Valve with positive and negative status indicator

摘要

A valve is provided with multiple ports joining multiple fluid conduits leading between fluid sources and fluid destinations. A central hub manifold or other control element resides within a body supporting the ports, and can rotate relative to the valve body. Fluid flow paths within the central hub or other control element are selectively aligned or not aligned with the ports. The valve indicates which ports are open or closed by providing unique marks adjacent the ports corresponding with being open or closed. When the positive marks are visible, such as through windows in a rotating structure fixed to the central hub or other control element, the corresponding ports are open. When the negative marks are visible, such as through other windows in the rotating structure, the corresponding ports are closed.

主权项

1. A stopcock with intuitive positive and negative 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 flow pathways of said valve body; a first indicator portion fixed relative to said valve body and having markings thereon including positive markings indicative of open flow and negative markings indicative of closed flow; 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 positive markings adjacent fluid pathways which are open and said negative markings adjacent fluid pathways which are closed; and said first indicator portion and said second indicator portion interacting to not display said positive markings adjacent fluid pathways which are closed and to not display said negative markings adjacent fluid pathways which are open.