Fluid delivery valve system and method
A method of forming a valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal can include injection molding an upper member having a piercing member and injection molding a sealing member. The upper member has a fluid channel defined therethrough and forms, in an injection molding machine, a unitary member with the sealing member. The method can also include injection molding a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough. The base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member. The method can further include injection molding a stem member constructed and arranged to be disposed in part within the base fluid channel. The stem member has an actuation portion extending through a spring element. The stem member has a top portion having a lower surface.
1. A method of forming a valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the method comprising:
forming an upper member having a piercing member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough; and
injection molding a sealing member, so that the sealing member is secured to the upper member during the injection molding of the sealing member
injection molding a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough;
injection molding a stem member having an actuation portion and a top portion having a lower surface, wherein the stem member is constructed and arranged to be disposed at least partially within the base fluid channel; and
disposing a spring element within the base fluid channel;
wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the lower surface to apply a biasing force to the stem member;
wherein the spring element comprises at least one group of dead coils, thereby facilitating prevention of tangling of a plurality of spring members when the spring members are arranged during assembly.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
injection molding a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough,
wherein the base is constructed and arranged to be matingly coupled to the upper member, and wherein the base is constructed and arranged to receive the sealing member within the base fluid channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a flow aperture and a sealing member bottom surface, the sealing member being constructed and arranged to facilitate sealing of the flow aperture when the sealing member bottom surface abuts a top surface of the stem member.
4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
injection molding the upper member in a first step of a multi-step injection molding process; and
injection molding the sealing member in a second step of the multi-step injection molding process.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper member and the sealing member form a unitary structure.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper member comprises polypropylene.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises silicone rubber.
8. The method of claim 2 , comprising inserting a portion of the upper member into the base.
9. The method of claim 2 , comprising inserting a portion of the upper member into the base wherein the upper member is secured to the base via a friction fit.
10. The method of claim 1 , comprising disposing a part of the stem member within the base fluid channel.
11. The method of claim 1 , at least one of the groups of dead coils being located at the center of the spring element, at least one of the groups being located at a first end of the spring element, and at least one of the groups being located at a second end of the spring element.
12. A method of forming a valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the method comprising:
forming an upper member having a piercing member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough;
injection molding a sealing member onto the upper member, so that the sealing member is secured to the upper member during the injection molding of the sealing member;
wherein the sealing member comprises a flow aperture and a sealing member bottom surface, the sealing member being constructed and arranged to facilitate sealing of the flow aperture when the sealing member bottom surface abuts a top surface of the stem member;
injection molding a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough;
injection molding a stein member having an actuation portion and a top portion having a lower surface, wherein the stem member is constructed and arranged to be disposed at least partially within the base fluid channel; and
disposing a spring element within the base fluid channel, wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the lower surface to apply a biasing force to the stem member; wherein the sealing member bottom surface has a lower ridge extending therefrom, the lower ridge being constructed and arranged to facilitate the concentration of the biasing force from the spring element to seal the flow aperture.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stem member is constructed and arranged to selectively facilitate the flow of fluid when the actuation portion is pushed.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stem member is constructed and arranged to selectively facilitate the flow of fluid when the actuation portion is pushed with a force of less than or equal to 5 grams.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stem member is constructed and arranged to selectively facilitate the flow of fluid when the actuation portion is pushed with a force of less than or equal to 3 grams.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is disposable.
17. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
piercing a fluid bag with the piercing member to facilitate the providing of fluid from a fluid bag to an animal.
18. The method of claim 17 , comprising:
disposing of the valve assembly after the animal has consumed fluid from the fluid bag.
19. A method of forming a valve assembly for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal, the method comprising:
injection molding an upper member having a piercing member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough;
injection molding a base having a base fluid channel defined therethrough,
wherein the base is constructed and arranged to be matingly coupled to the upper member;
injection molding a sealing member constructed and arranged to be disposed within the base fluid channel, wherein the sealing member contacts the upper member;
injection molding a stem member having an actuation portion and a top portion having a lower surface, wherein the stem member is constructed and arranged to be disposed at least partially within the base fluid channel; and
disposing a spring element within the base fluid channel;
wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the lower surface to apply a biasing force to the stem member;
wherein the spring element comprises at least one group of dead coils, thereby facilitating prevention of tangling of a plurality of spring members when the spring members are arranged during assembly.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sealing member is secured to the upper member during the injection molding of the sealing member to form a unitary structure.