MXPA98010457A - A valve for containers submitted to pres - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve (10) comprising a rod (11), a housing (12) and a locking means (20), the rod (11) being movable inside the housing (12) to allow the opening and closing the valve (10), the stem (11) comprises a discharge opening (14) connected to the discharge channel (15), the discharge channel (15) being located on one end of the stem (11), the housing comprises a hole, locking means (20) preventing the opening of the valve (10) when the discharge channel (15) is in an undesired orientation, the blocking means being separated from the discharge opening (14) , characterized in that the blocking means (20) is located at the other end of the rod (11) opposite the discharge channel (1).

Description

A VALVE FOR CONTAINERS SUBJECTED TO PRESSURE DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY The present invention relates to the valve for a container subjected to pressure. A container under pressure commonly contains a product together with a propellant. The propeller commonly creates the necessary pressure inside the container. The propellant can be a liquid or gaseous propellant. When the propellant is a liquid propellant, the pressure inside the container is created by the vapor pressure of the liquid propellant. The gaseous propellant and the vapor phase of the liquid propellant are commonly located in the upper space of the container when the container is in its upright position. The pressure inside the container is higher than the normal external atmospheric pressure. The internal pressure of the container is maintained by closing the container with a valve. Consequently, the propellant tends to exit from inside the container once the container valve is opened. Therefore, the propellant also drives the product to the outside of the container. In order that the entire product can be expelled out of the container, it must be ensured that sufficient propellant is available in the container with respect to the quantity of the product. Consequently, he has to make sure not to let the propeller go out unnecessarily, that is, the product must be expelled at the same time as the propeller. If the product is not expelled at the same time as the propellant, the propellant can be progressively emptied out of the container under pressure until the remaining amount of the propellant is very low with respect to the rest of the product remaining in the container to ensure the complete distribution of the rest of the product from inside the container under pressure. The rest of the product that can not be expelled from inside the container under pressure is then wasted. Other possible disadvantages of the propellant that leaves the container unnecessarily are the deterioration of the characteristics of the expelled product. For example, when the product is a foamy product, the density of the foam can be increased in an undesirable way. Discharge of the propellant without the product may occur when the product is not located between the propellant and the discharge opening of the container under pressure. In fact, you have to make sure that the propeller passes through the product by pushing at least part of the product out of the container under pressure. This undesirable position of the propeller with respect to the product and the discharge opening of the container under pressure can be achieved when the container subjected to pressure is allowed to discharge in an undesired direction. For example, when the container under pressure comprises a dip tube by connecting the discharge opening in the upper part of the container with the interior of the container under pressure, the undesired direction could be to invert the pressurized container, that is, to put it at reverse. In this position the gaseous propellant in the upper space can escape directly from the interior of the container through the immersion tube without pushing the product through the immersion tube. In contrast, when the container under pressure does not comprise a dip tube, the undesired direction could be when the container is not inverted, ie the container is left up. This upward position substantially leads to the escape of the gaseous propellant from the interior of the container, because the product is not located between the discharge opening and the propeller. In both cases, this leads to the escape of the propellant from inside the container without any corresponding expulsion of the product, resulting in the corresponding inconvenience as discussed above. It is well known in the pressurized container manufacturing industry that there is a need to provide a container under pressure with a locking mechanism which prevents the opening of the container under pressure when the container under pressure is in a non-pressure orientation. desired. O-91/03 408 and WO-95/06 606 describes the blocking mechanisms, for example in the form of a ball, located inside the container under pressure in order to block the discharge opening of the container under pressure when the container under pressure is in an undesired orientation. The blocking mechanism is therefore in direct contact with the product and the propellant during the discharge flow when the valve of the container under pressure is opened. It has been found that the locking mechanism located in this way in the discharge flow only works for low discharge scales of about 2 grams of the product per second as the maximum limit. In fact, the discharge rate has to be sufficiently low so that the blocking means, for example the ball, are not entrained in the product and / or the flow of the propeller. Otherwise, the locking means can be pushed by the discharge product and / or propeller into the valve locking position even when the valve is oriented in the correct position. Accordingly, it may be preferable to have a locking mechanism separate from the discharge flow of the product and / or the propellant. A locking mechanism that is separate from the discharge flow of the product and / or the propellant is, for example, described in US-3 186 605. This patent discloses a valve comprising a locking mechanism along one side of a Valve rod. The locking means comprise a circular member of the transverse wall, a circular plate and a non-compressible ball. The member of the transverse wall and the circular plate are rigidly connected to one another. The non-compressible ball is located between the transverse wall member and the circular plate. The circular plate is smaller in diameter than the member of the transverse wall. To open the valve, the member of the transverse wall has to slide axially into the valve chamber towards a transverse shelf wall. The valve is free to be opened when the ball remains within the diameter of the circular plate. The valve is blocked when the ball rolls out of the circular plate on the transverse shelf wall, since the member of the transverse wall is now prevented by the non-compressible ball from sliding towards the transverse retalial wall. However, this valve is very voluminous, since the overall diameter of the valve is increased by the transverse wall member and the valve chamber with respect to the standard valves of the standard containers subjected to pressure. Moreover, the part of the valve comprising the locking mechanism is located on one side of the valve rod. Consequently, the container needs to have a more open opening to allow the insertion of this valve inside the container with respect to the usual valves, that is, the containers in which inserting this valve of '605 has to be specially adapted and made. This also increases the manufacturing cost of a container with this kind of valve. Another type of locking mechanism is described in O- 89/10081, FR-A-2 637 870 and EP-A-O 526 298. The locking mechanism is now located within the nozzle outside the pressurized container. It has been found that having the locking mechanism in the nozzle limits the shape and dimension of the nozzle itself. In truth, the nozzle has to be constructed in such a way as to allow the operation of the locking mechanism. Moreover, it has been found that such a specific nozzle comprising the blocking means has increased the cost with respect to the usual nozzle available in the market. This means that when the locking mechanisms are not part of the valve, only specific, usually no cost-effective nozzles can be used. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve comprising a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism preventing the opening of the valve when the discharge opening of the valve is in an undesired orientation, being separated from the discharge flow of the discharge product and / or propellant from the inner part of the pressurized container when the valve It is applied to the pressurized container and is in the open position, allowing the use of any effective cost of the nozzle available in the market and having dimensions which allow the application of the valve to conventional containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a valve comprising a rod, a housing and locking means. The rod is movable within the housing to allow opening and closing of the valve. The rod comprises a discharge opening connected to the discharge channel. The discharge channel is located on one end of the rod. The housing comprises a hole. The locking means prevent opening of the valve when the discharge channel is in an undesired orientation. The blocking means are separated from the discharge opening. The blocking means are located at the other end of the rod opposite the discharge channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure la is a cross-sectional view of a valve embodiment according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of the container, and is shown as it might be when the container is in its upward position. Figure Ib is the same cross-sectional view of the valve of the figure when the valve is inverted, that is, turned downwards. Figure lc a are alternative executions of the modality of figure la. Figure 1f is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention equivalent to the valve shown in the figure when the container is in its upward position. Figure 2a is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of the container, and is shown how it could be when the container is in its upward position. Figure 2b is the same partial schematic cross-sectional view of the valve of Figure 2a when the valve is inverted, ie, turned downwards. Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention arranged and distributed as in the embodiments of Figure 1. Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view of the valve of Figure 3a when the valve is inverted, that is, turned downwards. Figure 3c is a perspective view of the part of the valve of Figure 3a and 3b. Figure 4a is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of the container, and is shown as it might be when the container is in the upward position. Figure 4b is the same partial schematic cross-sectional view of the valve of figure 4a when the valve is inverted, ie turned downwards. Figure 5a is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of the container, and is shown as it might be when the container is in an upward position. Figure 5b is the same partial cross-sectional schematic view of the valve of figure 5a when the valve is inverted, i.e., turned downwards. Figure 6a is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of the container, and shows how it could be when the container is in the upward position. Figure 6b is the same partial schematic cross-sectional view of the valve of Figure 6a when the valve is inverted, ie turned downwards. Figure 7a is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of the container, and shows how it could be when the container is in its upward position. Figure 7b is the same partial schematic cross-sectional view of the valve of Figure 7a when the valve is inverted, that is, turned downwards. Fig. 8a is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of a container, and is shown as it might be when the container is in its upward position . Figure 8b is the same partial schematic cross-sectional view of the valve of Figure 8a when the valve is inverted, ie turned downward. Figures 9a and 9b are schematic cross sectional partial views of other embodiments of a valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of a container, and it shows how it could be when the container is in its position upwards. Figures 10a and 10b are cross-sectional views of the embodiments of a valve according to the present invention adapted to be applied to the upper part of the container, and it is shown how it could be when the container is in its upward position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of a valve (10) according to the present invention is shown in figure la. The valve comprises a rod (11) surrounded by a housing (12). The housing can be made in one piece or made of two parts which are fixed with one another. In both cases the housing allows easy insertion of the rod and other parts of the valve into the housing. The housing may comprise as a second part an upper wall (17), as shown in figures a to ld, or an upper wall together with a part of the side wall (13) of the housing (12), as shown in FIG. the figure him. The upper wall (17) can be a package sealing the inside of the housing from the outside. The housing comprises a hole (14 ') connecting the interior of the housing with the interior of the container, when the valve is applied to the upper part of the container. The valve additionally comprises a discharge opening (14), a discharge channel (15) and blocking means (twenty) . The discharge channel has an open end (15 '). The valve is suitable to be applied to a container. The valve is applied to a container in such a way that the hole (14 ') of the housing (12) is located inside the container, while the open end (15') of the discharge channel (15) is outside the container. As conveniently referred to, "valve position upwards" is the position of the valve where the open end (15 ') of the discharge channel is directed upwards as shown, for example, in FIG. The valve has an open position and a closed position. The rod (11) is removable over a limited axial distance within the housing (12) between the open and closed position of the valve. The closed position of the valve prevents any substantial leakage of the product and / or propellant from the filled container when the valve is applied to the filled container. In the present embodiment the closed position of the valve is achieved when the discharge opening (14) is not in direct communication of the fluid with the orifice (14 ') in the housing (12). Actually, the valve is constructed so that, in the closed position, the discharge opening (14) is located within or above the thickness of the upper wall (17) of the housing, i.e. the discharge opening (14) It is not in connection with the interior of the accommodation. In this closed position of the valve, the product and / or the propellant is prevented from leaving the container when the valve is applied to the filled container. The open position of the valve allows the discharge of the product and / or of the propellant from inside the container when the valve (10) is applied to the filled container. The valve is in the open position in the present mode when the discharge opening 814) is moved below the lower side of the upper wall (17) within the housing (12). The valve is in the open position when the external pressure is applied to the valve. Specifically, the end portion of the rod (11) comprising the open end (15 ') of the discharge channel (15) is subjected to external pressure for opening the valve. Preferably, the valve additionally comprises a spring (18). The spring is located inside the housing (12) around the rod (11). Preferably, the spring is held under a certain compression such that the stem (11) of the valve is pushed in the closed position to ensure tight closing of the valve. The spring is placed under increased compression when the valve is in the open position. Actually, the open position of the valve is reached when the rod is pushed partially down along the axis (100) until the discharge opening (14) is inside the housing (12), whereby the spring is compressed further in this position of the valve. Consequently, the spring automatically pushes the valve back into the closed position once the external force necessary for the valve position is released. The spring is preferably located between the annular shoulders (19) and (19 '). The annular shoulder (19) is located on the outermost surface of the rod and the annular shoulder (19 ') on the innermost surface of the housing, as shown in FIG. Preferably, the distance between the wings is such as to maintain the spring under compression also when the valve is in the closed position. The discharge opening (14) in the rod (11) is directly connected to the discharge channel (15). The discharge channel leads to the outside of the container when the valve is applied to the container. The unloading opening (14) is located on the outermost surface of the rod (11). The discharge channel is located on one end of the rod (11). Preferably, the opening to supply (14) faces the hole (14 ') in the housing (12) when the valve is in the open position. In this way, the distance between the discharge opening (14) and the orifice (14 ') is minimized. Indeed, when the valve is applied to a filled container, the content of the container leaves the container by first passing through the orifice (14 ') and then through the discharge opening (14) and the discharge channel (15). . The hole (14 ') in the housing can be connected to a dip tube inside the container. The valve according to the present invention also comprises locking means (20). The block means prevent opening of the valve when the discharge channel (15) is in an undesired orientation. The undesired orientation of the discharge channel is each time the propeller is able to exit through the discharge opening (14) without being forced to pass through the product, when the valve is applied to the container under full pressure. This can happen as previously described in an example with or without the dip tube. The blocking means of the valve according to the present invention is separated from the discharge opening (14). Therefore, the blocking means is not in direct communication with the fluid with the discharge flow of the product in discharge and / or propellant from inside the container under pressure when the valve is applied to a container subjected to pressure. In truth, the blocking valve is located in the embodiment of FIG. 1 under separation means (30) between the end portion (23) of the rod (11) and the end wall (24) of the housing (12). The separation is such that the blocking means can not be drawn into the discharge flow of the product and / or the impeller when the valve is in the open position. In practice, the separation means separate the rod into two parts: one part (110) of the rod comprises the discharge opening (14) and the discharge channel (15), the other part (120) comprises the blocking means. Whereby the part (120) of the rod is separated from the part (110) so as to prevent the locking means from being drawn into the discharge flow of the product and / or the propeller when the valve is in the open position . The separation means (30) can be an interrupted wall. An "interrupted wall" is attempted with this that the interruption in the wall allows the equalization of the pressure between the parts (120) and (110) of the rod that can also be achieved by at least one orifice positioned on the parts of the walls of the housing located in the part (120) of the rod, as the final wall (24). Consequently, also the product and / or propellant may be allowed to pass within a part of the rod (120). However, the interrupted wall prevents the blocking means from coming into the discharge flow when the valve is in the open position. In this way, a high scale of discharge of the product and / or of the propellant through the valve is allowed. In practice, the valve according to the present invention is not limited by any specific scale of discharge, on the basis that the blocking means of the present valve try to block the movement of the valve stem when the valve is correctly oriented and the Valve is in the open position. This was not always the case in the prior art as discussed above. Preferably, the separation means (30) located between the part (120) and the part (110) of the rod is a seal of a completely insulated part (120) of the part (110), ie the seal is preferably a wall continues without interruption. Consequently, the blocking means is completely isolated from the discharge opening (14) and the product and / or propeller. It has been found even more that the viscosity of the product can adversely affect the operation of the blocking mechanism. Actually, part of the product may remain stuck around the locking mechanism which facilitates a sticking of the locking mechanism on part of the valve. In this case, it can happen that the locking mechanism blocks the valve even if the container under pressure is oriented in the correct way. It may also happen that the locking means is slow to acquire the blocking position of the non-blocking position, and vice versa the locking means may be slow to return from the non-blocking position to the blocking position.

Consequently, the blocking means may still allow discharge through the valve when the position of the valve is so ready that it must already prevent a subsequent discharge, and vice versa. In addition, the locking means is also protected from corrosion when the separation is provided with a seal. Corrosion may be due to certain characteristics of the product and / or propellant, such as pH. Accordingly, the locking means completely isolated by the seal of the discharge opening (14) and of the product and / or propellant is a preferred embodiment of the valve according to the present invention. The seal can be achieved with different sealing techniques. One possibility is the friction adjustment (figure la-le, 30a) in which the seal presses elastically against the outermost surface of the rod (11), as shown in figure la. The pressure of the seal against the rod ensures that the product and / or the propellant is substantially prevented from entering into the part (120) of the rod. Another possibility is given by an O-pack (figure 10a, 60), located around the rod and pressing against the innermost surface of the housing (12) isolating the part (120) of the part (110) of the rod, as shown in figure 10a. A later possibility is a package (Figure 10b, 70) located between the rod and the innermost surface of the housing being again able to achieve the isolation of the part (120) of the part (110), as shown in the figure 10b. Preferably, when the seal is an O-package or a package the housing (12) is made of two parts (13) and (13 ') attached to each as shown in Figures 10a and 10b. The two parts (13) and (13 ') are preferably held together. Preferably, the spring (18) is also located in part (120) of the rod (11) under the seal (30). In this way, the spring as well as the locking means (20) is protected from the product and / or propeller by coming inside the part (110) of the rod through the hole (14 '). As a preferred option the valve further comprises support means (50) for the rod (11) as illustrated in figures 1c and 1d. The support means improves the stability of the rod within the housing when the valve is moved from the closed to open position. Actually, the rod is therefore supported at different points along the length of the rod: in the seal and in the support means. Another support for the rod can be located between the spring (18) and the blocking means (20) so as to have three points of support for the rod. The locking means (20) is located at the other end of the rod (11) with respect to the rod end comprising the discharge channel (15) and about the shaft (100) of the rod. The blocking means are subsequently located between the rod and the end of the wall (24) of the housing. Consequently, the locking means do not substantially increase the radial or lateral dimension of the valve, since the locking means is substantially within the thickness of the rod. Accordingly, the valve with the blocking means according to the present invention does not need an elongated opening in the container when the valve is applied to the container. In practice, the valve according to the present invention has substantially the same dimensions as the valves without any blocking means, ie the container on which to apply the valve has not been especially for the valve according to the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the blocking means (20) comprise a movable, non-compressible barrier (21), such as the non-compressible ball (21), and a recess (22) capable of at least partially containing the movable barrier. , not compressible. The non-compressible movable barrier (21) is located between the end of the part (23) of the rod (11) and the end of the wall (24) of the housing (12). The hollow in the figure is located in the extreme part (23) of the rod (11). Nevertheless, as will be seen in an alternative embodiment of the valve according to the present invention, the gap can also be located at the end of the wall (24) of the housing (12). The gap (22) is a corresponding dimension of the ball so that the ball can enter at least partially into the gap. The recess may have a cylindrical shape, as shown in the figures at a, or conical, as shown in Figure lf. It has been found that the hollow in the conical shape as shown in Figure lf allows a more rapid entry of the movable, non-compressible barrier (21) into the hollow. Preferably, the end wall (24) of the housing is inclined so that the movable, non-compressible barrier tends to be removed from the hollow by the action of gravity when the valve is in an upward position as shown in Figure la. In this position the rod is prevented from moving towards the final wall (24) of the housing, since the ball remains in the rod and the final wall of the housing. However, when the valve is inverted, as shown in Figure Ib the ball tends to fall at least partially into the gap. The ball being at least partially in the gap is sufficient to allow the rod to move towards the end wall by opening the valve. Consequently, the valve with the locking means described in FIGS. 1a and 1b prevents opening of the valve when the valve is in its upward position as shown in FIG. The end inclined wall (24) of the housing (12) may preferably have a conical shape with the apex (25) pointing towards the interior of the hollow (22) as shown in figure la. Alternatively, the end part (23) of the rod (11) can be tilted with the angle TO. Preferably, both the end part (23) of the rod and the end wall (24) of the housing can be inclined with the same angle Á. The angle Á is measured between the horizontal plane (26) and the plane parallel to the end wall (24) oriented towards the vertex, or between the horizontal plane (26) and the plane parallel to the end part (23) of the rod oriented towards the hole (22). The angle Á determines the angle at which the ball (21) tends more to fall into the gap (22). Actually, by increasing the angle Á, the ball falls into the gap when the valve is inverted to a lesser extent than if the angle Á could be smaller. Consequently, by choosing the angle Á of the blocking means it can be selected to drop the ball into the gap when the valve is completely turned down (180 ° from the up position) or before it is already in the full position down to 180 °. Preferably the locking means of the figures la and Ib have an angle Á such as to allow the opening of the valve between about 90 ° and about 180 ° from the upward position, most preferably between about 110 ° and about 180 °. °, most preferably between about 135 ° and about 180 °. As a further preferred option, the end wall (24) of the housing can further comprise edges (31) slits (32), as shown in Figure 9a and 9b. These edges or slits located on the surface of the final wall facing directly the rod, reduces the probability that the incompressible barrier falls into the hole by chance without having properly inverted the valve. In practice these edges or slits further increase the angle at which the valve has to be inverted before allowing the valve to open. Figures 2a and 2b show in a partial view another embodiment of the valve according to the present invention in which the valve opens when the valve is substantially in the upward position. Indeed, in figure 2a the end inclined wall (24) is an inverted cone with respect to the final wall of figure la. Consequently, the ball (21) always rolls towards the concave part of the vertex (25) by the action of gravity when the valve is in the upward position. In this position the rod is able to move towards the final wall (24) of the housing, whereby it opens the valve, since the ball enters the hole (22). However, if the valve is turned out, from the upward position, the ball, under the action of gravity, rolls between the stem and the end wall away from the gap. Consequently, the rod is prevented from moving towards the final wall and the valve remains in a closed position. Figures 3a and 3b show an alternative embodiment of the valve according to the present invention. The end part (23) of the rod comprises the recess (22) and is flexible enough to narrow the access to the interior of the recess. The narrowness to the access to the gap can be achieved by converging the side wall (27) of the housing toward the final wall (24) of the housing. In this way, the space in which the rod (11) is enclosed is narrowed toward the final wall (24) of the housing. Preferably, the narrowing of the side wall is achieved by having the side wall (27) in a somewhat conical shape whereby the dimension of the hollow body between the side wall (27) decreases towards the end wall (24) of the housing, as shown in FIG. shows in figure 3a. As a preferred option, the end wall (24) of the housing comprises a support wall (28) over which the non-compressible ball rests when the valve is in its upward position, as shown in Figure 3a. The dimension of the ball is such as to prevent the end part (23) of the rod in being moved further towards the base of the housing, if the ball is not completely inside the hole before the rod is moved, ie the valve is locked in the closed position. Actually, the valve must first be inverted so that the ball enters into the recess and then the rod is free to move further towards the end wall (24) of the housing to allow the opening of the valve, as shown in FIG. Figure 3b. Preferably, the end portion (23) of the rod is made of flexible legs (23a) interrupted by slits (23b) surrounding the recess, as shown in Figure 3c. This configuration of the end portion (23) of the rod improves the flexibility of the end portion (23) by itself. Therefore, this support wall does not impede the movement of the rod once the ball enters the hollow. Figures 4 to 6 show alternative embodiments of the non-compressible barrier (21) for blocking means according to the present invention. Instead of a non-compressible, spherical ball, a pin having an oval cross section may also later be seen as a non-compressible barrier, as shown in Figure 4a. The gap (22) is formed and sized to correspond to the shape of the non-compressible barrier. Figure 4b shows the pin located in the gap when the valve is rotated in the inverted position with respect to the upward position of figure 4a. Figure 5a shows another non-compressible barrier (21) fixed pivotably to the end wall (24) of the housing (12) of the valve (10) partially shown. Preferably, the non-compressible barrier is a pin as described in Figures 4a and 4b. One end of the non-compressible barrier is pivotally attached to the end of the wall (24) so that the non-compressible barrier is directed by the action of the force of gravity to a position which prevents opening of the valve when the valve is in its upward position, as shown in figure 5a. In this case, the pivotably fixed pin is directed out of the recess (22). On the other hand, when the valve is inverted completely from the upward position as shown in FIG. 5b, the non-compressible barrier is still directed by the force of gravity towards the interior of the gap. In this position the stem of the valve can be moved towards the end wall (24) of the housing, since the non-compressible barrier enters the gap without impeding the movement of the rod.

Figures 6a and 6b show a similar locking means as described above in Figure 5a and 5b, which however allows the opening of the valve only in the upward position as shown in Figure 6a. Indeed, the non-compressible barrier or the pin is pivotally fixed to one end on the end portion (23) of the rod (11) and the recess (22) is located in the end wall (24) of the housing. Consequently, the pin enters the recess (22) when the valve is in its upward position, as shown in Figure 6a. While, when the valve is inverted, the pin is directed out of the gap by the action of gravity, as shown in Figure 6b, blocking the opening of the valve. Another non-compressible barrier alternative can also be achieved by liquids which are not compressible. In figure 7a the hollow (22) in the end wall (24) of the housing (12) is at least partially filled with a non-compressible liquid, such as water. The end part (23) of the rod comprises a leg (29) having the corresponding dimension of the recess. The dimensions of the leg and the recess are respectively dimensioned in order to achieve a seal between the leg and the recess. In this way, it is substantially avoided that the liquid in the hollow escapes from the hollow when the leg is inserted into the hollow. Preferably, the leg not only comprises a sealing element (40) for improving the sealing between the leg and the recess. Preferably, such sealing element is an O-pack surrounding the leg. This leg (29) can not enter completely inside the hollow (24), since the liquid inside the hollow is incompressible and can not leave the hollow due to the sealing between the leg and the hollow. Only when the valve is first reversed can the leg of the rod enter the hole, allowing the opening of the valve. Actually, as shown in Figure 7b, the liquid comes out at least partially from the gap and the leg has enough space in the gap to allow the opening of the valve. As a preferred option, the end wall (24) of the housing may comprise more than one recess. Each recess is filled at least partially with an incompressible liquid and corresponding to each recess a leg (29) in the end part (23) of the rod has to be moved within the recess to allow the opening of the valve, as shown in Figs. Figures 8a and 8b. The locking mechanism is identical to that described for Figures 7a and 7b. Preferably, the valve according to the present invention is used in a container subjected to pressure. A container subjected to pressure is commonly obtained by filling the container with a product and a propellant. The container is a hollow body which can be made of any material, preferably metal, plastics including polyethylene terephthalate (= TEP), oriented polypropylene (= PP0), polyethylene (= PE) or polyamide and mixtures included, laminated or other combinations of this . The metal can be made of steel plated with tin or other metals such as aluminum. Preferably, the inner surface of the metal container is laminated with plastic material or covered with a lacquer or varnish. The lacquer or varnish is such to protect the inner surface of the container from corrosion. Corrosion can lead to weakening of the container and can also lead to discoloration of the contents of the container. Preferred plastic materials for lamination and lacquers and varnishes to cover are epoxyphenolic, polyamide imide, organosol, PET, PP, PE or a combination thereof. The internal pressure of the container is mainly created by the propeller. The internal pressure of the container under pressure is such that the product and the propellant expelled through the discharge opening (14) and through the discharge channel (15) on the outside of the container once the valve is in the container. open position The internal pressure of the container is therefore higher than the external atmospheric pressure outside the container. The internal pressure inside the container is preferably at least 5 bar at 20 ° C, very preferably the internal pressure is in the range between 8 bars and 10 bars at 20 ° C. The propeller, as mentioned before, helps to unload the product from inside the container. The amount of propellant contained in the container is such that substantially all of the product can be expelled out of the container throughout the life of the container under pressure at the correct pressure.

The amount also depends on the type of propellant used. Known propellants suitable in the art are gaseous propellants and liquids. Preferred propellants are gaseous propellants of environmental feasibility. As referred to herein, the words "gaseous" and "non-liquefiable" are used interchangeably in consideration of the propellant. In fact, gaseous propellants or non-liquefiable propellants are propellants which are in a gaseous state of matter at room temperature (around 20 ° C) and at pressures above 12 bar. Moreover, it is preferred to use propellants "compatible with ozone" such as pressurized air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxides thereof or mixtures thereof. Carbon dioxide is a very preferred gaseous propellant. Fewer amounts of low molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as propane, butane, pentane, hexane, can optionally be included providing that the flammability requirements are not exceeded. Various ways to pressurize the propellant gas are known in the art. For example, the gas may be pressurized at the time of packing. The product can be physically separated from a gas subjected to pressure by means of a membrane such as rubber under tension. Alternatively means for subjecting the pressurized gas subsequently by mechanical action can be provided (so-called "pumping and spraying" systems) Any gaseous, liquid or foamy product can be discharged through the valve according to the present invention. foam products when they are discharged with a gaseous propellant.The propellant expands to form many bubbles within the composition by which the foam is created.Specific hard surface cleaners are examples of foam products.Such foam product is described, for example, in EP-A-546 828. A preferred foam product according to the present invention is a laundry detergent foam cleaner.A foam laundry laundry detergent composition is disclosed in EP-A -677 577 and in European co-pending patent application No. 95870084.1.

Claims (12)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A valve (10) comprises a rod (11), a housing (12) and a locking means (20), the rod (11) being movable inside the housing (12) to allow the opening and closing of the valve (10), the rod (11) comprises a discharge opening (14) connected to the discharge channel (15), the discharge channel (15) being located on one end of the rod (11), the housing comprises an orifice, locking means (20) preventing the opening of the valve (10). when the discharge channel (15) is in an undesired orientation, the blocking means being separated from the discharge opening (14), characterized in that the blocking means (20) is located at the other end of the rod (11) opposite the discharge channel (15).

2. - A valve according to claim 1, further characterized in that the locking means (20) comprise a non-compressible movable barrier (21) and a gap (22), the barrier being located between the end of the rod (11) opposite the discharge channel and the final wall (24) of the housing (12).

3. A valve according to claim 2, further characterized in that the recess (22) is located in the end part (23) of the rod (11) or in the end wall (24) of the housing (12).

4. - A valve according to claim 3, further characterized in that the end wall (24) of the housing (12) is inclined.

5. - A valve according to claim 3 or 4, further characterized in that the end part (23) of the rod (11) is inclined.

6. - A valve according to any of claims 2 to 5 further characterized in that the movable non-compressible barrier (21) is a spherical ball or an oval pin.

7. A valve according to claim 3, further characterized in that the movable non-compressible barrier (21) is fixed pivotably to the end portion (23) of the rod (11) or the end wall (24) of the housing (12). ).

8. - A valve according to claims 2 to 5, further characterized in that the movable non-compressible barrier (21) is a liquid.

9. A valve according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the blocking means (20) are separated from the discharge opening (14) by an interrupted wall.

A valve according to claim 9, further characterized in that the valve (10) further comprises a spring (18) separated from the discharge opening (14) by an interrupted wall.

11. A valve according to any of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that the locking means (20) are completely isolated from the discharge opening (14) by a seal (30). A valve according to claim 11, further characterized in that the valve (10) further comprises a spring (18) which is completely isolated from the discharge opening (14) by the seal (30).