US3064668A

US3064668A - Container vent valve

Info

Publication number: US3064668A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmond M Alkire; Strebel Walter
Original assignee: ALKIRE
Current assignee: ALKIRE
Priority date: 1960-03-15
Filing date: 1960-03-15
Publication date: 1962-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1979-11-20

Description

Nov. 20, 1962 E. M. ALKIRE ETAL CONTAINER VENT VALVE Filed March 15'. 1960 INVENTORS E DM 0ND M. x? K/PE W94 TEE .5 725554. BY

% r roe/v5) 3,064,668 CGNTAHNER VENT VALVE Edmond'lvi. Alkire and Walter Strebel, Miiwankee, Wis; said Strehel assignor to said Alkire Filed Mar. 15, 196i Ser. No. 15,157 6 Claims. (ill. 137-43) This invention relates generally to container vent valves and more particularly to an improved automatic vent valve readily adaptable for use with any of the many types of containers presently manufactured.

A general object of our invention is to provide an improved automatic container vent valve.

Another object or" our invention is to provide an improved vent valve which can be mass produced inexpensively and readily installed in all types of containers.

Another object is to provide a container vent valve which is of a design to permit stacking of containers during shipment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved vent valve which may be adapted for installation in the cap of a container, or in the top portion of a container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container vent valve which will not only serve to permit ventiing of a container while pouring liquid therefrom but also to continuously vent the container during periods of excessive expansion of liquids contained therein.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a vent valve which may be deactivated during initial shipmerit and readily activated through the removal of a part therefrom.

According to this invention, a novel vent valve is provided for containers commonly used to store and transport comparatively small amounts of liquids. The vent valve is designed for mass production and is comprised of four major parts. The top portion is provided with a dome having a height corresponding to the height of the tiller cap on the container. The top portion is provided with a central stem which is designed to fit into a hole in the top of the container; at central vent passage is provided therein with two vent passages angularly disposed directly beneath the dome which join with the central passage. A mating lower portion is threadedly or otherwise secured to the stem of the upper portion. Depending from the lower portion is a ball receiving cage having a central hole of comparatively small diameter. A ball of a size to enable free movement within the cage is provided. When the vent valve is in an upright position, the ball will be disposed to close the small hole in the cage. Whenever the container is tilted to permit pouring, the ball will move in a corresponding direction away from the central hole and thereby permit passage of air into the container. Thus, a full stream of liquid will leave the can. In the event that the liquid contents of the can expand, the pressure built up within the can will be sufficient to raise the ball slightly within the cage and permit passage of trapped air within the can upwardly and outwardly to atmosphere. Several means are provided for rendering the vent valve inoperative during initial shipment of filled containers, including an ring or an inner seal member. The vent valve is particularly useful on containers of a type used for transporting gasoline, oil, chemicals, and the like.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent from a study of the following detailed description and the drawings depicting the invention. The accompanying drawings include the following figures, to-wit:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the conventional rectangular container showing the automatic vent valve mounted in the upper corner thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the vent valve assembly mounted in the top member of the type of container shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the vent valve assembly mounted in the filler cap of a container such as shown in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the same vent valve assembly shown in FIG. 4 but provided with an intermediate inner seal which serves to render the vent valve inoperative during initial shipment of a container and contents; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the overhanging dome portion showing the O ring in operative sealing position.

The improved and novel automatic vent valve is adapted for permanent mounting in any one of the many types of containers or cans available in every day household, commercial and industrial use. One type of container known to everyone is the one gallon metal can 10 shown in FIG. 1; such a container is comprised of a single piece sidewall 11 having bottom and top members 12 and 13 respectively secured thereto. A pour opening or nozzle 14 is disposed in one corner of the top member 13 while a vent valve assembly 15 is securely mounted in the other corner of the top member. The entry and pour opening 14 is threaded to receive a cap 16 which prevents any loss of liquid from the container during handling and shipment. The height of the pour opening 14 is approximately the same as the height of the valve 15; this permits ready stacking of the cans for storage, display and other purposes.

The vent valve 15 utilized for this type of container is shown in FIG. 3 in vertical section. The top or main body 17 of the valve assembly may be machined, cast or molded and is comprised of an upper dome 18 and a depending stem 19. The stem 19 is stepped to provide an annular ledge 24 which is designed to bear against the top face 21 of the container top 13. The stem 19 extends downwardly through a hole in the top 13; a sealant may be used to seal the joining faces of the ledge 26 and can top face 21. A central bore 22 is provided throughout the length of the stem 19; two or more

drilled ports

23 and 24 extend from the upper end of the central bore angularly and outwardly to the underside of a protective shoulder 25. The

ports

23 and 24 each originate in the bottom of an annular groove 26 formed in the face of the shoulder 25. The total cross-sectional area of the drilled ports or

side passages

23 and 24 must be equal to or larger than the cross-sectional area of the central bore 22; this serves to insure full venting capacity under all conditions. When the main body 17 is initially installed in the container top 13, an O ring 27 of neoprene, or the like, as shown in FIG. 6, is disposed between the annular groove 26 and the top face 21 of the can. With the ring 27 in place, a seal is established in a manner to render the valve 15 inoperative. In order to render the valve operative, a pull tab 23 on one side of the ring 27 must be manually pulled until the ring breaks and is fully withdrawn, or stretched sufiiciently to permit the same to be stripped over the dome 18 of the valve.

A lower collar or body portion 29 is provided with a fiat bearing surface 30 which is disposed to engage the bottom face of the container top 13 and provide a reasonably secure seal therebetween. The lower portion 29 is provided with a central bore 31 Which is slightly larger than the diameter of the stem 19; the diametrical difference in size should permit a sliding fit therebetween. A mastic 32 evenly spread on the shoulder 30 and bore 31 will serve to seal the collar 29 relative to the bottom of the container top 13 and securely cement the collar l to the depending stem 19. The upper and lower portions could also be secured together by means of a conventional pin or set screw (not shown) installation. It should be born in mind that the vent valve assembly is completely installed on the container top member 13 before the member is double seamed to the container body portion 11'. Immediately adjacent to the lower peripheral edge of the collar 29 there is provided an annular groove 33 which is designed to receive a similarly formed annular bead or ridge 34 on the inner topmost edge of a cage 35. With a ball 36 disposed in the cage 35, the latter is snapped into place in a depending position on the bottom of the collar 29. The head or ridge 34 is designed to permit sufiicient expansion when the cage 35 is attached to the portion 29. A small vent hole 37 will permit passage of air or vapors through the valve whenever the container 1% is tilted sufficiently in any direction in order to displace the ball 36 from the top of the hole, or whenever sufficient vapor pressure builds up within the container to force the ball 36 away from the hole 37. It should be noted that the concave bottom of the cage serves to impart a constant tendency for the ball 36 to gravitate to a centrally disposed position directly over the vent hole 37, as shown in FIG. 3.

After the vent valve 15 has been activated by the mannual removal of the 0 ring 27, the

entry ports

23 and 24 are angularly disposed so that they will not admit water or other liquids via the valve into the container. This is the case even though the can or container 10 is exposed to the weather for long periods and water is permitted to collect to such an extent that it will completely inundate the can top and overflow an edge bead or seam 38. Even though the can is tilted when the top is thus flooded, the liquid thereon will not enter the

port passages

23 or 24 and possibly contaminate the liquid in the container.

Another type of container on which the automatic vent valve is particularly adaptable is a utility container 40 such as is shown in FIG. 2. This type of container is generally round or ellipsoidal in shape and is provided with a pour spout 41 and a filler opening '42. Since this type of container is generally transported while filled with liquid such as gasoline, oil, and the like, the end of the pour spout 41 is threaded to receive a cap 43. A handle 44 permits easy handling of the container 40.

On this type of container, the vent valve could be permanently installed in the crowned top member 45 of the container at a point marked X (see 46) diametrically opposite the pour spout 41; in this case the threaded filler opening 42 would be capped in the usual manner. The vent valve would operate immediately upon the manual impartation of a tilt to the container in order to effect pouring from the spout 41. The installation of a vent valve would need to be complete before the top member 45 was fixedly attached to the body of the container 40.

On the other hand, an automatic vent valve 47 may be readily mounted in a cap 48 secured on the filler opening 42 in the manner suggested in FIGS. 2 and 4. The vent .valve 47 is identical to the vent valve 15 previously described except for minor details. As shown in FIG. 4, the vent valve 47 is comprised of a dome-shaped top member 4% having a depending stem 59 which extends through a hole centrally located in the top face of the cap 48. An annular gasket 51 provides a seal between the member and the face of the cap. The top member 49 is secured in position by means of threaded engagement with a lower collar nut 52 having an upper shoulder 53 of sufiicient width to correspond to the diameter of the gasket 51. A set screw (not shown) bearing against the threaded portion of the stem 59 may be used to lock the nut and member together, or a mastic spread over the threaded stem may be likewise utilized. The domeshaped member 49 is formed with a vertical bore or passage 54 and two (or more)

side vent passages

55 and 56 to permit free passage of air or vapor in the manner aforedescribed. A cage 57 fixedly depending from the bottom of the nut 52 contains a ball 58 which normally rests in a central position directly over a vent hole or opening 59. Tilting of the container forthe purpose of pouring will cause the ball 53 to be displaced whereby air from atmosphere may enter the can and thereby permit a full stream of liquid to flow from the pour spout 41. Or, with the spout 41 capped while the container stands in storage and with the cap 48 securely disposed on the threaded filler opening, with an intermediate gasket 69 therebetween, the vent valve will permit any expanding vapors within the container 49 to escape to atmosphere and thereby prevented the build up of pressure within the container.

Utility containers and pour 'pail containers are often shipped initially filled with some liquid such as oil, paint, chemicals, and the like, and consequently the vent valve 47 must be rendered inoperable during the period of extended transportation. This may be accomplished by the introduction of an inner seal 63, as shown in FIG. 5. The inner seal 63 is an annular member which is press fitted into the filler nozzle 42 and which provides a temporary cap to close off the interior of the container from the vent valve 47 Thus, while the container 4% is shipped with a vent valve 47, the latter is rendered inoperative by means of the annular inner seal 63. After the container reaches its destination, the annular member or seal 63 is removed therefrom. The vent valve 47 will then be rendered operable for all future use of the container, or until the member 63 is re-inserted.

From the detailed description of our invention the ad vantages of the improved automatic vent valve should be fully apparent. Regardless of the selected position for installation of the valve on the container top, whether flat as shown is FIG. 1 or crowned as shown in FIG. 2, the vent valve will operate whenever the container is tilted for purposes of pouring liquid therefrom. The ball therein will immediately be displaced sufiiciently to per mit air to enter the container and allow a full and uniform stream of liquid to flow from the pour opening. 011 the otherhand, if the stored container is inadvertently displaced to a position other than the normal upright position, the vent passages within the valve are sufiiciently small to prevent spillage or continuing leakage from the upset container. Further, if the container and its contents are subjected to widely fluctuating temperatures, the vent valve will automatically operate whenever expansion of liquid or vapor within the container occurs; the auto-' matic vent valve will remain operative continuously to instantlyrelieve pressure and prevent such pressure from increasing to a degree suflicient to strain or burst the container. Extremely volatile liquids are particularly dangerous when stored in sealed containers under condi* tions in which the surrounding temperature may increase the top is deluged with water such as might occur'if the filled or partially filled container was exposed to the elements, the

side passages

23 and 24 are disposed at such an angle that water or other liquids could not enter the container via the vent valve assembly 15. This feature is particularly attractive since the entry of a very minute amount of water into a container used for certain chemicals might well contaminate the entire contents of the container.

While the vent valve assembly is designed to prevent the entry of contaminating liquids, it also serves to prevent the evaporation of volatile liquids, such as gasoline and naptha, from the can. rate at an accelerated rate if exposed to a considerable amount of air. The ball prevents the free passage of air while the container is standing still. The angular taper of the cage bottom 35 insures that the ball 36 will always return to the central position whereat the vent hole 37'is Such liquids will only evapoblocked to prevent air passage. The ball 36 is not large enough to become jammed within any portion of the cage, rather it is constantly free to roll depending on the angular position of the container at a given moment. However, the angular design is such as will permit the container to rest on a slightly uneven floor or surface without causing the vent hole 37 to remain open to atmosphere because of a displaced ball.

Further examples of types of containers in which the subject automatic vent valve could be readily used are: lug covered pails, tight head drums, barrels, tanks, vats, and the like. It should be understood that the corresponding vent valve for such containers would be manufactured in varying sizes and shapes, which would conform to a particular application and yet retain the essential teachings of our invention.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in order to exemplify a practical apparatus. It is to be understood, however, that the particular structure herein described is intended to be illustrative only, and that the various inventive features may be incorporated in other forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of our invention having now been fully explained in connection with the foregoing description, we hereby claim as our invention:

1. A vent valve comprising a top member having a dome portion and stem portion disposed for insertion in a hole in the top of a container, a locking collar disposed for permanent mounting on the lower end of said stem and within the confines of said container, a cage attached to said locking collar having a vent hole centrally disposed therein, a ball arranged for free movement within said cage and disposed to normally lie over the vent hole in said cage and block the passage of air therethrough, a central longitudinal passage in said top member, and a plurality of angular port passages in the dome portion of said top member joining with said central passage, whereby any tilting of the container for purposes of pouring liquid therefrom will cause the ball to be displaced and permit the entry of air from atmosphere into said container.

2. A vent valve for a container comprising a dome shaped top member disposed for mounting exteriorly of a container, a stem portion extending from said top member and disposed for placement in a hole in the top of said container, a locking collar secured to said stem interiorly of said container, a central vertical passage in the stem of said top member, a cage attached to said collar and including a centrally-disposed vent hole in the bottom thereof, a ball arranged for free movement within said cage, and a gasket initially disposed between said top member and said container whereby the gasket serves to render said vent valve inoperable while said container is transported filled with liquid and which, when removed, enables the vent valve to function automatically and permit the entry or escape of air and gases from the container.

3. An automatic vent valve mounted in a container and comprising a top member, a dome shaped portion of said member providing a protective overhang, a stem integral with the top member and disposed to extend through the top of the container, a locking collar secured on said stem interiorly of the container, a cage dependingly attached to said collar and having a centrally disposed vent hole in the bottom thereof, a ball contained within said cage and disposed to normally rest directly over the vent hole, a plurality of passages in said dome overhang and said stem in order to provide ventage to said cage whereby air can freely enter said passages and said cage chamber and be constantly available for admission from said cage member through the vent hole thereof to the confines of said container whenever said ball is displaced or permit the exhaust of vapors from the container whenever the pressure interiorly of the container is sufiicient to displace said ball.

4. A container having a vent valve mounted in the top of the container and disposed to provide automatic venting of the container and comprising a container, an annular inner seal attached to said filler opening, a filler cap, a vent valve operatively mounted in said filler cap, said inner seal serving to effect deactuation of said vent valve while said container is in transport and filled with a fluid, and enable operation of the vent valve after removal of said inner seal member whereby the vent valve can function normally to admit air to the confines of the container when the same is tilted and simultaneously prevent the evaporation of liquid from Within the container.

5. A universal vent valve for containers comprising a main body having a dome portion and a stem portion, a locking collar serving to engage said stem and secure the vent valve to the container, a tapered cage secured in a depending position to said collar and having a centrally disposed vent hole, a ball contained in said cage and disposed to lie over the hole Whenever the container is in an upright position and to expose the hole whenever the container is tilted from an upright position, a vertical passage in said main body stem, and lateral passages in the dome portion of said main body intersecting with said vertical passage and exteriorly exposed to atmosphere in a protected overhang of the main body dome, whereby the vent valve serves to admit air interiorly of the container upon tilting, release excessive air and vapors to atmosphere from within the container, and block the entry of foreign liquids via the vent valve into the container.

6. A universal vent valve for a container comprising a main body having a dome portion and a stern portion, a locking member serving to secure the body portion to the container, a tapered cage secured in a depending position within the container and having a centrally disposed vent hole, a ball confined within the cage and disposed to be over the hole whenever the container and valve is in an upright position and to expose the hole whenever tilting occurs, said ball serving to normally close the valve and prevent evaporation from the container, a central passage in said main body, lateral passages in the dome portion intersecting with said central passage and extending to atmosphere, said passages connecting with said cage and operative to convey vapors from the container and to block the entry of liquids from without the container, said ball being dislocated upon tilting of the container to open the hole to atmosphere and admit air into the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 527,726 Schneider et al. Oct. 16, 1894 623,334 Perkins Apr. 18, 1899 875,316 Borland Dec. 31, 1907 2,113,454 Mitchell Apr. 5, 1938 2,359,427 La Mont Oct. 3, 1944