US3050281A - Dispensing valve - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1962 s. e. BUDWIG DISPENSING VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 Attorneys 5 Aug. 21 1962 s. G. BUDWIG DISPENSING VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31. 1959 Fig. 7

mmvron Gilbert 6 IBudwsg BY United States Patent 3,050,281 DISPENSING VALVE Gilbert G. Budwig, 3400 Bayside Walk, Mission Beach, Calif.

Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,215 8 Claims. (Cl. 251-342) This invention relates to dispensing valves; that is, to valves adapted for use on pressurized containers for controlling the discharge of their contents. Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a dispensing valve which is particularly economical of manufacture, thereby permitting its use in conjunction with expendable pressurized containers.

Second, to provide a dispensing valve wherein the valve body is essentially a tubular member molded of a yieldable plastic material or semi-elastomer, such as polyethylene, and having an inlet at one end, an outlet at its other end, and a valve seat intermediate its ends, the valve body being so shaped adjacent the valve seat as to be locally distortable when the outlet end is deflected, to cause distortion of the valve seat thereby to permit flow past a cooperating valve element.

Third, to provide a dispensing valve which in one embodiment a plastic element is cast as an insert when the valve body is molded.

Fourth, to provide a dispensing valve which in another embodiment utilizes a special plastic valve element having integral spring means to preload its engagement with the valve seat.

Fifth, to provide a dispensing valve which in another embodiment a rigid valve element and seat washer are assembled into the molded valve body.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view of a container showing the dispensing valve mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken through 22 of FIGURE 1, showing the dispensing valve but omitting the container;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged, substantially diagrammatical view taken through 4--4 of FIGURE 3, showing the valve element and adjacent portions of the core members employed in molding the valve body around the valve element, and illustrating the manner in which the valve is held in a compressed condition while being molded;

FIGURE 5 is also a further enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken in the same plane as FIGURE 4, and showing the valve element and adjacent portions of the valve body when the valve is in its closed condition;

FIGURE 6 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the valve seat within the valve body distorts to efiect opening of the valve;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, showing a modification of the valve body;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view also similar to FIGURE 2, showing a further modified form of the valve body and valve element;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through 9-9 of FIGURE 10, showing a further modified form of the valve body and valve element;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken through 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary, bottom end view of the valve construction shown in FIGURE 9.

Reference is first directed to FIGURES 1 through 6. I he dispensing valve herein illustrated includes a valve "ice body 1 formed of plastic material having elastomer characteristics. Polyethylene has been found suitable; however, other yieldable material may be used.

The valve body 1 is essentially tubular and includes an inlet portion 2 and a normally coaxial outlet portion 3. These portions are separated by an external annular groove 4 and are joined internally by a constricted port 5. At the underside of the port 5 there is formed a semispherical valve seat 6. As will be brought out hereinafter, the valve seat 6 is formed by casting a cooperating valve element in the valve body 1 as an insert.

Within the inlet portion 2 there is formed internal ribs 7 which define therebetween axially directed flow channels 8. In the construction shown, four such internal ribs are provided in the flow channels 8 defining a passage of shape cross section.

A valve element 9, which may be in the form of a ball, or have other cross section if desired, is molded within the valve body 1 as an insert. The upper portion of the valve element 9 shapes the valve seat 8, whereas the under portion of the valve element determines the shape of the upper ends of the internal ribs 7. As indicated in FIGURE 4, the valve element 9 may be initially held between core members 10 and 11 employed to form the cavities of the valve body 1.

It is preferable to apply a compression load on the valve element 9 along the axis between the core members 10 and 11, as indicated by a comparison of the solid and dotted lines in FIGURE 4. The effect is to bulge or increase the dimension of the valve element 9 in the regions not engaged by the core members 10 and 11. The ball is cast as an insert while so held, with the result that after molding the valve body 1, the valve element 9 is held in a preloaded condition against the valve seat 6, particularly at the juncture of the valve seat with the port 5, as indicated best in FIGURE 5.

The inlet portion 2 is provided with a suitable mounting flange 12 or other means so arranged that the valve body 1 may be sealed in the mouth of a container 13.

The outlet portion 3 may simply extend as an open tube from the port 5 such as shown in FIGURE 9, to be described hereinafter, or may incorporate a nozzle member 14, as shown particularly in FIGURES l and 2.

The nozzle 14 includes a stem 15 having a bore 16 communicating with the port 5. The outer end of the bore 16 is closed, but adjacent this end the bore is provided with a laterally directed nozzle port 17. A handle 18 extends from the opposite side of the nozzle member 14. The stem 15 of the nozzle member may be so dimensioned as to be forced into the outlet portion 3 or may be cemented therein, as desired,

Operation of the dispensing valve shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 is as follows:

Normally, the valve is in its closed condition, such as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5. If the outlet portion 3 is tilted or displaced angularly with respect to the inlet portion 2, there occurs a local distortion of the valve body 1 in the region of the port 5 and valve seat 6, as shown in FIGURE 6. This distortion produces a distortion of the valve seat 6 so as to lift one side thereof from the valve element 9 and thereby open the dispensing valve.

It will be observed that the outlet portion 3 may be tilted angularly in any direction with respect to the inlet portion 2. However, by reason of the location of the handle 18 the outlet portion 3 is normally tilted in only one direction. Upon release of the handle 18, the outlet portion 3 returns to its normally coaxial relation with the inlet portion 2 causing the dispensing valve to close.

In this construction it is preferred to use a valve element which is more pronounced as an elastomer than the valve body. It is also preferred to utilize a spherical valve element, partially for the reason that this shape may be more conveniently inserted between the cores of the mold. However, other shapes may be cast as an insert within the valve body.

It is essential, of course, that the materials utilized in the valve body and in the valve element be such that they do not bond together in the course of molding the valve body. Also the valve element should be capable of withstanding the molding temperatures of the material utilized in the valve body. It is readily apparent that there is a wide range of elastomers or elastomer-like plastics, resins, or rubbers which are comparable.

In the construction shown till FIGURES 1 through 6, the fiow channels 8 are shown as terminating at approximately a plane through the center of the valve element 9. However, by reason of the fact that the valve element is formed of yieldable material, the flow channels may extend above this plane, as indicated by 8a in FIGURE 7, thus reducing the effective area of the valve seat.

While it is preferable to form the valve element 9 of an elastomer, it is possible to utilize a rigid valve element, as, for example, a metal ball. This is particularly true if the material comprising the body 1 is such that it undergoes shrinkage after molding so as to apply a preload force on the metal valve element. This is also true if the valve element is formed of a relatively hard resin.

Reference is now directed to FIGURE 8. It is pre ferred, if a rigid resin or metal valve element is used such as the valve element 19 shown in. FIGURE 8, that the valve element be inserted after molding the valve body. In this construction, the valve body is essentially the same as the first described valve body except that in place of the internal ribs 7 there are provided internal retainer bosses 20 of sufficient dimension as to engage the valve element 19 but sufliciently small as to permit the valve element to be forced past the valve bosses.

In this construction, the valve element 19 may engage the valve seat or may engage a separate seat Washer 21. The distance between the retainer bosses 20 and the valve seat before insertion of the valve element is less than the coresponding dimension of the valve element so that on assembly the intervening portion of the valve body is placed under tension and a preload force is applied to the valve element to hold it against the valve seat.

Operation of the dispensing valve shown in FIGURE 8 is essentially the same as in the first described structure. That is, when the outlet portion 3 is tilted or inclined relative to the inlet portion 2, the port 5 and the shoulder underlying the valve seat Washer 211 are distorted in the manner shown in FIGURE 6 so that the washer 21 may yield correspondingly and form a flow passage with the valve element 19.

Reference is now directed to FIGURES 9, l0, and 11. The construction here illustrated includes a tubular valve body 22 having a relatively short inlet portion 23, the bore of which is polygonal in cross section, and a relatively long coaxial outlet 24. As in the first described structure, there is provided an annular groove '25 between the inlet and outlet portions 23 and 24', and these portions are connected internally by a constricted port 26. The upper end of the inlet portion 23' forms a valve seat 27 surrounding the port 26. In this construction, an essentially mushroom-shaped valve element 28 is provided. The valve element is molded of a plastic material which may be similar to that employed to form the valve body 22.

The valve element 28 includes a valve disk 29 at its upper end which engages the valve seat 27. Extending downwardly from the valve disk 29 is a stem 30, the lower end of which terminates in a flared foot 31. The flared foot 31 is yieldable so that the valve element 28 may be compressed axially. The lower or foot end of the valve element 28 is held in place by internal bosses 32 provided in the lower end of the inlet portion 23. These bosses may be molded in place or may be formed by staking operation after the valve element has been inserted. In either case, the distance before assembly between the bosses 32 and the valve seat 27 is less than the axial length of the valve element 28 so that a preload force is applied through the valve element against the valve seat 27.

In the construction shown in FIGURE 9, the outlet portion 24 is open at its outer end and, if desired, may be serrated.

The dispensing valve illustrated in FIGURES 9, 10, and 11 operates in essentially the same manner as the first described dispensing valve. That is, the outlet portion 24 is tilted or inclined relative to the inlet portion 23, causing one side of the valve seat 27 to lift from the valve element 28 and thus open the valve. It will be observed that the outlet portion 24 may be tilted in any direction to eifect opening of the dispensing valve.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the constructions set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing valve, comprising: a valve body formed of yieldable material and including a normally coaxially related tubular inlet end, outlet end, and constricted valve bore therebetween having a valve seat facing said inlet end, and an external mounting flange between said inlet end and said constricted bore, said valve body having a portion of reduced external diameter in the region of said valve bore, the resilience of said valve body, the axial length and diameter of said constricted valve bore, the wall thickness within and axial length of said portion of reduced external diameter being such that on flexing of said outlet end with respect to said inlet end, said valve bore and seat are caused to distort locally; and a valve element closing said valve seat when said valve seat is undistorted, and forming therewith a flow passage when said valve seat is distorted.

2. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said valve element is formed of plastic material and includes a yieldable foot, and the inlet end of said valve body includes means engaging said yieldable foot to hold said valve element in yieldable engagement with said valve seat.

3. A dispensing valve, comprising: a tubular valve body formed of yieldable material, said valve body including an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a constricted neck joining said portions, a valve port through said neck, and a valve seat at the inlet end of said valve port, said neck portion having an external annular groove, the resiliency of said valve body, the axial length and diameter of said valve port, the Wall thickness and axial length of said neck in the region of said groove being so related as to cause local distortion of said neck and valve seat on relative angular deflection of said ends; and a valve element closing said valve seat when said valve seat is undistorted, and forming therewith a flow passage when said valve seat is distorted.

4. A dispensing valve, comprising: a tubular valve body formed of yieldable material, said valve body including internally an inlet bore, a normally coaxial outlet bore, a constricted port between said bores, and a valve seat at the end of said port facing 'said inlet bore, said port having an axial length approximately equal to its diameter, said valve body having externally an annular groove in the region of said port, the area of the circle defined by the radially inner wall of the groove having an area smaller than at least one of said bores; a valve element engageable with said valve seat; the resiliency of the material comprising said body, the thickness of the wall of the body within said circle, and the axial dimension of said groove being such as to permit deflection of said body member to place said bores in angular relation,

thereby to compress axially one side of said groove and port and stretch axially the diametrically opposite side thereof, whereby said valve seat is distorted to permit flow past said valve element.

5. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said valve element is a ball member, said valve seat contacts a major portion of one side of said ball member, and ribs extend from the walls of said inlet bore for permanent engagement with the side of said ball member diametrically opposite from said valve seat.

6. A dispensing valve as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said valve element is a ball member, said valve seat occupies a narrow annular ring around said port, and yieldable and displaceable lugs extending from the walls of said inlet bore tend to hold said ball member against said valve seat.

7. A dispensing valve asset forth in claim 4, wherein: said valve seat projects axially into said inlet bore, said valve element includes a seat-engaging head and an axially compressible stem, and lugs extending from the Walls of said inlet bore engage said stem to hold said head against said valve seat.

8. A dispensing valve 13.5 set forth in claim 4, wherein: a relatively rigid tubular reinforcing member fits said outlet bore to concentrate bending of said body member in the region of said groove and port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,592 McGee June 6, 1922 1,788,795 Hoban Jan. 13, 1931 1,935,942 Connor Nov. 21, 1933 2,290,249 Piperoux July 21, 1942 2,387,013 Fuller Oct. 16, 1945 2,869,764 Collins Jan. 20, 1959 2,892,574 Noe June 30, 1959 2,946,555 Cantor July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,044,726 Germany Nov. 20, 1958 553,535 Italy Dec. 28. 1956

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