FR2843949A1 - VALVE FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINER - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve for a pressurized container, comprising: - an orifice (19) configured to be traversed by a product to be dispensed, - a shutter (21) disposed in a housing (18) having an axis (X), the shutter being movable along this axis under the action of gravity, between a shutter position taken when the valve has a predetermined orientation, shutter position in which the shutter (21) substantially closes said orifice (19), and a dispensing position in which the shutter releases said orifice, this valve being characterized in that it comprises at least one surface configured to prohibit, on at least a portion of the path of the shutter between its dispensing position and its shutter position, any movement of the shutter parallel to the axis of the housing.

Description

The present invention relates to valves for pressurized containers.

  French patent application FR-A-2 680 161 describes a valve for a pressurized container comprising a shutter constituted by a ball, this shutter being intended to close an orifice traversed by the fluid to be dispensed when the container is not in a 5 normal position of use and that actuation of the valve would cause for example

loss of propellant alone.

  If the user shakes the container vertically for example, during product dispensing, the ball may come into contact with its seat and

  remain pressed against it under the effect of the pressure prevailing inside the container.

  To prevent the shutter from remaining in this closed position, a leak is organized between the inside of the valve body and the inside of the container by means of a

  micro-orifice passing through the valve body.

  The realization of such a micro-orifice is relatively delicate and complicates the

manufacturing the valve.

  In addition, the valve has a seal which is liable to swell on contact with the product contained in the container and the swelling of this seal is liable to disturb the flow of the propellant gas through the micro-orifice, which complicates

still the realization of the valve.

  The present invention aims to improve the operation of a valve 20 comprising a shutter movable under the action of gravity, and seeks in particular to avoid that in the event of movement of the container during dispensing of the product and / or in the event of entrained by product, the shutter does not interfere with the operation of the valve. According to one of its aspects, the subject of the invention is therefore a valve for a pressurized container, comprising: - an orifice configured to be traversed by a product to be dispensed, - a shutter disposed in a housing having an axis, l the shutter being movable along this axis under the action of gravity, between a closed position taken when the valve has a predetermined orientation, closed position in which the shutter substantially closes said orifice, and a dispensing position wherein the shutter releases said orifice, this valve being able to be characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one surface configured to prohibit, on at least a portion of the path of the shutter between its dispensing position and its position shutter, any movement of the shutter

parallel to the axis of the housing.

  The axis of the shutter housing can be straight or not.

  The invention makes it possible to prevent the shutter from being able to reach its shutting position too quickly under the effect of a movement of the container or by being entrained by the product and, consequently, strongly decreases, even eliminates, the risk of the shutter accidentally closing the orifice during dispensing

of the product.

  The above-mentioned surface can be produced in various ways.

  In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the surface is configured to impose on the shutter, in particular when the latter consists of a ball, a

  helical path between its shutter and distribution positions.

  Such a helical path can be obtained for example by arranging inside the housing containing the shutter a threaded rod, this rod comprising at least one thread which defines with the wall defining the housing of the shutter a passage substantially

  helical, which the shutter must travel to gain its shutter position.

  The number of revolutions of the net around the rod can be chosen according to

  of the desired time for the shutter to travel from its dispensing position to its shutting position.

  The helical passage can also be obtained by making a helical groove in the wall defining the shutter housing and by placing inside this housing a rod forcing the shutter to move in the aforementioned groove to

gain its shutter position.

  The above-mentioned threaded rod or the non-threaded rod used in association with a groove may or may not have an internal channel allowing the circulation of product towards

  the orifice which is closed by the shutter when the latter is in its closed position.

  The possible presence of such a channel makes it possible to prevent the shutter from being

  driven to its closed position by the circulation of the product during the operation of the valve.

  The aforementioned surface can also be configured to impose on the shutter a

  path not entirely parallel to the axis of the accommodation and other than helical.

  One can for example provide at least one deflector in the housing of the shutter, defining the surface in question and constituting an obstacle causing the shutter to change direction when it moves from its dispensing position.

towards its closed position.

  The deflector may, for example, be constituted by an insert in the housing of the shutter, for example being carried by a rod, one end of which is integral with the wall defining the housing of the shutter or be made in one taking

  with the wall defining the housing of the shutter.

  Several deflectors can be arranged so as to form at least one baffle in the path of the shutter.

  The housing containing the shutter may be located in the valve body or elsewhere, being for example defined at least partially by an insert on the

  valve body, for example by a dip tube.

  The valve may further comprise an absorbing element, situated downstream of the shutter relative to the direction of circulation of the product, capable of absorbing at least one propellant gas contained in the container and of releasing it at least partially when the pressure in the vicinity of the absorber becomes sufficiently weak. This absorber is in particular configured so that the quantity of propellant released is sufficient to reduce the pressure difference existing on either side of the shutter in the event of the latter being blocked in the closed position, then that the shutter is no longer held by gravity in its closed position, and allow the shutter to leave its closed position. Such an absorber advantageously replaces the micro-orifice described in the

  French patent application FR-A-2,680,161 cited above.

  This absorber can be made of a material and / or with a physical structure chosen as a function of the nature of the substance or substances contained in the container, in particular of the nature of the propellant gas and of the quantity of gas to be released by desorption, taking into account for example the configuration of the valve and the volume that the gas released by desorption is likely to occupy. The absorber can also be configured taking into account the weight of the obturator and the pressure prevailing in the container.

  The absorber may include a porous material.

  The absorber can also include a material whose chemical nature

  makes it possible to absorb a propellant gas contained in the fluid flowing through the valve.

  The absorber can be configured to be able to absorb a chosen propellant

  for example in the group consisting of alkanes, in particular butane, isopropane and isobutane, fluorinated compounds, in particular difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a, and dimethyl ether.

  The absorber may for example comprise polyamide fibers, in particular nylon. The absorber can also include a sinter, in particular a sinter of high porosity. The absorber can also comprise a silicone, in particular when the propellant gas is butane, isobutane, difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a

or dimethyl ether.

  The absorber can be located in a chamber of the valve body, with which

  communicates the orifice which can be closed by the shutter.

  The absorber can be fixed for example on the valve body. Alternatively or additionally, the absorber can also be fixed to the valve stem, and in particular to a

end of it.

  The aforementioned predetermined orientation, that is to say the orientation of the valve for which the shutter occupies the closed position, is for example a position which corresponds to an attempt to use the valve upside down . In this case, the container is normally used head up to dispense the product contained therein and a tube

  plunger can be attached to the valve body.

  Alternatively, the predetermined orientation, in which the shutter occupies the closed position, is a position which corresponds to an attempt to use the

  valve upside down, while the normal position of use is upside down.

  The valve can be configured to be actuated by movement

  sinking or tipping, for example.

  The invention also relates to a packaging and distribution device comprising: - a pressurized container,

  - a valve as defined above.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description

  which follows, examples of non-limiting implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which - FIG. 1 shows, schematically and partially, in axial section, a container equipped with a valve according to an exemplary implementation of the invention, - Figure 2 shows schematically and partially the container of Figure 1, upside down, - Figures 3 to 5 show in axial section, partial and schematic , variant embodiments of the invention, - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a valve comprising an absorber, and - Figure 7 illustrates the embodiment of the housing containing the shutter elsewhere

than in the valve body.

  FIG. 1 shows a valve 1 according to the invention, mounted on a pressurized container R. This container R contains a product P to be sprayed under the pressure of a propellant gas G such as for example isobutane , butane, dimethyl ether,

  difluoroethane 152a or tetrafluoroethane 134a.

  The container R has in the upper part an opening 2 on which a cup 3 is crimped and the valve 1 is fixed by crimping in a central housing 9 of

this cup 3.

  The valve 1 comprises a valve body 4 defining a chamber 7 in which is engaged a valve stem 5, of axis X, able to move in the chamber 7 between a closed position of the valve and an open position in which the

product P can be sprayed.

  The valve stem 5 is provided at its upper end, as can be seen in FIG. 2, with a push button 6. The latter has an internal channel 8 and could be fitted with one or more nozzles with vortex channels for example,

  depending on the type of aerosol desired.

  A sealing washer 10 is interposed between the valve body 4 and the cup

  3. The valve stem 5 can slide in the valve body 4 along the axis X in a sealed manner in contact with this washer 10.

  A distribution channel 12 is produced in the valve stem 5. This channel opens at the upper end of the valve stem 5 through an orifice 13. The latter communicates with a radial orifice 14 which opens onto a lateral surface of the stem of

valve 5.

  In the closed position of the valve, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the orifice 14

  is closed by the washer 10. To dispense product P, the valve stem 5 is pressed 5 into the valve body 4 and the orifice 14 opens below the washer 10. Product can then circulate in the channel of distribution 12.

  The valve 1 comprises a helical spring 22 making it possible to return the valve stem 5 to the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when the latter is released.

by the user.

  The valve stem 5 has, in the lower part, a cylindrical portion 23

serving as a guide for the spring 22.

  The valve body 4 has in the lower part an end piece 15 to which a dip tube 16 is fixed. This end piece 15 is closed at its lower end by a piece

end 17.

  The endpiece 15 defines with the end piece 17 a housing 18 which communicates with the chamber 7 through an orifice 19, the latter being bordered by a frustoconical surface converging towards the orifice 19 and which serves as a seat 20 for a shutter 21 consisting for example of a glass or stainless steel ball, the material

  the shutter being a function for example of the nature of the product and of the propellant gas.

  In the normal position of use of the container R, that is to say head up, the

  ball 21 rests in the bottom of the housing 18 against the end piece 17.

  The ball 21 can come, when the container is upside down, as illustrated on the

  FIG. 2, pressing against its seat 20, to close the orifice 19.

  Thus, the propellant G is prevented from escaping.

  To prevent the ball 21 from gaining too easily its seat 20 during

  normal use of the container, under the impulse for example of a sudden movement of the user holding the container during distribution of the product P, a retarder member 24 can be arranged in the housing 18 to slow the movement of the ball 21 from its dispensing position, shown in FIG. 1, to its closed position, 30 shown in FIG. 2.

  In the example considered, the retarder member 24 has an outer surface configured to impose on the ball a non-rectilinear path between its positions of

distribution and shutter.

  More specifically, the retarder member 24 is in the example illustrated in the form of a hollow rod produced integrally with the end piece 17. This rod has an internal channel 26 opening through an orifice 27 to the interior of the plunger tube 16 and an external thread 28 providing, with the radially interior surface 29 of the end piece 15, a substantially helical passage 30, which the ball 21 must travel to gain its position for closing the orifice 19. This passage 30 is delimited in part by a surface of the net 28 which does not converge towards the orifice 19 and which is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 18, coincides with the axis X. The pitch of the net 28 and its size are chosen to allow the ball 21 to

  easily walk, without risk of getting caught, passage 30.

  The ball 21 has been shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 during

its path in passage 30.

  The number of revolutions of the thread 28 is chosen as a function of the delay that it is desired to impose on the ball 21 before the latter reaches its closed position.

  It can be noted that, in the example illustrated, the ball 21 is not likely to be entrained by the circulation of the product inside the internal channel 26 during the

  distribution, when in passage 30.

  It is possible to replace the hollow rod of the retarder member 24 with a solid rod 20 32 and allow the arrival of the product in the housing 18 by one or more orifices 33

  made in the end piece 17, around the rod 32, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

  We can still not use a threaded rod, full or hollow, and use by

  example as a retarder member a cylindrical rod 35, which can be hollow, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in association with a helical groove 36 produced on the inner surface 29 of the valve body 4.

  The rod 35 and the groove 36 are configured such that the ball 21 necessarily travels through the passage 30 formed between the groove 36 and the rod 35 to gain its closed position. It is also possible to use, to slow down the ball 21, at least one deflector 40, 30 as illustrated in FIG. 5. This deflector 40 can for example be integral with the end piece 17, this latter being able to comprise, in addition to the deflector 40 a skirt 41 intended to guide the ball 21 towards the deflector 40, which has a non-convergent surface towards

orifice 19.

  One or more deflectors 43 made in one piece with the valve body 4 and intended, for example, to form at least one baffle 44 on the path of the ball, can be used in combination or optionally as a replacement for the deflector 40. dispensing position to its closed position. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the surfaces 46 of the deflectors 43 that the ball 21 meets while moving towards its position

  shutters are not convergent towards the orifice 19.

  Furthermore, when the ball 21 is in its closed position and the user presses on the valve stem 5, the chamber 7 is balanced with atmospheric pressure through the distribution channel 12 and the ball 21 is located held against her

  seat 20 by the pressure difference between the interior of the container and the chamber 7.

  To allow the ball 21 to return by gravity to its dispensing position, a micro-leak could be produced in the valve body, as described

  in French patent application FR-A-2 680 161.

  However, it may be more advantageous to replace this micro-orifice with an absorber 50 disposed downstream of the shutter, for example in chamber 7, as this

  will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.

  This absorber 50 is produced, in the example described, from a porous material capable of absorbing propellant gas G and optionally product P. The absorber 50 may for example comprise polyamide fibers,

  in particular Nylon, a frit or a silicone.

  The absorber 50 is capable of releasing a gas by desorption, which allows

  to increase the pressure prevailing inside the chamber 7 after the valve stem 5 has returned to its closed position, and consequently to reduce the pressure difference prevailing downstream and upstream of the ball 21.

  The absorber 50 is configured so that the gas volume released by desorption is sufficient for the ball 21 to be able to leave its closed position by gravity and / or under the action of movements normally exerted by the user during handling.

of the container.

  In the example illustrated, the absorber 50 is fixed to the end of the valve stem but it could also be arranged otherwise, for example be fixed to the valve body. In the examples which have just been described, the valve is intended for a

normal use head up.

  It is not beyond the scope of the present invention when the valve is configured

  so as to allow normal use upside down.

  In this case, a retarder member can be arranged in the path of the shutter from its dispensing position to its closed position, the displacement of the shutter from its dispensing position to its closed position being effected towards the

low, by gravity.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

  The housing containing the shutter could also be formed by a dip tube fixed to the valve body, as illustrated in FIG. 7. This figure shows the dip tube 16 provided at its free end with an end piece with threaded rod 52

  similar to the end piece 17 and to the threaded rod 24 described above.

  In particular, one can use a valve stem which controls the actuation of the valve not by a pushing movement but by a movement of

  pivoting. The valve could otherwise be attached to the container.

  Throughout the description, including the claims, the expression

  "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least 20 one", unless otherwise specified.

Claims (24)

  1. Valve for pressurized container, comprising: - an orifice (19) configured to be traversed by a product to be dispensed, - a shutter (21) disposed in a housing (18) having an axis (X), the shutter being movable along this axis under the action of gravity, between a closed position taken when the valve has a predetermined orientation, closed position in which the shutter (21) substantially closes said orifice (19), and a position dispenser in which the shutter releases said orifice, this valve being characterized in that it comprises at least one surface configured to prevent, on at least a portion of the path of the shutter between its dispensing position and its position shutter, any movement of the shutter parallel to the axis housing.   2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface is   configured to impose on the shutter a helical path between its shutter 15 and distribution positions.   3. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   that the valve has inside the housing (18) containing the shutter (21) a threaded rod (24), this rod comprising at least one thread (28) which defines with the wall (15) defining the housing of the shutter a passage (30) substantially helical, which 20 must travel the shutter (21) to gain its closed position.   4. Valve according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it   comprises a helical groove (36) in the wall (15) defining the housing (18) containing the shutter and by the fact that a rod (35) forcing the shutter to move in the groove (36) to gain its the closed position is arranged in the housing (18). 25 5. Valve according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the   rod has an internal channel (26) allowing the circulation of product towards the orifice (19).   6. Valve according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the   rod has no internal channel allowing the circulation of product towards the orifice (19).   7. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one deflector (40; 43) in the housing (18)   containing the shutter (21), defining said surface and constituting an obstacle causing the shutter to change direction when it moves from its dispensing position 11 towards its closed position.   8. Valve according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one deflector (40) constituted by an insert in the housing (18) containing the shutter.   9. Valve according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one deflector (43) made integrally with the wall defining the housing of the shutter.   10. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   by the fact that the housing (18) containing the shutter is located in the valve body (4).   11. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the   fact that the housing containing the shutter is defined at least partially by a part   attached to the valve body, in particular a dip tube (16).   12. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   by the fact that it comprises an absorbing element (50), located downstream of the shutter with respect to the direction of circulation of the product, capable of absorbing at least one propellant gas contained in the container and of releasing it at least partially when the pressure in the   vicinity of the absorber becomes sufficiently weak.   13. Valve according to the preceding claim, characterized in that   the absorber (50) comprises a porous material.   14. Valve according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that   the absorber (50) comprises a material the chemical nature of which allows it to absorb a   propellant contained in the container.   15. Valve according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized by   the fact that the absorber is configured to be able to absorb a propellant gas chosen from the group consisting of alkanes, in particular butane, isopropane or isobutane, fluorinated compounds, in particular difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a, and dimethyl ether.   16. Valve according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized by   the fact that the absorber comprises polyamide fibers, in particular nylon.   17. Valve according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized by   the fact that the absorber includes a sinter, in particular a sinter of high porosity.   18. Valve according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized by   the fact that the absorber includes a silicone, especially when the propellant is   butane, difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a or dimethyl ether.   19. Valve according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized by   the fact that the absorber (50) is located in a chamber (7) of the valve body (4) with which the orifice (19) communicates.   20. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   by the fact that the predetermined orientation, in which the shutter (21) occupies the closed position, is a position which corresponds to an attempt to use the   valve upside down, while the normal position of use is upside down.   21. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized by the   fact that the predetermined orientation, in which the shutter (21) occupies the closed position, is a position which corresponds to an attempt to use the head valve in   up, while the normal position of use is upside down.   22. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured to be actuated by a driving movement.   23. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized by the   fact that it is configured to be actuated by a tilting movement.   24. Packaging and distribution device, comprising: - a pressurized container (R),   - a valve as defined in any one of claims 1 to 23.