CA1185935A - Spray valve arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract:
The invention relates to a spray valve assembly for an aerosol can. The valve is capable of allowing the can to operate properly either in the normal or inverted position.
This is achieved by providing a main passage through the assembly and an auxiliary passage. An auxiliary valve is located in the auxiliary passage and is arranged to open the main passage only in the normal position of the can and the auxiliary passage only in the inverted position.
The auxiliary valve is formed eccentrically in the valve housing portion which surrounds the auxiliary valve cham-ber, and the predominant part of the cross section of the main passage extending by the auxiliary valve is disposed on the side which is towards the axis of the valve hous-ing, of an auxiliary valve axial plane which is disposed perpendicularly to a common axial plane of the valve housing and the auxiliary valve chamber. This minimizes flow resistance and consequently flow losses.

Description

spr~y valve assembly The ~n~entlon relates to a ~pray ~lve as~embly ~cr ~n aero~ol can, compr~ing a one-piece valve housing oX plastics material~ whlch c~n be seallngly ~lxedly 5 ~tted with a~ upper end ln the top ~ortion o~ ~he ¢an7 whlch de~ines a maln pa~age ~or the through~low of the ~ontent~ of the can~ an~ whlch has a maln Yalve wlth a valve stem, whlch ~s ~anually actuable agaln~t the force of a ~pring~ in the main passage, ~n ~mer~lon pipe which extends the main passage, B secondary passage which connects the 8p2ce in the can to the main pass~ge~
for the throughflow of the contents of the ~an abo~e the maxl~um level of ~ ng o~ the can, ~nd ~ valve seat o~ an auxiliary valve ~hich i~ formed at the Junctlo~ o~ the main and the secondary passages, having a val~e ball o~ metal ln an aux~liary ~al~e chamber which 18 surrcunded by an out~r valve houslng port~on, wherein ~he aux~liary val~e seat is dispo~ed below t~e . valve ball so that $n the normal position vf the can the ~alve bal~ does not impede the main passage alld blocks the secondary passage whereas in the in~erted position-o~ the c~n lt opens the ~econdary pas~age, and wherein the main pa~sage is taken laterally past the auxill~ry ~al~e~
25In ~ known sprsy Yalve assembly of ~his kind (US patent.speci~ication No 3 4~7 551~the auxiliary 35~3Si ~alve chamber i~ disposed concenkrlcally with re~pect to the ~alve housing~ The ~ection o~ the maln passage ~hlch 18 taken ~aterally paRt the auxillary ~lve iA
thererore nece~sarlly o~ ~ery small flow cross-section, wh~ch is detrlmental to nOw therethrough~ over lt~
entire length, becQuse of the predetermlned external ~alve dimensions. A~ the dimen~ion~ o~ the Yalve housing must also be ~ept to a mlnim~, ln con~lderation of the minlmum pos31bl~ con~wnpt$on of material in can~ o~ thls kind whlch are produced 1~ large numbers, the ~low resi~tance in the abo~e-mentioned section o~ the ~ai~
pa~sage ~8 comparatively h~gh. Thi~ result~ i~ a pres~ure drop whlch has an undesirable and detr~mental effect on the ~pray actlon of $he ~alve assembly. The upper opening o~ the auxiliary valve chamber~ which iR provided for installation Q~ the ~uxlliary ~alve ball~ i~ closed by a ~econd ball whlch ~s sub~ected to the pressure o~
the return ~prlng o~ the main vAlve ~tem. Therefore9 the auxlllary ~alve ball 18 pre~sed dswnwardly on to its Yal~e seat ~y the propellent or pre~sure gas which ls above the le~el o~ llquid ln the can and whlch pas~es lnto the ~uxlliary valve ohamber by way o~ th~ ~econda~y passage, 80 ~h~t the CQmmUniCation be~ween the secondary and main passages i8 interrupted in the normal posi~$on o~ the can and the pressure ga~ cRnnot flow ou~ Or the head ~pace ln the can, I~ the inYerted po~ition o~ the oanDon the other hand, the auxiliary valve ball falls downwardly 80 that the secondary passage 18 now co~nected to the main passage and the fluid can pa3s by way o~ the secondary passage to the ma~n passage ~nd can be discharged by w~y of ~he maln passage~ Without spec~al step~ being taken at the ~ame time ho~ever, ~he pressure ga~ can also flow out of ~he arrangement through the maln passage~ I~ that case~ in the normal pos~tion~ the dl~charge pressure ... .. . ... _ . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . .

~L~l85 ~,, availab].e is no longer sufficient, for the remaining fluid in the can.
The invention is based on the problem of providing a spray valve assembly of the general kind set forth, whose design complies with the requirements of mass production and which in particular ensures low leve3.s of discharye pressure losses.
According to the invention t this problem i~ solved in that the auxiliary valve is formed eccentrically in the outer valve housing portion which surrounds the auxiliary valve chamber and that the predominant part of the cross-section of the section of the main passage which extends beside the auxiliary valve is disposed within the valve housing on the side opposite the axis of the valve housing from that of the valve axis of the auxiliary valve chamber, More specifically, the invention provides in a spray valve assembly for an aerosol can, comprising a one-piece valve housing of plastics material, which can be sealingly fixedly fitted with an upper end in the top portion of the can, which defines a main passage for the throughflow of the contents of the can and which has a main valve with a valve stem, which is manually actuable against the force of a spring, in the main passage, an immersion pipe which extends the main passage, a secondary passage including an inlet opening which connects the space in the can to the main passage for the throughflow of the contents of the can above the maximum level of fi1ling of the can, and a valve seat of an auxiliary valve which is formed at the junction of the main and the secondary passages, the auxiliary valve having a valve ball of metal in an auxiliary valve chamber which is surrounded by an outer cylindrical valve housing portion lying within the cross section of the upper end of the cylindrical valve housing t wherein the auxiliary valve seat is disposed below the ~s~
- 3a -valve ball so that in the normal posit.ion of the can the valve ball does not impede the main passage and blocks the secondary passage, whereas in the inverted position of the can it opens the secondary passage, and wherein the main passage is taken laterally past the auxiliary va].ve, the improvement which comprises forming the auxiliary valve eccentrically in the outer valve housing portion which surrounds the auxil:iary valve chamber, the degree of eccentricity being approximately equal to the difeerence of the inside radii of the vuter valve housing portion and the auxiliary valve chamber and that the difference between the outside diameter of the auxiliary valve chamber and the inside diameter of the outer valve housing portion is less than the diameter of the valve ball of the auxiliary valve.
This configuration ensures that the flow cross-section of the main passage, relative to the outside diameter of the housing; is incrPased in the comparatively long section which goes past the auxiliary valveO In this section therefore, the flow resistance and thus the flow losses are lower, in comparison with a concentric arrangement when the outside diameter of the housing is otherwise the sameO
Consequently, with the same pressure, the fluid can be discharged from the can at higher speed and consequently in a more finely atomised form. The arrangement ~nsures nonetheless that the auxiliary valve ball, the diameter of which is only slightly less than the inside diameter of the auxiliary valve chamber, cannot be introduced upon assembly into the main passage beside the auxiliary valve chamberO It is then desirable for the de~ree of ~ , ~

eccentr$city to be approx~mately equal to the dlfrerenoQ
between the in~de radii of the outer valve housing portion and the 8uxl1i~ry ~alve chamber, In thl~ respeck, ~he outside wall of the outer ~al~e housing portion ~lmult~neou~ly 5 forms a part of the wall of the ~uxil~ary Yalve ~hamber.
This ~ot only provf de3 ~ ole~r ~avlng o~ materlal but al~o result3 ln a ~urther reduction ~n pres~ure lo~e~.
Preferabl~, the inYent~on providefi that the dlfference between the outslde diameter of the auxlliary ~alve cham~er and the lnslde diameter o~ the outer v~lve housing portlon is le~s than the d~ameter OI the balï o~ the ~uxiliary ~l~e. This facllitates assembllng the ball of the aux~liary ~alve. It only needs to be put lnto the valve housing whlch i~ open at the upper end~ and nonethele~
align~ it~elf automatlcally above the insertion openlng of the auxlli~ry valve chamber, withou-t it ha~lng to be held beforeh~nd, at a position with the same degree of eccentr~cit~
~s that o~ the auxlllary Yalve chamber~ ln the deslred po~ition of installation.
The opening of the ~econdary passage into the auxiliary ~alve c~amber may b~ below the ball~ I~ ln thi~ respect possible e.~cape of the pressure gas upo~ actuation o~
the maln ~al~e in the inYerted pos~tion of the can is tolerated~ then it i8 poss~ble to om~t a ~hut~of~ ball or the like for the ball insertlon op~ning of the aux~liary valve chamber. As aerosol can~ are produced in large number~, the o~lssion of a ~lngle component me~n~ thatv in the ultimate analysis9 there ~8 a considerable saving ~n regard to the cos~s Or material and as~embly, in compari~on 30 with the pre~iously ~nown desi~n~ The weight of the ball of the ~ux~liary ~alve ls suf~icien-t, if the val~e i5 of the approprla~e ~lmens~ns~ ~or re~lably interruptlng the co~nu~ica~ion between the second~r~ and the main passages when the maln va~ve is ac~uated in the normal positlon of the . .

S~3~S

ae~rosol can~
Althou~;h ln principle it 1B po~sible ~or the ~econdary pa~age ~o open ln the conical surface o.~ the auxlliary Yalve seat 9 it i3 b~tter for the mouth o~ the ~econdary pas~age to end at the lowest positlon o~ the auxlllary Yalve ~e~t. In thls ~rr~gernent, wherl the aerosol can i~ ln the normal vertical po~ition~ the bP~ll closes the ~wcillary valve a~ainst khe gas pressure, not ~u~t wlth a component of the ~orce produced by it~ welght, 10 but wlth lt~ ~ull welght.
I~ the valve i3 :retained in the awclliary valve chamber by a retaining means which is dispo~ed above the ball" ~o l;hat the ball cannot fall o~t o~ . he valYe chamber ln the ~nverted po~ition, I;he retal~ng mearls 1.5 may liberat2 an a~sembly openlng ~or the ball from the ~pace in the housin~ for the maln valve~ to the auxiliary valve chamberO Ther~ 18 no need 1;o have an addit~on~l romponent to provide the retaining mean~. Nonetheless, this arrangemerl~ ensure~ that not only can the ball be 20 easlly ~troduced lnto the awdliary chamber upon assemblyg but in addltion the ~luid can be di~charged ~hrough the ~u~iliary ~,ralve chamber, by way of a comparatively large flow cross-section, when the main valv~ is actuated ~ the ln~erted positlon of the c~O
If the opening i8 parallel to the a~s and the re~ainlng means is ~ormed by at least one fle~ble pro~ections wh~ch pro~ect~ r~dially inwarclly at the opening, the ball can be easily pres~ed beyond the pro~ection~ ~nto th2 au~liary val~re chamber7 upon assembly~

~5~3~i Instead oi securlng the ball ln the auxlliary valYe chQmber by ~he aboYe~-mentioned retainlng ~ean6, lt i~ al~o possible to pro~ide ~ houslng in~ert whl ch de~ine~ the chamber and whlch pre~erably has re~ulation or control 5 apertures for the ~low path outslde o~ the ch~m~er9 whlch apertures may b~ l~rger or ~maller dependin~ on the lntended purpose of the ~pray valve.
Preferably, the val~e hou~ln~ has ~ proJectlon which extend3 ln an annular configuration on its lnslde w~ll, 10 and the hou3ing insert can be pushed beyond the pro~ection upon ~sembly and s~n be brought ~nto de~ent engagement therebehlnd for ~ecuring it $n posltion ln the axl~l d~rection. ~he sprin~ which ls proYided ~or returnlng the main ~alve ~tem bears aga$nst the housing insert. Thls 15 arrangement additionally ensures that the housing insert i8 ~ealingly applied agalnst the upper wall o~ the chamber o.~ the ~uxillary ~alve.
It is ~180 ad~antPgeou~ ~or the cross-~ection o~ the narrowest part of the second ry pas~age to be greater 20 th~n that of the narrowest part of that section o~ the ~aln pa~a~e wh~ch ad~oin~ the secondary pas~age in the directlon Or flow9 withln the ~alYe housing. Thi~ arrangement prov~des a guarantee in respect of any loss of gss ~rom the container, even when the con~ainer is in the ~nverted ~5 po8~tion~ as more ~luid can alway~ flow into the mai~
pa~age by way o~ the ~econdary pas~age, than can ~low a~ay below the open~ng of the ~econdary passage into the maln passage.
Then, ~n ~ further embodiment 7 in ~n arrangement 30 -including ~ houslng in~ert whlch delimit~ the ~uxiliary ~alYe chamber9 the housing insert may have a second auxll~ary val~e ~eat abo~e the ball and may surround an openi~ o~ th.e main passPge ~to the auxlllary ~alve chambe~ this ~onnec~ion9 this arrangement also ensure~

~5~

in the lnverted posl~ion o5C the can that the same ball closes the ~pening o~ the ~ain pa~age lnto the auxiliary ~ralve chamber9 by ~lrtue o~ the weight of the ball ltself, ~o th~t the pre~sure gas c~nnot Ilow out before the leve'l 5 o liquld in the container has not fallen at lea~ to ~elow the ~ nlet opening o~ the ~econdary pa3sa~e l~to the valve ,~ ¦ housing, in the inverted posltlon. I~ ln the normal position ~he 6econdary passa~e opens :~rom below and the maln passage opens grom abo~e, i~to the aux~liary ~rallre chamber, the 10 flow pre~sure of the fluid which ~lows out by way of the auxiliary v~lve chamber when the main valve ls opened, together with ~he weight of the ball ~tself, ~cts again~t the ball being lifted from the val~re ~eat by the gas . pressure, ~rrespecti~re o~ whether the aerosol can ls helc~
1~ ~ the normal ~rertical position or in the reverse po~ition ~inverted)~ ~
It ~s al~o ad~antageous, in the change-over switching . ~alYe, for the opening of the secondary passage in the ~lrst auxillary valve seat and the opening of the main 20 passage in the ~econd auxiliary ~ralve ~eat to be coax~al wlth re~pect to eac~ stherO In t~s way" the fluid fl~w 4;~ pressure upon dlscharge ~cts preci~ely in oppos$t~on to the gas pres3ure on the ~ralve ball ~o that the flo~f pr~s~ure ls fully e~ective to ac~ as a closing pressure"
25 to pre~rent a disoharge o~ gas . At the ~ame t~ me this arrangement ensures that the b~ll on:Ly needs to be put into the upper opsning of the val~re housing for it nonethele~s to be put precisely centrally on the lower val~e ~eat of the auxiliary val~Te be:fore ~he ~ous~ng lnsert 30 is inserted lnto ~he posltion o~ installat;ion, Preferably~ the valYe housing has a transversely extendlng ~lot and en axlal bore, which ~orm the f~econdary ~''' .
,..,,; I
I

~35~

passage. ~n product~on o~ the val~e hou~ln~ whlch compr~es pla~tlc~ materlal, it 18 therefore only nece~ary to pro~lde a simple plate-like gllde m~mber ~or the transver~e ~lot and a cylindrlcsl ro~nd mandrel ~or the ~xlal bore, on the core mesns o~ the mould, The ma~drel m~y lie wlth its end face aga~nst the pl~te~ giving a large cont~ct area~ in contrast to an arr~n~ement of two cylindrlcal bor~ whlch are at an an~le to each other, wher~in ~t would be nece~sary to ha~e a correspond.in~ly cylindric~l ~lide member wh~h would come into only llne cont~ct with a ~lat end ~ace o~ the core mandrel~ sO that ~aid end face would have to be of a correspondingly cyl~ndrical configuration, which ls expens~ve, ln order to provide for a large-area flow cross sect~ on between the two bores~
Then, the 1nventlon preferably provides th2t the main passage is provided~ below t~e ~unction Or ~he main passage and the ~econdary passage9 with a second eccentric valve hav:ing a second val~e ball OI metal and a second auxlliary valve seat abo~e the ~econ~ ball.
In this way, discharge of gas ~s prevented by the ~rst or second ~alve ball3 not Just ln the normal p~sit~or:
bu~ also in th~ inverted posltlon of the can. In ~hl~
arrangement however a housing in~ert may be omltted~
In thl8 connection9 $t i8 d~irable ~or the auxiliary ~alves to be axlally displaced and to o~erlap radially~ ln thls way, the flow cross-~eot~on ln respect of the main passage is malntained, even with a small outslde diameter ln respect of the ~ e housing and two auxll~ary va~ves.

.. .. . . . . . . . ... . . .

~35~3~;i ~ he ratlo o~ the t nslde dlameter o~ the outer valve houslng portlon to the diameter o~ the flrst valve ball ~ay be ln the reglon o~ ~rom lo 5 to 2 ~nd iB preferably 1~75. Relatlve to the maximum dlameter o the val~e housing, thi~ g~ve~ Q compara~ively large ball wh~ch 1 o~ ~orrespondlngly ~igh weight, which provide3 ~or good ar.d rell~ble c108Ure effect.
A particularly ad~antageou~ form o~ the arr~ngemen~
1~ one in whlch the inlet op~nlng o~ the seco~dary pa~sage 0 ~8 in the d~rect ~lc$nlty of the top portlon of the Carl.
In thi~ arrangementp ~irtually the entire ~luld c~n be discharged from the Can9 without res.~due, ln the lnverted po~it~on of the can3 because the ~nlet opening o~ the secondary passage occupies the lowest positlon in the can (in the inverted po~itlon~.
This low po ltion of the ~nlet opening of the secondary pas~age may be achleved ~or exa~ple by the inlet of the secondary passage into the ~uxiliary Yalve chamber being formed as an axial bore in the outside wall of the valYe houslng, However~ a s~mpler construction may pro~ide that an lnltlal ~ection of the econdary passage i8 ~ormed by a groove whlch 1~ provided in the outside o~ the ~alv~
housl~g and which begins at tl~e lnside o~ the top port~on of the can and which is covered a~ far a~ into the vicinlty o~ the top portlon o~ the can, by the lmmersion plpe which is pu3hed over the Yalve hou6ing. It 18 easier to produce a groove ~n a plastics housing, than a boreO
The auxiliary valve chamber or both auxlliary ~al~e chamber8 ~ay be partially de~imited by t~o housine insert~. T~is not only s~mpli~ies the productlon o~ th~
val~e housing but, ln the case of ~wo auxiliary ~alve chamber3~ it al~o faci~-tate~ in~rting the valve balls only ~o~ one open ~de o the valve housln~

.. .. . . . . .... . . . . .

35~35 The inYention ~nd development6 thereo~ ~re descrlbed in greater det~il her~na~ter w~h re~crence to the drawlng of pre~erred embodiment~, ln whlch:
FlglJre 1 ~how~ a ~ r~t embc)dlment of ~ ~pray 5 ~a~Ye a~sembly accordirlg ~o the Snventlon~ ha~ing an eccentrlc ~ liary ~,ralve which h~ only orle vhl~e b~ll and which act~ a~ a change~over ~wi-tchlng ~ral~re with two val~e ~unctlon~, in the normal vertical positlon, ~n axial ~ection taken clong line B-B o~ Flgure la, ~gure la ~hows a ~ w ln ~ection taken along llne A~A ln Flgure 1~
Figure 2 ~hows a ~riew ~n axial ~ection o~ a pert o~ a ~econd embodiment of a ~pray val~re ~s~embly ac~ord~ng to the lnventlon, havlng an eccentric a ~ liary valve which has only one valve ~unctlon, in the normal ~ertical position, Figure 3 shows a vl~w in ax~al section o~ a part of a third embodiment of a ~pray ~alve assem~ly according to the in~ention having two ecce~tric auxilizry valves;
in the normal ~ertlcal position~
~igure 4 sho~s a ~lew ~n axial sectlon o a pa~t o~ the fourth e~bodiment o~ a spray valve assembly according to the invention ha~ing two eccentric auxlliary ~alves in the normal ~ertical posit~on~
Fl@ure 5 how~ a view in axial section of a fifth embodlment o~ a ~pray ~alYe assembly according to the ~nvention hsving only one eccentrlc auxiliary val~e in ~he normal vertlcal pos~t~on~
Figure 6 shows a view in axial section of a part o~ ~. sixth e~bod~ment of a spray valve assembly ac.cordlng to the invention ha~ing two eccentric~auxiliary valves in the normal vertlcal po.~ition, 3~

~ igure 7 ~hows ~ view ln ax~al ~ection Or ~ part of a seventh embodiment of ~ ~pray v~lve as~em~ly accordlng to the inYention havlng two eccentrlc auxillary ~r~lves, ln the normal vertical po~ition, and Figure 8 shows ~ view in axi~l sectlon of a part of an æighth er~bodiment of a spr~y valve ~ssembly according to the lnvention ha~..ng only one eccentr~ c auxiliary ~ralve in the normal vertical po~itlon.
In the embodiment ~hown ln Figures 1 and la~
10 ritted in ~ top portion 1 ~only parrt of which i8 8hOWn) of an aerosol can ~s a valve wh~ch ls ~ho~ in an open posltion~ having an actust~ng ~alve ~tem 2 of which part 1~ shown in the ~ectional view, a closure member 3 in the form oî a resillent annular dl6c 9 end a valYe 1.~ housing 1~ comprislng plasti~s material.
The valve housing 4 has an upper valve housing portion 5 and a lower valve housing portion 6 which are ~ntegrally connected together.
The upper ~ralve hous~ng portion 5 i~ sealingly 20 nal~ged cr beaded ln position ln the top portion 1 of the can. The lower Yalve hou~ing portion 6 has a cornecting nlpplc 7 ~or an~lmmer~iorl pipe o~ whioh only part 1~
showr~ and w~ich pro~ects into the viclrlity of the bottom o~ the can, into the content~ oi the can~ and which i8 25 open ~t the bottom~, The ~lve ~tem 2 ls guided by mean~ OI it~ ~ower thicker end w~lch has vertlc~l rib~ on it~ exterior~
in ~he upper ~alve houslng portion 5, while its upper end ~ ~eated in a main val~e actuating head 9 which 30 has a ~ray openln~
The l~wer end OI the valYe ~tem ~ is supported ln a houslng in~ert 11 by way o~ a spring 10 for return movement OI l;he v~lve ~tem ?, and the lower end s~

of the ~alve ~tem 2 presses the housing ln~ert 11 sealingly against an internal ~houlder 12 on the lower valve housing portion 6~
Together with the lower ~alve houslng portion 6, the housing lnsert 11 defines an auxlliary valve chamber 13 of ~n auxiliary ~alve which operates as a change-over switching valve and which compri~es a ~alve ball lL~ of metal~ prererably ~teel, A ~ir~t ~rustoconical Yalve ~eat 15 below thepall 14 in the lower valve housing portion 6~
and a second ~rustoconical ~alve seat 16 above the ball 14 in the hsusing in~ert 11.
A ~econdary passage 17 which ln the vertical positisn of the valve assembly, as illustrated, ls disposed above the maximum le~el of ~illing of the can, communicates the region o~ the ~nterior of the can which ls filled with pressure gas with the lower ~alve seat 15~ in the ~llustrated vertical position9 with the opening 18 of the secondary passage 17 being disposed at the lowest position of the valve seat below the ball 14. In the initial part thereof, the secondary passage 17 is in the ~orm of a transversely extending or horizontal ~lot 19 whlch goes ~nto ~ vertical bore 200 The path o~ the main passage 21 Yor the throughflow o~ the contents of the can is shown as a broken lineO A part 22 ~f the main passage 21 extends laterally beside the auxiliary valve through an axial passage 23 in the lower valve hous~ng portion 6~ an axial groove 249 a radlal bore 25 and an axial bore 26 in the housing insert 11, to an open~ng 27 which ls coaxlal wlth respect to the opening 18, above the ball 14~ in the upper valve seat 16, The mainpassage continues by way o~ a radial recess 28 in the ~orm of a grooYe ln the wall o~ the hous~ng insert 11 and an ax~al grooYe 29 whi~h ~s also provided ln the housing insert 11~ The grooves 28 and 29 form a direct throughflow , .

35~35 passage from the auxiliary valve chamber 13 ~o the m~in valve space 33 in the housing. I~ order to ensure, upon assembly~ that the passage 23 and the groove 24 are aligned wi-th each otherD an axial pro~ection on the underside of the housing insert 11 may engage into a recess at the top of the shoulder 12.
The top portion of the housing insert 11 ls in the form of a cup into which the ~pring 10 enga~es, A radial detent project~on 31 on one inward face and on the diametrically opposite inward face of the upper valve housing port~on 5; which can also be in the form of a peripherally extending annular projection, engages directly over the upper edge o~ the housing inSert ~1 in order to secure the housing insert 11 in position in the axial direction; when the housing lnsert 11 is fitted into place, the pro~ection 31 may be compressed radially outwardly thereby to such an extent that the housing insert 11 can be moved past the proJection 31~
The auxiliary Yalve chamber 13 is disposed eccentrically with respect to the outer portion of the val~e housing 1~ or the ~alve housing portion 6. The degree of eccentricity is approximately equal to the difference between the inside radii of the auxiliary valYe ohamber 13 and the Yalve housing portion 6 so that the outside wall of the valve housing portion 6 slmultaneously ~orms a part (the part on the le~t in Figure 1) of the wall of the auxiliary valve chamber 13~
The ax~al grooves 24 and 29 are separated ~y a wall 43 which bears with its radially outward edge 30 sealingly against the inside of the upper por~ion 5 o~

.

, ~5~3~

the valve housing, The groore 29 i8 open upwardly whereas the groove 24 is closed upwardly by the transverse wall ~4 of the lnsert 11.
By virtue of the eccentri~ity of ~he auxiliary valYe chamber 13, the maln passage ~ection 22 is of larger flow cross-section than when the auxiliary valve chambe~ 13 and the v~lve housing 4 form a concentric arranEement.
Furthermore, the amount of material required ~or the ~alve housing 4 is less than in a concentric arrangement.
Then, ~he di~ference between ~he outslde diameter of the auxlliary valve chamber 13 and the inside diameter of the valve housing 6, at the level o~ the auxiliary valve chamber, is less than the dia~eter of the ball 14 so that, in the assembly operatlonr the ball can be simply thrown into the val~e houslng 4 from above, before the housing insert ll is fitted lnto place~
and can be easily pressed into the auxiliary valve chamber 13, without special guide means, for example by means of a pressing punch, in spite of the eccentricity of the auxiliary valve chamber 130 In the normal Yertical position o~ the aerosol can Or ~al~e assembly as illustrated ln the drawing~ the weight of the ball 14 causes the ball 14 to close off the ~econdary passage against the gas pressure so that the gas cannot escape~ On the other hand~ i~ opens the main passage 21 at the opening 27 so ~hat the fluid in the can can issue from the can under the gas pressur~
by way of the main passage if the main val~e has been opened by depression o~ the head 9, as illustrated~
. 30 If on the other hand9 when the main valve 9 is opened, the ca~ i~ held in an ~nverted pOSitiOh~ that ls lL3L~35~3~

to say, with the head 9 downwardly, ~o that the secondar~
passage 17 is immersed in the ~luid whereas the lnlet openlng of ~he pipe 8 i~ above the level o~ fluid ln the can, then the ball 14 rolls against ~he valve ~eat 16 80 that, when the can ls in this poslt,ion, only ~luid and not pressure gas can be di~char~ed by way of the secondary passage 17, the auxillary valve cham~er 13 and the grooves 2~ and 29.
In the embodiment of the spray assembly according ~o the ~nvention, as shown ln Figure 2, and all ~ubsequent embodiments) the main valve actuating head 9 shown in ~igure 1 is omitted for the ~ake of greater s~mpllcity of the drawing~ Insofar ~s the parts of the assembly correspond to those shown ln F~gure 1~ they are denoted by the ~ame reference numerals.
The embodiment of Figure 2 differs from that ~hown in Flgure 1 substantially in that the aux~ ary valve is operatiYe only in one direction and a wider straight passage ~ from the auxiliary valve chamber 13 to ~he main valve space 33 in the housing is provided.
The inside diameter of an inwardly projecting annular be~d 35 which del~mits the passage 34 at the upper open edge of the auxil~ary ~alve chamber 13 is somewhat smaller ~han the diameter of the valve ball 14 80 that the ~nular bead acts as a retaining means to ensure that the ~all does not escape ~rom the auxiliary ~alve chamber 13 under the pressure of the ~luid which presses against the ball by wa~ of the auxiliary passage 17~ ~
With the spray Yalve assembly o~ Figure 4 in the normal position illustrated, the fluid in the ¢an flows . _ . . .. . . . _ , . ... ..... . . ... . .... .. .

5~

out of the can by way of the lmmersion pipe and through the main passage 21, under ~he pressure of the gas above ~he fluid ~n the can; when ~he main ~al~e 2~ 3 i~
opened, ~hlle the ~alYe ball 14 holds ~he auxillary valYe in a closed condition, by ~lrtue of the welght o the ball itself, so that the pressure gas cannot escape by way of the ~econdary passàge 17, In ~he inverte~
position of the can on the otherhand, when the maln ~al~e is opened, the ~luid can issue by way of the secondary passage 17 as ~he ball 14 i8 now li~ted from the ~alve seat 15. In this case, the fluld which ~8 urged into the auxiliary ~alve chamber 13 by way of the ~econdary passage 17 discharges by way of l~teral ~10tB 36 in the wall of the auxiliary ~alve chamber 13 ~n~o the main valve housing portion 33.
Although in the embodiment of Figure 29 in the inverted positio~ of the can~ the pressure gas can in part al30 escape by way of the main passage 21, none-theless this embodiment ts sirnpler in regard to manufacture and assembly, because there is no housing insert 11.
In the embodiment of Figure 3 however, the installatlon o~ a ~econd a~xlliary ~alYe ha~ing a ~econd ball 37 in the main passage sect~on 22.also pre~ents the pressure gas from escaping from the can by way of the main passage 21 in the inverted position o~ the can. In order to permit discharge of the fluid ~n ~he normal position illustra~edp t~e n~pple 7 is provided at the lower end with slots 38 which extend continuously down to the bott~m~ wh~le the wall portion~ of the second auxiliary valve chamb~r 33~ which de~ine the slot~ 38t have pro~ectlon~ 40 whioh pro~ect radially inwardly a~ the lower edge of the opening~ to act as a retain~ng mean~

3~

to prevent the valve ball 37 ~rom coming out.
The pipe ~ which 1~ pushed over the nlpple 7 closes the ~lots 38 in an ~utward direction.
In a modl~lcation of the embodiment o~ Figure 2, the wall of the auxiliary ~alve chamber 13 is no~
prov~ ded with radial ~lots 36 but with axial ribs 41 which define between them slots 1~2 which extend axially to the upper edge of the opening o~ the auxiliary ~al~e chamber 13. Just llke ~he single ~alve chamber 13 of the embodiment of Figure 29 the ~wo auxil~ary val~e chambers ~3 and 39 are arran~ed eccentrically and diametrically oppos~te each other.
Because of the eccentric design of the nipple, the 810t lg is co~pletely omitted. The auxiliary valve chambers are then axially displaced~ while overlapping in the radial direction~.
The only difference between the embodiment of Figure 4 a~d that ~hown in Figure 3 is as follows:
the lower Yal~e housing portion ~ and thus the nipple 2Q 7 arè o~ larger dlameter than ~n the embodiment of Figure 3 80 that the immersion plpe 8 can be inserted into the nipple 7 and the second auxiliary valve chamber is partly surrounded by th~ valve housing portion 6~ .
The embodiment ~hown ln Figure 5 differs from that shown ln Figure 2 ln that9 instead of the retaining means 35, there is an insert ll with a throughflow groove 29 which de~ines the main passage, the insert closing the auxil~ary Yal~e charQber 13 under ~he 3~ pressure o~ the spring 10. The secondary passage 17 ~3S~3~ii opens above the ~alve ball 14 into the aux~liary ~alv2 chamber 13, The housin~ lnsert provides at the s~me t~me for ~ealing the auxiliary ~alv~ chs.mber 13 ln the normal position illustrated~ in which the pressure gas passes into the auxiliary ~alve ch~mber 13 by . way of the ~econdary passage 17 and presses the ball 14 against the ~alve seat 15, ln addition to the weight of the ball itself, At -the ~ame ~ime the housing insert 11 ensures that the ball 14 remains in its position of installation durlng assembly.
~ he embodiment of Figure 6 di~fers from that shown in Flgure 5 by u~ing a second auxiliary valve 169 37 which is of a similar design to the second auxiliary ~alve of Figure 4. In this respect therefore~
1~ it has the same function as the embodiment of Figure 4.
The embodiment of Figure 7 differs from the embodiment of Figure 6 in principle only in that a second housing insert 47 forms an inner valve housing portion which delimits the first ~alve cham~er 13 and the second valve chamber 39 in part, and the main passage 220 Thi~ simplifies manufacturing the valve housing 4 ~rom plasticæ materlal and ~acilitates insertlon cf the second ball 37 in a downward direction, that i~ to say6 insertion in the same direction as the dlrection of insertion o~ the ~irst ball 14 so that the ~al~e housing 14 does not need to be turned in the assembly operationO In thls case~ a middle holding member 48 which ls connected to the wall of the nipple 7 by radlal 17mb portions 49 corresponds 35~35 to the lower retai~ing means 40~ The ~lots 38 are ~or~ed by spaces between axial ribs~
Figure 8 shows a modi~ication of the embodimen-t of ~igure 5 in which an axial groove 45 i~ provided in the 5 outside of the ~alve housing 14, forming an inlt~al sectior of the ~econdary passage 17 a~d beglnning at the inside of the top portion of the can~ The groove ~5 ls covered by the immersion pipe 8, as far as a position in the viclnlty of the top portion 1 of the can, ~o that an ~O inlet opening 46 remains free~ If, with this embodiment~
the can is held in the inverted position, ~irtually all the fluid can escape ~ro~ the can by way of the secondary passage 17 without any residue wor~h mentioning remaining in the can9 as the inlet openlng 46 is virtually at 15 the lowest position in the inYerted condition of the can.
A further advantage of this embodiment over that shown in Figure 5 is that the nipple 7 can be omitted.
If, with the valve assemblies shown in Fi~ures 2, 5 and 8, very high spray quantities per unit of time have 20 to be producedS without a loss of pressure gas when the container is inverted, then it is desirable to use the above-described assemblies shown in Figures 1, 3~ 4~6 and 7. If however sufficient effects can be achieved w~th a low ~pray rateD it is posslble not to use these more 25 expens~e assemblies. The embodiments o~ Figures 29 5 and 8 ~an also be used tQ spray without losing pressure gas when the container ls inYerted, lf, in the flow region of the auxiliary valve, the narrowest part o~ the passages 17p 209 36 (Figure 2~ or 45~ 17~ 17a (Figures 30 5 and 8~ ls provided with a larger cross-section than the narrowest part of the main passage region 22a (F~gure 23 or 22a, 22 and 29 ~Figures 5 and 8~ which is adjacent !33~

ln *he direction of flow.
The ~ollowing dimensions are preferred ln theillustrated embodiment:
Dlameter D of the ball ll~, 37: 3 to 4.5 mm, pre~erably 3.5 mm;

Inside diameter o~ the outer housing porti.ons 5, 6:
6 to 9 mm, prefera~ly 6.9 mm when D ~ 3.~ mm;

Min~um width of the maln passage 21: 105 mm;

Inside diameter of the auxiliary valve ~hamber 13 39: 3,75 mm when ~ = 3.5 mm, .

Thickness of the wall of the auxil iary val~e chambers 13~ 39 which~coinc~lde with the outer hGusing portion 6:
007 to 008 mm when D = 3.~ mm;

R~dial depth of the grooves 23, 24 and 29 in Figure 1:
15 0.8 m~;m when D = 3.5 ~rm, Modifications ln respect of the illustrated embodiments are within the scope of the inventionO Thus the walls of the auxiliary valve chambers in Figures 3 and 4 may be of the same design as the wall of the auxiliary wall chamber 13 of Flgure 2, and ~ice-versaO
Furthe~more, the walls ~f the auxiliary valve chamber 13 of Figures 2 to 14 may also be provided wlth slots387 like the wall of the auxiliary wall chamber 39 of Figure 3b and vice-versa.

Claims (15)

Claims:

1. In a spray valve assembly for an aerosol can, comprising a one-piece valve housing of plastics material, which can be sealingly fixedly fitted with an upper end in the top portion of the can, which defines a main passage for the throughflow of the contents of the can and which has a main valve with a valve stem, which is manually actuable against the force of a spring, in the main passage, an immersion pipe which extends the main passage, a secondary passage including an inlet opening which connects the space in the can to the main passage for the throughflow of the contents of the can above the maximum level of filling of the can, and a valve seat of an auxiliary valve which is formed at the junction of the main and the secondary passages, the auxiliary valve having a valve ball of metal in an auxiliary valve chamber which is surrounded by an outer cylindrical valve housing portion lying within the cross section of the upper end of the cylindrical valve housing, wherein the auxiliary valve seat is disposed below the valve ball so that in the normal position of the can the valve ball does not impede the main passage and blocks the secondary passage, whereas in the inverted position of the can it opens the secondary passage, and wherein the main passage is taken laterally past the auxiliary valve, the improvement which comprises forming the auxiliary valve eccentrically in the outer valve housing portion which surrounds the auxiliary valve chamber, the degree of eccentricity being approximately equal to the difference of the inside radii of the outer valve housing portion and the auxiliary valve chamber and that the difference between the outside diameter of the auxiliary valve chamber and the inside diameter of the outer valve housing portion is less than the diameter of the valve ball of the auxiliary valve.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 and further wherein the inlet opening of the secondary passage into the auxiliary valve chamber is below the valve ball.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 and further wherein the valve housing has a transversely extending slot and an axial bore, which form the secondary passage.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 and further wherein the outlet opening of the secondary passage opens, from the lowest position of the auxiliary valve seat, into the space of the main passage in the housing, which is below the valve ball.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the valve ball is retained in the auxiliary valve chamber by a retaining means which is disposed above the valve ball, and further wherein the retaining means liberates a through assembly opening for the valve ball from the space in the housing for the main valve, to the auxiliary valve chamber.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, and further provided that the through assembly opening is disposed parallel to the axis of the auxiliary valve and the retain-ing means is formed by at least one flexible projection which projects radially inwardly at said opening.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, including a housing insert which delimits the auxiliary valve chamber, and further that the insert is provided with control apertures for a flow path outside of the auxiliary valve chamber.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, and further provided that the valve housing has a projection on its inside wall with which the housing insert can come into detent engagement.

9. An assembly according to claim 7 and further provided that the spring bears against the housing insert.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 and provided further that the cross-section of the narrowest part of the secondary passage is larger than that of the narrowest part of that section of the main passage which adjoins the secondary passage in the direction of flow, within the valve housing.

11. An assembly according to claim 7 and further provided that the housing insert has a second auxiliary valve seat above the ball and surrounds an opening of the main passage into the auxiliary valve chamber.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 and further provided that the opening of the secondary passage in the first auxiliary valve seat and the opening of the main passage in the second auxiliary valve seat are coaxial with each other.

13. An assembly according to claim 1 and further provided that the main passage is provided, below the junction of the main and secondary passages with a second eccentric auxiliary valve having a second valve ball of metal, and a second auxiliary valve seat above the second ball.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 and further provided that the auxiliary valves are axially displaced and overlap each other radially.

15. An assembly according to claim 1 and further provided that the ratio between the inside diameter of the outer valve housing portion to the diameter of the first valve ball is in the range of approximately 1.5 to 2.