MXPA00001739A - Coolant container cap assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A coolant container cap assembly (10) for use with a coolant container having first and second sealing ridges (114, 142). The cap assembly (10) comprises an exterior cover for removeably securing the cap assembly (10) to the container (12). A valve housing (50) member is rotatably secured to the cover and has a lower housing portion (58) and an upper housing portion (56). A first sealing gasket (112) is mounted to the lower housing portion (58) for selectively engaging and sealing the cap assembly (10) with the first sealing ridge (112) of the container (12). A second sealing gasket (140) is mounted to the upper housing portion (56) for selectively engaging and sealing the cap assembly (10) with the second sealing ridge (142) of the container (12). The assembly is characterized by an adjustment device mounted to the upper housing (56). The adjustment device (70) allows relative movement of the first sealing gasket (112) with respect to the second gasket (140). Specifically, the adjustment device (70) permits the first sealinggasket (112) to detach from the first sealing ridge (114) of the container (12) while maintaining the sealing engagement of the second sealing gasket (140) with the second sealing ridge (142) of the container (12).

Description

COVER ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERANT CONTAINER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lid assembly for refrigerant container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cap assembly having at least two sealings which move together to allow the pressurized fluid to escape into a container for the vapor before the cap assembly is removed. of a container.

Background of the Invention Modern, liquid-cooled internal combustion engines incorporate sealed radiators coupled to the engines to dissipate the heat generated by the engine. When the refrigerant fluid passes through the radiator, the heat is emitted to the environment. Typically, the sealed radiator will include a separate coolant container to fill the radiator and capture any overflow of fluid from the radiator. These refrigerant containers are already Rf3.3875) known in the art as expansion bottles or compensation chambers. The covers for the refrigerant container are designed for coupling with a neck portion of the refrigerant container and perform various specific functions. The primary function is to provide a seal for the fluid inside the coolant container and the radiator. Another typical function of the refrigerant container lid is to maintain a predetermined pressure within the refrigerant / radiator container assembly. This is usually effected by means of a valve and seal assembly located within the lid. During normal engine operations, the valve and seal assembly is closed to prevent the fluid from escaping from the radiator and the coolant container. A certain amount of pressure accumulated within the radiator and the coolant container is desirable for efficient operation of the radiator. Therefore, the cap must maintain a proper seal between the radiator and the atmosphere. However, when the pressure inside the radiator and the refrigerant container reaches a predetermined superatmospheric level, a valve plate snap valve of the valve assembly and seal automatically opens to release the pressure inside the refrigerant container and to prevent excess accumulation of pressure. Excess fluid flows to the expansion bottle or compensation chamber. When the pressure inside the tank is reduced to a predetermined subatmospheric level, a vacuum plate valve of the valve and seal assembly opens to allow fluid to pass into the coolant container and equalize the pressure in the radiator. Valve and seal assembly is required to prevent dangerous build-up of pressure inside the radiator. As described above, a certain amount of fluid pressure inside the radiator and the coolant container is required for the efficient operation of the engine. When the engine is not operating and the engine and radiator have cooled to an atmospheric temperature, the pressure inside the radiator and the coolant container becomes negligible. However, if a user tries to remove the lid while the radiator and coolant container are still pressurized, then there could be significant damage to the user's face and / or body. The previous technique has contemplated a solution to this potentially dangerous problem. The Patent of the United States of America 4,767,390 contemplates the actuation of a valve and seal assembly just before the lid is removed from a pressurized tank. Therefore, the pressure will be released through the valve assembly and sealed and directed away from the user. This solution, however, has several shortcomings. One such deficiency is the complexity of the cap which uses a type of cap to actuate the valve assembly and seal when the cap is rotated. Another deficiency is the frequent use of valve assembly and sealing, that is, each time the lid is removed. This frequent use can reduce the effective operating life of the lid. Another solution contemplated by the prior art is described in French Patent No. 2 626 619. French Patent 619 discloses a valve and seal assembly for a cap which has a pair of sealing gaskets. The pair of sealing gaskets is engaged and sealed against a pair of seats within an opening in a coolant container. This design does not offer an improved sealing performance. However, both seals are released simultaneously which could cause fuel vapors to escape unexpectedly from the opening and injure the user.

Brief Description of the Invention and Advantages The present invention is a cover assembly for a refrigerant container for use with a refrigerant container having first and second sealing projections. The lid assembly comprises an outer cover for releasably securing or securing the lid assembly to the container. A valve housing member is fixed or secured to the cover and has a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion. A first seal is mounted to the lower housing portion for selectively coupling and sealing the lid assembly with the first sealing lip of the container. A second seal is mounted to the upper housing portion to selectively couple and seal the lid assembly with the second sealing lip of the container. The assembly is characterized by an adjustment device associated with the upper housing that allows the relative movement of the first seal with respect to the second seal. Whereby the adjustment device allows the first sealing gasket to disengage from the first sealing rib of the container while maintaining the sealing coupling of the second sealing gasket with the second sealing rib of the container. Accordingly, the lid assembly has at least two sealing gaskets which move in a related manner to allow the pressurized fluid to escape before the lid assembly is removed from the refrigerant container. The present invention provides advantages over the prior art in that it has the release of the sealing gaskets at different intervals which ensures a complete release of the pressure inside the lid before the lid is removed. Accordingly, the present invention incorporates a simple and effective design for safely relieving pressure within a radiator and coolant container before the cover is removed, whereby any potential damage to a user is significantly reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated when it becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in relation to the appended drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cap assembly for refrigerant container mounted to a refrigerant container in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cap assembly of the refrigerant container; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1; Figure 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the interconnection between the container and the lid in accordance with the principles of the invention, showing the lid in a sealed relationship with respect to the container and containing steam within the container; Figure 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 5, but showing an initial step in the removal of the container lid; and Figure 7 is an exploded cross-sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 6, but showing the final steps of removing the lid of the container in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Modality Referring to the Figures, where like numbers indicate similar or corresponding parts in all the various views, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cap assembly for refrigerant container, generally indicated at 10, and a container for refrigerant , generally indicated at 12, both of which are manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The lid assembly 10 is shown mounted to the refrigerant container 12. The refrigerant assembly 12 of the present invention is preferably an expansion bottle or compensation chamber which is in fluid communication with a radiator of a vehicle. In consecuense, the lid assembly for refrigerant container 10 is preferably a cover for the compensation chamber which seals any liquid refrigerant leakage inside the compensation chamber. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the refrigerant container 12 can be any type of fluid container having any suitable design or configuration. Referring also to Figure 2, it can be seen that the cover 10 assembly includes an outer plastic cover 14 having an outer surface 16 constructed and arranged to be manually engaged for the placement and removal of the cover 10 assembly in a cover relationship with respect to a main opening 18 of the container 12. The cover 14 comprises a circular wall portion 20 and a cylindrical wall portion 22 extending downwardly from the periphery of the portion 20 of the circular wall. The inner surface of the portion 22 of the cylindrical wall is provided with threads or fillets 24 which are adapted to cooperate with the external threads 26 of a neck 27 of the container surrounding the opening 18 to enable the assembly of the lid 10. be secured to the container 12. The cover 14 further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, downwardly extending, securing lugs 28 'extending downward from a bottom surface of the circular wall portion 20. The securing lugs 28 each define a wedge 30 extending radially inwardly. In addition, the cover 14 is formed integrally on the lower surface of the circular wall portion 20, a pair of dependent ratchet elements 34 which, as can be seen from Figures 3 and 4 are generally arched in their shape and each it includes two tooth-like elements 36. A pair of spring mounting elements 40 which extend downwardly in a parallel spaced relationship is also formed integrally on the bottom surface of the circular wall portion 20. The mounting elements 40 extend transversely between the pair of ratchet elements 34 and serve to engage opposite sides of a metal compression spring 42. The ends of the spring 42 engage the ratchet elements 34 and serve to elastically deflect the same radially. outwardly in such a manner that the teeth 36 engage the ratchet teeth 44 of a plastic disc-shaped ratchet plate 46. The lid assembly '10 further comprises a valve and seal assembly, generally shown at 48, which includes a valve housing member, of plastic, generally shown at 50. The valve housing 50 includes in turn a plurality of seals, a vacuum plate valve 52, metallic, and a metal plate pressure valve 54, as will be described in greater detail below. The valve housing 50 includes a portion 56 of the upper housing and a portion 58 of the lower housing. Preferably, the portion 56 of the upper housing and the portion 58 of the lower housing create a unitary valve housing member 50, formed of a polymeric material. The portion 56 of the upper housing includes an annular groove 62 facing radially outward, which is constructed and arranged to receive the wedge 30 of the securing lugs 28. This interengagement between the lugs 28 and the notch 62 serves to fix or secure the cover 14 to the valve housing 50 while allowing relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis A of the cover assembly 10. An adjustment device 70 is associated with the portion 56 of the upper housing. Specifically, the portion 56 of the upper housing includes a portion 66 of annular projection defining an annular planar surface 68 facing downwardly, which, as will be described in more detail below, serves as a backing or support surface for the adjusting device 70. Preferably, the adjusting device 70 is a corrugated, annular metallic spring element 70. Placed radially inside the portion 66 of the projection of the portion 56 of the upper housing, there is an annular projection 74 which is ultrasonically welded to the underside along the periphery of the ratchet plate 46. An annular projection 78 which extending radially outwardly is positioned on the portion 56 of the upper housing below the portion 66 of the projection, the function of which will be described in greater detail below. The portion 56 of the upper housing comprises a plurality of axially extending passageways 84, placed in a circumferentially spaced relation about the axis A. Two such passageways 84 can be observed in Figure 1. The portion 56 of the upper housing further comprises a plurality of lugs 86 circumferentially spaced, extending upwards, having a notch 88 facing radially upwards. Extending radially inward from the notch 88 is an annular seat 90. The seat 90 has an upper surface 92 which is slightly inclined to extend slightly upwardly when it extends toward the central axis A. The portion 58 of the lower housing defines a central opening 100 in the housing 50 of the valve. A supporting element of the annular plastic spring 102 sits in a fixed relation on the inner surface of the central opening 100. The portion 58 of the lower housing has an annular groove 110 extending radially outwardly inside which can place a first seal 112. The first seal 112 selectively engages and seals the lid assembly 10 within a first seal boss 114 that surrounds the opening 18 in the container 12. The spring support member 102 mentioned previously provides a lower support to a metallic spiral spring element 106 received within the central opening 102. The vacuum plate valve 52 rests on the upper portion of the spiral spring 106 and is deflected or tilted in an axial direction upper by spiral spring 106. Vacuum plate valve 52 has a peripheral annular projection 116, the upper surface of which is con Structured and arranged to sealingly contact the underside of a gasket 120 of the valve to the radially inner portion thereof. The radially outer portion of the downstream side of the valve seal 120 engages in a sealing relationship with the upper surface 92 defined by the seat 90. The pressure plate valve 54 has an annular projection portion 121 along the the general periphery thereof which is constructed and arranged for coupling the upper surface of the gasket 120 of the valve in a sealing relationship. More specifically, a spiral spring element 122 biases or tilts the plate valve 54 downwardly so that the nose 121 forms a sealing contact with the valve seal 120. The coil spring 122 is positioned in a surrounding relationship with respect to a central opening 126 in the plate valve 54 under pressure. It can be seen that the spiral spring 122 is of a force or strength greater than the spiral spring 106 so that the joint 120 is normally in a sealed relationship with the surface 92. The upper end of the spiral spring 122 is supported by a support plate 130 of the metal spring, the periphery of which is received within the annular groove 88 of the portion 56 of the upper housing. The support plate 130 of the spring also has a central opening 132. In accordance with the present invention, the mounting of the cooling cap 10 includes a second annular sealing gasket 140, which is preferably made of rubber. In the preferred embodiment, the second seal 140 is positioned up and displaced radially outward from the first seal 112. The second seal 140 is biased or sloped downward away from the flat surface 68 of the portion 66 of the projection by the adjusting device 70 for selectively coupling and sealing the lid assembly 10 with a second annular sealing boss 142 surrounding the main opening 18 of the container 12. Similarly, the second sealing boss 142 is placed on top and displaced radially outward from the first sealing boss 114 whereby the first 114 and second 142 sealing projections are substantially in alignment with the corresponding first 112 and second 140 of the seal joints. Preferably, the first 114 and second 142 sealing projections are annular protuberances extending upwardly for coupling with a corresponding seal 112, 140. The adjusting device 70 allows relative movement of the first seal 112 with respect to the second seal 140. Specifically, the adjustment device allows the first seal 112 to disengage from the first seal boss 114 of the container 12 while maintaining the sealing engagement of the second seal 140 with the second sealing boss 142 of the container 12. As described above, the adjustment device 70 is preferably a corrugated annular spring element 70. Placed between the second seal 140 and the spring element 70 is a rigid annular ring 144 which is constructed and arranged to evenly distribute force from the spring 70 throughout the second seal 140. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the adjusting device 70 may be of any suitable design or configuration since the second seal 140 is biased toward a second sealing boss 142 of a container 12. In effect, as defined by the scope of In the appended claims, it is contemplated that the adjustment device 70 can not be mounted to the portion 66 of the projection or in direct contact with the second seal 140. Referring now again to Figure 1, it can be seen that the container 12 it comprises a portion 150 of the liquid container, a portion 152 of the vapor container, and a portion 154 of the transition vessel. The portion 150 of the liquid container is sealed from the external environment when the lid assembly 10 for the refrigerant container is placed in a sealing relationship with respect to the main opening 18 of the container 12. In particular, the first sealing gasket 112, in conjunction with the valve housing 50, vacuum plate 52, and valve seal 120, seal the container portion 150 for liquid from the external environment. The portion 154 of the transition vessel has an upper passage 156 which is placed in fluid communication with the passageways 84 in the valve housing 50 when the assembly of the cover 10 is secured on the container 12. Preferably, the passageway 156 it is placed inside the neck 27 of the container, the container 12 between the first 114 and second 142 sealing projections. A channel 148 is positioned between the opening 18 of the container 12 and the passageway 156. The channel 148 has an open condition with the first sealing gasket 112 disconnected from the first sealing shoulder 114 and a closed condition with the first sealing gasket 112 coupled with the first sealing protrusion 114. Channel 148 allows any fluid within container 12 to pass through opening 18 and into passageway 156 or vice versa. During the flow of fluid through channel 148, the second sealing gasket 140 remains in sealing contact with the second sealing boss 142.

Once the lid 10 is sealed on the neck 27 of the container 12, the passage 156 and the passageways 84 in the valve housing 50 are confined in an intermediate space which is neither in fluid communication with the atmosphere or with the portion 150 of the liquid container. The second sealing gasket 140 prevents the communication of the fluid with the atmosphere. During normal operating conditions (i.e. pressure or vacuum conditions) the vacuum and pressure plate valves 52 and 54 and the first seal 112 prevent fluid communication with the portion 150 of the liquid container. The upper part of the portion 154 of the transition vessel is in fluid communication with the passageway 156 and the lower portion of the portion 154 of the transition vessel is placed in fluid communication with the portion 152 of the vessel for the vapor, which by itself it is ventilated to the atmosphere. The portion 154 of the transition vessel provides an area (not specifically shown) within which the liquid travels downwardly through the transition to the vapor prior to its travel to the portion 152 of the vapor container.

The operation of assembling the lid 10 and the container 12 according to the present invention will now be described. Under conditions that are not under pressure or under vacuum within the 150 portion of the liquid container, the liquid and vapor contained in the portion 150 of the liquid container are sealed there by the lid assembly 10 of the container for the refrigerant. When a pressure condition arises within the portion 150 of the liquid container, the upward force supplied by such pressure (with the aid of the spring 106) is exerted upwardly on the vacuum plate valve 52, to lift the valve of plate 52 under vacuum, together with the gasket 120 of the valve and the plate valve 54 under pressure, up against the deflection of the spiral spring 122. Accordingly, the pressure within the portion 150 of the liquid container creates a passageway for the liquid vapors around the periphery of the joint 120 for the valve. The vapors then travel upward through the central opening 132 of the spring support plate 130, and several other openings which can also be provided within the spring support plate 130 (not shown in the Figures). The vapor of the liquid is then allowed to travel down through the passageways 84 in the valve housing 50 and then down through the passageway 156 to the portion 154 of the transition vessel, and then to the portion 152 of the vessel for steam and then into the atmosphere. The second seal 140 prevents vapor from the hot liquid escaping directly into the atmosphere through the lid assembly 10 of the refrigerant container during this operation. When there is a vacuum condition within the portion 150 of the liquid container, the vacuum plate valve 52 is pulled down against the deflection of the spiral spring 106, which is compressed during this process. The atmospheric air is then removed from the portion 152 of the steam vessel, towards the portion 154 of the transition vessel, upwardly through the passageway 156 in the vessel 12. The air then travels through the passages 84 in the housing 50. from the valve down through the opening 132 in the support plate 130 of the spring, down through the central opening 126 of the plate valve 54 under pressure, and then between the joint 120 of the valve and the protrusion peripheral 116 of the plate valve 52 to the vacuum and to the portion 150 of the liquid container.

Accordingly, the pressure within the portion 150 for the liquid container can always be maintained within a predetermined range, as predetermined by the force applied by the springs 106 and 122. As also shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 and in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the lid assembly 10 can be removed from the container 12 without any of the hot vapors being discharged from the periphery or any other portions of the lid during operation not sealed initial. In particular, when the lid assembly 10 is unscrewed by rotating the cover 14 in a counterclockwise direction so that the threads 24 thereof rise upwards along the threads 26 of the neck 27 of the container 12. When the cover 14 is lifted upwards during this unscrewing process, the securing lugs 28 elevate the valve housing 50 by virtue of the interengagement of the lugs 28 within the annular groove 62 of the valve housing. 50. As shown in the transition from Figure 5 to Figure 6, when the valve housing 50 is lifted during this turning or turning action, the first sealing gasket 112 is brought up out of engagement with the first sealing boss 114 of the container 12, thus allowing the hot vapors to escape around the periphery of the first seal 112. The hot vapors prog they then run down through the passageway 156, towards the portion 154 of the transition vessel, towards the portion 152 of the vapor vessel, and then are safely vented to the atmosphere. As shown in Figure 6, when the first sealing gasket 112 is initially carried out of the sealing relationship with respect to the first sealing projection 114 of the container 12, the second sealing gasket 140 remains in a sealing relationship with respect to the second relief. sealant 142 formed within the neck 27 of the container 12. In particular, when the valve housing 50 is lifted upwardly during unscrewing of the cover 14, the annular corrugated spring 70 forces the second seal 140 downward to remain in sealing engagement with the second sealing boss 142 of the container 12. When the second seal 140 is moved away from the flat surface 68 during this action, the radially inner surface or edge of the second seal 140 is placed in a sliding and sealing relationship with respect to the outer cylindrical surface of the portion 56 of the upper housing, by or which retains the junction of passageway 156 and passageways 84 in a sealed relationship from the portions above the portion 56 of the upper housing. Because the vapors are vented downwardly through the passageway 156 and into the portion 154 of the transition vessel and then the portion 152 of the vapor vessel, and not upwardly through or around the periphery of the vaporizer assembly. the lid 10, the hot vapors will not be directed towards the lid or the body of the individuals that unscrew the assembly of the lid 10 of the container for the refrigerant. As shown in Figure 7, continuous unscrewing of the lid assembly 10 of the refrigerant container eventually causes the second seal 140 to be moved up out of sealing engagement with the second sealing boss 142 of the container 12. At this time , the vast majority of the hot vapors has been vented through the passage 156. The annular projection 78 extending radially outwardly serves as a lower retainer for the second seal 140. In other words, the projection 78 limits the displacement down from the second seal 140. The assembly of the lid 10 can then be completely removed, with a very small amount, if any, of any vapors that are vented close to the user. Finally, it should be noted that the ratchet elements 34 in cantilevered beam and teeth 44 of the ratchet, are constructed and arranged to transmit the motion of the torque applied manually to the outer cover 14 in a unscrewing direction to move the valve and seal assembly 48 out of the sealed or closed position. The ratchet elements 34 and the ratchet teeth 44 also transmit the torque movements manually applied to the outer cover 14 in a screw direction to move the valve and sealant assembly 48 toward the sealed or closed position of a way that includes the cancellation of movements between them, preventing transmission of the torque therebetween above a predetermined value to thereby determine when the valve and seal assembly 48 has reached the closing position and the desired extension of the axial compression imparted to the first seal. sealed 112 The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is proposed to be of a descriptive nature rather than as a limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in a manner other than that specifically described.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (20)

1. A cap assembly for a refrigerant container for use with a refrigerant container having first and second sealing projections, the cap assembly comprising: an outer cover for removably securing the cap assembly to the container; a valve housing member secured to the cover and having a portion of the lower housing and a portion of the upper housing; a first sealing gasket mounted to the lower housing portion for selectively coupling and sealing the lid assembly with the first sealing shoulder of the container; a second sealing gasket mounted to the upper housing portion for selectively coupling and sealing the lid assembly with the second sealing lip of the container; and the assembly is characterized by an adjustment device associated with the upper housing portion to allow relative movement of the first sealing gasket with respect to the second sealing gasket, the adjustment device allows the first sealing gasket to be disconnected of the first sealing lip of the container while maintaining the sealing engagement of the second seal with the second sealing lip of the container when the lid assembly is removed from the refrigerant container.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment device is mounted between the upper housing portion and the second sealing gasket.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that it further includes a projection portion placed on the upper housing portion having a flat surface with the adjustment device mounted to the flat surface.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that it also includes a snap ring placed between the adjusting device and the second seal.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the adjustment device is a spring element.

6. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper housing portion further includes a projection positioned below the second seal to limit downward the displacement of the second seal.

7. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the second seal is placed on top and displaced radially outward from the first seal.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the portions of the upper and lower housing create a housing element of the unitary valve.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the housing element of the unitary valve is formed of a polymeric material.

10. The assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the outer cover is rotatably connected to the valve housing member to allow the valve housing member to remain stationary while the cover is secured to the container.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the valve housing includes an integrally formed annular groove and the cover includes a plurality of lugs projecting downwardly for engagement with the notch to rotatably connect the cover to the element. of valve housing.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover includes a plurality of threads for coupling with a plurality of corresponding external threads on the container to ensure the mounting of the lid to the container.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes the container for storing the fluid having a neck portion defining an opening in the container, the opening of the neck portion having the first sealing rib and the second sealing rib .

14. The assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the second sealing projection is positioned upstream and displaced radially downward from the first sealing projection, whereby the first and second sealing projections are substantially in alignment with the first and second sealing joints corresponding.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the first and second sealing projections are annular protuberances extending upwards for coupling with a corresponding seal.

16. The assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the neck portion of the container includes a plurality of external threads and the cover includes a plurality of corresponding threads for selective engagement with the external threads of the container, to secure the lid to the container.

17. The assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that it also includes a passageway placed within the neck portion of the container between the first and second sealing projections.

18. The assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that it also includes a channel placed between the opening of the container and the passageway having an open condition with the first sealing gasket disconnected from the first sealing shoulder and a condition closed with the first sealing gasket coupled with the first sealing boss.

19. The assembly according to claim 18, characterized in that it also includes a portion of the transition vessel in fluid communication with the passage to allow fluid to pass therethrough.

20. The assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that it also includes a portion of the container for the vapor in fluid communication with the portion of the transition vessel for distributing the fluid passing through the passageway away from the container. COVER ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERANT CONTAINER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cap assembly for refrigerant container (10) for use with a refrigerant container having first and second sealing projections (114, 142). The lid assembly (10) comprises an outer cover to removably secure the lid assembly (10) to the container (12) A valve housing member (50) is rotatably secured to the cover and has a lower housing portion (58) and an upper housing portion (56). A first seal (112) is mounted to the lower housing portion (58) for selectively coupling and sealing the lid assembly (10) with the first sealing rib (112) of the container (12). A second seal (140) is mounted to the upper housing portion (56) for selectively coupling and sealing the lid assembly (10) with the second sealing boss (142) of the container (12). The assembly is characterized by an adjusting device mounted to the upper housing (56). The adjustment device (70) allows relative movement of the first seal (112) with respect to the second seal (140). Specifically, the adjustment device (70) allows the first seal (112) to be disengaged from the first sealing boss (114) of the container (12) while maintaining the sealing engagement of the second seal (140) with the seal (140). second sealing protrusion (142) of the container (12).