US2748984A

US2748984A - Hermetically sealed spray packages and needle valves therefor

Info

Publication number: US2748984A
Application number: US340726A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward H Seymour
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-03-06
Filing date: 1953-03-06
Publication date: 1956-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-05

Description

June 5, 1956 E. H. SEYMOUR HERMETICALLY SEALED SPRAY PACKAGES AND NEEDLE VALVES THEREFOR Filed March 6, 1953 v4 7 6 m v. mflm o \i L E R NH m 5 g E f M I 7 MW... 4 E E United States Patent O HERMETICALLY SEALED SPRAY PACKAGES AND NEEDLE VALVES THEREFOR Edward H. Seymour, Sycamore, Ill.

Application March 6, 1953,,Serial No. 340,726

Claims. ((31. 222- 148) This invention relates to hermetically sealed spray packages such as those used for packaging and dispensing liquid suspensions of finely divided solid materials, and more particularly to hermetically sealedpaint spray packages.

Such spray packages as now-commonlyavailable involve a container, a needle valve at the'top of the con-- tainer, and a discharge tube extending from this'needle valve to a point near the base of this container. The suspension within this container is maintained under the pressure of a liquefied gas, such as a halogenated hydrocarbon, e. g., methyl chloride, dichloro-difluoro meth ane (Freon l2), dichloro-monofiuoro methane (Freon 21), or dichloro-tetralluoro ethane (Freon'l-l4); Upon opening of the needle'valve the'suspension escapes, -un-' der'the pressure of the liquefied gas. This release of pressure causes the liquefied gas to expand, atomizing the suspension and thus producing a fine sprayor mist.

Spray packages and particularly paint spray packages now commercially available have two objectionable features. First, there is the tendency of the suspension, under the influence of the pressure of the liquefied gas at thetop of the container, to flow up the discharge .tube forming a column of relatively-dense suspension in this, tube in contact with the valve seat. This tendency is aggravated by the user, when holdingthe packagepthe warmth of the hand or hands is imparted to the contents of the package increasing the temperature. Hence, the pressure exerted by the liquefied gas increases, which in turn increasesthe tendency of the suspension. to flow up through the discharge tube. .In the case of paint-spray packages it is not uncommon. for a column'of paint to form in the discharge tube in contact withnthe valve seat, which column prevents; discharge of the paint when the valve is opened. I v

A secondobjectionable featureis that the needle valve heretofore employed involve too many parts and must be secured in place on-the' container wall by1weldingor similar operation, thus addingmaterially to the cost of the package.

It is among thegobjects of this invention to provide a spray package which is provided witha. needle valve designed to rninimize, if not completely prevent, clogging of the discharge tube It is anotherobjectlof thisinvention to provide, aspray package equipped withwhat might well be characterized as a self-cleaning needle valve.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a needle-valve .for a spray package consisting of relatively fewfparts, which is economical to manufacture and .which can readily be secured in place on the :container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such needle valve which can be firmly secured in placeby simply ;assembling the parts and withoutrequiring any welding,; brazing, or otheranalogous ioperation ==for securing the; yalveeto the container,

Other objects and advantagesof this invention will .be-

apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

In accordance with this invention the needle-valve stemis provided just below the seat with a portion extending within the discharge tube and movable with the valve stem in a direction away from the valve seat into the discharge tube so as to dislodge or loosen any accumulation.

of material within the discharge tube adjacent the valve' seat. In this way a cleaning or loosening action is exerted on theimaterial'within the discharge tube, particularlysolid-material in the tube and efiect its removalther'e from, thus efiecting the cleansing-of the discharge tube.

Further in accordance with this invention the needle valve is composed of relatively few parts, preferably four, namely:

1. A female member provided with an opening in part at least of generally concave'shape. This female mem-' her is arranged to engage an inside Wall of the portion of the container, e. g., the top on which the valve is mounted.

2. A male member having aprojecting portion at least a part of which is congruent with the openingin the female member. The male member is adapted to engage the outer wall of the container on which the valve is mounted. Seating of the projecting portion within-the female mem-, ber securely locks these two members on the container and firmly secures the needle valve in place thereon. These members are made of elastic compressible material, such as polyethylene, neoprene, other synthetic rubber, or vinyl resins, e. g., Koroseal, Formvar, Alvar, Butvar, etc. The particular compressible material chosen will depend on the substance or composition packaged and should be of a chemical composition such that it will not deleteriously affect the contents of the package. For .use in theproduction of paint spray packages polyethylene is the preferred material from which to produce these two members because it is chemically inert to the'paints and is readily compressible and expansible to an extent permitting the insertion of the one member into the other to firmly secure the resultant assembly, in place on the paint container Without requiring any additional fasten; ing means.

3. A stem provided with a valve seating surface reciprocating in aligned openings in members 1 and 2 above and arranged to seat on a valve seat at thebase of the female member.

4. A spring on the stem for maintainingthe valve closed. Compression of the male member which, as above noted, is of compressible elastic material opens the valve against the action of the spring. Release. of the compressive force on the male member causes the spring to close the valve.

It will be'understood the above novel needle valve construction is generally applicable to spray packages and other packages irrespective of the material packaged,

In the preferred embodiment illustrated on the drawing the invention is shown incorporated in a hermetically sealed paint container and the descriptionwhich follows will be confined to the present illustrated embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that this invention is not confined to such paint packages but is applicable to hermetically sealed. packages for. storing, distributing and applying suspensions of finely divided solid materials in a liquid medium. As above indicated, .the needle valve construction of this invention is applicable wherever-needle valves may be used.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and showing, for purposes of exemplification, preferred forms of this invention without limiting the claimed invention to such illustrative instances:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation of a hermetically sealed container embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the valve and communicating discharge tube of Figure 1; Figure 2 is on a greatly enlarged scale as compared with Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a composite view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a modified form of spray package embodying my invention.

In the drawing referring to Figure 1, 13 indicates a container, desirably of aluminum, steel or other material, comprising a cylindrical side wall 11, a base 12 and a top or closure 13. In the embodiment of Figure 1, relative to the interior of container both the base 12 and top 13 are of convex shape, i. e,, the base from its peripheral edges is curved upwardly providing a convex surface in the interior of the container on which solid material may collect and from which such solid material may more readily be removed than in the case of a flat or concave surface.

The top 13 of the container 10, as above noted, is of convex shape relative to the interior of the container, thus providing a concave or recessed portion 14 at the top of the container. In this portion 14 a needle valve 15 is positioned centrally of the container with its top disposed somewhat below top edge 16 of container 10. In this way the needle valve 15 is protected by the peripheral upper edge portion 16 of the container during handling and storage, and damage to the needle valve is minimized. The peripheral edges of the base 12 and top 13 are suitably fastened to the bottom and top edges of the cylindrical side wall 11 to form the interlocked top and bot tom peripheral edges 17 which seal the upper and lower edge portions of the container against ingress of air or egress of the contents of the container. The container is thus hermetically sealed; as a practical matter access to the interior thereof cannot be had without destroying the package.

Extending from the needle valve 15 is a discharge or siphon tube 18. This tube desirably extends to a point near the base of the container. It may be of metal or other suitable material of construction. A body of paint 19 consisting of a vehicle, such as linseed oil, etc., partially dissolved in a volatile solvent, such as methyl chloride, dichloro-difiuoro methane (Freon l2), dichloromonofluoro methane (Freon 2l), dichloro-tetrafluoro ethane (Freon 114), etc., and having suspended therein a pigment in finely divided form is disposed within container 10. The volatile solvent maintains the solution under superatmospheric pressure; the pressure depends on the particular solvent used and the temperature of the container 10.

During storage pigment will tend to settle to the bottom 12 and collect thereon. In accordance with the invention of my Patent 2,580,132, granted December 25, 1951, the container may be provided with an agitator or redispersing member 21. This agitator may be made of a material such as steel, metal or plastic of a specific gravity substantially greater than that of the paint. Hence, it settles to the bottom of the container and rests thereon. The agitator desirably is shaped as disclosed in my aforesaid patent to provide relatively sharp elongated cutting edges which contact the pigment adhering to the base of the container and upon agitation of the contents of the container remove the pigment from the base so that it becomes redispersed in the vehicle.

In accordance with this invention the valve 15 is composed of a female member 22 provided with an opening 23 coaxial with the axis of the female member and extending from top to bottom thereof thus forming an axial bore passing completely through this member. An intermediate portion of opening 23 is defined by three truncated

conical sections

24, 25 and 26 leading into a cylindrical section 27 disposed at the top of the female member 22. Cylindrical section 27 and truncated conical section 26, which, it will be noted, has its sides sloping inwardly from top to bottom toward the longitudinal axis of the opening 23, form a funnel shaped entering portion, the function of which will be explained more fully hereinafter. The truncated

conical sections

24, 25 define the interior wall of a holding portion of generally concave shape. Section 24 leads into a generally cylindrical passageway 28 having a beveled end 28' constituting a valve seat. It will be understood that the shape of the axial bore in female member 22 may be changed from that shown in the drawing. It is important, however, that this bore have a portion thereof of generally concave shape for a purpose hereinafter explained fully. The top of female member 22 is arranged to abut the underside of the top 13.

A male member 29, desirably shaped as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, cooperates with fcmaie member 22 to form with the latter member the valve body. Male member 29 consists of a head 30 and a projecting portion 31, the outer periphery of which is congruent with the inner wall of

sections

24, 25 and 26 of opening 23. The funnel shaped entering portion defined by conical section 26 and cylindrical section 27 permits the ready entry of projecting portion 31 into seating position in opening 23 of female member 22.

Members

22 and 29 are each composed of compressible elastic material, as noted above. When assembling these two members the projection 31 on male member 29 is passed through an opening 32 in the top 13 and is forced into the congruent opening in the female member 22. The resiliency or elasticity of the material of construction of these two members permits such assembly of the two members with the top 13 clamped between the underside of head 30 and the top of female member 22, as shown in Figure 2. When thus assembling these parts flange 33 defining the opening 32 in top 13 is bent or flexed into the position shown in Figure 2. A gas tight joint thus results between the valve and the top 13 and the valve parts are firmly seated on the top 13.

A valve stem 34 having a valve seating surface 35 arranged to seat on the valve seat 28 is mounted for reciprocatory movement in channel 36 within male member 29. The valve seating surface 35 and the cooperating seat 28 desirably are of truncated conical shape. Integral with or suitably fastened to a laterally extending cylindrical portion 36 on which the valve seating surface 35 is disposed is a projecting stem 37. This stem 37 may have its peripheral edge roughened and may extend the full strength of the tube 18, or any desired portion of the length of this tube. Preferably it extends at least the major portion of the length of the tube 18, if not the entire length of this tube.

A spring 39 encircles the upper portion of the valve stem 34. Desirably valve stem 34 has its top end flanged, as at 41, to provide a holding member between which and the ledge 41 on the female member 22 the spring is compressed. For example, the valve stem 34 may be formed with a recess 42 at its top enabling the upper edge portion to be bent over by means of a suitable tool to form flange 41 after the spring 39 is mounted on the stem to hold the spring, desirably under some tension, between flange 41 and the ledge 41.

A discharge outlet 43, which may be lined with metal or other suitable material, as indicated at 44, leads from the channel 36 laterally in a generally upward direction.

In constructing the spray package in accordance with this invention the female member 22 is first placed on the underside of the top 13 in the position shown in Figure 2. The male member 29 having the valve stem 34 with the spring 39 thereon is then positioned with the projection 31 passing through. opening32 in top .13. This-projection is forced into the congruent opening in .thefemale mem-- ber 22 thus securely lockingthese two memberson the top 13. The needle valve assembly is thus sealed to the top by means of a gas tight joint and this without requiring any welding or brazing.

The assembly of top and needle .valve includingthe discharge tube 18 is then mountedon the cylindrical container consisting of the side wall 11 andthe base 12, the peripheral edges of the top and side Wall .being crimped or otherwise fastened to form the sealed edges 17 at the top of the package. The paint may beinsertedin the package before securing thetop tothe side. walls In accordance with well known fillingpractice, the paint is introduced into the container under refrigeration at a temperature at which the liquefied gas is in the liquid phase so that it has substantially no vapor pressure at the temperature at which the filling is carried out. The contents of the container are subjected to superatmospheric pressures as it warms up to atmospheric temperature.

In order to eifect dispensing of the contents of the container it is only necessary to compress-the. male member 29. Since it is of polyethylene or other elastic compressible material, the application. of pressure to the top. of this member effects compression thereof. This causes the stem 34 to move downwardly away from the seat 28' against the action of spring 39.: -Material within the tube 18 flows through the valve thusopened, channel 36 into and through discharge outlet 43. As the suspension along with the'liquefied gas enters the atmosphere, expansion of the liquefied gas-takes place with consequent atomization of the suspen'sion'producing a fine spray or mist.

It will be noted that in the case of spray packages for paints and other suspensions embodying this invention, the column of suspended material which may form within discharge tube 13 is dislodged or loosened every time the needle valve is opened. This takes place due to member 36' and stem 37 moving downwardly within tube 18. While this movement linearly is relatively; small, of the order of or even less, it does effect loosening of the contents of the suspension within the tube 18., Thus, as cylindrical portion 36' moves downwardly the column of material within the tube is dislodged. from its position contiguous to valve seat 28'. Furthermore, as projecting stem 37 moves downwardly it forms a channel through this column or mass of material within the tube 18, This loosening and/or channeling is suflicient to permit the liquefied gas to flow up through the tube 18 carrying with it the vehicle for the paint and the pigment effecting almost instantaneously the removal of the column of material within the discharge tube 18, thus cleansing or clearing this tube and permitting flow therethrough.

The modification of Figure 3 differs from that of Figure 1 chiefiy in that instead of having the top of the container of concave shape, as shown in Figure 1, the top of the container is dome shaped. Thus, in the embodiment of Figure 3, the top of the container has a truncated conical portion 45 merging into a cylindrical portion 46. The latter in turn merges into a truncated conical portion 47 having a top opening 48 in which is fitted a closure member 49. The valve 15 may be secured to closure member 49 in the same manner as the valve is secured to the top 13 shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 3. A cover may be provided for the closure member 49 to protect the valve. Similarly, the container may be provided with a cover for its top.

.l t will be noted this invention provides a spray package and particulariy a paint spray package the needle valve or" which is so designed as to minimize, if not completely eliminate, clogging of the discharge tube. In other words, the needle valve is substantially self-cleaning. Furthermore, the needle valve consists of relatively few parts which can easily be assembled on the container and this can be accomplished without welding or braz- 6 ing anypart of .the'valve to the. portionof the container? on which it is mounted. Notwithstanding the mounting of the needlevalve withoutthe use of a welded or brazed joint, a gas. tight. seal between thevalve and. the containerv results. 7

Since certain changes may be made-in the package or needle valve therefor embodying this invention without. departing. from the scope of this invention, it is intended that=all matter containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a hermetically sealed con-- tainer' for dispensing liquid suspensions of finely-divided solid material, a self-cleaning valve comprising a valve body having a valve bore through which material is dispensed,-a valve seat at the inlet end-of said valve bore,-a valve stem having a valve seating surface arranged to seat on said valve seat to close said valve, a discharge tube extending downwardly from the inlet'end of said valve bore in a direction toward the --base of said container, and a discharge tube cleaning member extending from immediately below said valve seating surface into and down through said discharge tube and arranged to move any accumulation of solid material within the tube to loosen said material and permit flow therethrough when the valve is opened, said discharge tube below said valve seating surface being completely free of any obstruction to flow therethrough except for said valve cleaningmem; ber.

2. In combination with a hermetically sealed container for-dispensing liquid suspensions of finely divided solid material, a self-cleaning valve comprising a valve ,body having a valve bore through which material is dispensed, a valve seat at the inlet end of said valve bore, a valve stem having a lateral extension provided with a seating surface, a discharge tube extending downwardly from the inlet end of said valve bore to a point near the base of said container, said lateral extension being movable in said discharge tube in a direction away from said seat to open said valve and in a direction. toward said seat to close said valve, and a discharge tube cleaning stem projecting downwardly within said discharge tubefrom immediately below said lateral extension and movable therewith, said cleaning stem extendingv through the major portion of the length of said discharge tube and said discharge tube below said lateral extension being completely free of anyobstruction. to flow therethrough except for said cleaningstem.

3. In combination with a hermeticallysealed container comprising a top for said container having a centrally disposed opening therein, a valve comprising a female member of compressible elastic material having its top abutting the underside of said top of said container and its longitudinal axis substantially coaxial with the center of said centrally disposed opening in said top of said container, said female member having an opening passing through the full length thereof substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said female member, said opening having an intermediate portion of generally concave shape and having a valve seat on its base, a male member of compressible elastic material having a head portion adapted to engage the top of said container and having a projection of a shape congruent with the said intermediate portion of generally concave shape, the two members being clamped on said top of said container by the forces exerted by compressing said projection and disposing it within said intermediate portion of generally concave shape, said male member having a channel coaxial with and communicating with the base portion of said opening having a valve seat thereon, said male member having a discharge outlet in the head thereof communicating with said channel, a valve stem disposed within said channel having a seating surface for setting on said valve seat to close said valve and arranged to be moved away from said seat to open said valve, and a spring on said stem for normally maintaining the said seating surface in contact with the valve seat, compression of said head moving said valve stem in a direction to open said valve.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3, in which a discharge tube extends from said valve seat at the base of the female member in a direction toward the base of said container, and a cleaning stem projects downwardly from the seating surface on said valve stem and is disposed within said discharge tube.

5. In combination with a hermetically sealed container comprising a top for said container having a centrally disposed opening therein, a valve comprising a female member of compressible elastic material having its top abutting the underside of said top of said container and its longitudinal axis substantially coaxial with the center of said centrally disposed opening in said top of said container, said female member having an opening passing through the full length thereof substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said female member, said opening having an intermediate portion of generally concave shape and having a valve seat on its base, a male member of compressible elastic material having a head portion adapted to engage the top of said container and having a projection of a shape congruent with the said intermediate portion of generally concave shape, the two members being clamped on said top of said container by the forces exerted by compressing said projection and disposing it within said intermediate portion of generally concave shape, said male member having a channel coaxial with and communicating with the base portion of said opening having a valve seat thereon, said male member having a discharge outlet in the head thereof communicating with said-channel, a valve stem having its top in abutment with the interior of said head and having a lateral extension disposed just below said valve seat, said extension being provided with a valve seating surface arranged to engage said valve seat to close said valve, a discharge tube leading from said female member to a point near the base of said container, and a downwardly extending projecting portion disposed within said discharge tube on said lateral extension.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5, in which the downwardly extending projecting portion on the lateral extension is a cleaning rod which extends for at least a major portion of the length of the discharge tube.

7. In combination with a hermetically sealed container, a needle valve comprising a male member of elastic compressible material having an annular portion engageable with the exterior of the container wall adjacent the container wall opening through which the male member is inserted and an annular part engageable with the interior portion of said container Wall adjacent said opening, and a female member of elastic compressible material having an annular portion engaging the interior of said wall, said two annular portions clamping the container wall between them, one of said members being provided with a valve seat and means movable within said members provided with a valve seating surface arranged to engage said valve seat to form a valve closure and movable away from said seat to open said closure.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7, in which a discharge tube extends from said valve seat towards the base of said container and the said valve seating surface has a cleaning stem projecting downwardly there from into said discharge tube.

. In combination with a hermetically sealed container,

a valve comprising a male member having an annular portion engageable with the exterior of the container wall adjacent the container wall opening through which the male member is inserted and an annular part engageable with the interior portion of said container wall adjacent said opening, and a female membcr having an annular portion engaging the interior of said wall, said two annular portions clamping the container wall between them, both the male and female members being of compressible elastic material, the male member having an axial bore which is coaxial with the axis of an opening in said female member, a valve stem mounted for reeiprocatory movement in said axial bore and having a valve seating surface thereon, and spring means on said valve stem for maintaining the said seating surface thereon in sealing engagement with a valve seat on the female member.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9, in which the female member and male member are composed of polyethylene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,986,447 Rishel Jan. l, 1935 2,372,392 Fletman Mar. 27, 1945 2,401,391 Vale et al. June 4, 1946 2,513,272 Bowen July 4, l950 2,573,624 Svendsen Oct. 30, 1951 2,579,977 SjOlin Dec. 25, 1951 2,580,132 Seymour Dec. 25, 1951 2,592,130 Erb et a1. Apr. 8, 1952