US3182857A

US3182857A - Periodically actuated aerosol dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3182857A
Application number: US301049A
Authority: US
Inventors: Garth L Bischoff; Douglas I Hoiberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-08-09
Filing date: 1963-08-09
Publication date: 1965-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-11

Description

M y 1965 G. L. BISCHOFF ETAL PERIODICALLY ACTUATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 9, 1963 2 SheetsShee't l INVENTORS ATTORNEY y 1965 G. L. BISCHOFF ETAL 3,182,857

PERIODICALLY ACTUATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,182,857 PERIODICALLY ACTUATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Garth L. Bischotf, 3140 Bermuda Drive, Costa Mesa,

Calif., and Douglas I. Hoiberg, 619 S. Woods, Fullerton, Calif.

Filed Aug. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 301,049 12 Claims. (Cl. 22270) This invention relates to an aerosol dispenser and has as its primary object the provision of a powered mechanism whereby a liquid confined in a container under pressure may be discharged in vapor phase at regular or periodic intervals, which is particularly applicable for use in automatically dispensing sprays of disinfectants, deodorizers, insecticides, and the like, in the treatment of expansive infested or contaminated areas or atmospheric space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character embodying cam actuated means whereby intermittent discharge of spray or vapors may be effected at predetermined intervals, wherein the volume of liquid dispensed at each discharge may be varied from a minimum to a maximum by an adjustment whereby the duration of the discharge may be varied without variation in the dispensing moment.

The dispensing mechanism involving the invention is designed to be employed in actuating the reciprocal discharge valve of a conventional aerosol container for which purpose the mechanism embodies a vertically moveable arm extending horizonally over the valve stem which when dropped will act under the weight and momentum thereof to depress the valve to an open position in opposition to a spring; the arm being of such weight, or weighted, as to impact the valve stem endwise with such force as. to depress the latter in opposition to a valve closing spring to open the valve, yet when the impacting force is expended, the load of the arm will be overcome by the spring thereby allowing the spring to close the valve. Normally this action could occur within several seconds. A feature of the invention and another object thereof is the provision of regulating means for releasably holding the arm in its valve opening position for a predetermined length of time, as from a second or less to many minutes, within. the operating capacity of the machine.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a construction whereby the machine may be conditioned to compensate for variations in the heights of aerosol containers or lengths of valve stems thereof, whereby the extent of opening of the valve and the moment of closing thereof may be regulated to a fine degree of accuracy irrespective of minor variations in the recited dimensions.

A further object is to provide an aerosol dispenser embodying the stated characteristics which is simple and economical in construction, highly efficient in operation, and which requires no attention while in service.

With theforegoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear herein, the invention residesin the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the dispenser as seen in front elevation with the parts in an intermediate position wherein the spray dispensing valve is closed, and the valve actuating arm about to be elevated:

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dispenser as shown in FIG. 1:

FIG. 3 is a plan view; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the dispenser illustrating the mode of operation thereof,

and showing the discharge valve of the aerosol container disposed in its open position in opposition to the urge of a spring embodied in the container, the view depicting the valve actuation arm in its lowermost valve opening position in full lines, in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 1 in dot-and-dash lines, and in its fully elevated position in broken lines.

Referring to the drawings more specifically A indicates a back panel constituting a support for an aerosol container and for the mechanism of the invention. The panel A is designed to be disposed in an upright position. Provided on the lower portion of the panel is a pair of spaced parallel brackets BB between the lower margins of which extends a ledge 5 projecting from the lower end of the panel A said ledge constituting a base for supporting a cylindrical aerosol container C. Spaced above the brackets B-B is a U-shaped bracket D having

side members

6 and 6 which bracket D receives and conforms to the rear half of the upper portion of the container C with the side members 6-6' extending astride the container. As a means for stabilizing the container C in its seated position on the base 5 and between the brackets B-B and bracket D, a strap 7, here shown as comprising a length of wire, is extended over and around the outer upper portion of the container C and has its ends seated in slots 8-8 in the outer end portions of the bracket side members 6-6' and hooked in engagement therewith as particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The container C has housed therein a concentrated liquid aerosol insecticide, under pressure, and is provided at its upper end with a spray nozzle E and with a discharge control valve 9 normally closed under the urge of a thrust coiled spring 10' as particularly shown in FIG. 4. The spray nozzle E is here shown as embodied in a head 11 having a spray orifice 12, which head is mounted on a tubular stem 13 slidably mounted in and supported by a sleeve 14 fixed on the upper end wall 15 of the container C; the tubular stem 13 con necting with the valve 9 which comprises a plunger reciprocally mounted in a tube 16 projecting downwardly from the wall 15. The tube 16 contains the spring 10 which bears between the lower end of the plunger valve 9 and pin 17 extending diametrically of the tube 16. The upper end of the valve 9 is conical, as indicated at a, for abutting a conformable valve seat b under the thrust of the spring 10. When thus seated the plunger valve 9 closes a port 0 in the tube 16 forming a communication between the interior of the container C and the interior of the tube 16 adjacent the valve seat b when the plunger valve 9 is in its depressed open position, as shown in FIG. 4.

The tubular stem 13 has a port .d which opens to the port 0 when the, valve 9 is in its depressed open position. A cavity e in the head 11 aifords a communication between the upper end of the stem 13 and the discharge orifice 12. The port c, tube 16, port d, tubular stem 13, and cavity e constitute collectively a passage way leading from the interior of the container to the spray orifice 12, which passage-way is controlled by the plunger valve 9 in the usual manner. Depression of the head 11 advances the plunger valve 9 in opposition to the spring 10 thereby permitting the flow of aerosol in its vapor phase, from the container C through the orifice 12. The head 11. constitutes the usual push-button for opening the valve 9.

In carrying out the invention means are provided for automatically depressing and releasing the. head 11 at periodic intervals which means is here shown as embodying a horizontally extending arm 20 mounted for vertical swinging movement on a pivot pin 21 carried on a boss 21 on the panel A; the arm 20 extending in spaced parallel relation to the panel A with its pivoted inner end portion overlying the head 11. The inner end of the arm 20 is provided with a resilient tongue 22 connected to the arm 20 by a return bend 23 which extends forwardly of the underside of the arm in abutting relation thereto. The outer free end portion of the tongue 22 is interposed between the arm 20 and head 11 and is normally seated on the upper end of the head under the thrust of the arm 20. A screw 24 is threaded vertically through the arm 29 for longitudinal adjustment which screw abuts the upper side of the tongue 22 and whereby spaced relation of the arm 20 and tongue 22 may be adjusted as occasion may require.

' The outer free end of the arm 20 is provided with a weight 25 which supplements the load of the arm 20 to normally maintain the arm 20 in a lowered position, but the primary function of which is to swing the arm 20 downwardly under momentum from an elevated position and as will be later described.

The heaviness of the weight 25 is proportioned relative to the thrust of the spring such that the latter will act to maintain the plunger valve 9 closed in opposition to the load normally imposed on the head 11 by the arm and weight 25. In other words the thrust of the weight coupled with the leverage action of the arm 20 is insufficient to normally depress the push-button or head 11 in opposition to the spring 10.

Means are provided for elevating the weighted arm 20 and allowing it to drop at periodic intervals whereby such dropping of the arm will direct such forceful impact on the head 11 as to depress and open the plunger valve 9 in opposition to the spring 10 and thereby effect momentary opening of the valve. This means is here shown as embodying a wiper cam 26 comprising an arcuate finger fixed on and extending radially of the driven shaft 27 of a conventional electrically actuated motor 28 which effects constant rotation of the shaft 27 preferably at or about one revolution per quarter hour. The motor 28 being a well known product now on the market and in common use in actuating various mechanical devices, the mechanism thereof need not be shown nor described. The motor 28 is set in operation by connecting the terminals of a pair of conductors leading therefrom (not shown) with a source of electrical current supply in a usual manner.

The cam finger 26 has an arcuate wiping or working surface f leading outwardly from the base g thereof to its tip h;the shaft 27 being arranged adjacent the outer end of the arm 20 so that on rotation thereof, when the arm 20 is disposed in its normal position, the base g of the cam finger will advance against the underside of the arm 20 adjacent the end margin j thereof, so that as the cam finger advances upwardly the working surface f thereof will ele. vate the arm 20 until the tip h of the finger passes from under the end margin j of the arm thereby releasing the arm and allowing it to fall, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The arm 20 is provided with an end extension 29 in the form of a plate which projects downwardly from the outer side margin of the arm and also extends forwardly of the end j thereof. The weight 25, comprising a metallic disc, is secured to the front face of the plate 29 by a rivet 30. The plate extension 29 is provided with an inturned flange 31 on its lower end and mounted on the under side of the flange 31 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a conventional suction cup 32 arranged to be brought into contact with the fiat upper surface k of a fixed plate 33 projecting horizontally from the panel A. The suction cup 32 and plate 33 constitute a means whereby the arm 20 on being dropped from its elevated position may be restrained and held in its lowermost position for an interval of time.

Means are provided for determining the duration of the time interval and whereby such interval may be varied minutely within limits according to the timing of the movement of the cam 26. This means embodies a minute air inlet orifice 34 in the plate 33 leading from a passage 35 opening to atmosphere. The inlet orifice 34 opens through the top surface k of the plate 33 at a point within the area bounded by the margin of the suction cup 32 when the latter is seated on the plate 33. The passage 35 is formed in a rib 36 extending longitudinally of the under side of the plate 33. A screw 37 is threaded in the rib 36 with its inner end portion extending into the passage 35 and with its inner end presented to the orifice 34, which screw serves as a means of restricting the orifice 34 to thereby regulate the rate of air intake therethrough and whereby the duration or period of time during which the discharge valve is held open during each operation thereof may be varied and regulated according to requirements, as will hereinafter be described.

When the parts are in their normal position the plunger valve 9 will be closed by the spring 10 and the arm 20 will be slightly elevated relative to its lowermost position with the suction cup 32 spaced from the plate 33 as indicated by the dot and dash lines in FIG. 4, which intermediate positioning of the arm 20 occurs during the period when the cam 26 is out of engagement with the arm 20 which period is while the cam finger is advancing outwardly and downwardly after the tip it thereof passes from beneath the outer end j of arm 29 and until the inner end or base g of the working face 1 of the finger 2-6 comes into contact with the under side of the outer end of the arm 20.

In the container construction here shown the nozzle E is embodied in the head 11 which is turnable circumferentially by reason of the valve stem 13 being cylindrical and revolubly supported in the sleeve 14 and for rectilineal movement.

As a means for preventing turning of the nozzle E from a position in which the discharge orifice 12 is presented outwardly from the panel A, the head 11 is provided on the rear side thereof with a stem 38 which projects upwardly between the panel A and arm 20 adjacent the rear margin of the arm 20 which stem has a broad fiat outer face disposed contiguous the arm. The arm 20 thus serves as an abutment for the stem 38 and co-acts therewith to hold the nozzle E against turning.

In the operation of the invention, the container C, loaded with the aerosol content, is mounted on the back panel A by seating it on the ledge 5 with its lower portion disposed between the brackets B-B' and with its upper portion seated between the side members 6-6 of the bracket D and held in place by the strap 7, the arm 20 being sufficiently elevated to permit positioning of the nozzle E beneath the tongue 22. The valve 9 will then be in its normal closed position with the head 11 in its uppermost position.

When it is desired to dispense aerosol from the container, the motor 28 is placed in operation by connecting it in an electric circuit in the usual manner whereby the motor is driven at a speed such as to directly drive the shaft 27 and cam 26 constantly at a rate of one revolution in fifteen minutes or thereabouts. On each revolution of the shaft 27 and cam 26 the base or heel g of the cam finger advances on its up-stroke into engagement with the outer end of the arm 20 which is then in its normal intermediate position indicated in dot and dash lines in FIG. 4 wherein the tongue 22 is seated on the nozzle E or head 11, then disposed in their uppermost positions under the urge of the spring 10. On continued upward movement of the cam-finger 26 the working face 7 thereof in wiping against the underside of the outer end portion of the arm 20 acts to swing the arm upwardly to an elevated position determined by the tip h of the finger 26 passing from beneath the outer end j of the arm 20 as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 4. The cam will then have traveled approximately a half revolution.

The finger 26 on passing out of engagement with the outer end of the arm 20 releases the arm so that it will then freely fall or gravitate downwardly .clear of the cam to its lowermost position shown in full lines in FIG. 4. In approaching this position the tongue 22 impacts the head 11 and under the weight and momentum of the arm 20 forces the push button head 11 downwardly to thereby open the plunger valve 11 in opposition to the spring to permit discharge of aerosol from the container through the recited passage-way and the nozzle orifice 12.

At the same time, as the arm approaches its lowermost position the suction cup 32 impacts the plate 33 and in so'doing expels air from therebeneath to create a suction whereby the cup is caused to grip the plate 33, in a usual manner so as to hold the arm 20 against rebound and delay its initial upward movement; the suction cup thus holding the arm 20 in its depressed position in opposition to the spring 10, thereby delaying closing of the valve 9 and permitting continued discharge of aerosol from the container. The head 11 and spring 10 together with the suction cup 32 co-act to afford a resilient abutment for the arm 20 to cushion the impact of the falling arm at the end of its down stroke where the arm is brought to rest.

The period of time during which the valve is thus held open endures until the suction of the cup 32 is broken which is determined by the rate of flow of air into the cup through the inlet aperture 34 which in turn is governed by regulation of the capacity of the aperture by adjustment of the screw 37. The period during which the aerosol is thus discharged may be accurately varied from a fraction of a second to about seven and a half minutes according to the speed of rotation of the cam 26.

It will be observed that the above recited operation occurs during the interval of time required for the cam 26 to advance on its down or neutral stroke which at the rate herein recited, as an example, is about seven and a half minutes. On release of the suction cup 32, the arm 20 will be subjected to the action of the spring 10 which as before stated, is tensioned to close the valve 9 in opposition to the load of the arm imposed on the head 11, and accordingly will lift the arm a short distance on closing of the valve Where the arm will be positioned in readiness for reengagement by the cam 26 on its succeeding upstroke.

From the foregoing it will be seen that'discharge of aerosol from the container A will be commenced at regular spaced intervals according to the speed of rotation of the shaft 27 and cam 26, since the control valve is opened on each revolution of the cam by the falling arm 20 and that the period of each discharge will endure to and terminate at any selected period after commencement of the moment of discharge according to when the actuating arm is free to be elevated under the thrust of the spring 10 which condition is controlled by adjustment of the regulating screw 37.

We claim:

1. In a mechanism for periodically dispensing aerosol from a container having a spray nozzle and a passageway leading to said nozzle fitted with a valve controlling said passage-way, and embodying a spring normally closing said valve, and including a stem connected to said valve having a head disposed above said container adapted to be actuated to open said valve; the combination comprising a horizontally extending vertically movable arm overlying said head, a powered rotary means for periodically engaging and elevating said arm to a position in spaced relation to said head, said means being adapted to release said arm when in its elevated position, said arm being operable on being released to fall and impact said head with suificient force to actuate said head and thereby momentarily open said valve in opposition to said spring; said spring being tensioned to close said valve in opposition to the weight of said arm, and said spring and head acting as a resilient abutment for the arm on the down stroke thereof.

2. The mechanism called for in claim 1 together with means for holding said arm in its lowermost position against movement under the urge of said spring for a predetermined period of time to thereby hold said valve open for such period.

3. The mechanism called for in claim 1 together with means for holding said arm in its lowermost position against movement under the urge of said spring for a predetermined period of time to thereby hold said valve open for such period, said holding means comprising a suction cup on said arm, a fixed plate apart from said arm against which said cup impacts and is engaged when said arm falls to its lowermost position, and adjustable means for releasing said cup atvarious predetermined intervals, said suction cup co-operating with said spring and head in cushioning impact of the falling .arm.

4. In a mechanism for automatically discharging aerosol periodically from a container equipped with a spray nozzle and having a normally closed spring pressed discharge valve controlling delivery of aerosol to said nozzle; said valve being mounted on a rectilineally reciprocal stem fitted with a head; the combination comprising a horizontally extending pivotally supported arm overlying said head, a weight on said arm normally disposing the arm in a position wherein a portion of said arm is seated on said head and said arm held in a partially elevated position thereby when said valve is closed, a rotary wiper cam engageable with said arm, and powered means for continuously rotating said cam at a constant speed, said cam having an arcuate working surface for lifting said arm from its partly elevated position to a fully elevated position during one-half of each revolution of the cam; said arm when in its fully elevated position being spaced from said valve head, said cam being contoured to disengage said arm when the latter has been lifted to its fully elevated position by said cam; said arm on thus being disengaged from said cam gravitating to its lowermost position so as to impact said head to depress the latter and thereby momentarily open said valve.

5. In an attachment for aerosol containers having a discharge outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, and a spring normally closing said valve, said valve embodying a head actuatable to open said valve; the combination comprising a horizontally extending arm having an inner end portion overlying said head, said arm being pivoted at its inner end portion to swing vertically, said arm having a free outer end, a weight on said outer end normally disposing the arm in a lowered position wherein the inner end portion of said arm seats on said head, said spring being tensioned to oppose actuation of said head by the normal load of said weighted arm, a rotary wiper cam engageable with the outer end of said arm, an electric motor for continuously rotating said cam at a constant speed, said cam having an arcuate working surface engageable with said arm for lifting said arm from a lowered to a fully elevated position during one-half of each revolution of said cam, said arm when in its fully elevated position being spaced from said valve head; said wiper cam having an outer end moveable to release said arm when the latter has been lifted to its fully elevated position by said cam; said arm on thus being released by said cam gravitating to its lower most position free of said cam thereby impacting and depressing said valve head so as to momentarily open said valve in opposition to said spring.

6. In a device for periodically actuating the normally closed valve of an aerosol dispenser, the combination comprising an electric motor having a shaft rotatable thereby at a constant speed, a vertically disposed wiper cam on said shaft embodying a radial finger having an arcuate working surface and having an outer end; a horizontally extending vertically moveable arm having a free outer end arranged in the upward path of travel of the said radial finger and free of said cam on downward movement of said finger whereby said arm is elevated during onehalf of each revolution of said cam and is released from the outer end of said finger when in its elevated position whereby said arm will freely fall from its elevated position independent of said cam to a lowermost position, means whereby movement of said arm to its lowermost position will act to open said valve, and spring means for partially elevating said arm from its lowermost position preliminary to engagement thereof by said cam to permit closing of said valve.

7. The structure called for in claim 6, together with releasable means on said arm in part temporarily holding said arm in its lowermost position in opposition to said spring means.

8. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cup carried on said arm, and a fixed plate independent of said arm against which said cup seats when said arm moves to its lowermost position to thereby temporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to said spring means.

9. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cup carried on said arm, a fixed plate independent of said arm against which said cup seats when said arm moves to its lowermost position to thereby temporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to said spring means, and adjustable means for terminating the action of said suction cup at various predetermined intervals.

10. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cup carried on said arm, a fixed plate independent of said arm against which said cup seats when said arm moves to its lowermost position to thereby temporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to said spring means, said plate having an air inlet in the area thereof bounded by said suction cup when said cup is seated on said plate.

11. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cup carried on said arm, a fixed plate independent of said arm against which said cup seats when said arm Cir moves to its lowermost position to thereby temporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to said spring means, said plate having an air inlet in the area thereof bounded by said suction cup when said cup is seated on said plate, and means for regulating the capacity of said air inlet.

12. In an apparatus for periodically dispensing aerosol from a sealed container having an upper end equipped with a spray nozzle and having a discharge passage leading from the interior of said container to said nozzle, a valve in said passage for controlling the delivery of aerosol therethrough, a spring normally holding said valve in its closed position, and a headed stem on said valve; the combination comprising a weight loaded arm overlying said headed stem normally disposed in an initial partly elevated position under the urge of said spring, and cam means for periodically lifting and releasing said arm to cause said arm to drop and impact said headed stem and thereby momentarily open said valve at regular intervals.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,517 4/15 Nelson -a 251-76 X 2,904,223 9/59 Ryan 222-182 X 2,980,296 4/61 Edelstein 222-70 2,991,912 7/61 Thomas 239-70 X 3,018,056 1/62 Montgomery 239-70 3,107,821 10/63 Lambert 222-182 X LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

Claims

12. IN AN APPARATUS FOR PERIODICALLY DISPENSING AEROSOL FROM A SEALED CONTAINER HAVING AN UPPER END EQUIPPED WITH A SPRAY NOZZLE AND HAVING A DISCHARGE PASSAGE LEADING FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER TO SAID NOZZLE, A VALVE IN SAID PASSAGE FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF AEROSOL THERETHROUGH, A SPRING NORMALLY HOLDING SAID VALVE; THE ITS CLOSED POSITION, AND A HEADED STEM ON SAID VALVE; THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A WEIGHT LOADED ARM OVERLYING SAID HEADED STEM NORMALLY DISPOSED IN AN INITIAL PARTLY ELEVATED POSITION UNDER THE URGE OF SAID SPRING, AND CAM MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY LIFTING AND RELEASING SAID ARM TO CAUSE SAID ARM TO DROP AND IMPACT SAID HEADED STEM AND THEREBY MOMENTARILY OPEN SAID VALVE AT REGULAR INTERVALS.