Slide valve and coupling unit

Claim 1

Slide valve and coupling unit for flow control, comprising a slide valve including a valve housing forming a first fluid flow passage, and a first slide valve element in said valve housing, guided for lateral displacement between a closed position in which the first slide valve element is positioned across said first passage to keep it closed, and an open position in which said passage is uncovered by said first slide element; and a coupling element including a coupling housing forming a second fluid flow passage which can be connected to said first passage, a second slide valve element in said coupling housing, guided for displacement between a closed position in which the second slide valve element is positioned across said second passage to keep it closed, and an open position in which said second passage is uncovered by the second slide element, said coupling housing also forming a recess to receive therein at least the portion of the valve housing containing the first slide valve element, a sealing element located in the coupling housing around the opening of said second fluid flow passage, said valve housing being displaceable in relation to the coupling housing to a displaced position to engage said second slide valve element for displacement thereof to the open position, and forming an interface surface to be engaged by the sealing element at said surface in said displaced position, said valve housing further including means for retaining the first slide valve element in said recess during the displacement of the first slide valve element, a sealed fluid flow connection being established through said first and second fluid flow passages in said displaced position.