EP0041521B1 - Valve for pressurized container - Google Patents

Abstract

Valve for aerosol. It comprises a casing (24), which is firmly fixed, through an opening, in a wall of the container. A sliding sleeve (12) is arranged concentrically inside the housing (24) and may slide in the inside of the housing. At its outer end, said sleeve is open and forms the valve seat (16) This valve seat may be obtained by means of a closure element (42). The closure element is mounted on a rod (40) arranged concentrically inside the sliding sleeve (12) and the casing (24). The lower end of this rod is connected in one piece with the casing (24) by means of radially arranged arms (36); these arms penetrate through openings provided in the bottom of the sliding sleeve (12). By pressing on the sliding sleeve (12), the latter presses the arm (36) and releases the closure element (42). Hence, the force required for closing is suppressed, such force being exerted by the resilience of the arm (36).

Description

The invention relates to a valve for pressurized containers such as aerosol cans with a movable against a valve seat and in the rest or closed position against this closure member.

It is known to fill pastes and liquids together with a gaseous propellant in containers. There are containers in which the product is placed in a single room together with the propellant. When the valve is opened, the product is dispensed under the action of the propellant together with it as an aerosol, as a spray or the like. There are also containers in which the product and the blowing agent are separated. Such containers contain an elastic inner bag to hold the product. The gaseous propellant is located in the annular space between the inner bag and the container. In these containers, the elastic inner bag is closed off from the outside by the valve. When the valve is opened, the propellant can relax, compresses the inner bag and drives the product out of it. The same valves are used for both types of containers. They are opened by pushing or pushing a part inwards. They also contain a special spring or a spring element made of metal, rubber or an elastic plastic, which presses the closure member against the valve seat in the closed position. The pressure to open the valve is then against the pressure of this spring element.

From DE-B-1 290299 an automatically closing, axially operable valve for pressurized containers for pastes or liquids is known, in which a bellows supporting the valve seat and forming the outlet opening projects outward from the container. By compressing the bellows, the valve seat is withdrawn from the valve body closing the outlet opening in the rest position in the direction of the container, whereby the outlet opening is released. After releasing the bellows, the parts of the bellows return to the closed position under the effect of their own elasticity and under the effect of the excess pressure prevailing inside the container and the bellows. The restoring force of the bellows alone is not sufficient for the perfect closing process.

From US-A-2 686 652 an automatically closing, axially actuated spray valve for liquids is also known, in which the restoring forces for closing the valve body lying inside the container are applied by a cup-shaped membrane, while the axial one pointing into the container interior, the valve seat forming opening of the cup-shaped membrane is closed by the valve body. The spray nozzle is always connected to the interior of the cup-shaped membrane via a radial inlet channel of the hollow valve stem. Only when the valve is opened by depressing the hollow valve stem is the opening of the cup-shaped membrane exposed to the inside of the container, so that liquid can be dispensed from the spray nozzle by the excess pressure prevailing there. It is difficult to find the suitable material for the cup-shaped seal, which both seals sufficiently at the valve seat and has the necessary restoring force for the automatic closing of the spray valve. In addition, the valve seat is not on the outside, but on the inside, so that air can get into the interior of the cup-shaped membrane from the outside, even in the closed position, where it can react undesirably with liquid that is always present when used.

The object of the present invention is to form a valve of this type which is opened by pressing, but which does not require any special spring element. In this context it should be said that the individual parts of a valve of the type in question are generally made of plastic of different elasticity in the injection molding process. If a spring element is dispensed with, not only is there no component, its manufacture and assembly, but there is also the possibility of working without metal or a plastic selected for its resilient properties. Avoiding such plastic and in particular metal is an advantage for products that do not tolerate contact with metal and change as a result.

The physical principle on which the solution according to the invention for the given task is based will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A lever AC is pivoted at point A. When pivoting from the position AC shown in solid lines to the position AE shown in dashed lines, points B and C have covered different distances. The stretch BD is smaller than the stretch CE. These different lengths of route are illustrated by the thick arrows. It is now assumed that the part F is a valve closure member which bears against a valve seat G. The valve seat G is connected to the part H. In the same sense it is further assumed that the valve closure member F is connected to the point C and the valve seat G to the point B of the imaginary lever AC. When pivoting this lever into position AE, F has moved downward by the greater distance CE and G by the smaller distance BD. The result is the image shown in FIG. 2. The valve closure member F is no longer on Valve seat G on. The valve is open. In a constructive realization of these theoretical considerations, the valve would open or close due to different speeds of its closure member and its valve seat. It is assumed at the moment that B and C do not move in a circular path around A, but can perform the linear movements BD and CE.

• a) Eine in den Behälter fest einsetzbare Büchse,
• b) eine in dieser dichtend verschiebbar geführte Schieberhülse, die an ihrem oberen Ende den Ventilsitz und an ihrem unteren Ende Aussparungen aufweist,
• c) biegesteife Arme, die über Gelenke mit der Büchse verbunden sind und in Ventilschließlage radial nach oben durch die Aussparungen nach innen geführt sind,
• d) einen zentrisch innerhalb der Büchse und der Schieberhülse verschiebbar angeordneten Stab, der an seinem oberen Ende das Verschlußglied aufweist und an seinem unteren Ende mit den raidal innen liegenden Enden der Arme gelenkig verbunden ist, wobei die elastische Rückstellkraft der den Gelenken benachbarten Bereiche der Büchse derart ist, daß die durch eine Abwärtsbewegung der Schieberhülse bewirkbare Verschiebung der Arme und Spreizung des benachbarten Bereiches der Büchse vollständig reversibel sind.

In the case of a valve of the type mentioned at the outset, the constructive realization of the idea just mentioned results from the use of the following features:

• a) a bushing which can be firmly inserted into the container,
• b) a sliding sleeve guided in this sealing manner and having the valve seat at its upper end and recesses at its lower end,
• c) rigid arms which are connected to the bush via joints and are guided radially upwards through the cutouts in the valve closed position,
• d) a rod which is arranged displaceably centrally within the bush and the slide sleeve and which has the closure member at its upper end and is articulated at its lower end to the raidal inner ends of the arms, the elastic restoring force of the regions of the bush adjacent to the joints is such that the movement of the arms and the spreading of the adjacent region of the bush which can be brought about by a downward movement of the slide sleeve are completely reversible.

The slide sleeve according to the invention represents the part H with the valve seat G. The arms form the levers A-C. The rod corresponds to the part that carries the closure member F. The bushing, which can be firmly inserted into the container, forms the pivot point A or, if several arms are used, several pivot points A.

When the slide sleeve moves downward or when the slide sleeve is pressed into the valve, it takes the arms lying in its recesses with it. These perform a pivoting movement around their articulation on the bush. They take the rod with the locking member with them. According to the above explanations for Fig. 1, the rod now travels a greater distance than the slide sleeve, and the valve opens. If the rod and the slide sleeve now perform linear movements and not a circular movement around A or the articulation of the arms on the bushing, the bushing must deflect outward in a straight line. There is also such a movement. It results from the elasticity of the plastic material forming the sleeve. This elasticity of the sleeve thus replaces the spring or the spring element of the known valves. Due to its elasticity, the bush returns to its original position when the slide sleeve is released. Its radially expanded area contracts again, thereby pressing the slide sleeve and the rod back into their original position. So that the closure member rests on the valve seat, and the valve is closed.

The valve according to the invention therefore does not require a special spring element. The plastic forming the sleeve only has to be adjusted so that it has the desired elasticity and spring force.

The arms enclose an acute angle with the bush in their rest position, and the elastic restoring force of the material of the bush is so great that it returns to its rest position after a radial spreading movement. The aforementioned acute angle between the arms and the bushing has the result that this moves the arms in their radial inward movement - when looking at FIGS. 1 and 2 - upwards or in the closed position of the closure member. The valve thus automatically returns to its closed position after opening.

In an expedient embodiment it is provided that the sleeve with the joints and the arms is formed (molded) as one part, the joints with the arms being molded onto the lower end of the sleeve. Generally four arms will be used. However, three, five or another number of arms are also conceivable.

For the connection of the rod to the arms, it is provided in an expedient embodiment that the rod has an annular recess at its lower end, the arms have thickenings at their inner ends or merge into a ring and these or these are pressed into the recess or is.

In a further embodiment it is provided that the recesses in the slide sleeve are provided in their lower open ends, webs from this end protrude from one side to about half into the recesses and have locking projections at their ends on their upper sides, such that the arms passed through the recesses rest on the webs and are clamped between them, a lateral and upper limit of the recess and a latching projection. In practice, this means that the slide sleeve with its recesses is placed on the arms extending from the sleeve, pressed down a little and then turned.

It has been said that the slide sleeve is pressed to open the valve. In an expedient embodiment, it is provided that the slide sleeve protrudes from the sleeve and on the protruding part a handle is attached at a distance above the top edge of the sleeve or the can lid holding it, which is the maximum len stroke of the rod corresponds. The grip board is thus both a handle for pushing down the slide sleeve and a stop for limiting the stroke.

In a further embodiment, lugs are provided on the arms, and the upper sides of the recesses are shaped such that they form a pivot bearing with the lugs resting against them. This reduces the opening force and prevents jamming.

In a further embodiment it is provided that the sleeve surrounds the slide sleeve with such a small distance that it represents a guide for the latter, a groove is provided in the inner wall of the sleeve and a sealing ring which bears against the slide sleeve is held therein. In an alternative embodiment, a sealing lip abutting the sleeve is formed on the outer wall of the slide sleeve in the region enclosed by the sleeve.

Instead of the connection between the arms and the rod, in which the latter snaps into them, an alternative embodiment provides that the rod is connected in one piece to the arms via joints designed as material thinnings. In this embodiment, the valve closure member is a special component which is pushed onto the rod and locked and connected to it by a tongue and groove connection or the like.

The invention further provides that the surfaces of the valve seat and the valve closure member which abut one another in the closed or rest position are conical, the conicity being selected differently so that a linear contact occurs axially on the outside.

Finally, to support the radially inward restoring force of the sleeve, it is also provided that an elastic clamping ring rests on the latter in the region of the elastic radial expansion.

The invention also provides a possibility of simply placing the valve as a self-contained unit on a container, an aerosol can, a bottle or the like and connecting it to this container or the like. In particular, it is provided that the sleeve is concentric and at a radial distance within a sleeve connected to it in one piece and that it can be placed pressure-tight on a container or the like. The bushing can have a thread for screwing on, a snap lock for fitting or any locking or latching for connection to the container, the can, the bottle or the like.

• Fig. 1 die bereits erläuterte schaubildliche Darstellung des der Erfindung zugrunde liegenden physikalischen Prinzips,
• Fig. 2 eine ebenfalls bereits erläuterte Darstellung ähnlich Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht, teilweise im Schnitt, einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Ventils,
• Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht, teilweise im Schnitt, einer zweiten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Ventils,
• Fig. die perspektivische Darstellung der Schieberhülse der zweiten Ausführungsform und
• Fig. 6 die perspektivische Darstellung der Büchse der zweiten Ausführungsform.

The invention will now be further described using the example of the two embodiments shown in the drawing. In the drawing is

• 1 shows the already illustrated diagrammatic representation of the physical principle on which the invention is based,
• FIG. 2 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1, which has also been explained,
• 3 is a side view, partly in section, of an embodiment of the valve according to the invention,
• 4 is a side view, partly in section, of a second embodiment of the valve according to the invention,
• Fig. The perspective view of the slide sleeve of the second embodiment and
• Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sleeve of the second embodiment.

Fig. Shows the slide sleeve 12 with the handle 14 and the valve seat 16. Four recesses 18 are provided in the lower end of the slide sleeve 12. 5 shows the slide sleeve 12 of the alternative embodiment according to FIG. 4, the cutouts 18 are identical in both embodiments. With regard to the cutouts 18, reference can therefore generally be made to FIG. 5. The cutouts 18 are partially delimited downwards by the webs 20. The upper sides of the recesses 18 form the pressure edges 22. The sleeve 24 encloses the slide sleeve 12. In a manner not of interest here, it is firmly connected to the container, the aerosol can, a bottle or the like. A sealing ring 26 lies in a groove or recess in the bush 24. It lies against the slide sleeve 12. It seals the interior of the container or the like from the outside. In addition, it guides the slide sleeve 12 into the sleeve 24 during its inward movement. The sleeve 24 also has a radially projecting collar 28. This forms an edge 30. This lies against a radial inward curvature of the lid of the container, the can or the like. The joints 34 and the arms 36 extending from them are molded or injection molded onto the bushing 24. The joints 34 are formed by thinning the material. At their radially inner ends, the arms 36 have thickenings 38 or they are joined to form a ring 38. The rod 40 with the valve closure member 42 with the closing surface 44 lies centrally within the slide sleeve 12 and the bush 24. At its lower end, it has a saving 46. The thickenings 38 and the ring 38 are clamped into these. Fig. Furthermore shows the clamping ring 48, which can be used optionally.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from that according to FIG. 3 only in constructive details. The sleeve 24 is combined with a sleeve 50, which surrounds it radially at a distance, to form a single component. The sleeve 50 has an internal thread 52. It is thus screwed onto a neck 54 of a bottle or the like, which also has a thread. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the arms 36 have lugs 56. These are on the complementarily shaped tops of the Aus savings of 18. This results in pivot bearings for the pivoting movement of the arms 36. A sealing lip 60 is also formed on the outside of the slide sleeve 12. Like the sealing ring 26, this also serves to guide the slide sleeve 12 in the bushing 24. Unlike the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the rod 40 is also integrally connected to the arms 36 and thus the bushing 24. Between the rod 40 and the arms 36 there are thinnings of material which form the joints 62. However, the valve closure member 42 is now a separate component. It is pushed onto the rod 40 and latched to it via a tongue and groove connection 64. 4 and 5 still show the locking projections 68 at the ends of the webs 20th

• Das Ventil, sei es in der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 3 oder nach Fig. 4, sitzt auf einem Behälter, einer Aerosoldose oder dergleichen auf. Über den Zwischenraum zwischen den vier Armen 36 steht somit auch der Raum innerhalb der Schieberhülse 12 unter dem Druck des Treibmittels. Zum Öffnen des Ventils wird das Griffbord 14 gedrückt. Diese Abwärtsbewegung endet spätestens beim Anschlag von dessen Unterseite an der Oberkante des Dosendeckels 32 bzw. der Hülse 50. Bei der Abwärtsbewegung der Schieberhülse 12 drücken die Druckkanten 22 an der Oberseite der Aussparungen 18 gegen die Arme 36 bzw. die Nasen 56. Dabei wird der untere Bereich der Büchse 24 radial nach außen gespreizt. Links in Fig. 4 wird dies in strichpunktierten Linien angedeutet. Dabei führen auch die Arme 36 eine Bewegung aus. Diese setzt sich aus zwei Komponenten zusammen. Die eine Komponente ist eine lineare Bewegung axial nach unten. Die zweite Komponente ist eine Schwenkbewegung. Der Mittelpunkt dieser Schwenkbewegung liegt bei der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 3 in den Gelenken 34 und bei der Ausführungsform nach Fig.4 in den Schwenklagern zwischen den Druckkanten 22 und den Nasen 56. Der Stab 40 folgt der ersten Bewegungskomponente und bewegt sich nach unten. Dabei entfernt sich das Ventilverschlußglied 42 vom Ventilsitz 16. Das Ventil öffnet. Die theoretische Endlage dieser Bewegung ist links unten in Fig. 4 angedeutet. In strichpunktierten Linien wird dort ein Arm 36 in horizontaler Lage gezeigt. Dies ist die Lage eines Armes 36 bei voller Öffnung des Ventils. Mit einem vergleichenden Blick auf die Fig. 1 und 2 läßt sich weiter feststellen, daß sich das Ventilverschlußglied 42 bei diesem Bewegungsablauf stärker als der Ventilsitz 16 nach unten bewegt hat, so daß das Ventil öffnet.

After this individual description of the two embodiments, their mode of operation can now be described:

• The valve, be it in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 or according to FIG. 4, is seated on a container, an aerosol can or the like. The space within the slide sleeve 12 is thus also under the pressure of the propellant via the space between the four arms 36. The handle 14 is pressed to open the valve. This downward movement ends at the latest when the underside stops at the upper edge of the can lid 32 or the sleeve 50. During the downward movement of the slide sleeve 12, the pressure edges 22 on the upper side of the recesses 18 press against the arms 36 or the lugs 56 lower region of the sleeve 24 spread radially outwards. This is indicated in dash-dotted lines on the left in FIG. 4. The arms 36 also perform a movement. This consists of two components. One component is a linear movement axially downwards. The second component is a swivel movement. The center point of this pivoting movement lies in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 in the joints 34 and in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 in the pivot bearings between the pressure edges 22 and the lugs 56. The rod 40 follows the first movement component and moves downwards. The valve closure member 42 moves away from the valve seat 16. The valve opens. The theoretical end position of this movement is indicated at the bottom left in Fig. 4. An arm 36 is shown there in dash-dotted lines in a horizontal position. This is the position of an arm 36 when the valve is fully open. With a comparative view of FIGS. 1 and 2, it can further be ascertained that the valve closure member 42 has moved down more than the valve seat 16 during this movement sequence, so that the valve opens.

After the valve has been open for the desired time, the handle board 14 is released. The elasticity and restoring force of the sleeve 24 comes into effect. In its lower area it contracts radially and assumes the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Since the arms 36 enclose an acute angle with it even in the maximum open position, the arms pivot during this movement in such a way that the rod 40 is moved upward and the valve closure member 42 is moved into the closed position. This radial inward movement of the lower region of the sleeve 24 is supported by the clamping ring 48, if it is present.

Claims (16)

1. A valve for pressurized containers, such as aerosols, with a closure member (42) which is movable towards a valve seat (16) and bears thereon in its rest or closing position, characterized by

a) a bushing (24) fixedly insertable into the container,

b) a sliding sleeve (12) sealingly slidably guided therein which at its upper end is provided with the valve seat (16) and at its lower inner end with recesses (18),

c) bending-resistant arms (36) which are connected to the bushing (24) by way of joints (34) and which are guided radially upwards through the recesses (18) to the inside in the closed position of the valve,

d) a rod (40) disposed centrally and slidably within the bushing (24) and the sliding sleeve (12) and which on its upper end is provided with the closure member (42) and is articulatedly connected at its lower end to the inner radial ends of the arms (36), the resilient return force of the areas of the bushing (24) adjacent to the joints (34) being such that the displacement of the arms (36) and spreading of the adjacent area of the bushing (24) produced by a downward movement of the sliding sleeve (12) is completely reversible.

2. A valve according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bushing (24) together with the joints (34) and the arms (36) is formed as one part, the joints (34) together with the arms (36) being integrally formed on the lower end of the bushing (24).

3. A valve according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the rod (40) is provided with an annular indentation (46) at its lower end, the arms (36) are provided at their inner ends with shoulders (38), and the latter are pushed into the indentation (46).

4. A valve according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the recesses (18) in the sliding sleeve (12) are provided in the lower open end thereof, ribs (20) extend from this end from one side by about half into the recesses (18), and they are provided at their surface ends with arresting protrusions (68) in such a manner that the arms (36) which are guided through the recesses (18) bear on the ribs (20) and are clamped between them, a lateral and an upper limit of the recess (18) and an arresting protrusion (68).

5. A valve according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sliding sleeve (12) protrudes from the bushing (24) and at the protruding protion a gripping edge (14) is provided at a distance above the upper edge of the bushing (24) or the container lid (32) retaining the latter, this gripping edge corresponding to the maximum stroke of the rod (40).

6. A valve according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that on the upper face of each arm (36) an extension (56) is provided in each case and the upper faces of the recesses (18) are so shaped that they form pivot supports together with the extensions (56) bearing them.

7. A valve according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bushing (24) encompasses the slide sleeve (12) at such a tight distance that it constitutes a guide therefor, a groove is provided on the inner wall of the bushing (24), and a sealing ring (26) is retained therein bearing on a sliding sleeve (12).

8. A valve according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that on the outer wall of the sliding sleeve (12) a sealing lip (60) is integrally formed in the area encompassed by the bushing (24) and bears thereon.

9. A valve according to Claims 1, 2 and 4 to 8, characterized in that the rod (40) is integrally connected to the arms (36) by means of joints (62) formed by reductions in material.

10. A valve according to Claim 9, characterized in that the valve closure member (42) is pushed on to the rod (40) and is connected thereto by a groove and tongue joint.

11. A valve according to Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the faces of the valve seat (16) and the valve closure member (42) which bear on one another in the closing or resting position are conically shaped, the taper being selectively differently chosen, so that linear contact is provided axially on the outside.

12. A valve according to Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a resilient locking ring (48) rests on the bushing in the area of the resilient radial expansion.

13. A valve according to Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the bushing (24) is disposed concentrically and with a radial distance within a sleeve (50) integrally connected thereto and that it is mountable in a pressure-tight manner on to a container or the like.

14. A valve according to Claim 13, characterized in that the sleeve (50) is provided with a thread (52) for screwing on to a container.

15. A valve according to Claim 13, characterized in that the sleeve (50) has a snap lock for mounting on to a container.

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