GB2449468A

GB2449468A - Valve housing

Info

Publication number: GB2449468A
Application number: GB0709895A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Etienne Vincent Bunoz
Original assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Ltd
Current assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-23
Filing date: 2007-05-23
Publication date: 2008-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-23
Also published as: GB0709895D0; GB2449468B

Abstract

A valve housing comprises an outer sleeve 2, a valve frame 3 disposed in the outer sleeve, and O-ring seal means 4 adapted to seal the valve frame 3 to the outer sleeve 2. The valve frame 3 has a slot 5 adapted to carry the seal means 4. The valve frame 3 comprises a first member 6 and a second member 7 and the slot 5 is defined by a gap between a part of the first member 6 and a part of the second member 7.

Description

VALVE HOUSING

This invent ion relates to a valve housing for use particularly, but not exclusively, with a soap dispenser.

Soap dispensers come in many forms, but usually include a pump for dispensing the contents. These pumps comprise an inlet valve between the soap and a pump chamber, and an outlet valve between the pump chamber and a spout.

Priming the pump in one direction forces the inlet valve open and the outlet valve shut, and draws soap to be dispensed into the pump chamber. Forcing the pump in the opposite direction then forces the inlet valve shut and the outlet valve open, and forces said soap out of the spout.

There are many known forms inlet and outlet valves, and in each case the components which define them must provide an adequate fluid seal when the valves are shut, to prevent leakage. In some cases the valves are spring loaded, and as such they can be constructed from separate components fitted together around a spring, such that a valve frame is formed, which is then fitted to the pump. In such cases an 0-ring seal or the like is provided to seal the valve frame to the pump to ensure there is no fluid pathway around the valve frame.

However, providing a slot in the outside of the valve frame to receive an 0-ring seal can add complexity to the manufacturing process, and in particular it can limit the moulding options available. In addition, fitting the 0-ring seal into the slot adds a step to the construction process.

In addition to this, in some instances the valve frame is constructed from components which themselves need to be sealed together to prevent leakage. This requires a further seal, which adds further cost and complexity to the manufacturing process.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above problems. I.

Therefore, according to the present invention a valve housing comprises an outer sleeve, a valve frame disposed in the outer sleeve, and seal means adapted to seal the valve frame to the outer sleeve, in which the valve frame comprises a slot adapted to carry the seal means, in which the valve frame comprises a first member and an second member, and in which the slot is defined by a gap between a part of the first member and a part of the second member.

Thus, the present invention provides a valve housing in which none of the components of the valve frame require a slot to be integrally formed thereon. In addition, the above invention also allows for a single seal means to seal both the valve frame to the outer sleeve, and the first member and the second member to one another.

Preferably the first member can comprise a cylindrical valve chamber comprising a valve seat at a first end thereof, and the second member can comprise a cap body fitted to a second end of the cylindrical valve chamber and defining an outlet of the valve chamber. A valve member can be disposed in the valve chamber.

Further, the second member can comprise a cylinder portion in which the first member is partially received; the first member can comprise an outer flange at its first end which is substantially the same diameter as the cylinder portion; and the above described gap can be provided between the outer flange and the cylinder portion.

Therefore, the potential fluid pathway between the first member and the second member around the outside of the first member is sealed off by the seal means. This above described construction is also very simple in shape, and is very easy to construct. The seal means, preferably an 0-ring seal, is simply slotted over the valve chamber and disposed against the outer flange, then the first member and the second member are slotted together until the second end of the valve chamber abuts against the cap body and the 0-ring seal is housed in the gap.

in a preferred construction the valve member can comprise a ball held against the valve seat by a coil spring, and the coil spring can be held in compression inside the valve chamber between the ball and the cap body. Therefore, before the first member and the second member are slotted together the bail and the spring can be placed inside the valve chamber, and the spring can be forced into compression by bringing the first and second members together.

The outer sleeve can comprise an inner abutment; the second member can be fixed Inside the outer sleeve; and the first member can be held between the inner abutment and the second member. Again, this provides a very simple construction which can be fitted together with ease.

The present Invention can be performed in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a fluid pump incorporating a valve housing according to the present invention; and, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of pump as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, a valve housing I comprises an outer sleeve 2, a valve frame 3 disposed in the outer sleeve 2, and seal means, in the form of 0-ring seal 4, adapted to seal the valve frame 3 to the outer sleeve 2, in which the valve frame 3 comprises a slot 5 adapted to carry the 0-ring seal 4, in which the valve frame 3 comprises a first member 6 and an second member 7, and in which the slot 5 is defined by a gap between a part of the first member 6 and a part of the second member 7.

As is clear from Figure 1, the outer sleeve 2 is part of a fluid pump 8, which is adapted to dispense fluid soap. The fluid pump 8 comprises a fluid inlet valve 8a comprising a number of apertures (not visible) in plate 9, which are sealed shut by resilient valve member 10. A piston 11. is disposed in cylinder 12, and is biased into a primed position as shown in Figure 1, by coil spring 13. A fluid chamber 14 extends underneath the fluid inlet into the cylinder 12, and in use would be filled with soap to be dispensed in the position shown in Figure 1. An outlet valve 8b of the pump 8 is defined by the valve fame 3, as described below.

The first member 6 is a cylindrical component which defines cylindrical valve chamber 15, which has valve seat 16 at a first end 17 thereof. The second member 7 comprises a cap body 20 fitted to a second end 21 of the cylindrical valve chamber 15, and defining an outlet, in the form of spout 22, of the valve chamber 15. A valve in the form of ball 18 and coil spring 19 is disposed in the valve chamber 15.

The second member 7 also comprises cylinder portion 23 in which the first member 6 is partially received. The first member 6 comprises an outer flange 24 at its first end 17 which is substantially the same diameter as the cylinder portion 23.

As is clear from Figure 1, the above described gap is provided between the outer flange 24 and the cylinder portion 23.

As stated above, the valve comprises ball 18 and coil spring 19, which holds the ball 18 against the valve seat 16. As is clear from Figure 1, the coil spring 19 is held In compression inside the valve chamber 15 between the ball 18 and the cap body 20. The first member 6 and the second member 7 are not directly fixed together to maintain this arrangement. Instead, the outer sleeve 2 comprises an inner abutment 25, against which the first member 6 is disposed, and the second member 7 is fixed inside the inner sleeve 2, such that the first member 6 is held between the inner abutment 25 and the second member 7.

Referring to Figure 2, the second member 7 is provided with an abutment 26, and the outer sleeve 2 is provided with a bayonet slot 27 adapted to receive the abutment 26. The same arrangement is provided on the opposite side of the second member 7 and the outer sleeve 2. The second member 7 can be placed inside the outer sleeve 2, then rotated on its axis to fix it in position. As such it can be released for maintenance work if necessary.

Referring back to Figure 1, it will be appreciated that the 0-ring seal 4 provides a fluid seal between the valve fame 3 and the outer sleeve 2, such that fluid can only exit the pump 8 from the fluid chamber 14 via the spout 22. However, it will also be appreciated that the 0-ring seal 4 also fluidly seals the first member 6 and the second member 7 together, because the potential fluid pathway out of the valve chamber 15 between it and the cylinder portion 23. is sealed off by the 0-ring seal 4.

The construction shown in Figure 1 is therefore particularly expedient as no separate 0-ring seal is required to seal the first member 6 and the second member 7 together to ensure that the valve chamber 15 is fluid-tight apart from the outlet spout 22.

To construct the valve housing 1 the 0-ring seal 4 is slotted over the valve chamber 15 and disposed against the outer flange 24, the ball 18 and the spring 19 are placed in the valve chamber 15, and the first member 6 and the second member 7 are slotted together and fitted into the outer sleeve 2. It will be appreciated that this is a very simple and low cost mode of construction.

It will also be appreciated that the first member 6 and the second member 7 are very simple in construction and can be fabricated with ease, and in particular without the need for a slot to be formed in one of them to receive an 0-ring seal to seal the valve frame 3 to the outer sleeve 2, and without the need for a second slot to be formed in one of them to receive a second 0-ring seal to seal the first member 6 and the second member 7 together.

In use a disposable soap container is mounted on the pump 8, and a priming stroke of the piston 11 draws soap into the fluid chamber 14 through the inlet valve 8a. The valve member 10 is a disc the periphery of which lifts off the plate 9 to open the apertures (not visible) when the piston 11 creates negative pressure in the fluid chamber 14 during the priming stroke. The ball 18 is obviously urged against the valve seat 16 during this priming stroke on account of the spring 19, but the negative pressure generated during the priming stroke further urges the ball 18 against the valve seat 16 to close the outlet valve 8b. The priming stroke is automatic, as the piston 11 is urged outwards by the spring 12.

Once primed, the piston is pushed down, which forces the soap in the fluid chamber 14 out of the outlet valve 8b. The ball 18 is forced off the valve seat 16 against the force of the spring 19 to open the valve seat 16 when the piston 11 creates positive pressure in the fluid chamber 14 during the down stroke. The valve member 10 naturally closes the apertures (not shown), but the positive pressure in the fluid chamber 14 during the down stroke further urges the valve member 10 against the plate 9 to close the inlet valve 8a.

The fluid forced through the valve seat 16 passes through the valve chamber and out of the spout 22. During this action no fluid can pass between the outer sleeve 2 and the valve frame 3 due to the 0-ring seal 4, and no fluid can pass between the valve chamber 15 and the cylinder portion 23 due to the 0-ring seal 4.

Obviously such fluid movement out of the valve chamber 15 is not likely in normal usage, but in the event of a blockage it is desirable to not allow fluid to be forced between the components.

The above described embodiment can be altered without departing from the scope of Claim 1. For example, in alternative embodiments valve housings like that shown in the Figures are provided as a fluid outlet valves on other types of fluid moving equipment including food dispensers and chemical dispensers.

In addition, in other alternative embodiments within the scope of Claim 1, different types of known valves are provided in the valve chamber.

Therefore, a particularly expedient valve housing is provided which is constructed from a small number of very simple parts, which includes only one 0-ring seal, and requires no integrally formed 0-ring seal slots.

Claims

Claims 1. A valve housing comprising an outer sleeve, a valve frame

disposed in the outer sleeve, and seal means adapted to seal the valve frame to the outer sleeve, in which the valve frame comprises a slot adapted to carry the seal means, in which the valve frame comprises a first member and a second member, and in which the slot is defined by a gap between a part of the first member and a part of the second member.
2. A valve housing as claimed in Claim I in which the first member comprises a cylindrical valve chamber comprising a valve seat at a first end thereof, in which the second member comprises a cap body fitted to a second end of the cylindrical valve chamber and defining an outlet of the valve chamber, and in which a valve member is disposed in the valve chamber.
3. A valve housing as claimed in Claim 2 in which the second member comprises a cylinder portion in which the first member is partially received, in which the first member comprises an outer flange at its first end which is substantially the same diameter as the cylinder portion, and in which said gap is provided between the outer flange and the cylinder portion.
4. A valve housing as claimed in Claim 3 in which the valve member comprises a ball held against the valve seat by a coil spring, in which the coil spring is held in compression inside the valve chamber between the ball and the cap body.
5. A valve housing as claimed in Claim 4 in which the outer sleeve comprises an inner abutment, in which the second member is fixed inside the outer sleeve, and in which the first member is held between the inner abutment and the second member.
6. A valve housing as claimed in Claim 5 in which the seal means is an 0-ring seal.
7. A va$ve housing substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.