IE891192L - Liquid dispensing pump - Google Patents

Description

f>«874 2 This invention rsletss generally to liquid dispensing pumps of th« form disclosed in U>S0 patent 4,046,293, which includes: a putsip body defining <3 pressure isccumulotion cluiabar heving en sxlaUy directed 5 inlet port for communication with e eoucce of floatable product to be diapenaad, end en outlet port at the periphery of the said chamber; £ unitary 3lament including an inlet check valv« controlling the said inlet port end further"including 0g> outlet valve disposed for anial 10 movement in sold chamber from a closed position in which it blocks communication betveen Mid ports to en open position in which is established communication between said ports; fi pump cylinder defining a pump chamber coraiol with the said pressure accumulation chamber and in open 15 communication therewith; a puEilp piston rsciprocable in said cylinder independently of the movement of the acid outlet valve; resilient Eiie&ns noroelly urging the sisid outlet valve toward its closed position; and means for manually reciprocating said piston.

The present invention dims et the provision of a modified form unitary elgiaent which is of simple con- A structiom, bsing aiapjis to faannfeictur® and so aaaembl® with this pump and which rendarei tha pump ocisy to operate whilst exacting a driplsss diechm-gsu c.

The invention is mainly characterised in that thsj 3 said unitary element comprises a thiiubls-sheptd element having at its inner end ti trenaverae end aell including a central portion constituting the sold inlet velve, thi» said wall being formed wish a plurality of elongate 5 openings «at&blishing the open communication between the is©id chambers, end defining thereb9tw@<sst flexible streps which facilitate relative axial shifting of this aeid inlet and outlet tfalvas during « pumping operation.

Some pumps in accordance wish the invention will 10 not? be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 in a vertical sectional view of e dispensing punip according to one embodiment of the invention; Figures 1A and ID fir a sectional views similar to 15 Figure 1 showing details of quick opening and slow opening discharge valves, respectively; Figure 2 is e perspective view of the thimble-csh&ped member according to Figure t; Figures 3, k and 5 are sectional views, similar 20 to Figure 1, of other etabodiim?nts according to the invention, with portions only of the purap b<sin? shown; end Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of yet another dispensing pump according to the invention.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference 25 characters refer to like and corresponding parte throughout the several views, ei liquid dispensing pump in the fores of £i trigger operated spa'aye:? is, according to one embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10 in Figure 1 end includes a pump body 11 defining an inlet pessage 12 30 end tan outlet passage 13° A conventional dip tube 1'i is received within tha inXst passage rand extends into a container (not shown) of product to bis dispensed in a maun or well known in Sha sort* A container c&p 15; having internal threede or other container ssscuremiaHt taeem®, engages an 35 annular l"ig> lS of a circular section of the pump body for 4 mount inf! the sprayer on to the neck of the container, and if desired a seal ring 17 may he disposed between the lower end of the pump body and the upper end of the container nedi.

The pump body further includes a pump cylinder 18 5 having a conical end tr«ll 19 containing an Inlet port 21 in which the Inlet passage terminates. The cylinder aitis liers between and extends at an angle to inlet end outlet passages 12 and 13. The outlet passage 13 expends from an outlet port 22, located in the wall of cylinder lfl, through a nozsle plus? 20 fitted within the pump hody, and terminates in a dischargee orifice located in a nozzle ® cap 23 in engagement "ith the plug. Also, the pump hody is provided with en integral shroud 2'i, which may otherwise be made separately end assembled in place end having 15 a contoured well 25 shaped to fit against the hand when the trigger sprayer its grasped by tha operator.

A unitary, thimble-shaped, valving element 26, shown in more detail in Figure 2, is disposed within cylinder jRs«nd has at one end thereof g conical transverse 20 end wall 2™ substantially corresponding in shape to end wall 19. Well 27 includes a plurality of flexible and extendably-shaped straps 28 vjhich extend from adjacent the apes of the conical end wall to the base and are defined by openings 29 which saoy be of mez9-lik« configuration.

Thus, the tip of wall 27 is capable of cxially shifting relative so the remainder of element 26, end vice versa.

Instead of openings 29 of ths configuration shown, S--shaped, or the like, openings may be provided tn facilitate such relative axial shifting movements, without departing in from the invention.

The central portion of wall 27 constitutes en inlet check valve 31 for controlling inlet port 21, and , straps 28 srs neutrtsl frost a pressure standpoint. A pressure accumulation chamber 32, ehoHB in detail in 35 Figure 1A, is defined between the inner end of eleraent 26 ' (and the confronting surfaces of the pump hody. Thus, th« inlet port is a«sentielly sxially directed et one eKial and of the chamber 32 and the outlet port opens radially from such chasnber at its periphery-5 A ring 33 extends from wall 19 toward element 26, and on annular flange 3% on elaasat 26 adjacent veil 27 constitutes a discharge or outlet valv<s which seiatis) egainst ring 33 in b dischergs cloning position, the flange defining an GiuiuXar groove 3? with the body of 10 element 26 so as to effectively fore) en entsnsion of accumulation chamber 32» An annular flexible lip sisal 36 on element 26 is located adjacent the free end thereof, although mey lie further inwardly toward flange 3*4 if desired, 15 for slideably engaging the inner surface of cylinder 18 in a fluid tight manner.

A pump piston 37 in the form of s thimble or cup-shaped element aatands into velving element 26 and has a flexible, circular shirt 38 adapted for sliding 20 along the inner surface of the veMng element in fluid tight engagement therenfith« The piston thus defines a variable volume pump chamber 39 with element 26 end is in open comisiunitE ration with accumulation chamber 32 via openings 29. Moreover, can annular, flexible skirt or 25 lip ssel 'il on piston 37 surrounds the open end thereof and is slieleeble along the inner aurfacs of cylinder i8 in a fluid tight Giannes- to il$fin« an annulttr chamber therewith, as shown® Thus, cylinder 38 find element 26 define cylinder eaeans Sieving a bora sngas»d by lip seal 30 *5 3 of the piston and & counterbor® engaged by shirt 38 thereof.. A return spring 112 encircles piston sleasnt 37 and extends between flange k% and the outer rita of element 26 for normally urging the outlet valve toward its closing position* Co-operating snap beads on oeal 35 4l and the innes* surface of cylinder 18 may be provided for retaining the piston within the pump hody.

Sprayer 10 further includes a trigger actuator in the form of a lever having a trunnion H to facilitate mounting the lever for pivotal movement about 5 the axis thereof on the pump body. For manual reciprocation of the piston, the lever hes a pair of spaced actuator flanges 45 (only one being shown in Figure 1) apaced apart at outer ends 46 thereof m sufficient dis- ° tance for bearing against outer circular rim 47 of the 10 piston. Alternatively, a rod-like membsr may extend I between the trigger actuator end the end wall of the piston, the rod-like member being integral vith either the piston or the trigger member, or may be separate from both.

A container vent port 48 in located in the lower region of the vail of cylinder l8, outwardly of ths chamber 39 find at least one axially disposed rib 49 is provided in the upper region of the inner surface of cylinder 18 of or flexing seal '#1 radially inwardly uhsvt in 20 contact therevith during inward movement of the piston, so as to define a passage from atmosphere through the open end of the cylinder l8, past the seal '4 1 and through tfsat port 48 to the inside of the container so that dispensed product is replaced with air during the dispensing opera-25 tion.

As shown, vent port 48 is inwardly apaced from seal 4l in both non-pumping end pumping positions of the piston. Also, the vent port 48 inherently functions ea a sump drain port which establishes communication vith the 30 aforementioned annular chamber and the interior of the containero Thus, wish this arrangement, any leakage or product from pump chamber 39 around pits ton @kirt 38 is * purged froa tha annular chamber into the container through port 48, any leakage of product from the coei-35 tainer through port 48 rand outwardly of cylinder 18 is v? prevented, end any abrasion of piston sltiri 38 or lip steal <§1, during pisoping or during asseinbly of the piston 37, are all eivoidsd.

In opsretion, aftsr the pump chnrabas- is privsrad 5 with product to be dieiptinsad, the pie ton ia inwardly reciprocated upon manual cietuetion of the trigger levsc against the force of spring 42 end the anclogied fluid to thereby increase the pressure within the pump chamber, which pressure iiiainteins inl«t check valve Ji closed 10 during the compressing stroke. As the compression force incrttses, ther;: will mnifestly be a progressively increasing fluid pressure within accumulation chamber 32 until such pressure creates ti force on the outer snd surfaces of velving aenbar 26 which extend from the pump 15 chenbor diwaeier outwardly to flangs 3^ sufficient to overcome the opposing force of the spring. This sill result iti saovgiasnt of flange Jh in an axial direction ©way from ring 33 to thereby open the discharge p&ssage wh«r«by th^ contents of chasnber 3? will h® tilscheirgeii 20 under pressure through discharge psssege 33° Such discharge will continue as long eis the pressure within the pump chember is sufficient to overcome the force of the return spring. However, whan the pressure wishin the accumulation chamber is reduced, either by reduced actu-25 citing force on the piston or through approach of the piston to the end of its pressure stroke, so as to produce insufficient force to overcome the return spring, th® spring »ill act to return the outlet valve immediately to its closed position, thereby affording &n abrupt, sharp 30 cutoff of tha discharge to minimise dripping of product frosa the discharge nossls.

Since the outlet vslvs (or flange) 3% nuikos tangential, contact (Figure ZA) vith ring )3, and the outer surface of the discharge vtslv® is radially inwardly spaced 35 from the vail of cylinder 518, a quick acting discharge is 8 effected as soon as this tangential contact is broken.

On the other hend, a modification is shown in Figure IB wherein a flange (or outlet valval 3<sa id out of contact with ring 33 in ths discharge closing 5 position and is instead in fluid tight engagement with the wall of cylinder ifl for covering the outlet ea shown. Thus, the free and of the flange 3^ slideo along the wall of cylinder l8 at a largsr diameter than „ flange 33 until the outlat port 22 is uncovered during lO the opening movement! so as to effect a slow opening discharge. The eforedescribed quick opening and glow * opening discharging is likewise included in the dispensing pump disclosed in U.S. patent do. %tfe02,'a32.

On the (succeeding outward stroke of thy piston 15 under actuation of the return spring, aftsr the closing of the discharge as aforedescribed, the outlet valve will remain seated to prevent hack flow of liquid through the outlet into the accumulation chamber, while the resulting reduced pressure within cherabers 3? end 39 will open 20 inlet valve 31 against the resilience of atrapisi 28, thereby enabling a charge of flowabla product from the container to be dr«m upwardly through the dip tube land ths inlet port into the intercommunicating accumulation pump charsbersj • 23 Outlet valve "jk will remain closed throughout the entire outward stroke of the piston end, at or near the end of such stroke, th® inlet valve «tll be reseated over the inlet port, under the elastic memory action of straps 28 tending to retain the cnnicity of well 27. in 30 preparation for the next ensuing compression stroke of the piston* Reciprocation of the pump piston continue^ for ee » long as is necessary to dispense ths desired amount of product from the container to which the sproyer is Eipplkd, following which th© outlet valve will ba automatically * seated end sealed by action of its return spring, while the inlet valve is urged iimsriiasely to its seated position and retained in such position over the inlet porti by the action of straps 2ft.

Throughout the pumping and dispensing action as oforodeaci-ibsd, lip seal ki will automatically be flMsd, upon inwrd displacement of the piston, by rib 'i9, with the result that each time e charge of flovable product it) delivered through the outlet port to the atmosphere, 10 a vent passage in open communication vith the {atmospheres is established through the clearance space between the seal Vi and the inner veil of cylinder j8» Thus, atmospheric air ssay be drawn into the container through vent port 's8 ea necessary to irsplenicih dispsnasd product. 15 Another embodiment of the liquid dispensing pump or trigger sprayer of the invention is generally indicated SOA in Figure 3 and is constructed in essentially the name manner ee pump 10 except for the venting feature. Hire, an annular lip seal <11 forming a vent 20 valve is loc&ted sufficiently inwardly frota rim 17 of the piston so as to covsr vent port 48 at the end of the piston suction etroko. As in Figure 1, snap beads ore provided on the piston end the ianer wsll of cylinder l8 for retaining the piston within the cylinder, ejtcepi 25 that in Figure 3 e vent passage 5t is defined outwardly of the lip s«b1 between e eiiirt 52 on which the deal ie formed and thg inner surface of cylinder l8„ Thus, when the seel uncovers vent port k8 in the discharge opening position, fittnosphsjric eiir is drawn into the containeir 30 through the open vent pea a tig® and tlva uncovered vent opening .

In Figure 4, 01 liquid dispensing pump generally designated 3OB Is similarly constructed tie the efore-described ombodiEmntni except tor the vetlving J'eatur©,, In 35 addition, valving ©lament 26 hae en inner concentric t 0 sleeve 53 defining on ennuier space with the cylindrical wall of the vslving ©lament for the reception of the return spring k2 and having an inner cylindrical wall along which pieto.'. okirt 38 slidingly and sealingly 5 engages. Volving element 26 is siftsndsd for engagement by meant* of ito annular flange 5% with the outer end of cylinder l8 in the discharge closing position. This is a fluid tight engagement since valving element 26 also functions as a vent valve in this embodiment. Tha 10 skirt 4l of the piston slides along the inner surface of the valving element in a fluid tight manner during the pumping operation.

To facilitate venting, element 26 has & smaller outer diameter relative to the inner dienetgr of cylinder 15 l8 between the vent valva and outlet valve 3*i so a is to define en annulus 55° At least one axieilly extending groove 56 is provided in the vail of cylinder 18 between this annulus end flange 54. Thus, in the discharge opening position? valve 3% shifts outwardly ass in the other 20 embodiments described above as does the out@r annular wall of the velving element th©raby t a causing flange 5«l to shift outwssdly to defies an ©£>an vent pa68ege Ssosa the atmogpha'te to the contains vie oj>an gsoov® 5$, annulus 55 and tha conteinas vent which is now tancovetnsd.

A further embodiment, of the invention is shown 5 in figus® 5 as a liquid dispensing pusap J.0C which ia essentially the same as that of Figure 1 except that the piston and valving Member estes are pasellal to the flischesrge piassags 13 y at bar then estsndinc; at en angle between the inlet and 4 discharge passages es befoce, Also, end well 19c of the pimp 10 body, and wall 27c of delving element 2ScP ana tha piston head oS piston 37cc ss« all Slat and substantially passl!®! to one another, as shown, so as to lis pegpendicu&ae to th® corawon axes t)i the cylinder, end the welving and piston elements. Otheru&se, the operation o£ the pusip is essentially th«> sesie as IS that descsibefl"in detail ®ith ssJeganes &o Pi^uee 1. Hhils only © section of this diaipanainf pump 10C is shown, it should be noted that a portion of shroufi 2$ is seel®d against the ugjpas end oi the passage which terBiinatas in outlet po^i; 32 bo as to a&oid leakage,, Still anothee <ssabofiisaeMt of the (sprayer according to the Invention is geneeali^ tiesignbtsd SO0 in j?igus® $, and sis similar to sprayer X0& o& Piguew 3 segagfiiag the venting geeturs,, a©M©weg{, unlike the foregoing , sHibo^ifasnta? fcKlgges aprayeg X0D has © piston S"i& with sto sliiut os lip seal 3® s<> that fehs ^oltisne ot parap ehssaber 38 is 0 enlarged ao product additionally fills the annular space baewaan cylinder 18 &nfi eh® piston. &adf although ^ai^ing element 23 is the earns as that of the Figure 3 pump.

H 2 only the inlet valve portion 31 thereof functions the seae as in Figure 3. Otherwise, waiving eltmsnt 2S of Figure $ has no eccumulator function or effect. Flange 3'3 of the waiving element seals against ring 33 under the force of spring 42 but 3 cannot be dislodged fro® this reeling position contrary to the aforedescribed sprayers. Since the piston operates within cylinder 18 which functions as a pump cylinder, rother than within the waiving element which functions as a pump cylinder in the foregoing embodiments, lip seal 33 of the waiving 10 element functions as a discharge valve in the Figure 5 embodiment in response to an increase in hydraulic pressure vithin the pump chamber during the compression stroke ao as to flan radially inwardly away from the inner wall of cylinder 16 for opening the discharge, while remaining closed at all other 15 times. Thus, by (3imply removing piston skirt 38, sprayer 10& of the pressure accumulating type is converted into a sprayer 10D of the throttling type in &hich lip 3sal 36 /unctions as a circular bunsen valve in the discharge path vhich opens from hydraulic pressure within the pumping bore during the piston 30 compression afccoke, and remains closed (Suelag she piston suction atirofiSo All other parta of the npeayee are thus interchangeable with the parts of sprayer 10;%, although sprayer 109 has approximately double the spraying capacity conpared to the other Dprayees described above. Also, esigger &®var 43 ie 25 preferably longee to provide a higher atsangth £or ef£eceing an increased leverage and stEoSte = 13 Although the venting feature of oprayer JOB is «hown oirailar to that of sprayer 10A, the venting gesture ©g the Figure 1 sprayer could be adopted without departing from the invention and, if desired? the cylinder, valuing element end 5 piston of Fig. 6 could lie parallel to the discharge passage as in Pig. 5.

Each of ehs trigger sprayer embodiments of the invention has shipping ae&ls for the went passage as well as for the inlet and outlet ports which are sutonifct Acelly 10 self-closing when the pump is at rest and between dispensing strokes* Jhn&, each of the sprayers is adopted for fabrication from a mieiisauni number of parts using a Qiiniraura number of assembly operations, he noted above, shroud 2«l may be integrally fabricated with the remainder of the pump body. IS also, m aossls"plug SO can foe simply inserted in place together vith the triages lewer, end aossla cap 23 is aniapped or threaded Into place. »>ip fcabe 14 is conventional, and the piston, waiving element and 'return spring are capable of being assembled as a seb-assemblw and inserted within the bore of 30 cylinder 18. and, the cylindrical connecting portion of th® pump body and the internally threaded closure cap aoy be peesaanentijf attached together as in the mannaf: disclosed in U.S. patent 4,361,256.

The ^uicfe opening and alow opening discharge walwes 25 described with reference to Pigurs 1 apply equally as well to the Figures ii„ «l and 5 embodiments„ And, straps 28, which 9 41 interconnect the inlet valve at the tip of wall 27 of the vial ving saembsr and the base of this well, shown in detail in Figure 2, see similarly arranged in the waiving elements of the Figures 3, 4 and 6 embodiments, as veil es in the Figure 5 embodiment eacept that wall 27c is flat rether then conical therein, k central portion of this fall 27c nevertheless functions as an inlet valve, ftnd, straps 28 are neutral from a pressure standpoint and flange 34, together with annular groove 35, define an accumulation chamber of appreciably larger diameter than the pump chamber such that, as the compression force of the piston continues, there will be a progressively increasing fluid pressure within the accumulation chamber until such pressure creates an outward force in an antifel direction causing the side wall of the valving element to ahift outwardly relative to inlet waive 31 which remains neated during the influence aS iacrsessd pressure within eh® putap chamber and against the inlet valve. The straps parmit wall 27 or 27£ to flan and to resume its initial position during she discharge valve opening and closing operations, although a plurality of such straps ass illustrated, it should bs pointed out that as fay fsa two streps stay be provided without deporting front the invention. Moreover; the streps may b® shaped oah^r than ishown, so long as they are extendable between tip and teiase of vail 27 to SRcllttesta seletiw® Mial shifting during the pumping operation as in the manner aforedescribed- i s And, by simply providing a piston atesnber withoue a piston akirt 30, a aprayes: of the pressure accumulating &yps can be sesily converted into & sprayof the throttl® type having en Increased pump capacity. 16

Claims (4)

CLAIMS:

1. A liquid dispensing pump which includes: a pump body defining a pressure occumulation chamber having an axially directed inlet port for 5 communication vith a source of flowable product to be dispensed, and an outlet port at the periphery of the said chamber; m unitary element including en inlet checK valve controlling the said inlet port and further including an outlet valve disposed for 10 axial movement in said chamber from a closed position in which it bloctcs communication between said porta to an open position in which is established communication between said ports-, a pump cylinder defining a pump chamber coaxial with the said pressure accumu- 15 lation chamber and in open communication therewith; ta pump piston reciprocable in said cylinder independ ently of the movement of the aciid outlet valve; resilient meanti normally urging the said outlet valve toward its closed position; and means for 20 manually reciprocating said piston; the said unitary clement comprising a thimble-shaped element having at its inner end a transverse end wall including a central portion constituting the said inlet valve, the said wall being formed 25 with a plurality of elongate openings establishing the open communication between the said chambers, and defining therebetween flexible straps which facilitate reletive axial shifting of the said inlet and outlet valves during a pumping opera— 30 tion.

2. A liquid dispensing pump according to claim 1, wherein the said resilient means comprises a coil opting cncircling the said piston and a? compressed tiitially between the piston and the unitary element.

3« A liquid dispensing pump accordins *° claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump body includes 5 mutually perpendicular inlst end outlet potsoages respectively t ermine ting in soid inlsi end outkt ports, the axis of said unitary element and eeid piston extending at en angle to both p£BS»|!9iS| or pai-allsl »tth the outlet pa3saga. 10 l|. A liquid dispensing pump according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pump body has & cylindrical wall including £1 vans passage to astabliish communication between ei container to which the pump is applied and the atmosphere, either the piston or she unitary element 15 having a vent seal in engagement vith the cylindrical wall for opening and cloning the v$nt passage. 5, A liquid dispensing pump according to any one of claims 1 to %, wherein the said pressure eccuiaul&tion chamber is defined by the inner end of 20 the said unitary element and a confronting end wall of the chambor, th« seid purap body including on ennulei* ring, and the said unitary elemant hav ing en annular groove bounding amid outlet velvs in the form of tin annular valve flnnge, ths seid unitary 25 element being in oiaaling »ith said pump body outwardly of the aaid outlet port, and the said veslve flange engaging only the said ring in the closed position of the outlet valve bo aa to operate eo a quick acting outlet valvs. 30 60 A liquid dispensing pump according to any ons of claims 1 to 'l, wherein the said pressure accumulation chamber is de?insd by the inner and of the said unitary slement and b confronting wall of she chamber, and the said unitary element has an 35 annulfcr groove defining said outlet velv® in tha foria of i»n gnnulfif valve fl&ngc, g&id pump body having a cylindrical »bU containing aaid outlet port# the said valve flange engaging the said cylindrical vail inwardly of the outlet port in th® 4 0 closed position ot the outlet valve and op®r<st«ng em a slow acting outlet valveo 1 8

7. A manually actuated dispensing pump comprising a pump body for mounting with a closure cap at the upper end of a container for fluent product, the pump body comprising a pump cylinder open at its outer 5 end to atmosphere and defining within which is provided at its inner end region, a pump chamber for a manually reciprocable piston, the cylinder having in its lower region a vent port t positioned outwardly of the chamber and in 10 permanent open communication with the interior of the container, the pump further * comprising a thimble shaped valving element which is axially reciprocable within the pump cylinder in response to differences between pump pressure 15 acting on the element and an opposing spring force, the said piston being received in the said element to define a pump chamber, the valving element and cylinder defining between them a pressure accumulation chamber in open communica- 20 tion with the pump chamber, the valving element engaging Luc i.nm>r surface of the cy.l inder and having a flange engaging the outer end of the cylinder in a rest position of the piston, and the cylinder being formed adjacent its 25 outer end, in its inner surface, with a vent passage 36*1 the valving element being formed in its outer surface with vent means, outward axial movement of the valving element during pumping acting to disengage the flange from the pump cylinder 30 and to permit the free flow of air between atmosphere and the interior of the container through the vent passage, vent means and vent port. "• J 519 8, A pump according to claim 7, wherein said vent passage comprises a groove.

9. A pump according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said vent means comprises an annulus. 5 10. A liquid dispensing pump according to claim I, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. II. A manually actuated dispensing pump according 10 to claim 7, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this the 13th day of April 1939 F.R. KELLY & CO. BY: /WuW&i EXECUTIVE r ifTi 27 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin

4. AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANT i I ■i