PORT CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A PROBE/FEED/DRAIN TOOL

摘要

A port closure system (20) including a retention structure (22), and a valve (24). The retention structure (22) includes a port (28) for establishing communication between an exterior environment (30) and interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance. The valve (24) includes a flexible, resilient, self-closing, slit-type valve head (36) with an orifice that is normally closed in an unconstrained condition. The port (28) has a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface (34) and the valve has a laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) that is compressed laterally inwardly by engagement with the surface (34) to increase the resistance of the normally closed orifice to opening when the head (36) is subjected to a pressure differential. The system (20) further includes an annular flange (62) located to extend over at least a portion of an exterior side (38) of the valve head (36) to limit movement of the valve head (36) towards the exterior environment (30).

主权项

1. A port closure system (20), said system comprising:
a port (28) to establish communication between an interior volume (32) that can receive a fluent substance and an exterior environment (30), the port (28) having a laterally inwardly facing engaging surface (34); a valve (24) including a flexible, resilient head (36) extending across the port (28), the head (36) having:
an interior side (40) facing the interior volume (32);an exterior side (38) facing the exterior environment (30);at least one self-sealing slit (50) through the head (36);confronting, openable portions (51) along the slit (50) to define a normally closed orifice in an unconstrained condition wherein the openable portions (51) can move in a first direction toward the interior volume (32) to an open orifice configuration and in a second direction toward the exterior environment (30) to an open orifice configuration; anda laterally outwardly facing peripheral surface (54) compressed laterally inwardly by engagement with the engaging surface (34) to thereby impose a closing force on said self-sealing slit (50) to increase the resistance of the normally closed orifice to opening in at least the second direction when the valve head (36) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head (36); and an annular flange (62) located to extend over at least a portion the exterior side (38) of said valve head (36) to limit movement of the openable portions (51) in the second direction.