EP0794910B1 - Valve arrangement for a pressurised liquid or foam dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/DE95/01460 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 3, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 3, 1997 PCT Filed Oct. 20, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/17795 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 13, 1996The invention relates to a valve arrangement for a container used to dispense pressurized liquid or foam, especially PU foam such as assembly or sealing foam from a container, the top of the said container being provided with a valve disk (13), which has an opening, especially of a circular shape, in which a valve body (1) equipped with a valve stem (4) is fixed. The valve stem (4) is depressible against an elastic restoring force, and thus cooperates with sealing elements in the manner of a valve opening. The sealing elements are provided on the sealing member with sealing faces, especially of a planar or conical shape, and in a closed position bear on the sealing faces of the valve body (1) disposed in plane or conical manner, the valve body (1) being a plastic sandwich structure consisting of an inner hard part (2) and an outer soft part (3). The inner hard part (2) and the outer soft part (3) are intimately joined together over their common contact surfaces by an injection-molding process to form a perfect bond.

Description

The invention relates to a valve arrangement with the features of the preamble of Claim 1. Such valve assemblies sit on a container for dispensing of pressurized liquid or foam, especially PU foam, assembly or sealing foam is used, which is provided with a valve plate on the top, which has a particularly circular opening in which one with a valve stem provided valve body is attached. The valve stem is elastically compressible and interacts with sealing elements in the sense of a valve opening. The sealing elements have in particular flat or conical sealing surfaces which on a Sealing bodies are arranged and correspondingly shaped sealing surfaces in the closed position of the valve body.

Known valve assemblies have resilient sections or elements that the Ensure compressibility of the valve stem. These resilient sections or elements that e.g. B. can be dome-shaped, tend to instabilities to be shown, which lead to a functional impairment during storage and operation can. Available valve bodies often have from the beginning or already after a short period of use, the elastic properties required or no longer. They are either too hard or not flexible enough, they can be too soft or wear out too quickly. This means that the valve assembly after the discharge process does not return to the defined starting / closing position and is not sufficient Sealing achieved more. Foam escapes, which can lead to contamination and can cause damage.

From US-A-4 165 825 is a valve assembly with the features of The preamble of claim 1 is known, in which the inner hard part is slidably held in the outer soft part. When opening the known On the one hand, the valve arrangement causes the two parts to shift, on the other hand, the lower sealing area of the soft part is pressed.

From US-A-4 743 422 it is basically known to have a hard part with a to connect the outer soft part to a composite body by spraying.

The invention has for its object to improve a valve assembly and train that they have a high functionality and a simple structure ensures a good sealing effect and is easy to manufacture and assemble. This task is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous further training the invention emerge from the subclaims 2-30.

The core of the invention is considered to be the valve body as a plastic composite body consisting of an inner, hard part and an outer, soft Form part, with the inner, hard part and the outer, soft part at their common Contact surfaces intimately into an unsolvable spray process Are joined together, the outer soft part dome-like beyond the valve plate Formation of a cavity between the inner hard part and the outer soft part is formed and thus one for opening the valve assembly compressible flexible section forms. This also makes the elastic part on the valve body depends, executed in two components and the necessary, durable and robust Spring properties safe, which are necessary for a high tightness of the valve system are. The valve body is manufactured using a two-stage spraying process. The outer, soft part ensures the necessary spring action in the compressible area, but also in the areas of the sealing body, the valve plate and Connection for the outlet line the necessary sealing effect. The inner, hard part is formed essentially as a tubular body, which is part of the valve body fully or partially penetrates the valve body in selected areas, d. H. also reinforced in the resilient area.

In the two-stage spraying process, the contact surface of the hard is connected Material very intimately with the available contact surface of the soft Material, so that an indissoluble bond of the body is created. Advantageous with this Embodiment is that the outer soft part of the valve body in cooperation with the inner, hard part an excellent sealing effect after the discharge process and results in storage. Additional O-rings and the like. As with previously known valve arrangements can be omitted. One and the same soft body is also used for other sealing areas used, if necessary in its upper end area by provision of valve stem sealing lips as a connection for the outlet lines to which the Discharge device, e.g. can be connected in the form of a spray gun or the like and as a seal between the valve plate and valve body. Due to the multiple sealing function can use both material and assembly costs to manufacture the entire Arrangement can be saved.

It may be advantageous if the inner, hard part of the valve body in its middle Area is provided with an outwardly facing collar, which is above the tubular Section of the hard part protrudes radially.

The sealing body is advantageously at the lower open end of the inner, hard part attached, for example at the top of the sealing body in the lower open End of the inner, hard part engaging holding element in the form of a bayonet catch or snap hook can be arranged. But it is also possible to connect between the sealing body and the lower end of the hard part by a press fit connection to make or to provide a glue or ultrasonic welding.

It is particularly advantageous if the ring collar facing outwards is in the case of a dome-like one The flexible area is designed in the manner of a convex dome from the relatively hard material that continues on its outside from a dome of the soft part is covered. This makes the soft material through the relatively hard Material supports, so that there are high spring forces, which are excellent Ensure seal.

The lower area of the dome continues like a cylinder wall, that of an area of higher material thickness of the soft part is surrounded, in which the Valve plate is injected.

The valve disk can have different designs. He can e.g. B. also in shape be pulled out of a pot and additionally with an injection molded part attached therein be provided. The injection molded part is inserted into the valve plate before it is inserted Injection mold attached and against twisting by embossing beads or the like in Valve disc permanently secured.

The valve disc with its radially outer U-shaped bent edge formed with a radially outward projection, then a discharge gun adapter be placed directly on the valve plate. The lead can be a circumferential or at least partially circumferential edging of the edge and an element of a bayonet connection between the valve plate which can be secured by twisting and the discharge gun adapter. It is also possible to use the discharge gun adapter to be provided with resilient locking hooks that protrude or spring overlap the flanging to produce a snap-lock connection. Alternatively, it is also possible to form the projection as an external thread and in Discharge gun adapter to provide an internal thread that fits on the external thread.

A further particularly advantageous modification of the valve disk can be found in claim 25 out, after which the valve plate is drawn into the area of the sealing body like a pot is and provided in the area of the sealing body with inward-pointing retaining projections is. A spring body can be hooked into these holding projections Sealing body acted on in the closing direction. Through these measures, the closing force of the sealing body reinforced by an additional spring body, independently from the formation of the other elasticity of the valve body. The spring body should advantageously be designed as a pot-shaped metal body. In the bottom area of the metal body, a punched-out is provided, which is against the Protruding body protrudes and acts upon this resiliently.

Due to the features of claims 29 and 30, a defined introduction of force into the Sealing body and an elastic force transmission to the outer edge of the sealing body ensured.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer auf eine Schaumdose aufgesetzten Ventilanordnung;

Fig. 2

eine modifizierte Ventilanordnung, bei der der verdrückbare, flexible Bereich des Ventilkörpers kuppelartig ausgebildet ist und der aus dem Behälter ragende Ventilstemm mit weichen, beabstandet angeordneten Dichtlippen versehen ist;

Fig. 3

eine modifizierte Ventilanordnung bei der der verdrückbare, flexible Bereich des Ventilkörpers so ausgebildet ist, daß der mit auszutragendem Material gefüllte Raum zwischen Ventilkörper und Dichtkörper kleinvolumig ist;

Fig. 4

eine nochmals modifizierte Ventilanordnung, bei der der Ventilteller tiefer in Form eines Topfes gezogen und zusätzlich mit einem darin angebrachten Gewindespritzteil zum Einschrauben von Austrittselementen versehen ist;

Fig. 5

eine Ventilanordnung mit modifiziertem Ventilstemm;

Fig. 6

eine Ventilanordnung mit nochmals modifiziertem Ventilstemm;

Fig. 7

eine Ventilanordnung mit aufgeschraubtem Austragsgriff;

Fig. 8

eine Ventilanordnung mit aufgesetztem Austragspistolenadapter (Bajonettverbindung);

Fig. 9

eine Ventilanordnung mit aufgesetztem Austragspistolenadapter mit modifizierten Verbindungselementen (Gewindeverbindung);

The invention is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments in the drawing figures. These show:

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of a valve assembly placed on a foam can;

Fig. 2

a modified valve arrangement in which the compressible, flexible region of the valve body is designed in a dome-like manner and the valve stem protruding from the container is provided with soft, spaced-apart sealing lips;

Fig. 3

a modified valve arrangement in which the compressible, flexible area of the valve body is designed so that the space filled with material to be discharged between the valve body and the sealing body is small-volume;

Fig. 4

a further modified valve arrangement in which the valve plate is drawn deeper in the form of a pot and is additionally provided with an injection molded part for screwing in outlet elements;

Fig. 5

a valve assembly with a modified valve stem;

Fig. 6

a valve assembly with a modified valve stem;

Fig. 7

a valve assembly with screwed discharge handle;

Fig. 8

a valve arrangement with attached discharge gun adapter (bayonet connection);

Fig. 9

a valve assembly with attached dispenser adapter with modified connecting elements (threaded connection);

First of all, on drawing fig. 1 referred. It shows how one Valve arrangement is mounted in a valve plate 13 of a foam can. The valve assembly sits in the valve plate 13, which is drawn in like a pot and in its interior the valve assembly holds.

Details regarding a valve body can be found in the drawing. 2. The valve body 1 has a flexible, dome-like area 5 with subsequent connection and sealing area 6, which radially on the outside with the inside wall 16 of the container Spray can connected valve plate 13 communicates and the opening to the container interior penetrates into a wall section with a flat sealing surface 7. This soft sealing surface 7 works together with a separate, hard sealing body 9, the inside of the dome-like area 5 by a bayonet lock 12th is held.

When actuating the valve assembly, i. H. when pressing the flexible, dome-like Area 5, the liquid or foam passes through a valve opening that is then released 8. The further exit path leads via a between the valve body and the sealing body formed space 11 and from there through an inner hard part 2 of the valve body 1 to the outlet line or a spray gun.

Due to the soft sealing surface 7 of the outer soft part 3 of the valve body 1 an additional O-ring or the like is not required.

In the upper area of the valve body 1 form the inner hard part 2 with the outer soft part 3 a valve stem 4 with soft sealing lips for connecting an outlet line or a spray gun.

From Fig. 2 it can also be seen that the valve plate 13 via a clinching is connected to the container inner wall 16.

In drawing fig. 3 shows another advantageous embodiment of the invention, which is characterized in particular by the compressible, flexible region 5, which forms a small-volume room 11 here. The exit path of the liquid or the foam becomes shorter and more advantageous, the material to be discharged can become not so easy to set compared to training with a dome-like area. In addition to the reference numerals already listed in the figure description of FIG. 2 3 has an outwardly projecting collar 10 on inner hard part of the valve body 2. The ring collar 10 improves the intimate Bond between the inner hard part 2 and the outer soft part 3 of the valve body.

In drawing fig. 4 shows a further advantageous embodiment, which is in particular by a deeper drawn valve plate 13 with an attached therein Injection molded part with internal thread 14. In it, the outlet elements or the spray gun are screwed in. Deviating from that already in the description of the figures 3, the valve stem protrudes in FIG. 4 4 with soft sealing lips not out of the container.

In drawing fig. 5 shows an embodiment with an external thread 15 on the inside hard part 2 of the valve body 1 shown. This can be done e.g. B. a gun-like adapter screwed, which is also shown in Fig. 7, for example.

That in drawing fig. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 differs in three ways Regarding that according to FIG. 5. First, the valve disk 13 is on its radially outer side lying, U-shaped bent edge 20 with at least one radially outward Protrusion 18 is formed for fastening a discharge gun adapter 19. The projection 18 can be a circumferential flange 17 of the edge 20 of the valve plate be formed and an element of a bayonet connection which can be secured by rotation 22 form between the valve plate 13 and discharge gun adapter 19.

The discharge gun adapter 19 is provided with latching hooks for this, which are the at least one Projection 18 or the flange 17 for making the connection resilient spread.

Another difference between the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 5 and 6 is that that below the external thread 15 of the valve stem 4, the upper area of the outer soft part 3 is provided with sealing lips. As a result, the arranged on the valve stem 4 Elements a double function, namely a screw fastening one to it fastened part by the external thread 15 and a seal by the sealing lips, which is important, for example, in the case of a dispensing gun adapter 19 Meaning is.

Furthermore, the valve plate 13 is modified in its lower area to that it is drawn like a pot into the area of the sealing body 9 and in the area of the Sealing body 9 is provided with inwardly pointing retaining projections 25 into which a the spring body 30 acting on the sealing body 9 in the closing direction can be suspended. The spring body 30 is a pot-shaped metal body in its bottom area 32, a spring punch 23 directed against the sealing body 9 is arranged. The spring body 30 is provided with radially outer latching hooks 29, which have an inclined sliding surface 33 for pressing into the retaining projections 25 of the valve plate 13.

The spring body 30 acts on the center of the sealing body 9 in the closing direction For this purpose, sealing body 9 has, on its underside 27, a central projection 24, which with the spring body 30 cooperates. The central projection 24 is one against the Surround spring body 30, approximately annular circumferential recess 26.

Claims (30)

1. Valve arrangement for a container for discharging pressurised fluid or foam, in particular PU foam, such as mounting or sealing foam, from a container, having the following features:

   the container is provided on its upper side with a valve disc (13) which has an aperture, which is, in particular, circular and in which a valve body (1) provided with a valve support (4) is secured,

   the valve support (4) can be urged against a spring force and co-operates in the manner of a valve aperture with sealing elements,

   the sealing elements have, in particular, flat or conical sealing faces of the sealing body which, in the sealing position, act on sealing faces, which are flat or arranged in a conical manner, of the valve body (1) and

   the valve body (1) comprises an inner hard portion (2) and an outer soft portion (3),

   characterised by the following features:

   the inner hard portion (2) and the outer soft portion (3) are joined internally at the common contact surfaces by an injection process to form a non-separable composite body, wherein

   the outer soft portion (3), beyond the valve disc (13), is in an arched form to form a cavity (11) between the inner hard portion (2) and the outer soft portion (3) and, consequently, forms a flexible portion which can be pressed to open the valve arrangement.
2. Valve arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the inner hard portion (2) is in the form of a tubular body which completely or at least partially effects or forms the valve support (4).
3. Valve arrangement according to either of the preceding claims, characterised by the following features:

   the outer soft portion (3) forms,

   at its upper end, a valve support seal,

   in the centre, a flexible region (5) for urging the valve body (1),

   therebelow, the connection and sealing region (6) between the valve body (1) and the valve disc (13)
   and

   at its lower end, the sealing face (7) for the valve aperture (8).
4. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the space (11), which is filled with material to be discharged, between the valve body (1) and the sealing body (9) is of small volume.
5. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner hard portion (2) of the valve body (1) is provided in its central region with an outwardly protruding collar (10).
6. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing body (9) is retained at the lower open end of the inner hard portion (2).
7. Valve arrangement according to claim 6, characterised in that a holding element (bayonet closure 12) which is engaged in the lower open end of the inner hard portion (2) is arranged at the upper side of the sealing body (9).
8. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection between the sealing body (9) and the lower end of the hard portion (2) is effected by press fit, adhesive bonding or ultrasonic welding.
9. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall thickness of the flexible region (5) is greater than the wall thickness of the tubular body.
10. Valve arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that the outwardly protruding collar (10), in an arched form of the flexible region (5), continues in the manner of a convexly curved arch (10') which is covered outwardly by an arch of the soft portion (3).
11. Valve arrangement according to claim 10, characterised in that the lower edge of the arch (10') ends approximately in the region of the valve disc (13).
12. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall thickness of the arch (10') is reduced relative to the wall thickness of the tubular body (2').
13. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower region of the arch (10') is formed in the manner of a cylinder wall.
14. Valve arrangement according to claim 13, characterised In that the cylindrical region of the arch (10') is surrounded by a portion (21) of the outer soft portion (3) of greater material thickness and into which portion (21) the valve disc (13) is embedded by injection-moulding.
15. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower edge of the tubular body (2') protrudes beyond the lower edge of the arch (10').
16. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the valve support seal is provided with sealing lips.
17. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tubular body (2') protrudes beyond the upper region of the outer soft portion (3) and forms a hard valve support which is provided with an outside thread (15).
18. Valve arrangement according to claim 17, characterised in that the upper region of the outer soft portion (3) is provided with the sealing lips below the outside thread (15).
19. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the valve disc (13) is provided with a threaded portion (14) which is secured therein against rotation.
20. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the valve disc (13) is formed at its radially outwardly arranged edge (20), which is bent over in a U-shape, with at least one radially outwardly protruding projection (18) for the securing of a discharge pistol adapter (19).
21. Valve arrangement according to claim 19, characterised in that the at least one projection (18) is in the form of a surrounding beading (17) of the edge (20) of the valve disc (13).
22. Valve arrangement according to either claim 18 or 19, characterised in that, owing to the at least one projection (18), an element of a bayonet connection (22), which is securable by rotation, is formed between the valve disc (13) and the discharge pistol adapter (19).
23. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the discharge pistol adapter (19) is provided with latching hooks which resiliently engage over the at least one projection (18) or the beading (17) to produce a snap-locking connection.
24. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 20, characterised in that the at least one projection (18) is in the form of an outside thread onto which the discharge pistol adapter (19), which is provided with a suitable inside thread (31), is directly mountable.
25. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the valve disc (13) is drawn into the region of the sealing body (9) in a cup-like manner and is provided in the region of the sealing body (9) with inwardly directed holding projections (25) in which a spring body (30), which acts on the sealing body (9) in the closure direction, is securable.
26. Valve body according to claim 25, characterised in that the spring body (30) is in the form of a metal body which is punched out in the manner of a cup and in whose base region (32) is arranged a spring punch-out (23) which is directed towards the sealing body (9).
27. Valve body according to either claim 25 or 26, characterised in that the spring body (30) is provided on its radial exterior with latching hooks (29) which are formed with an oblique sliding face (33) for insertion into the holding projections (25) of the valve disc (13).
28. Valve arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 25 - 27, characterised in that the spring body (30) acts on the centre of the sealing body (9) in the closure direction.
29. Valve body according to any one of the preceding claims 25 - 28, characterised in that the sealing body (9) is provided on its lower side (27) with a central projection (24) which is acted upon by the spring body (30) in the closure direction.
30. Valve body according to any one of the preceding claims 25 - 29, characterised in that the central projection (24) is surrounded by a recess (26) which is directed towards the spring body (30) and which has an approximately annular course.

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