CN1225073A

CN1225073A - Dual dispensing valve assembly

Info

Publication number: CN1225073A
Application number: CN 97196214
Authority: CN
Inventors: 丹尼斯·A·贝姆; 詹姆斯·C·贝利; 戈登·E·阿特金森; 詹姆斯·R·库瑟
Original assignee: Vernay Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Vernay Laboratories Inc
Priority date: 1996-07-08
Filing date: 1997-06-27
Publication date: 1999-08-04

Abstract

A dual valve assembly (26) for use with a dispensing apparatus including a pump (18) and a plurality of fluid containers (12, 14). The valve assembly (26) includes a housing containing an elastomeric regulator (36) wherein the regulator (36) includes a diaphragm portion (56) for controlling fluid flow through the housing, and a vent valve structure for opening and closing air passages (100, 102) to supply air to the containers (12, 14). The diaphragm portion (56) includes an orifice (68), and the diaphragm portion (56) is movable into and out of contact with a seat (62) defined on the housing to control fluid flow from the containers and through the orifice during actuation of the pump (18). In addition, the vent value structure includes a pair of vent membranes (108, 110) which open vent openings (100, 102) to the containers in response to negative pressure applied from the pump (18).

Description

Dual dispensing valve assembly

Invention field

The present invention relates generally to the liquid distributor field, particularly relate to the valve module that is used for distributing the liquid distributor of two kinds of liquid by mode.

Prior art

It is known adopting two kinds of mixtures of liquids of dual dispense container ejection.This container is to be specifically designed to distribution to have active component and inconsistent liquid for two kinds, and still, in distributes, when these two kinds of liquid mixing, it can obtain satisfied effect.For example, have been found that dual dispense container can be used for two kinds of clean liquids simultaneously, in case their dissolvings are mixed, its cleaning effect will reduce.

In addition, should learn that the user wishes to control the liquid that distributes from dual dispense container, so that the liquid in two containers is used up basically simultaneously.In order to obtain this effect, must think over each influence factor that interrelates to nozzle with feed fluid, it comprises the discharge rate of supplying with liquid in the suitable containers, enters the amount of air of container, and during dispense liquid, has equal pressure.Can see, in the eduction gear in existing container, exist specific question, wherein, discharged liquid needs the air free-flowing to enter container, also needs to be provided with valve mechanism simultaneously, leaks from the gangway so that prevent liquid.In addition, for fear of two kinds of unbalanced distribution of liquid, valve mechanism must be opened immediately at the distribution initial stage.

The requirement that distributes for the further controlling liquid of valve mechanism is when batch operation finishes, in order to prevent liquid mixing, prevent that liquid return from entering container.Therefore, also the valve that prevents liquid return must be set, in distributes, equally or not confined liquid does not flow out from container basically.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a kind of dual dispensing valve assembly, so that control from two containers discharged liquid from a unique nozzle.

This valve module generally includes has the housing that elasticity is adjusted element, wherein, adjusts element and comprises membrane portions, and it is used for control by the housing flowing liquid, and the gangway valve arrangement is used for the opening and closing of fault air by-pass passage, so as in liquid container air supply.Particularly, housing comprises base part and cover, and they cooperatively interact, and surrounds and adjust element.Be provided with a plurality of liquid at base part and supply with inlet, so as from liquid container to the housing feed fluid.Be provided with outlet at cover, so that from housing, carry liquid.

Barrier film comprises a upper surface and a lower surface, pass barrier film and extending an aperture between upper surface and lower surface, and this hole can fluid connection with outlet.Adjusting the many fluid passages of formation between element and the base part, it is being supplied with between inlet and the aperture so that to the aperture feed fluid.On base part, form a barrier film bearing and be used for engaging, between supply inlet and aperture, form hydraulic seal and flow to outlet from aperture with controlling liquid with barrier film.

The gangway valve arrangement comprise a pair of with adjust element and become the single-piece film, this film is positioned at the top, gangway that forms on the base part.Applied by outlet under the situation of negative pressure by pump, barrier film and barrier film bearing are disengaged, and the gangway film is opened the gangway simultaneously.

The gangway film can be opened the gangway energetically, simultaneously for preventing that liquid from providing positive means from container leakage.Therefore, the gangway valve arrangement can discharge many liquid containers evenly, and wherein the gangway valve arrangement is opened when the fluid discharge operation start.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of valve module, mix thereby multiple liquid is carried out controollable.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of like this valve module, and it comprises a kind of discharge structure, moves when discharge liquid.

The present invention also has a purpose to provide a kind of like this valve module, and wherein discharge structure is driven energetically to guarantee the carrying out of fluid discharge when emissions operation starts.

Reach claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and following the description, purpose of the present invention and other advantage will be more obvious.

To brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is the transparent view of the decomposition of allocation component of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the transparent view of the decomposition of dual dispensing valve assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the positive view of dual dispensing valve assembly;

Fig. 4 is along the dual dispensing valve assembly sectional view perpendicular to sectional view shown in Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is the birds-eye view of the base part of dual dispensing valve assembly;

Fig. 6 is the upward view of the cover of dual dispensing valve assembly;

Fig. 7 is the upward view that is used for the adjustment element of dual dispensing valve assembly;

Fig. 8 is along the cutaway view shown in Fig. 7 section line 8-8;

Fig. 9 is along the cutaway view shown in Fig. 7 section line 9-9.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

With reference to Fig. 1, the liquid dispensing assembly 10 shown in it comprises two liquid containers 12,14, and one of them side that is positioned at another container is arranged side by side, and it also comprises liquid delivery system 16 and pump 18.Pump 18 is installed on the cover cap 20, and cover cap 20 is suitable for being fixed on the container 12,14, and the sealing liquid delivery system 16 thus, and keeps liquid conveying system to match with pump 18.Pump 18 belongs in the prior art device of conventional known type, and it comprises trigger 22 and nozzle 24, wherein pulls trigger 22, and guiding liquids spray from nozzle 24, and releasing trigger 22 makes progress in the drawing pump 18 liquid from container 12,14.Following clear described, liquid delivery system 16 actions, the flow of liquid in the control container 12,14 makes the liquid phase mixing of equivalent basically thus, they is sent into pump 18 again, simultaneously, along with liquid is extracted out from container, liquid is discharged from container 12,14.

Liquid delivery system 16 comprises dual liquid dispensing valve assembly 26 and

suction pipe

28,30, shown in

suction pipe

28,30 extend into container 12,14.All assembly 26 controlling liquid prevent also that simultaneously liquid from entering container 12,14 from pump 18 backflows, and prevent that also liquid from shifting or another container of cross-entry from a container by

suction pipe

28,30 flow containers 12,14.In addition, can see that preferably

suction pipe

28,30 ratio that is in cooperates, so that they have identical internal diameter, any subtle change between

suction pipe

28,30 diameters will influence the fluid balance state that flows out by

suction pipe

28,30 greatly.

With reference to Fig. 2, valve module 26 comprises base part 32, is positioned at the cover 34 of base part 32 tops, shown in cover be fixed on the base part 32, between base part 32 and cover 34, be provided with elasticity and adjust element 36.Best, base part 32 and cover 34 by elastomeric material for example polypropylene constitute.Adjusting element 36 is flat quite thin elements, preferably its by elastomeric material for example silicone resin constitute, adopting hardness in a preferred embodiment is that 30 silicone resin is made.Base part 32 comprises sunk area 38, and its shape is consistent with the neighboring of adjusting element 36, so that make adjustment element 36 receive and be positioned on the base part 32.In addition, base part 32 comprises a pair of locating dowel pin 40, so that match with the hole 42 that is arranged on cover 34, thereby is convenient to make in installation process cover 34 to aim at base part 32.As shown in Figure 4, carry out hot riveting in the end 41 of locating dowel pin 40, thereby make distributing valve assembly 26 remain on this confined state.In addition, cover 34 and base part 32 can cooperate or other similar means are fixed together by ultrasonic welding or interlock.

With reference to Fig. 3～5, in the cutaway view of dual valve module, base part 32 and cover 34 link together, and form the space that element 36 is adjusted in sealing.Be provided with the liquid inlet structure in base part 32, it comprises suction pipe receiving unit 44 and 46, so that receive

suction pipe

28,30 separately.Receiving unit 44,46 is connected

liquid inlet

48,50, and

inlet

48,50 openings enter fluid passage 50,54.Fluid passage 52,54 is between the upper surface of the membrane portions 56 of adjusting element 36 and base part 32.Fluid passage 52,54 is made of

passage

58,60 parts of depression, and recess

channel

58,60 is arranged on the

base part

32, and 62 extensions from each opening 48,50 towards the barrier film bearing, and barrier film bearing 62 is positioned at the central authorities of base part 32.

Shown in Fig. 3 and 7～9, membrane portions 56 comprises thin rectangular film part 64, and it surrounds thicker central sheet part 66.Thicker central sheet part 66 contacts with barrier film bearing 62, is adjusting formation ring-shaped liquid sealing between element 36 and the base part 32 thus.In addition, the sheet part 66 of thicker membrane portions 56 is included in the aperture 68 that extends between membrane portions 56 upper and lower surfaces, and liquid can pass through from the downside of membrane portions 56 thus, upwards arrives outlet 70, in outlet 70 pipes 71 that are arranged on the cover 34.Pipe 71 is suitable for matching (not shown) with the pipe of pump 18, so that to pump 18 feed fluids.

Therefore, when carrying liquid to enter in the housing by the liquid inlet structure, liquid arrives aperture 68 by passage 52,54, leaves described housing then, enters outlet 70.Liquid produces difference of pressure by aperture 68, and membrane portions 56 is risen, and disengages with barrier film bearing 62.Shown in Fig. 8 and 9, film portion 64 is quite thin elements, and its thickness is much thinner than adjusting element 36, and therefore, film portion 64 has quite high flexibility, so that make membrane portions 56 leave barrier film bearing 62.

Can see that between membrane portions 56 and base part 32, the thin film portion 64 of barrier film 56 forms chamber, it further forms passage from

opening

48,50 to aperture 68 that carry liquid from.In addition, sealing member 72 is arranged on the lower surface of adjusting element 36, cooperates so that guarantee to form hydraulic seal between the upper surface of the lower surface of adjusting element 36 and base part 32.Equally, between the lower surface of the upper surface of adjusting element 36 and cover 34, form sealing, can form by the smooth surface that matches, rib or ridge at this sealing member.Should see that also cover 34 is provided with annular pressurization rib 74,, under set pressure, make membrane portions 56 and barrier film bearing 62 contact matching so that downward ironed film 64 makes membrane portions 56 biasings thus.

Can see that with reference to Fig. 4,5 and 7 base part 32 also is provided with a pair of

separation rib

76,78, they radially extend from barrier film bearing 62.In addition, the thicker central sheet part 66 of membrane portions 56 comprises a pair of dividing

element

80,82 that radially extends, they match with

rib

76,78 respectively, thus fluid passage 52 is separated mutually with fluid passage 54, by this way, when membrane portions 56 is located with barrier film bearing 62 sealing contacts, avoided basically between two

openings

48,50, producing the liquid transfer or intersecting, wherein that two fluid passages 52,54 are hermetically enclosed mutually.For example, when the pressure of one of container 12,14 is higher than the pressure of another container, liquid will be prevented, for example this phenomenon may be occurred in storage or during carrying from another container 12,14 of a container 12,14 cross-entries.

With reference to Fig. 3 and 6, valve module 26 also comprises air inlet structure, it comprises opening 84,86, described opening 84,86 is positioned at the opposite side of the housing that is formed by cover 34 and base part 32, can enter the air by-

pass passage

88,90 that the groove by base part 32 constitutes by opening 84,86 at this position air.

The air intake seat structure is arranged on the base part 32, and it comprises taper bearing 92,94, and described taper bearing 92,94 extends above base part 32.Taper bearing 92,94 has formed inlet bearing opening 100,102, so that make air enter each container 12,14 from described housing.Can see that base part comprises a pair of inner cover element 104,106, the neck that they are suitable for inserting container 12,14 closely cooperates, and inlet bearing opening 100,102 openings enter inner cover element 104,106.

Adjust element 36 and comprise the inlet valve arrangement, it comprises round entrance film portion 108,110, and the thickness of film portion 108,110 is less than adjusting element 36, as shown in Figure 8.And the upper section that film portion 108,110 is positioned at taper bearing 92,94 extends.Therefore, the prestrain on inlet bearing opening 100,102 of inlet film 108,110, thereby occluded

air passage

88,90, and prevent that liquid from flowing out from container 12,14 by the bearing opening 100,102 that enters the mouth.

With reference to Fig. 3,6 and 8, ventilation chamber 112,114 is positioned at the top of inlet film 108,110, and is formed by the sunk part 116,118 of cover 34, and it lays respectively at the top of the inlet film 108,110 of the sunk part 120,122 of adjusting element 36.Groove 124,126 in cover 34 extends from sunk part 116,118, passes circular pressurization rib 74, arrives in the concavity zone 128 at outlet 70 places of cover 34, thus the fluid connection of ventilation chamber 112,114 of An Zhiing and outlet 70.When driving, when applying negative pressure, produce negative pressure region at ventilation chamber 112,114 by outlet 70 by pump 18, promote inlet film 108,110 thus, itself and each taper bearing 92,94 are disengaged, access road is opened, allow each container 12,14 of air admission.

Can see that the above-mentioned sealing member 72 between the upper surface of the lower surface of adjusting element 36 and base part 32 extends around inlet film 108,110, thereby prevents that air from passing through, and contacts with fluid passage 52,54, and prevents leak of liquid.In addition, for the outward flange that guarantees the adjustment element 36 adjacent with air intake 84,86 does not extend down into air by-

pass passage

88,90, the middle body in

passage

88,90 is provided with support lugn 134,136, adjusts elements 36 to support along sealing member 72.And, zone at air by-

pass passage

88,90 places, support lugn 134,136 guarantees that the peripheral outer seal portion branch of the upper surface of adjustment element 36 keeps and cover 34 sealing contacts, prevent that thus escape of air from entering the space of adjusting element 36 tops, this escape of air will hinder normal pump action.

In operation, by trigger 22 driving pumps 18, in outlet 70, produce negative pressure or vacuum thus.Negative pressure in the response outlet 70, the membrane portions 56 of adjustment element 36 is pulled upwards, leaves barrier film bearing 62, and meanwhile, inlet film 108,110 is upwards drawn leaves taper bearing 92,94.Meanwhile, the liquid inlet structure is opened so that to outlet 70 feed fluids, air inlet structure is opened so that in container 12,14 air supply.During container 12,14 pumping liquids, above-mentioned action is vital, even the small hysteresis of one or another inlet bearing opening 100,102 is opened, to cause the amount of liquid of distribution from two containers 12,14 unequal, and cause before content in a container uses up using up earlier in another container.In addition, when pump 18 is failure to actuate, except guaranteeing in two containers, to provide suitable air delivery volume, inlet film 108,110 also guarantee all time for each inlet bearing opening 100,102 provides liquid-tight seal, prevent that thus liquid from passing through air intake 84,86 to external leakage.

Can see, enough little in the size of the aperture 68 of membrane portions 56 central authorities, so that guarantee between the upper and lower surface of membrane portions 56, to produce sizable difference of pressure, so that promote membrane portions 56, itself and barrier film bearing 62 are disengaged.And, adjust the film portion 64,108,110 of element and make by quite thin element, consequently, when driving pump 18, membrane portions 56 and inlet film 108,110 can respond the quite little negative pressure (20 in.Hg) that applies, so that fluid openings and air intake are opened rapidly.

Can also see that according to design of the present invention, though each is positioned at the opposite side of barrier film bearing 62 to

liquid inlet

48,50 and gangway 96,98, these inlets or outlet can be arranged on other positions.For example, different positions, gangway can be set as required in order to adapt to different container appearance profiles.

In addition, can see that adjust element 36 and made by quite thin flat element, it is rectangular basically.This rectangular shape is convenient to carrying adjustment element, particularly adjusts element by the automatic equipment carrying easily.And, in this embodiment, when adjustment element 36 is rectangular element, being appreciated that this element 36 can be made of the element of square or other shapes, it depends on the spatial accommodation of the adjustment element 36 that is used.For example different container shapes can adopt difform adjustment element 36, so that make it adapt to the special shape of container.Also have, adjust the shape that element 36 can change, it only comprises that is gone into a diaphragma of mouth, so that provide air to the both sides of seal casinghousing.The structure of seal casinghousing also can change, and in a container bottle, separator is set, and forms two separately containers of receiving fluids in bottle.

Be further appreciated that differently with the foregoing description, formation of the present invention can be adapted to dispense liquid from the container of different quantity.For example valve member can be provided with additional fluid passage and air inlet structure, so as from three or more containers a/s proportional distribution liquid.

Described in the above when constituting the equipment of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, be appreciated that the equipment that the invention is not restricted to above-mentioned precise forms, without departing from the present invention, can produce the form of many variations, they all are documented in claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. one kind is used for from the mobile valve module of a plurality of liquid supply source controlling liquid, and described valve module comprises;

The housing that comprises base part and cover;

Be arranged on the outlet of described cover, so that carry liquid from described housing;

The a plurality of liquid that are arranged in the described base part are supplied with inlet, so that liquid is supplied to described housing;

Adjustment element by elastomeric material is made is arranged on it between base part and the cover;

Be provided with barrier film on described adjustment element, described barrier film is provided with upper surface and lower surface;

Be provided with the aperture that passes barrier film, it extends between the upper and lower surface of barrier film, and makes the fluid connection outlet;

Be provided with fluid passage between described adjustment element and base part, it is between the aperture of the supply inlet of liquid and barrier film;

Be provided with the barrier film bearing at described base part,, supply with between inlet and the aperture at liquid thus and form hydraulic seal so that make itself and barrier film contact matching;

Common and the described barrier film bearing contact matching of wherein said barrier film, response is applied to the negative pressure of described barrier film upper surface, and described barrier film moves, and disengages with the barrier film bearing, enter the liquid of supplying with inlet thus and will flow through described aperture, and discharge from housing by outlet.

2. according to the described assembly of claim 1, it is characterized in that:, when contacting, between described supply inlet, form the device that prevents flow of liquid with described barrier film bearing when described barrier film is located in bearing.

3. according to the described assembly of claim 1, it is characterized in that: comprise a plurality of gangways that are provided with by base part, exit and entrance is communicated with, so that carry the air admission air intake from the outside of housing, described adjustment element comprises the gangway valve, and it forms one with the adjustment element, so that sealing gangway, prevent that liquid from flowing by the gangway, wherein the gangway valve moves, and the gangway is opened.

4. according to the described assembly of claim 3, it is characterized in that: described gangway week comprises the upper surface with described outlet fluid connection, the negative pressure that response is applied by outlet, and described gangway valve moves, and leaves the gangway.

5. according to the described assembly of claim 3, it is characterized in that: described gangway comprises the gangway bearing separately, and it extends towards adjusting element from base part, described gangway valve comprise setting with the contacted film of gangway bearing.

6. according to the described assembly of claim 1, it is characterized in that: described adjustment element is made by elastomeric material.

7. according to the described assembly of claim 1, it is characterized in that: the diameter of described outlet is enough little, so that produces difference of pressure in the both sides of barrier film, disengages thereby barrier film is moved with described gangway bearing.

8. according to the described assembly of claim 1, it is characterized in that: connect described outlet by manually-operated pump, extract liquid out by housing.

9. valve module, it comprises:

The housing that comprises base part and cover;

Be arranged on the outlet of cover, so that carry liquid from described housing;

Fluid Supplying apparatus comprises at least one liquid supply inlet, and described liquid is supplied with inlet and is arranged on base part, so that to the housing feed fluid;

By the adjustment element that elastomeric material is made, it is between base part and cover;

Be provided with barrier film on described adjustment element, described barrier film has upper and lower surface;

Pass described barrier film and be provided with aperture, it extends between the upper and lower surface of barrier film, and it makes the described outlet of fluid connection;

Be provided with at least one fluid passage between described adjustment element and base part, it is supplied with between inlet and the described aperture at least one liquid;

On base part, be provided with the barrier film bearing,, supply with between inlet and the described aperture at least one liquid thus and form hydraulic seal so that it is engaged with barrier film;

Doorway device comprises that at least one passes the gangway of base part, and at least one access road is communicated with the outside of housing, so that carry air from the outside, enters at least one air intake;

The gangway valve comprises that at least one is used for the valve of at least one gangway of opening and closing of fault;

Wherein, described barrier film is located in the barrier film bearing usually, make its contact matching, described at least one gangway valve seals at least one gangway usually, the negative pressure that response is applied by described outlet, described barrier film moves, and disengages with the barrier film bearing, and at least one gangway valve moves, and opens at least one gangway.

10. according to the described assembly of claim 9, it is characterized in that: described at least one gangway valve comprises and adjusts element formation single-piece film that it is positioned at least one top, gangway.

11. according to the described assembly of claim 9, it is characterized in that: described fluid Supplying apparatus comprises that first and second supply with inlet, the pipe that connects each first and second supply inlet, so that pipe extends into two different liquid containers, and to the different liquid of described housing supply.

12. according to the described assembly of claim 11, it is characterized in that: described doorway device comprises that first and second are arranged on the opening of base part, it supplies with inlet adjacent to first and second respectively, so that make the air admission container, liquid is supplied to fluid Supplying apparatus.

13. according to the described assembly of claim 12, it is characterized in that: described gangway valve comprises first and second films, it forms one with the adjustment element, and constitute first, second gangway valve, and be positioned at above described first and second gangways, wherein response exports the negative pressure that applies, and first and second films move, and leave described gangway.

14. according to the described assembly of claim 9, it is characterized in that: described adjustment element comprises thin flat elastic element, it has preset thickness, and described gangway valve is included in the area of reduced thickness of adjusting on the element, so that at least one gangway and base part contact matching.

15. a valve module, it comprises:

The housing that comprises base part and cover, described cover is mated on base part;

Be provided with outlet at cover, so that carry liquid from housing;

Be provided with the liquid inlet structure at base part,, between described liquid inlet structure and outlet, be provided with fluid passage so that liquid is transported to housing;

Air is sent into the air inlet structure of described housing;

The gangway seat structure so that transmit the air of hull outside, is provided with air by-pass passage between air inlet structure and gangway seat structure;

Make the adjustment element by elastomeric material, and it is between base part and cover, and described adjustment element comprises membrane portions, so that the described fluid passage of opening and closing of fault, described adjustment element also comprises the gangway valve arrangement, so that the opening and closing of fault air by-pass passage.

16. according to the described assembly of claim 15, it is characterized in that: described air by-pass passage extends between adjustment element and base part from a side of housing.

17. according to the described assembly of claim 16, it is characterized in that: described air by-pass passage is made of the groove of base part.

18. according to the described assembly of claim 15, it is characterized in that: described adjustment element comprises thin flat elastic element, described gangway valve arrangement is made of the zone that thickness reduces, and the zone that described thickness reduces has in the face of the upper surface of cover with in the face of the lower surface of gangway seat structure.

19. according to the described assembly of claim 18, it is characterized in that: the upper surface of described area of reduced thickness makes the fluid connection outlet.

20. according to the described assembly of claim 15, it is characterized in that: described base part comprises the barrier film bearing, and membrane portions moves, and contacts with the barrier film bearing or breaks away from, so that the described fluid passage of opening and closing of fault.

21. according to the described assembly of claim 15, it is characterized in that: described barrier film comprises an aperture, so that allow liquid to flow to described outlet from the liquid inlet structure.

22. according to the described assembly of claim 21, it is characterized in that: described aperture constitutes the flow of liquid zone, and it has enough little size, so that applies negative pressure in outlet, to draw membrane portions and move towards described Way out, guiding liquids is by described aperture simultaneously.

23. according to the described assembly of claim 15, it is characterized in that: described liquid inlet structure comprises two fluid passages, so that provide two kinds of liquid with the consumption that is equal to housing.