicular to each of said fluid pathways, said central manifold including a first fluid pathway extending between ends spaced substantially 180° away from each other, said first fluid pathway also joined to said axial fluid path of said central manifold, said central manifold additionally including at least two other flow paths spaced from said first flow path and having at least one end at a circular perimeter of said central manifold, including a second flow path with an end spaced 45° away from one of said ends of said first flow path and a third flow path with an end spaced 90° away from each end of said first flow path, such that at least eight different positions are provided for said stopcock. 13. The stopcock of claim 1 wherein said markings are visually enhanced with pigments taken from the group including bright colored pigments and glow in the dark pigments. 14. The stopcock of claim 1 wherein said stopcock is attached in series with at least one other similar stopcock to form a multi-stopcock manifold. 15. A stopcock with intuitive functional state display identifying flow through the stopcock, the stopcock comprising in combination: a valve body;at least two fluid pathways joined to said valve body;each fluid pathway adapted to route fluid into and out of said valve body;a central manifold located within said valve body;said central manifold adapted to be rotated relative to said valve body;said central manifold having at least one multi-ended flow path therein;said central manifold having ends of said at least one multi-ended flow path selectively alignable with various ones of said at least two fluid pathways of said valve body;a first indicator portion fixed relative to said valve body and having markings thereon;a second indicator portion coupled to said central manifold and overlying said first indicator portion;said second indicator portion adapted to rotate when said central manifold rotates;said first indicator portion and said second indicator portion interacting to display said markings indicative of a functional state of said stopcock;wherein said first indicator portion includes at least one of said markings adjacent each fluid pathway;said second indicator portion including an object configured to block all of said markings of said first indicator except those markings which are adjacent fluid pathways of said valve body which are open through said central manifold;wherein said second indicator portion includes a surface with windows therein, said windows located adjacent to the ends of said at least one multi-ended flow path of said central manifold, such that when said ends of said flow paths of said central manifold are aligned with said fluid pathways of said valve body, said markings of said first indicator portion are aligned with said windows of said second indicator portion and can be visualized through said surface of said second indicator portion;wherein said first indicator portion includes a plate with said markings thereon, said plate located adjacent said surface of said second indicator portion; andwherein said plate of said first indicator portion and said surface of said second indicator portion are each located on a side of said valve body opposite a side of said valve body having a knob extending therefrom, said knob adapted to be manipulated by a hand of a user to cause said central manifold to rotate relative to said valve body. 16. A multi-port stopcock, comprising in combination: a valve body;at least two fluid pathways fixed to said valve body;said at least two fluid pathways adapted to route fluid into and out of said valve body;a central manifold located within said valve body;said central manifold adapted to rotate relative to said valve body;said central manifold having at least one axial flow path therein, said axial flow path extending entirely through said central manifold to be open at opposing axial ends on opposite axial sides of said central manifold to allow flow axially through said central manifold for all rotational positions of said central manifold relative to said valve body;said central manifold having a plurality of non-axial flow paths intersecting said axial flow path; andsaid non-axial flow paths adapted to be selectively aligned with said at least two fluid pathways to control fluid flow through said valve body. 17. The multi-port stopcock of claim 16 wherein said non-axial flow paths extend at least partially radially relative to said axial flow path. 18. The multi-port stopcock of claim 16 wherein said central manifold rotates about a central axis aligned with at least a portion of said axial flow pathway. 19. The multi-port stopcock of claim 18 wherein said at least two fluid pathways extend substantially perpendicularly to said rotational axis of said central manifold. 20. The multi-port stopcock of claim 19 wherein said valve body includes at least three fluid pathways, said at least three fluid pathways each oriented in a common plane substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of said central manifold, two of said at least three fluid pathways oriented substantially 180° away from each other, and one of said fluid pathways oriented substantially perpendicular to each of the other fluid pathways; and wherein said central manifold non-axial flow paths include ends, said ends including at least three ends, two of said ends oriented substantially 180° away from each other and one of said ends oriented substantially 90° away from each of the other of said ends, said at least three ends of said central manifold selectively alignable with various ones of said at least three fluid pathways to selectively couple multiple different ones of said fluid pathways to each other and to said axial flow path of said central manifold. 21. The multi-port stopcock of claim 16 wherein a first indicator portion fixed relative to said valve body, a second indicator portion coupled to said central manifold and adapted to rotate when said central manifold rotates, and said first indicator portion and said second indicator portion interacting to display markings indicative of which of said at least two fluid pathways of said valve body are open for flow through said central manifold. 22. The multi-port stopcock of claim 21 wherein said first indicator portion includes markings, with at least one marking adjacent each fluid pathway; said second indicator portion including an object configured to block all of said markings of said first indicator portion except those markings which are adjacent fluid pathways of said valve body which are open through said central manifold;wherein said second indicator portion includes a surface with windows therein, said windows located adjacent ends of said at least one multi-ended flow path of said central manifold, such that when said ends of said flow paths of said central manifold are aligned with said fluid pathways of said valve body, said markings of said first indicator are aligned with said windows of said second indicator portion and can be visualized through said surface of said second indicator portion; andwherein said first indicator portion includes a plate with said markings thereon, said plate located adjacent said surface of said second indicator portion. 23. An at least six-way stopcock for selectively routing fluids from at least one source to at least one destination, the stopcock comprising in combination: a valve body;at least four fluid pathways joined to said valve body;said fluid pathways oriented in a common plane;said fluid pathways substantially equally spaced from each other;each said fluid pathway adapted to route fluid into and out of said valve body;a central manifold located within said valve body;said central manifold having an adjacently connected offset handle;said central manifold adapted to be rotated relative to said valve body through said handle and about a rotational axis non-parallel with said plane in which said at least four fluid pathways are oriented;said central manifold having at least one multi-ended flow path therein;said central manifold having at least four flow path ends, each said flow path end connected with at least one other flow path end within said central manifold;said central manifold having said ends thereof selectively alignable with various ones of said at least four fluid pathways;at least two of said ends of said central manifold spaced substantially 180° from each other about a rotational axis of said central manifold;at least two of said ends spaced 90° away from each other about said rotational axis of said central manifold;a first indicator portion separably fixed relative to said valve body and having markings thereon;a second indicator portion separably coupled to said central manifold and overlying said first indicator portion;said second indicator portion adapted to rotate when said central manifold rotates;said first indicator portion and said second indicator portion interacting to display said markings indicative of a functional state of said stopcock;wherein said first indicator portion includes at least one of said markings adjacent each fluid pathway;said second indicator portion including an object configured to block all of said markings of said first indicator except those markings which are adjacent fluid pathways of said valve body which are open through said central manifold;wherein said second indicator portion includes a surface with windows therein, said windows located adjacent to the ends of said at least one multi-ended flow path of said central manifold, such that when said ends of said flow paths of said central manifold are aligned with said fluid pathways of said valve body, said markings of said first indicator portion are aligned with said windows of said second indicator portion and can be visualized through said surface of said second indicator portion; andwherein said first indicator portion includes a plate with said markings thereon, said plate located adjacent said surface of said second indicator portion. 24. The stopcock of claim 23 wherein said at least four flow path ends are associated with at least two separate flow paths in said central manifold, and are defining ends of said at least two separate flow paths. 25. The stopcock of claim 24 wherein at least one of said flow paths through said central manifold follows along a substantially circular perimeter of said central manifold. 26. The stopcock of claim 24 wherein each of said two flow paths through said central manifold extend through an interior of said central manifold without intersecting each other. 27. The stopcock of claim 23 wherein said at least four flow path ends are provided at ends of a four legged flow path within said central manifold, each of said four legs coupled together. 28. The stopcock of claim 27 wherein said four legged flow path has said ends positioned with two of said ends substantially 180° spaced from each other and two of said ends spaced substantially 90° from each other on a common side of the central manifold relative to the other two ends. 29. The stopcock of claim 27 wherein said four legged flow path has said ends positioned with two of said ends substantially 180° spaced from each other and two of said ends spaced substantially 90° from each other and substantially 45° away from the other, said ends located on opposite sides of the central manifold. 30. An at least six-way stopcock for selectively routing fluids from at least one source to at least one destination, the stopcock comprising in combination: a valve body;at least four fluid pathways joined to said valve body;said fluid pathways oriented in a common plane;said fluid pathways substantially equally spaced from each other;each said fluid pathway adapted to route fluid into and out of said valve body;a central manifold located within said valve body;said central manifold having an adjacently connected offset handle;said central manifold adapted to be rotated relative to said valve body through said handle and about a rotational axis non-parallel with said plane in which said at least four fluid pathways are oriented;said central manifold having at least one multi-ended flow path therein;said central manifold having at least four flow path ends, each said flow path end connected with at least one other flow path end within said central manifold;said central manifold having said ends thereof selectively alignable with various ones of said at least four fluid pathways;at least two of said ends of said central manifold spaced substantially 180° from each other about a rotational axis of said central manifold;at least two of said ends spaced 90° away from each other about said rotational axis of said central manifold; andwherein a plate of a first indicator portion and a surface of a second indicator portion are each located on a side of said valve body opposite said handle. 31. An at least six-way stopcock for selective routing fluids from at least one source to at least one destination, the stopcock comprising in combination: a valve body;at least four fluid pathways joined to said valve body;said fluid pathways oriented in a common plane;said fluid pathways substantially equally spaced from each other;each said fluid pathway adapted to route fluid into and out of said valve body;a central manifold located within said valve body;said central manifold having an adjacently connected offset handle;said central manifold adapted to be rotated relative to said valve body through said handle and about a rotational axis non-parallel with said plane in which said at least four fluid pathways are oriented;said central manifold having at least one multi-ended flow path therein;said central manifold having at least four flow path ends, each said flow path end connected with at least one other flow path end within said central manifold;said central manifold having said ends thereof selectively alignable with various ones of said at least four fluid pathways;at least two of said ends of said central manifold spaced substantially 180° from each other about a rotational axis of said central manifold;at least two of said ends spaced 90° away from each other about said rotational axis of said central manifold;said central manifold having at least one axial flow path therein, said axial flow path extending entirely through said central manifold to opposing axial ends on opposite axial sides of said central manifold; andsaid central manifold having said at least one multi-ended flow path intersecting said axial flow path. 32. A stopcock, comprising, a valve body having an inner recess;first, second, and third ports coupled to the valve body, each of the first, second, and third ports in fluid communication with the inner recess of the valve body, the first port and the third port disposed along a common line extending through the valve body, and the second port coupled to the valve body at a position centered between the first port and the third port;a central hub having embedded flow paths, the central hub defined to fit within the inner recess of the valve body;a first indicator portion separably fixedly disposed to the valve body;an offset handle coupled to the central hub to enable rotation of the central hub within the valve body, such that rotation moves the embedded flow paths into flow communication with selected ones of the first, second, and third ports, the handle including a portion having a designation thereon, the designation indicating that a port is closed;a second indicator portion separably fixed relative to the handle, such that rotation of the handle rotates the second indicator portion, the second indicator portion disposed proximate to the first indicator portion;wherein the first and second indicator portions are configured to together display markings that identify a current open orientation of the embedded flow paths relative to the first, second and third ports;wherein when the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is aligned with one of the first, second, or third ports, the port with which the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is aligned is closed and the other two ports of the first, second, and third ports are open; andwherein when the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is aligned opposite the second port of the valve body, each of the first, second, and third ports is open. 33. The stopcock of claim 32 wherein the portion of the handle has the designation “OFF” provided thereon. 34. The stopcock of claim 33 wherein at least one fluid pathway of the stopcock is open between at least two of the ports whenever the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is in one of four primary positions, the four primary positions including a first primary position in which the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is aligned with the first port, a second primary position in which the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is aligned with the second port, a third primary position in which the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is aligned with the third port, and a fourth primary position in which the portion of the handle having the designation thereon is aligned opposite the second port of the valve body. 35. The stopcock of claim 34 wherein the handle includes a central knob fixed to the central hub, the central knob having an elongate form extending perpendicular to a rotational axis of the central hub to tend to point along a line parallel with the elongate form of the knob and away from the rotational axis, the designation located upon the central knob. 36. The stopcock of claim 35 wherein when the knob extends to a primary position which does not include one of the ports, all of the embedded flow paths are aligned with one of the ports for common flow between all ports. 37. The stopcock of claim 32 wherein the first and second indicator portions comprise a pair of plates with markings on one of the plates and windows on one of the plates.