Adjustable multi-port connector and valve

Abstract

A multi-fitting rotatable fluid connection apparatus comprising a fluid entry fitting and first and second fluid discharge fittings. The fluid entry fitting comprises a first end connector threaded for attachment to a fluid source, and first and second distribution connectors. The first fluid discharge fitting has a first intake connector which receives fluid from the first distribution connector. A first rotation member is coupled between the first intake connector and the first distribution connector such that the first fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a first axis of rotation. The second fluid discharge fitting has a second intake connector which receives fluid from the second distribution connector. A second rotation member is coupled between the second intake connector and the second distribution connector such that the second fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a second axis of rotation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A connector apparatus comprising:
 a fluid entry fitting having a first end connector, a first distribution connector and a second distribution connector, wherein the first end connector is threaded for attachment to a fluid source;   a first fluid discharge fitting having a first intake connector and first discharge connector, wherein the first intake connector receives fluid from the first distribution connector;   a first rotation member coupled between the first intake connector and the first distribution connector, such that the first fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a first axis of rotation with respect to the fluid entry fitting;   a second fluid discharge fitting having a second intake connector and a second discharge connector, wherein the second intake connector receives fluid from the second distribution connector; and   a second rotation member coupled between the second intake connector and the second distribution connector, such that the second fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a second axis of rotation with respect to the fluid entry fitting.   
     
     
         2 . The connector apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         3 . The connector apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid entry fitting is substantially T-shaped such that the first distribution connector and the second distribution connector have a shared central longitudinal axis, wherein the shared central longitudinal axis is:
 perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the first end connector; and   substantially parallel to one or more of the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation.   
     
     
         4 . The connector apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the shared central longitudinal axis is perpendicular to one or more of:
 a central longitudinal axis of the first discharge connector; and   a central longitudinal axis of the second discharge connector.   
     
     
         5 . The connector apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid discharge fitting and the second fluid discharge fitting are rigidly connected to one another and rotate together relative to the fluid entry fitting. 
     
     
         6 . The connector apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first rotation member and the second rotation member contain at least one O-ring in engagement with an inner surface of the first intake connector and the second intake connector, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The connector apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first fluid discharge fitting further comprises a first expansion connector; and   the second fluid discharge fitting further comprises a second expansion connector.   
     
     
         8 . The connector apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a third fluid discharge fitting comprising a third intake connector and a third discharge connector, wherein the third intake connector receives fluid from the first expansion connector;   a third rotation member coupled between the third intake connector and the first expansion connector, such that the third fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a third axis of rotation with respect to the first fluid discharge fitting;   a fourth fluid discharge fitting comprising a fourth intake connector and a fourth discharge connector, wherein the fourth intake connector receives fluid from the second expansion connector; and   a fourth rotation member coupled between the fourth intake connector and the second expansion connector, such that the fourth fluid discharge fitting is rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation with respect to the second fluid discharge connector.   
     
     
         9 . The connector apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the first axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation, and the fourth axis of rotation are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The connector apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the third rotation member and the fourth rotation member:
 contains at least one O-ring; and   is rotatable through 360 degrees about the third axis of rotation or the fourth axis of rotation, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The connector apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first plug element removably coupled to the first expansion connector to prevent fluid flow through the first expansion connector; and   a second plug element removably coupled to the second expansion connector to prevent fluid flow through the second expansion connector.   
     
     
         12 . The connector apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more rotatable hose couplings attached to a respective one or more of the first discharge connector, the second discharge connector, the third discharge connector, and the fourth discharge connector. 
     
     
         13 . The connector apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more rotatable valves disposed within one or more of the first fluid discharge fitting, the second fluid discharge fitting, the third fluid discharge fitting, and the fourth fluid discharge fitting such that rotation of the one or more rotatable valves modulates the fluid flow rate through a corresponding one of the fluid discharge fittings. 
     
     
         14 . A rotatable fluid flow control valve comprising:
 an internal flow gate consisting of a fluid entry volume and a fluid discharge volume, the fluid entry volume and the fluid discharge volume separated by an intermediate face spanning an inner diameter of the internal flow gate;   an external flow guide enclosing the internal flow gate, wherein an inner surface of the external flow guide contains a plurality of fluid flow slots extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid flow control valve; and   one or more O-rings disposed between the internal flow gate and the external flow guide wherein the external flow guide is rotatable about the internal flow gate to vary the relative positioning between the intermediate face and the fluid flow slots, such that:
 in an off position, the external flow guide is rotated such that the fluid entry volume and the fluid discharge volume are isolated from one another by a fluid seal formed by the one or more O-rings and the intermediate face of the internal flow gate; and 
 in an on position, the external flow guide is rotated such that the fluid entry volume and the fluid discharge volume are fluidly coupled through a volume defined by one or more fluid flow slots that extend across the fluid seal formed by the O-rings and the intermediate face, wherein the first distal ends of the one or more fluid flow slots are disposed within the fluid entry volume and the second distal ends of the one or more fluid flow slots are disposed within the fluid discharge volume. 
   
     
     
         15 . The rotatable fluid control valve of  claim 14 , wherein the intermediate face of the internal flow gate is disposed at an angle with respect to an opening of a discharge connector of the fluid discharge volume. 
     
     
         16 . The rotatable fluid control valve of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fluid flow slots are of varying lengths such that their second distal ends are arranged at substantially the same angle as the intermediate face of the internal flow gate. 
     
     
         17 . The rotatable fluid control valve of  claim 14 , wherein a first O-ring is compressed between the outer circumference of the intermediate face of the internal flow gate and the inner surface of the external flow guide. 
     
     
         18 . The rotatable fluid control valve of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second O-ring provided at a distal end of the fluid entry volume, such that the fluid entry volume is defined between the first O-ring and the second O-ring; and   a third O-ring provided at a distal end of the fluid discharge volume, such that the fluid discharge volume is defined between the first O-ring and the third O-ring   
     
     
         19 . The rotatable fluid control valve of  claim 14 , further comprising one or more rotation stops to prevent further rotation of the external flow guide relative to the internal flow guide beyond a relative rotation from the off position to a maximum on position. 
     
     
         20 . The rotatable fluid control valve of  claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of the external flow guide comprises one or more raised grip assistance elements.