US2901186A - Valve assembly - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1959 c. A. PRICE ET AL VALVE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1957 VENTORS CLARENCE ,4. xiv/cs Eowmeo F/scuek Ross/er! SCHULTZ F/N/v G. 0L 50v 4 TTOJQNEV nited States Pate O VALVE ASSEIVIBLY Clarence A. Price, Ann Arbor, Edward Fischer, Saline, and Robert J. Schultz, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Bradson Manufacturing Corporation, Saline, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 30, 1957, Serial No. 706,203 '5 Claims. (Cl. 239-538) The present invention relates to devices for mixing and distributing liquids, and in particular to liquid mixing and spraying devices of the type that operate on the principle of aspiration. This invention constitutes improvements over prior art devices wherein a bottle serves as a reservoir for a concentrated liquid, and a cover member is screwed to the top of the bottle and serves to direct a stream of diluent liquid over an apertured impingement surface creating a partial vacuum for aspirating the concentrated liquid from the bottle. The diluent and concentrated liquids are mixed and sprayed by this operation upon external objects.

In prior art devices of this general character, the diluent liquid generally is water which is supplied through a garden hose attached at its outlet end to the cover member of the bottle. There are different arrangements that can be employed for starting and interrupting the aspirating operation. One which is commonly used requires the diluent liquid to flow continuously over the impingement surface. The cover has a vent duct extending between the outside atmosphere and the aperture in the impingement surface. The vent duct is located so that the user may place his finger over it, closing the same. The user may start aspirating the concentrated liquid from the bottle merely by closing the duct, thereby causing a pressure differential to be created between the interior of the bottle and at the apertured impinge ment surface. The concentrated liquid will then rise in a tube, provided within the bottle for this purpose, to the aperture in the impingement surface, where it will mix with the diluent liquid. To interrupt the aspirating and mixing operation, it is only necessary to open the vent duct, thereby preventing concentrated liquid from being sucked from the bottle. This type of construction is sometimes undesirable, because the diluent liquid continues to flow until the user has returned to the inlet end of the hose and has closed the valve to which it is attached.

In some instances, valves have been attached to the cover member so that the user can start or stop the flow of water from the garden hose by opening or closing the valve. However, such constructions have not always proved satisfactory for various reasons. In some instances such valves are bulky and heavy in weight, often they are clumsy to operate, and in most instances their cost is relatively high.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid mixing and spraying apparatus which will overcome the defects of the prior art devices and which is characterized by its simple, light Weight construction, so that it can be operated easily and the cost at which it can be sold to the consumer will be relatively low.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid mixing and spraying apparatus of the foregoing character wherein the valve housing for the valve assembly is formed as an integral part of the cover of the bottle and wherein the nozzle in the valve assembly ice 2. is interchangeable so that different flow characteristics of the diluent liquid can be obtained.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a liquid mixing and spraying apparatus of the foregoing character wherein the valve assembly is constructed and arranged so that the user of the apparatus can start and stop the flow of the diluent liquid easily and quickly, and wherein the flow of diluent liquid will be substantially instantaneously interrupted when the user turns the valve to the off position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly of the foregoing character wherein the internal parts of the valve assembly are formed from suitable materials and wherein a lever arm is connected to a rotatable element, the movement of which will efiect opening or closing of the valve assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination bottle cover and valve housing, wherein the cover is designed to have mounted thereon an apertured impingement surface of' any desired shape or configuration so that a standard cover and valve housing can be used for several of various liquid mixing and spraying apparatus, thereby reducing the overall manufacturing costs of each of these different units of equipment.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bottle cover member and an integral valve housing embodying one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cover and valve housing shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is anenlarged vertical section through the axis of the valve housing illustrating the various internal parts of the valve assembly and a hose fitting attached thereto;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3 with the ball elements removed;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 with the ball elements removed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 66 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged section of the pin shown in Figure 6, taken on the line 77.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a more detailed description of the invention will be given. The cover member 10 is adapted to be screwed onto the top of a bottle (not shown) containing concentrated liquid. Such a bottle can be seen by way of example in the patent to Budwig, No. 2,744,791. Any conventional inclined impingement plate, such as is shown for example in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,744,791 may be mounted on the top surface of the cover 10, overlying the opening 12. Suitable retaining means such as the four pin holes 14 may be used for securing the inclined impingement plate in place.

Formed integrally with the cover member 10 is the 'valve housing 16. The integral connection is provided by theltwonarms. 18 and 20. The valve housing 16 is cylindrical in shape and has its axis generally parallel with the upper surface of the cover member and slightly [above the. latter..

The valve housing16chas. a shoulder 22..extending inwardlyaround the discharge end thereof. Seated-against shoulderaZZ and-rotatably mounted within the valve housing. 16 is-ajet nozzle 24 having a discharge opening. A sealing ring 26 prevents leakage between the external surfaceof .thetjetnozzle' 24,:and the inner wall of the shoulder 22.: A cap member28 is fitted over a recessed portion:30.on the upstream end-of the jet nozzle 24 and together therewithforming: :a unitary outlet member. The cap -member 28-is prevented fromurotating relative to the jet' nozzle 24-by meansofa suitable tongue v32 which fits intogan associatedslot 340f the capnrember 28. The cap member 28 :has two diametrically opposed longitudinally extending passageways 36-and 38, such passageways providing the only communication :fromupstrearnin the valve housing 16 to the jet nozzle 24. Position edup stream of the cap .member 28and within the valve housing 16 is..a ball-harness membenAtl. The latter has two diametrically opposed, .U - shaped.wall.portions 42 and 44 which are iopenat their oppositeends. Upstream of the U.-shaped wall portions 42and 44 is anannular portion 46 of reduced-diameters The harness member 40 is retained against rotation within the housing 16 by 1 me ans of any suitable .means such -as.:the interlocking grooves, such as are shown at 48 and 50.

Positionedwithin each-of'ithe U-shapedwall portions 42 and 44 arethe balls 50 and 52.. The latter will fit loosely within their respective wall portions and arefree to move axially of the -valvehousingl6 for limited distances.- They are of sufficient size so that they can not move upstream in the harness membeI-AO- into the annular portion 46,:but can move downstream ofv the harness member 40into the positions shown-inFigurel: of the drawing, where they seat withinthe passageways 36 and 38, thereby'closing the same. Thus, it will be apparent that when the balls 50 and 52 main the positions shown in Figure-3, no water-or diluent liquid can pass through the-valve housing 16.- It is contemplated thatthe-female end of a hose fittingwillbe attached to the end of the harness member 40, as is shown at 54. When a .water hose-is connected to-the fitting 54,-and-the valvecontrolling water to the hose isopen, the pressure of the water in the-hose will act against-the balls 50'and 52 to hold-them in place in the passageways -36-and 38. Thus, even though the water under pressure is connected-to the :valve housing 16 there will be no flow of water, because the water will exert pressure :against. the balls 50 and 52 holding them in place.

When his desired'to start the flow of water through the valve-housing 16,--out=the nozzlejet 24 and over the impingement plate, itis merely necessary torotate the jet nozzle -24- around its axis which will result -in the cap member 28-turning-about its axis tothe same extent.

The balls 50 and 52 will berestricted from-rotating in:

this direction'and they-will'be deflected upstream where they-will rest against the-outer wall surfaces-56 and 58 of the cap member 28:; There will'beno obstructions then in the passageways 36-and 38, thereby permitting free flow of the liquid diluent-orwater through such passageways. When it is desired tointerrupt such flow it-is merelynecessary-to turnthe jet nozzle-24 and associated cap member -28-about theirlcommonaxis until'the passageways 36 and-"38 are again in axial alignment with the permittedpaths oflongitudinalmovement of the balls 50 and 52 within-the U-shaped wall portions 42 and 44. When the passageways36 and 38 are alignedin'this manner; the balls will be moved 'bythe-reduced pressure conditions which will exist at the entrances to the passageways 36 and 38 and will snap into the seated .posi-- tions shown in Figure 3, therebysubstantially instantaneously interrupting the. flow of liquid diluent or water through such passageways. This will instantaneously interrupt flow of the concentrated liquid from the bottle (not shown).

The jet nozzle 24 can be rotated about its axis by means of a handle lever .60 .-which seats on a flat upper surface of the protruding end 62 of the jet nozzle 24 and has a pair of pins 64 and 66 securing the two members together; Thus, the .twoparts will'ineifect be .an integral-innit so that when the. handle lever 60is pivoted to'the on direction, as shown in Figure 1, the passageways 36 and 38 will be out of alignment with the paths of movementof the balls. 50and 52, thereby permitting flow of water through the housing 16 and out the jet nozzle 24. Conversely, when the handle lever 60 is pivoted in the opposite direction to the off position, shown in Figure l, the balls 50 and 52 will be in alignment with the passageways 36 and 38, thereby preventing flow of-water throughthe nozzle assemblies.

Ifdesired, the cover member 10 and valve-housing 16 may beformed-from a low cost, light weight die cast metaL- The jet nozzle-24 and its associated-cap member 28,-as well as-the harness member '40, may be formed from'any suitable plastic material. The balls 50 and 52 may be tormed from a plastic or rubber-like material which'will be adapted to seat firmly againstthe'upstream end of the- passageways 36 and 38. In assembling the various-parts, the-sealing ring 26 will initially be inserted into the valve housing 16 in the position shown in Figure 3.- Thereafter, the assembled jet nozzle 24 and cap memben28'will be inserted from the upstream end of-the valve housing into the position shown in Figure 3.- Thereaften'the balls 50 and 52 can be introduced into their compartments in the harness member 40 and these parts can be inserted into the valve housing 16 from the upstream'end thereof. During this last operation the upper-end 680f the valve housing 16 will be spread apart slightly by-the annular shoulder 70 of the harness member;40,-and the latter will then seat within the hollow groove 72; provided for'this purpose, thereby locking thevarious parts in place; After this assembling operation'has been-completed a hose fitting 54 can be clamped over the upstream-end of the harness member 40 so as to provide a'swivel hose connection. Finally, the handle lever 60 can be inserted in place on the protruding end portion 62 of the jetnozzle-24. This is accomplished by means-of the pins or'barbs 64 and 66 being pressed through'apertures 72 and 74 in the jet nozzle 24. The pins - orbarbs 64 and 66 have lower end portions 76 and 78,-eac-h-with a cross section which is elliptical in shape having a major axis slightly longer than the diameter of the holes'in'whichthe pins are pressed. This will cause such holes to be distorted out of round to receive the elliptical end portions, but when the latter pass into the enlarged lower ends of the openings, the holes will return to their circular shapes. The pins or barbs 64 and 66 can not then be easily withdrawn andthe handle lever 60 and the'jet nozzle 24 will thereafter, in effect, be integrally secured together.

From the foregoing it can beseen that a lightweight, low. cost valve assembly has been provided for use .with liquidlmixing andspraying apparatus, such valve assembly being simple to operate and having standard parts which can be assembled with jet nozzles of a plurality of sizes thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of a series of .valveia ssemblies having .diflferent operating characteristics. In addition, the combination cover and valve housing is adapted to use any one of a plurality of apertured impingement surfaces, thereby further standardizing the parts to obtain additionalcost benefits.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing openat opposite ends, an outlet member With a coaxial discharge opening projecting from one end of said housing, said outlet member being adapted to turn about its axis within said housing, the opposite end of said outlet member having at least one inlet port out of axial alignment with said discharge opening, an open harness member mounted in said housing for passage of liquid therethrough and retaining a ball of larger diameter than said port for movement longitudinally of said housing, said harness being positioned adjacent the opposite end of said outlet member and open thereto so that when said outlet member is turned with its inlet port in alignment with said ball and liquid is flowing through said valve housing the ball will seat in said port interrupting the flow of liquid, and when the outlet member is turned to another position said ball will be out of said port allowing flow of said liquid.

2. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open at opposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxial discharge opening projecting from one end of said housing, said outlet member being adapted to turn about its axis within said housing, the opposite end of said outlet member having at least one inlet port out of axial alignment with said discharge opening, an open harness member mounted in said housing for passage of liquid therethrough and retaining a ball of larger diameter than said port for movement longitudinally of said housing, said harness being positioned adjacent the opposite end of said outlet member and open thereto so that when said outlet member is turned with its inlet port in alignment with said ball and liquid is flowing through said valve housing the ball will seat in said port interrupting the flow of liquid, and when the outlet member is turned to another position said ball will be out of said port allowing flow of said liquid, and a lever mounted on the outer end of said outlet member and extending in a radial direction therefrom for selectively moving said outlet member to allow or to interrupt flow of the liquid.

3. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open at opposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxial discharge opening projecting from one end of said housing, said outlet member being adapted to turn about its axis within said housing, the opposite end of said outlet member having at least one inlet port out of axial alignment with said discharge opening, a harness member mounted in said housing and retaining a ball of larger diameter than said port for movement longitudinally of said housing, said harness being positioned adjacent the opposite end of said outlet member and open thereto so that when said outlet member is turned with its inlet port in alignment with said ball and liquid is flowing through said valve housing the ball will seat in said port interrupting the flow, and when the outlet member is turned to another position said ball will be out of said 6 port allowing flow of said liquid, said harness member projecting out of the inlet end of said housing and having a rotatable hose fitting mounted thereon.

4. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open at opposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxially disposed discharge opening projecting from the discharge end of said housing, said outlet member being adapted to turn on its axis within said housing, a lever mounted on the projecting end of said outlet member and extending radially therefrom to form a handle for turning said outlet member to either of two preselected positions, the inner end of said outlet member having a port out of axial alignment with the axis of said outlet member and in communication with said discharge opening, an open harness member mounted in said housing for passage of liquid therethrough and projecting out of the inlet end of said housing and adapted to have a rotatable fitting mounted thereon, the inner end of said harness member carrying a ball larger than said port in juxtaposition thereto for seating therein when said lever is turned to one of said preselected positions and for rolling out of said port when the latter is turned by the lever to the other of said preselected positions, said ball being adapted to be retained in its seated position by liquid pressure acting thereon when the rotatable fitting is connected to a source of liquid under pressure.

5. Valve apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical housing open at opposite ends, an outlet member with a coaxially disposed discharge opening projecting from the discharge end of said cylindrical housing, said outlet member being adapted to turn on its axis within said housing, means connected to said outlet member and extending from said housing to turn said outlet member to either of two preselected positions, the inner end of said outlet member having two diametrically opposed ports out of axial alignment with the axis of said outlet member and in communication with said discharge opening, an open harness member mounted in said housing for passage of liquid therethrough, the inner end of said harness member carrying two diametrically opposed balls larger than said ports and in juxtaposition for seating therein when said means is turned to one of said preselected positions and for rolling out of said ports when the latter are turned by said means to the other of said preselected positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,932 Budwig Nov. 24, 1936 2,514,431 West July 11, 1950 2,719,704 Anderson et al. Oct. 4, 1955

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