It is known to provide a pressurized gas supply to gas outlets in a room. In medical treatment facilities, gases such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, air, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen are supplied to the room through a wall panel or ceiling outlet.

It is known to provide detachable adapters which mate with gas outlets to provide gas specific connectors. Such known gas outlet systems typically include a front body having a valve or barrel configured to be coupled to a back body assembly which is coupled to a gas supply line extending from a wall, headwall, or ceiling.

The valve or barrel of the front body must be removed and serviced to replace worn parts from time to time. In particular, O-ring seals within the barrel must be replaced in order to maintain acceptable sealing against gas flow. It is known to provide removable barrels from front bodies in order to permit servicing. However, removal of the conventional barrels is difficult and requires removal of several parts.

These loose parts may be dropped, lost or misplaced.

The gas outlet of the present invention provides an improved latching or retention mechanism for coupling the barrel to the front body. The apparatus of the present invention permits quick detachment of the barrel from the front body for servicing, without removing fasteners or other parts from the front body which can then be lost or misplaced.

Additional features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

Brief Description of the Drawings The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a front body of a gas outlet system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of the front body of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the front body of Fig. 2 illustrating operation of a valve or barrel of the front body; Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view with portions broken away illustrating insertion of a probe into the barrel to provide gas flow; Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the front body of Figs. 1-4 coupled to a back body assembly; Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating movement of a latch mechanism to release the barrel from the front body; Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating removal of the barrel from the front body; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the latch and the barrel removed from the front body; Fig. 9 is a rear view further illustrating operation of the latch mechanism; Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of Fig. 8 further illustrating the connection of the barrel to the front body assembly; Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a front body including a front cover, a back plate, and a valve or barrel configured to be coupled to the front body; Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken through the front body of Fig. 11 illustrating insertion of the barrel into the front body ; Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 12 in which the barrel has been pivoted upwardly so that the flange of the barrel is located behind the back plate of the front body; Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 14 in which the barrel has been rotated to couple the barrel to the front body; Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken along lines 16-16 of Fig. 15 further illustrating locking of the barrel to the front body; and Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention illustrating another configuration for a back plate and a barrel.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a front body 10 of a gas outlet system. Front body 10 includes a front cover 12 having a gas outlet opening 14 and spaced apart apertures 16 for receiving fasteners 18. A release button 20 is coupled to the front cover 12. A keying aperture 22 is also formed in the front cover 12. Keying aperture 22 mates with a projection 50 on a particular type of probe assembly 44. illustratively an Allied probe. For an outlet having a different type of keying system, another configuration of front body assembly is used. The present invention is not limited to Allied keying. It is understood that the front body 10 may be keyed to receive any type of probe, including a Puritan-Bennett probe, a DISS barrel, etc.

Fig. 2 illustrates a back plate 24 coupled to the front cover 12 by fasteners 26. The back plate 24 is formed to include an aperture 28 configured to receive an end 80 of a valve or barrel 30. A latch or retention mechanism 32 is provided to secure the barrel 30 to the back plate 24. Latch mechanism 32 illustratively includes a latch plate 34 and fastener 36 which is coupled to the back plate 24. Details of the latch mechanism 32 and coupling of barrel 30 to back plate 24 will be discussed below with reference to Figs. 6-10.

The barrel 30 illustratively includes a primary piston 38, a secondary piston 40, and an O-ring seal 42. When no probe is inserted into the front body 10, O- ring seal 42 on secondary piston 40 blocks gas flow through the barrel 30. Primary piston 38 serves as a dust plug and spacer to ensure that there is no gas flow through the barrel 30, unless a proper probe is inserted.

Fig. 4 illustrates insertion of a probe 44 into aperture 14 of front body 12. Probe 44 includes a central projection 46 which enters aperture 14 and moves primary piston 38 in the direction of arrow 48 as shown in Fig. 4. Probe 44 also includes a keying projection 50 which enters keying aperture 22. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the keying projection 50 is locked in position by a plate 52. Downward movement of release button 20 causes downward movement of plate 52 to release the projection 50 of probe 44. When the proper probe is inserted as shown in Fig. 4, the nose of probe projection 46 moves the primary piston 38 in the direction of arrow 48.

Movement of the primary piston 38 causes movement of the secondary piston 40 and

of the O-ring seal 42 away from a valve seat to permit gas to flow through the barrel 30 and into the probe projection 46.

Fig. 5 illustrates further details of the gas outlet assembly in which the front body 10 is coupled to a face plate 54. If the face plate 54 is plastic, then the face plate 54 is coupled to a steel backing plate 56 with suitable fasteners 58. If the face plate 54 is made from metal, such as zinc diecast, steel backing plate 56 is not required. A back body assembly 60 is coupled to the front body assembly 10 as shown. A gas supply line 62 is coupled to back body assembly 60. Back body assembly 60 includes a cylindrical pipe 64, a O-ring seal 66, and a bushing 68 which seals the pipe 64 of back body assembly 60 to the barrel 30 of front body assembly 10.

As discussed above, different types of front bodies may be used depending upon the type of connection desired. In addition, the back body assembly may be changed for different types of rear connections. The front body 10 can also be connected to a 1/4 NPTM check unit, a DISS connection, a hose barb connection, copper tube connections, or any other desired connection.

The improved latch mechanism 34 for the barrel 30 is best illustrated in Figs. 6-10. As discussed above, it is understood that the latch mechanism 34 may be used with any desired type of gas outlet and is not limited to the particular configuration of the front body 10.

When it is desired to remove the barrel 30 for servicing, the fastener 36 is loosened so that the latch plate 34 can slide upwardly in the direction of arrow 70 in Fig. 6. As shown in Figs. 7-10, the barrel 30 includes an annular ring 72 and a flange 74 having a larger diameter than the annular ring 72 adjacent an end 80 of barrel 30.

An annular ring 76 is also formed on end 80 of barrel 30 as shown in Fig. 8. An O- ring seal 82 is located within annular ring 76 surrounding primary piston 38.

Latch plate 34 is formed to include an inwardly projecting edge 84 configured to engage flange 74 of barrel 30 to retain the barrel 30 within the front body 10. Once the latch plate 30 is moved upwardly in the direction of arrow 70 past the flange 74 as illustrated in Fig. 6, the barrel 30 can be pivoted downwardly relative to the back plate 24 to an angle 86 and then removed from the back plate 24 for servicing of components within the barrel 30.

Further details of the latch mechanism are illustrated in Figs. 8-10.

The latch plate 34 includes an elongated slot 88. Fastener 36 extends through the

elongated slot 88 into a threaded aperture 90 formed in back plate 24. It is understood that a threaded aperture for receiving fastener 36 may also be formed in cover 12 if desired. Elongated slot 88 permits the latch plate 34 to move up and down in the direction of double-headed arrow 92 of Fig. 8 without removal of the fastener 36.

Therefore, the fastener 36 and latch plate 34 remain coupled to the front body 10 during removal of the barrel 30 to reduce the likelihood that the parts will be lost or misplaced.

It is understood that other types of securing or retention mechanisms may be used to hold the barrel 30 on the back body assembly 10. For instance, a spring biased member may be used to hold the barrel 30 downwardly into the locked position of Fig. 10. Such spring biased member may be used with or without a separate fastener for securing the barrel 30 to the front body 10. Other types of sliding coupling mechanisms may also be used. In addition, a bayonet-type connection of barrel 30 may be used. In this instance, the barrel 30 has a nonsymmetrical flange which is inserted into a nonsymmetrical opening formed in back plate 24 and then rotated so that flanges on the barrel cannot be removed from back plate 24 without rotating the barrel 30 as discussed below with reference to Figs. 11-17.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate that inwardly projecting edge 84 of latch plate 34 overlaps and engages flange 74 of barrel 30 when latch plate 34 is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow 94. Once the latch plate 34 engages the flange 74, fastener 36 is tightened to secure the barrel 30 in the locked position.

Plate 24 is formed to include an aperture 28 for receiving end 80 of barrel 30. The aperture includes outer side portions 98 which have a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of flange 74. A lip portion 100 is configured to engage a bottom portion of flange 74 to hold the barrel 30 on the front body 10 as best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. In other words, the flange 74 is locked behind the plate 24 by lip 100. Lip 100 includes a curved notch 101 configured to engage annular ring 72. Top surface 102 of aperture 96 provides room for inwardly projecting edge 84 of latch plate 34 to move. Figs. 8 and 10 illustrate a washer 104 configured to be inserted into the front body 10 prior to barrel 30. Washer 104 provides a sealing surface for O-ring 82 as best illustrated in Fig. 10. It is understood that the cover 12 may be formed to include an appropriate sealing surface so that washer 104 is not required.

In operation, when it is desired to load a barrel 30 into the front body 10, the barrel 30 is tilted at an angle as illustrated in Fig. 7 and flange 74 is positioned within aperture 28 behind lip 100. Barrel 30 is then rotated upwardly in the direction of arrow 106 of Fig. 7 with the latch plate 34 moved upwardly in the direction of arrow 70. Once the barrel 30 is in the position of Fig. 6, latch plate 34 is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow 94 to the position shown in Figs. 2,9 and 10 so that edge 84 overlaps flange 74. Fastener 36 is then tightened to hold the inwardly extending edge 84 against flange 74 of barrel 30 to secure the barrel 30 to the front body 10. These steps are reversed in order to remove the barrel 30 from the front body assembly 10 for servicing.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 11- 16. Those elements referenced by numbers same as Figs. 1-10 provide the same or similar function. Front body 12 includes a gas outlet 14 and keying apertures 120 and 122 formed in front cover 12. A back plate 124 includes a rear panel 126 and side walls 128 and 130. Back plate 124 is configured to be coupled to front cover 12 by fasteners 26. Rear panel 126 of back plate 24 is formed to include a central aperture 132 configured to receive the outlet end 80 of barrel 30. A washer 104 and U-shaped spring clip are located in the front body 10. An 0-ring 82 is provided for sealing the barrel 30 as discussed above.

In the embodiment of Figs 11-16, the flange 74 of barrel 30 is formed to include a flat surface 133 so that flange 174 is non-symmetrical. Aperture 132 is defined in part by first and second side walls 134 and 136 which are generally arcuate to match the curve of the outer flange 74. Aperture 132 is further defined by a bottom flat wall 138 and a top flat wall 140. Side walls 134,136 and top flat wall 140 cooperate to define an opening size to receive the flat portion 133 and adjacent curved sections of the flange 74.

Installation of the barrel 30 into the back plate 124 is illustrated in the Figs. 12-16. First, the curved portion of flange 74 is aligned at an angle and positioned behind bottom flat wall 138 as shown in Fig. 12. Next, the flat surface 133 is aligned with the flat side wall 140 and the barrel 30 is rotated upwardly in the direction of arrow 142 of Fig. 12 to the position shown in Figs. 13 and 14. In the position of Figs. 13 and 14, the entire flange 74 of barrel 30 is located between back plate 124 and front cover 12. Once the barrel 30 is positioned in the location shown in

Figs. 13 and 14, the barrel is rotated as shown by arrow 144 in Fig. 14. Therefore, the top flat portion 133 of flange 74 rotates to the position shown in Figs. 15 and 16 to lock the barrel 30 to the back plate 24. In other words, a curved portion of flange 74 rotates upwardly behind the top wall 140 formed in back plate 124 to secure the barrel 30 to the front body 10.

Barrel 30 can be easily removed from the front body 10 for servicing by rotating the barrel in the direction of barrel 146 or continuing rotation of the barrel 30 in the direction of arrow 144 or until the flat 133 on flange 74 is again aligned with the flat wall 140 formed in back plate 124. The barrel 30 can then be pivoted downwardly to a position of Fig. 12 and removed from the front body 10.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the Fig. 17. Those elements referenced by numbers the same as Figs 1-16 perform the same or similar function. In the Fig. 17 embodiment, the back plate 124 is formed to include a top tab portion 150 spaced apart from bottom flat wall 138. Flange 74 of barrel 30 is formed to include a slot 152 sized slightly larger than tab 150. Therefore, the barrel 30 is installed onto the back plate 124 in a manner similar to the manner described above. The barrel is first aligned with an angle and a portion of the flange 74 is hooked over the bottom flat wall 138. The barrel 30 is then pivoted upwardly with the slot 152 aligned with tab 150 so that the slot 152 passes over the tab 150.

After the flange 74 is located between back plate 124 and front cover 12 of front body 10, the barrel 30 is rotated so that the tab 150 engages a portion of the flange 74 to retain the barrel 30 within the front body 10. Barrel 30 can be easily removed from the front body 10 for servicing by rotating the barrel 30 until the slot 152 formed in the flange 74 is aligned with the tab 150 formed in back plate 124. The barrel 30 can then be pivoted downwardly to a position of Fig. 12 and removed from the front body 10.

In all the illustrated embodiments, the barrel 30 can therefore be removed from front body assembly 10 without removal of parts from the front body assembly 10. This reduces the likelihood that parts will be lost or misplaced during servicing or maintenance of the barrel 30.