GB2494274A - Normally-Closed Valve with Elastomeric Spring - Google Patents
Normally-Closed Valve with Elastomeric Spring Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2494274A GB2494274A GB1215170.0A GB201215170A GB2494274A GB 2494274 A GB2494274 A GB 2494274A GB 201215170 A GB201215170 A GB 201215170A GB 2494274 A GB2494274 A GB 2494274A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- stem
- normally
- text
- closed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 58
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 229920005549 butyl rubber Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 229920001084 poly(chloroprene) Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920002449 FKM Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 244000043261 Hevea brasiliensis Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003052 natural elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001194 natural rubber Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003051 synthetic elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000005061 synthetic rubber Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002781 deodorant agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000825 pharmaceutical preparation Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229940127557 pharmaceutical product Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002537 cosmetic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009969 flowable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920002313 fluoropolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004811 fluoropolymer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008266 hair spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229940127554 medical product Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000008194 pharmaceutical composition Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
- B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices
- B65D83/48—Lift valves, e.g. operated by push action
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
- B65D47/24—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat
- B65D47/248—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by imparting a motion to the valve stem
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
- B65D47/24—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
- B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K17/00—Safety valves; Equalising valves, e.g. pressure relief valves
- F16K17/02—Safety valves; Equalising valves, e.g. pressure relief valves opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side
- F16K17/04—Safety valves; Equalising valves, e.g. pressure relief valves opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side spring-loaded
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
- B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
- B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
- B05B11/1042—Components or details
- B05B11/1073—Springs
- B05B11/1077—Springs characterised by a particular shape or material
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
- Nozzles (AREA)
Abstract
A normally-closed valve comprises a valve housing 315 ( the valve member formed of an upper and lower portion 3113, 3116) with a cavity 390, in which is an elastomeric spring 318. The spring may be formed of one of the following; rubber (natural or synthetic), Viton®, butyl rubber, silicone or neoprene. The upper portion 3113 comprises a stem portion 311, through which there extends a passageway 3112 for dispensing material. When the valve is actuated the elastomeric spring 318 is compressed, allowing the upper and lower portions (3113, 3116) of the valve to move downwards. The stem inlet 3114 passes through the stem-sealing gasket 313 and the stem inlet 3114 enters the cavity 390, allowing material to be dispensed via the inlet hole 400 at the base of the valve. A through channel may be present through the elastomeric spring 318 to act as a path for material to be dispensed from below the valve to the stem passageway 3112. The spring 318 may be formed of the same material as the stem-sealing gasket 313.
Description
Normally-Closed Valve The invention relates to a normally-closed valve for dispensing a dispensable material, for example for dispensing a pressurised liquid, gas, or other flowable s material.
Background
Normally-closed valves are valves having a default position in which the valve is closed. Such valves are opened on application of an actuating force and automatically close again when such actuation force is removed. A common form of normally-closed valve is an aerosol valve.
Normally-closed valves are of particular use in the delivery of material that is maintained under pressure. For example, aerosol canisters are used extensively to deliver a large number of products such as cosmetic, pharmaceutical products, cleaning products, technical products, hairsprays and deodorants.
In typical use a dispensable or deliverable product is packed into a metal can and a normally-closed valve is crimped onto the can. The normally-closed valve is typically coupled to an actuator, which when depressed opens the valve allowing the product to be discharged, either as a spray or a jet of liquid.
The product is maintained under pressure such that it is dispensed when the normally-closed valve is opened. The pressurising means is usually a liquefied gas or a permanent gas such as nitrogen.
Pressurising gas and the dispensable product are sometimes mixed in the same compartment, for example in the delivery of some medical products or deodorants. Alternatively, the pressuring gas and deliverable product may be maintained separately in one or more flexible bags, or may be kept apart by a piston. These types of devices are called barrier packs.
A normally-closed valve, for example an aerosol valve, may be used to control flow from a pressurised pack or canister. All normally-closed valves have a spring that urges the valve towards a closed state. This spring is typically a metallic spring, usually a stainless steel spring. Not all products that may be dispensed through a normally-closed valve can be maintained in contact with a metallic spring. Some products may degrade in contact with a metallic spring.
Therefore some suppliers offer normally-closed valves that are closed by s means of plastic springs. Such plastic springs may suffer, however, from being difficult to manufacture and/or from lacking in robustness.
Summary of Invention
The invention provides a normally-closed valve according to the appended independent claim to which reference should now be made. Preferred and/or advantageous features of the invention are set out in the dependent sub-claims.
In its broadest sense the invention may be defined as a normally-closed valve comprising a spring formed from an elastomeric material.
The invention may provide a normally-closed valve for dispensing a dispensable material comprising a valve housing detining a valve cavity, a valve stem defining a stem passageway and a stem inlet, the stem inlet extending through a wall of the valve stem and connecting with the stem passageway, a stem sealing gasket, and an elastomeric spring. The elastomeric spring is seated within the valve cavity and, when the normally-closed valve is assembled, acts to urge the valve stem towards the stem-sealing gasket. The valve stem may comprise a shoulder or ridge that engages with the stern-sealing gasket when the valve stem is urged towards the gasket. When the valve stem is in a position in which it is urged towards the stem-sealing gasket by the elastomeric spring, the stem inlet is sealed off from the dispensable material and the valve is, therefore, closed. That is, the dispensable material is prevented from entering the stem inlet by means of the stem-sealing gasket.
The normally-closed valve is openable by movement of the valve stem away from the stem-sealing gasket against the action of the elastomeric spring. This action moves the stem inlet into a position in which it is in communication with the dispensable material and the dispensable material is, therefore, able to pass through the stem inlet and into the stem passageway.
There are a large number of elastomeric materials that may be suitable for use s as a spring in such a normally-closed valve. For example the elastomeric spring may be made from a rubber material, for example a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber. It is preferable that the elastomeric spring does not react with the dispensable material. The skilled person would be able to select a suitable elastomeric material for forming the elastomeric spring that does not substantially react with the desired dispensable material.
Particularly preferred elastomeric materials for forming the elastomeric spring may be selected from the group comprising Viton®, butyl rubber, silicone, or neoprene -While a plastic spring (as known in the prior art) may be subject to deformation after heavy use, or may be unsuitable for heavy-duty use, an elastomeric spring may be more robust. Its preferred that the elastomeric spring takes the form of a solid block of elastomeric material, for example a cylindrical block of elastomeric material. Such a block of material would, in the assembled valve, be in a slightly compressed condition thereby urging the valve stem against the stem-sealing gasket. As the valve stem is moved away from the stem-sealing gasket during actuation of the valve, the elastomeric material is further compressed and deformed. When the actuation force is removed the elastomeric spring regain its shape and thereby urge the valve stem once more towards the stem-sealing gasket, closing the valve.
A solid block of elastomeric material may require a high force to deflect sufficiently to open the valve. This high actuation force may be too great for some applications. Therefore, it may be advantageous that the elastomeric material is in the form of a block of material containing one or more internal cavities. For example the elastomeric spring may be in the form of a hollow cylinder of elastomeric material. Alternatively, the elastomeric spring may be in the form of a three-dimensional shape, such as a cylinder, having an interior formed from a foam. That is the outer surface of the spring should present a single solid surface and the internal portion of the elastomeric spring may be a foam.
One advantage of the use of an elastomeric material as a spring in a normally-s closed valve is the reduction of dead-volume in the valve. In a conventional normally-closed valve! for example an aerosol valve, the metallic or plastic spring used to bias the valve toward a closed position is located in a cavity.
However the spring does not take up a high proportion of the cavity. For example, a helical spring may only take up 10 to 15% of the volume of a cavity io in a valve housing. The remaining volume is effectively dead-volume, i.e. volume that a dispensable material can pass into but cannot be delivered from.
Where the dispensable material is a high value material, for example a pharmaceutical product, it may be desirable for the dead-volume within a normally-closed valve to be reduced as much as possible.
An elastomeric spring may fill a considerably greater proportion of a cavity within a valve housing. For example, a spring formed from a block of an elastomeric material, whether a solid block or a hollow block, may occupy more than 80% of the volume of the valve cavity and preferably more than 85 or 90% of the valve cavity. Thus, the dead volume may reduce to less than 20% of the volume of the valve cavity and preferably less than 15 or less than 10% of the volume of the valve cavity. Accordingly, a greater volume of the dispensable material may be dispensed using such a valve.
When a normally-closed valve is actuated to open the valve, communication needs to be provided between the valve stem inlet and a dispensable material.
Thus, it is required that there is a passage linking the stem inlet and the dispensable material contained in a can or bag coupled to the valve. In the case of a typical valve comprising a metallic or a plastic spring the dispensable material simply flows over the spring through the valve cavity to reach the stem inlet. Although an elastomeric spring takes up a greater volume of the valve cavity, in many cases the dispensable material may simply flow around the edges of the spring. As an alternative, channels may be defined in the walls of the valve cavity in order to provide a passage for the dispensable material through the valve cavity towards the stem inlet.
It may be advantageous that the elastomeric spring comprises one or more channels defined through the elastomeric spring itsetf for the passage of dispensable material. Thus, the elastomeric spring may comprise a channel s defined through the spring itself that allows passage of a dispensable material from a bag or can coupled to the valve towards the stem inlet when the valve is actuated. The use of such a channel or passageway may further minimise the dead volume taken up by the valve as the elastomeric spring may then substantially fill the cavity in the housing.
Where the dispensable material is sensitive to degradation it is desirable to maintain the material in contact with as few different materials as possible.
Each additional material that is stored in contact with the dispensable material may provide its own set of reactions and problems. The normally-closed valve requires a gasket to seal the stem inlet from the dispensable material when the valve is in its closed position. Such a gasket is typically formed from an elastomeric material. Advantageously therefore, the elastomeric spring may be manufactured from the same material that forms the stem-sealing gasket.
This reduces the number of different materials that are in contact with the dispensable material during storage and may, therefore, improve storage of certain materials. Where the dispensable material is a medicament such as a pharmaceutical composition it is preferred that the elastomeric spring and the valve-sealing gasket are formed from the same type of elastomeric material.
Specific Embodiments of the Invention For any or all elastomeric components of the valve, a coated or laminated elastomeric material may be used. For example, the spring or gasket may be made from an elastomeric material coated with a fluoropolymer, or other such coating, to reduce interaction of extractable components of the elastomeric material and a dispensable product.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures in which; Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of a standard (prior alt) normally-closed valve in allowing a product to be dispensed from a can, Figures 2 and 3 are cross sectional diagrams illustrating the operation of a s standard (prior ad) aerosol valve, Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional diagrams illustrating the operation of a normally-closed valve according to an embodiment of the invention, io Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of a normally-closed valve according to an embodiment of the invention for the delivery of a substance contained within a collapsible bellows, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of a normally-closed valve according to an embodiment of the invention for the delivery of a substance contained within a collapsible bellows.
Figure 1 illustrates a typical use for a normally-closed valve 10 for delivering a substance contained within a can or canister. The normally-closed valve 10 is coupled to a crimping cup 20 and this crimping cup 20 is crimped to a metallic can 30. A gasket 40 is disposed between the crimping cup 20 and the can 30 to effect a seal. The valve itself 10 comprises a valve stem 11 defining a passageway 12 for delivery of a substance 50 contained within the can 30.
The valve 10 also comprises a valve housing 15, which in use is disposed within the can 30. The valve housing 15 is coupled to a dip tube 60, which enable the product 50 to be dispensed from the can 30 when the can is arranged in an upright position. The contents 50 of the can 30 are maintained under pressure by a gas contained within the can. When the valve is actuated by depressing the valve stem 11 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1, the valve is opened and the contents 50 are dispensed via the valve passageway 12. The valve is maintained in its closed position by a helical spring 18.
The operation of a typical normally-closed valve is shown in more detail by Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 illustrates the detail of a standard aerosol type valve having a housing 115 locating a helical metallic spring 118. The helical spring 118 urges a valve stem 111 towards a stem-sealing gasket 113. A shoulder 1110 of the valve stem 111 is urged into a sealing engagement with the stem-sealing gasket 113. The valve housing 115 is coupled to a crimping s cup 120. Figures 2 and 3 also show an outer gasket 140 that is used to obtain a seal when the crimping cup 120 is crimped to a metallic can. A lower portion 1116 of the valve stem 111 is located below the stem-sealing gasket 113 and is shaped to engage with the helical spring 118. An upper portion 1113 of the stem 111 extends upwardly above the stem-sealing gasket 113 and defines a stem passageway 1112 through which a material can pass out of the valve. A stem inlet 1114 is defined through a wall of the upper portion 1113 of the stem 111 and opens into the stem passageway 1112. The spring 118 and the lower portion 1112 of the stem are located within a cavity 190 of the housing 115. An inlet hole 200 defined through a lower portion of the housing 115 allows communication between the cavity 190 and the contents of a can or bag attached to a lower portion of the valve. Material to be dispensed may, therefore, enter the cavity 190 through the inlet hole 200 and come into contact with the stem 111 and the helical spring 118.
In a closed position, the stem inlet 1114 is sealed from the cavity 190 and, therefore, sealed from any dispensable material located in the cavity.
The diameter of the upper portion 1113 of the stem 111 is typically 3 to 4 mm in many commercially available normally closed valves. The free space or dead volume remaining in the cavity 190 (i.e. free space not taken up by the valve stem or the helical spring) is typically in the order of 120 to 200 mm3, or even more.
In order to open the valve the stem 111 is depressed against the action of the helical spring 118 and the stem inlet 1114 is positioned below the stem-sealing gasket 113 where it is able to communicate with the cavity 190. Material within the cavity 190 is then able to pass through the stem inlet 114 and thereby through the stem passageway 1112 to be delivered.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the construction and operation of a normally-closed valve according to an embodiment of the invention. The construction of the valve is similar to that described in relation to Figures 2 and 3 and operates in the same manner. The valve consists of a valve stem 311 having an upper s portion 3113 and a lower portion 3116. The valve stem 311 defines a valve passageway 3112 and a stem inlet 3114. The stem 311 is urged into a sealing engagement with a stem-sealing gasket 313 such that the stem inlet 3114 is sealed from communication with any material to be dispensed. The lower portion 3116 of the stem 311 is located within a valve housing 315 defining a cavity 390 and an inlet hole 400 for allowing passage of a material contained in a can or bag attached to the valve to pass into the cavity 390. The stem 311 is urged into the sealing engagement with the gasket 313 by means of a cylindrical butyl rubber spring 318 located within the cavity 390 of the housing 315.
The free space or dead space within the cavity 390 (i.e. the remaining space not taken up by the valve stem or the rubber spring 318) is typically less than a third or less than a quarter of the tree space in an equivalent sized valve comprising a helical spring.
Actuation of the valve is illustrated in Figure 5. As the stem 311 is depressed the butyl rubber spring is deformed and the stem inlet 3114 is brought into communication with the cavity 390. Thus, any dispensable material within the cavity may pass through the stem inlet and thereby out of the valve. On releasing the force depressing the valve stem 311, the butyl rubber spring regains its original shape and, once more, urges the valve stem into sealing engagement with the stem-sealing gasket 313 to close the valve.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 both the elastomeric spring 318 and the stem-sealing gasket 313 are formed from the same butyl rubber material.
Figure 6 illustrates a use of a normally-closed valve as described in relation to Figures 4 and 5. The valve housing 315 is coupled to a collapsible container s 450 containing a deliverable solution. The inlet hole 400 of the valve housing 315 is disposed within the collapsible container 450 so that the contents of the collapsible container may pass into the cavity 390 of the valve. The collapsible container 450 is maintained under pressure, for exampte by a gas pressure or by engagement with a spring or plunger such that, when the normally-closed valve is actuated and the butyl rubber spring 380 is depressed the contents of the collapsible chamber are forced through the valve and out through the stem passageway 3112.
Figure 7 illustrates the use of an alternative embodiment of a normally-closed io valve. The valve and bag illustrated in Figure 7 are similar to that illustrated in Figure 6 with the difference that the elastomeric spring 780 is formed from a cylinder of butyl rubber having an internal cavity 781. The internal cavity 781 is not in communication with the external environment. The presence of the internal cavity 781 in the elastomeric spring 780 may improve the spring's ability to collapse and, therefore, lower the force required to activate the normally-closed valve.
Claims (1)
- <claim-text>CLAIMS1. A normally-closed valve for dispensing a dispensable material comprising,Sa valve housing defining a valve cavity, a valve stem defining a stem passageway and a stem inlet, the stem inlet extending through a wall of the valve stem and connecting with the stem passageway, io a stem-sealing gasket, and an elastomeric spring, in which the elastomeric spring is seated within the valve cavity urging the valve stem towards the stem-sealing gasket such that the stem inlet is sealed from the dispensable material and the valve is closed, the valve being openable by movement of the valve stem away from the stem-sealing gasket against the bias of the elastomeric spring in order to allow the dispensable material access to the stem inlet.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A normally-closed valve as defined in claim 1 in which the elastomeric spring is made from a rubber material, for example natural rubber or a synthetic rubber.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A normally-closed valve according to claim 1 in which the elastomeric material is a material selected from the group comprising Viton®, Butyl rubber, Silicone, or Neoprene.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A normally-closed valve according to any preceding claim in which the elastomeric spring is in the form of a solid block of elastomeric material, for example a substantially cylindrical block of elastomeric material.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A normally-closed valve according to any of claims 1, 2, or 3, in which the elastomeric material is in the form of a block of material containing one or more internal cavities, for example a hollow block of elastomeric material or a closed foam.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A normally-closed valve according to claim 4 or 5 in which a through-channel is defined through the elastomeric spring in order to allow passage of the dispensable material through the elastomeric spring.S</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A normally-closed valve according to any preceding claim in which the elastomeric spring is made from the same material as the stem-sealing gasket.io 8. A normally-closed valve according to any preceding claim which is an aerosol valve having an elastomeric spring.9. A normally-closed valve according to any preceding claim in which the dispensable material is a medicament.10. A normally-closed valve according to any preceding claim in which the free space remaining in the valve cavity when the elastomeric spring is seated is less than 20 % of the volume of the valve cavity, preferably less than 15% or less than 10% of the volume of the valve cavity.11. A normally-closed valve according to any preceding claim in which the elastomeric spring occupies more than 80 % of the volume of the valve cavity, preferably more than 85 % or more than 90 % of the valve cavity.12. A normally-closed valve according to any preceding claim in which the free space remaining in the valve cavity when the elastomeric spring is seated is less than 50 mm3, preferable less than 45 mm3, or less than mm3.</claim-text>
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB1114960.6A GB201114960D0 (en) | 2011-08-27 | 2011-08-27 | Aerosol Value |
| GBGB1116792.1A GB201116792D0 (en) | 2011-09-29 | 2011-09-29 | Normally-closed valve |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201215170D0 GB201215170D0 (en) | 2012-10-10 |
| GB2494274A true GB2494274A (en) | 2013-03-06 |
Family
ID=47045399
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1215170.0A Withdrawn GB2494274A (en) | 2011-08-27 | 2012-08-24 | Normally-Closed Valve with Elastomeric Spring |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2494274A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2021190714A1 (en) * | 2020-03-25 | 2021-09-30 | Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh | Actuator assembly for an electromagnetically actuatable valve |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1042500A (en) * | 1961-10-25 | 1966-09-14 | Margot Von Linsingen | Pressure-relief valve |
| US3610481A (en) * | 1969-05-27 | 1971-10-05 | Leonard L Marraffino | Two-fluid aerosol dispenser with internal collapsible secondary fluid container |
| US3796352A (en) * | 1971-04-08 | 1974-03-12 | Oreal | Valve for dispensing one or more pressurized fluids |
| US5447257A (en) * | 1994-01-14 | 1995-09-05 | Dark; Richard C. G. | Valve trumpet spring and seal |
| WO1996035627A1 (en) * | 1995-05-09 | 1996-11-14 | Ecopak Naamloze Vennootschap | Distributor for a product under pressure and valve designed for it |
| GB2300674B (en) * | 1995-05-11 | 1997-04-30 | Oreal | An improved valve for a device for packaging and dispensing a substance stored under pressure, a device fitted therewith,and a method of manufacture |
| US20070065321A1 (en) * | 2005-09-21 | 2007-03-22 | Durham Kevin P | Elastomeric reciprocating compressor valve spring |
-
2012
- 2012-08-24 GB GB1215170.0A patent/GB2494274A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1042500A (en) * | 1961-10-25 | 1966-09-14 | Margot Von Linsingen | Pressure-relief valve |
| US3610481A (en) * | 1969-05-27 | 1971-10-05 | Leonard L Marraffino | Two-fluid aerosol dispenser with internal collapsible secondary fluid container |
| US3796352A (en) * | 1971-04-08 | 1974-03-12 | Oreal | Valve for dispensing one or more pressurized fluids |
| US5447257A (en) * | 1994-01-14 | 1995-09-05 | Dark; Richard C. G. | Valve trumpet spring and seal |
| WO1996035627A1 (en) * | 1995-05-09 | 1996-11-14 | Ecopak Naamloze Vennootschap | Distributor for a product under pressure and valve designed for it |
| GB2300674B (en) * | 1995-05-11 | 1997-04-30 | Oreal | An improved valve for a device for packaging and dispensing a substance stored under pressure, a device fitted therewith,and a method of manufacture |
| US20070065321A1 (en) * | 2005-09-21 | 2007-03-22 | Durham Kevin P | Elastomeric reciprocating compressor valve spring |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2021190714A1 (en) * | 2020-03-25 | 2021-09-30 | Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh | Actuator assembly for an electromagnetically actuatable valve |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201215170D0 (en) | 2012-10-10 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |