US3138304A

US3138304A - Valve assembly for aerosol containers

Info

Publication number: US3138304A
Application number: US202648A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raehs Wilhelm Josef
Original assignee: Uniplast Dr Raehs KG
Current assignee: Uniplast Dr Raehs KG
Priority date: 1962-06-12
Filing date: 1962-06-12
Publication date: 1964-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-23

Description

June 23, 1964 w. J. RAEHS 3,138,304

VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed. June 12, 1962 125 128 124 FIG.2 129 WILHELM JOSEF RAEHS INVENTOR.

BY (Jud 12 AG E NT United States Patent 3 3,138,304 VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Wilhelm Josef Raehs, Mausbach, Germany, assignor to Firrna Uniplast Dr. Raehs KG., Burgholz, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed June 12, 1962, Ser. No. 202,648 15 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) My present invention relates to a valve assembly for the controlled discharge of fluids, such as aerosols, stored under pressure in a container.

An objectof this invention is to provide means for effectively utilizing a maximum of the available fluid pressure within the container for normally maintaining the valve closed while enabling it to be opened by simple pushbutton action, thus insuring effective closure even with valves of small dimensions and dispensing with the need for larger, more expensive seals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve assembly of this type which can be made for the most part or in its entirety of plastic materials which readily lend themselves to mass-production techniques and which are not subject to harmful corrosive action.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide means for holding such valve assembly tightly against the rim of a container opening into which the assembly may thus be fitted as a lid therefor.

A feature of my invention resides in the provision, within an at least partly displaceable (e.g. deformable) valve cap having an outlet for the fluid to be discharged, of a relatively rigid support forming a preferably frustoconical seating surface ahead of a tubular boss of greatly reduced diameter which extends toward the outlet. A flexible diagram, constituting a displaceable valve body, is normally urged under the internal container pressure against this seating surface from which it may be lifted by pressure upon a portion of the valve cap juxtaposed with a tapering extension of that diaphragm projecting from the tubular boss. The space then created between the diaphragm and its seat communicates with the interior of the container through one or more apertures in the midportion of the diaphragm whence, e.g. in the case of an aerosol container, a tube of relatively reduced diameter may lead toward the bottom of the container. This tube could be integral with the diaphragm which in turn may also be secured to the valve cap. Moreover, a stored force such as that of an auxiliary spring may be used to supplement the internal fluid pressure in keeping the valve closed.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of a lid for the container which forms an extension of the diaphragm support and has a re-entrant portion provided with an annular groove to receive a resilient sealing ring. This ring serves to urge the periphery of the lid into firm contact with the surrounding container mouth and may' The above and, other objects, features and advantages of my invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an aerosol container equipped with a valve assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of a modified valve assembly according to the invention.

In FIG. 1 I have shown a container whose open top is bounded by an annular bead 11, the mouth opening defined by this bead being occupied by a lid generally desig nated 12. Member 12 has a peripheral lip 13 embracing the bead 11 with

rounded ledges

13 and 13", a re-entrant 3,138,304 Patented June 23, 1964 "ice portion 14 forming an annular groove 15, and a central part including an upwardly converging frustoconical valve seat 16 merging with a tubular boss 17. The lid 12 may consist of a relatively rigid material, e.g. a metal such as galvanized iron or a hard plastic such as a polyamide.

The

central part

16, 17 of lid 12 forms a support for a more highly flexible diaphragm 18 which is urged against the underside of valve seat 16 by the internal pressure of container 10 (arrows A) and has a substantially frustoconical extension 19 fitting inside boss 17, the

elements

18 and 19 being part of a valve body generally designated 20. This body may be injection-molded, for example, from high-pressure or low-pressure polyethylene. One or more orifices 21 in the midportion of diaphragm 18 communicate with the interior of a dependent central nipple 22 which receives a syphon tube 23 bonded or otherwise secured thereto. Valve seat 16 is shown provided with several annular ridges 16 designed to prevent any leakage of fiuid between

members

12 and 20 when the freely displaceable body 20 is in its illustrated position of closure. In this position the tip of extension 19 lies just below the top of a deformable valve cap 24 which may be made of the same resilient material as valve body 20 or of some similar substance. Cap 24 is formed with a central chamber 25, receiving the upper end of extension 19, and with a passage 26 constituting a lateral outlet for the discharge of fluid reaching the chamber 25 upon dislodgment of the valve body 20 from its seat by finger pressure (arrow B) upon the top of cap 24.

A resilient sealing ring 27, preferably of synthetic elastomeric material, is imbedded in the groove 15 and has annular ridges 2'7 firmly gripping the edge of cap 24 to clamp it in place. Ring 27 also bears outwardly upon the inner periphery of lid 13 to insure a tight joint between the latter and the bead 11 of container 10. Downward pressure exerted upon the valve cap 24 will communicate itself to the ring 27 and will further enhance its retaining action. It will be apparent that the presence of this ring enables the lid 12 or at least its lip 13 to be made from a somewhat flexible (e.g. elastomeric) material without impairment of the seal around the container mouth.

In FIG. 2, in which elements corresponding to those of FIG. 1 have been given similar reference numerals augmented by a l in the position of the hundreds digit, the lid 112 is substantially identical with lid 12 of the-pre ceding embodiment except for the omission of ridges 16' whereby its frustoconical seat portion engages with'its full under-side the adjoining surface of valve'body 120. Ring 1.27 is here shown.to lack the ridges 27 'of ring 27 and to be overlain by the valve cap 124 which in turn is positively connected with the body by suitable fastening means here shown as a screw 128. The chamber is thus given an annular form which is favorable for the creation of vortices whereby the atomization of the aerosol spray is enhanced. Moreover, the syphon tube 123 is shown in FIG. 2 as an integral appendage of valve body 120. Finally, a spring 129 has been interposed between the central portion of lid 112 and the surrounding cap 124' to increase the contact pressure between the valve body 120 and its seat when the container is not in use.

It will be apparent that the cap 124 of FIG. 2 could also be rigid (e.g. metallic) since in that case the finger pressure applied during opening of the valve will'be ab-:

sorbed by the resilient sealing ring 127. The restoring force exerted upon the valve body 120 by the cap 124, by virtue of its own elasticity and/or that of ring 127, will further improve the contact pressure of the valve even if spring 129 is omitted.

Modifications of the specific structures described and illustrated, including combinations of compatible features from the two embodiments particularly disclosed,

CD are of course possible and should be considered as coming within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve assembly for the controlled discharge of a fluid under pressure from a storage container therefor, comprising a support with a tubular boss and a surrounding generally frustoconical seating surface converging to ward said boss, a valve body displaceable relatively to said support, said valve body including a generally frustoconical diaphragm adjacent said seating surface and a tapering extension of said diaphragm projecting through said boss, said diaphragm being exposed to the fluid in said container for being normally pressed thereby against said seating surface, and a valve cap with a displaceable portion overlying said extension, said cap being provided with an outlet, said diaphragm having an apertured midportion opening into said boss upon inward displacement of said extension through the intermediary of said displaceable portion whereby fluid from said container may pass from said boss toward said outlet.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said seating surface is provided with annular ribs extending toward said diaphragm.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a central tube secured to said valve body opposite said extension and opening toward said midportion.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein said tube is integral with said valve body.

5. In combination, a container for a fluid under pressure, said container having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a support rigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubular boss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding seating surface, a valve body displaceable relatively to said support, said valve body including a diaphragm adjacent said seating surface and a tapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardly through said boss, means including the pressure of fluid in said container normally urging said diaphragm against said seating surface, a valve cap with a displaceable portion overlying said extension, said cap being provided with an outlet, said diaphragm having an apertured midportion opening into said boss upon inward displacement of said extension through the intermediary of said displaceable portion whereby fluid from said container may pass from said boss toward said outlet, said lid having a re-entrant portion with an annular groove surrounding said central portion, and an elastic sealing ring in said groove urging a peripheral part of said lid into contact with the rim of said opening.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said cap extends into said groove and contacts said ring.

I 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said cap has an edge clamped in said groove between said central portion and said ring.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said ring has annular ridges bearing upon said cap.

9. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said cap is positively connected with said extension.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said cap is formed with an annular vortex chamber communicating with said outlet and surrounding said extension.

11. The combination according to claim 5, further comprising spring means on said support bearing upon said valve body for helping maintain said diaphragm in contact with said seating surface.

12. The combination according to claim 5, further comprising a syphon tube depending from said valve body toward the bottom of said container, said tube opening toward said midportion.

13. In combination, a container for a fluid under pressure, said container having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a support rigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubular boss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding generally frustoconical seating surface converging outwardly toward said boss, a valve body displaceable relatively to said support, said valve body including a generally frustoconical diaphragm adjacent said seating surface and a tapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardly through said boss, means including the pressure of fluid in said container normally urging said diaphragm against said seating surface, and a valve cap with a displaceable portion overlying said extension, said cap being provided with an outlet, said diaphragm having an apertured midportion opening into said boss upon inward displacement of said extension through the intermediary of said displaceable portion whereby fluid from said container may pass from said boss toward said outlet.

14. In combination, a container for a fluid under pressure, said container having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a support rigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubular boss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding seating surface, a valve body displaceable relatively to said support, said valve body including a diaphragm adjacent said seating surface and a tapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardly through said boss, means including the pressure of fluid in said container normally urging said diaphragm against said seating surface, and a resiliently deformable valve cap with a yieldable portion overlying said extension, said cap bearing upon said support and being provided with an outlet, said diaphragm having an apertured midportion opening into said boss upon inward displacement of said extension through the intermediary of said yieldable portion whereby fluid from said container may pass from said boss toward said outlet, said lid having a re-entrant portion with an annular groove surrounding said central portion, and an elastic sealing ring in said groove urging a peripheral part of said lid into contact with the rim of said opening.

15. In combination, a container for a fluid under pres sure, said container having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a support rigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubular boss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding generally frustoconical seating surface converging outwardly toward said boss, a valve body displaceable relatively to said support, said valve body including a generally frustoconical diaphragm adjacent said seating surface and a tapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardly through said boss, means including the pressure of fluid in said container normally urging said diaphragm against said seating surface, and a resiliently deformable valve cap with a yieldable portion overlying said extension, said cap bearing upon said support and being provided with an outlet, said diaphragm having an apertured midportion opening into said boss upon inward displacement of said extension through the intermediary of said yieldable portion whereby fluid from said container may pass from said boss toward said outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,483 Treharne et a1 Dec. 25, 1956 2,883,089 Kiraly Apr. 21, 1959 2,951,645 Price et a1 Sept. 6, 1960 2,963,265 Goodspeed Dec. 6, 1960

Claims

1. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE CONTROLLED DISCHARGE OF A FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER THEREFOR, COMPRISING A SUPPORT WITH A TUBULAR BOSS AND A SURROUNDING GENERALLY FRUSTOCONICAL SEATING SURFACE CONVERGING TOWARD SAID BOSS, A VALVE BODY DISPLACEABLE RELATIVELY TO SAID SUPPORT, SAID VALVE BODY INCLUDING A GENERALLY FRUSTOCONICAL DIAPHRAGM ADJACENT SAID SEATING SURFACE AND A TAPERING EXTENSION OF SAID DIAPHRAGM PROJECTING THROUGH SAID BOSS, SAID DIAPHRAGM BEING EXPOSED TO THE FLUID IN SAID CONTAINER FOR BEING NORMALLY PRESSED THEREBY AGAINST SAID SEATING SURFACE, AND A VALVE CAP WITH A DISPLACEABLE PORTION OVERLYING SAID EXTENSION, SAID CAP BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET, SAID DIAPHRAGM HAVING AN APERTURED MIDPORTION OPENING INTO SAID BOSS UPON INWARD DISPLACEMENT OF SAID EXTENSION THROUGH THE INTERMEDIARY OF SAID DISPLACEABLE PORTION WHEREBY FLUID FROM SAID CONTAINER MAY PASS FROM SAID BOSS TOWARD SAID OUTLET.