US3243071A - Closure member - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1966 R. KIMMEL CLOSURE MEMBER Filed March 5, 1965 [a II ME Hm 5A wa 6Z4;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,243,071 CLGSURE MEMBER Richard L. Kimmel, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Chemagro Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 436,896 6 Claims. (Cl. 21556) This invention relates to a novel closure member for containers used for storing and shipping various liquid products.

It has been known, heretofore, to provide means for continuously venting containers to relieve gaseous pressure generated by agitation of a low volatile liquid in the container or by atmospheric changes. These means have een provided, generally, as a safety measure to minimize the danger of explosion or rupture of the container due to internal pressure built up by the liquid contents of the container.

It has been found, however, that in instances where adequate venting is accomplished often the atmosphere external to the container is introduced therein via the venting means and in situations where the liquid contents are susceptible to reaction with air known venting means fail to provide suflicient protection in this respect.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior art means to relieve gaseous pressure generated by a low volatile-liquid of novel closure means which advantageously permits the r release of internal gaseous pressure occasioned by the vaporization of the liquid content of a container without substantial loss of the liquid content and without substantial introduction therein of the atmosphere to which the pressure is vented.

Still further objects and the entire scope and applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The invention will be best understood in connection with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 isa vertical sectional view-through one form of the novel closure member of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the closure member shown in FIGURE 1;

' vent the porous FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the valve means associated in combination with the novel closure member of this invention;

3,243,071 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 ice S-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3(4H) ylmethyl phosphorodithioate. In this embodiment of the invention the closure member 14 consists of a top portion 16 having a hexagonal head, as shown in FIGURE 2, which is of somewhat larger diameter than that of the neck opening 10. Depending downwardly from the bottom side of top portion 16 is body portion 18, the outer peripheral surface of which is provided with external thread means 20 for detachable sealing connection to the internally threaded neck opening 10 of the container.

Extending axially through the closure member 14 is an aperture 22. Adjacent the lower end of the body portion 18 within the aperture 22 there is a circumferentially inwardly directed flange 24 on which rests a gas-permeable, substantially liquid-impermeable disk 26. In sealing engagement with the inner peripheral wall 28 of the body portion 18 and the upper circumferential surface of the disk 26 is O-ring 30 which serves to maintain a tight fit on the disk should the plastic material from which, preferably, the closure member is made, creep. The O-ring also serves to prevent any liquid from leaking out around the valve. i

Extending downwardly into the body portion 18 from the top 16, through the aperture 22 is relief valve 32 more clearly shown in oneembodiment in FIGURE 3. The relief valve has a flange portion 34 extending out wardly circumferentially from the upper part of the externally threaded body portion 36, the threads 38 of which engage the inner peripheral wall 28 of the body portion 18. V

The relief valve 32 is provided with an aperture 40 extending axially upwardly from the bottom 42 of the relief valve to a height adjacent the bottom side of the flange 34 where it terminates with circumferentially inwardly directed flange 44 and aperture 46 having a diameter somewhat narrower than aperture 40 but sufficiently large to permit valve stem. 48 to reciprocatingly move in and out of apertures 40 and 46. The upper surface 50 of the relief valve 32 is provided with valve seat 52, which is in sealing communication with valve head 54. Preferably, sealing means such as O-ring 56 is provided to prevent undue escape of gases from the container through the valve mechanism. v

The lower end of the valve stem 48 is provided with plate means 58 having a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of aperture 40 and against which bears spring means 60 which is biased to retain valve head 54 in sealing engagement with valve seat 52. The spring means 60 is sufiiciently large ,as not to pass through aperture 46 and bears on the bottom side of inwardly directed flange 44. The bottom 42 of the relief valve is in sealing engagement with the upper surface of the O-ring 30. Thus, the O-ring additionally serves to predisk 30 from being damaged by.the relief valve.

A modification of the closure member 14 illustrated in FIGURE 1 is that shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the novel closure member is shown applied to the externally of a top portion 16 which is of somewhat larger diameter shown applied to the internally threaded neck opening 10 of a container. 12 filled with a liquid such as 0,0-dimethylthan that of the neck opening 10. Depending downwardly from the bottom side of top portion 16 is peripheral flange member 62 which is internally threaded for detachable connection to the neck opening 10 of the container. In this embodiment there is, conveniently, provided a recess 64 in the top portion 16 in which rests the flange 34 of the relief valve 32.

Another modification of the closure member 14 is illustrated in FIGURE where it is depicted in association with a flexible spout 66 of a container 12. The flexible spout terminates with an externally threaded neck opening 10, As shown there is a separate cap member 68 having a top portion 70 provided with a downwardly handle means 43 which assists in urging the flexible spout 66 into an extended position. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5, the recess 64 extends downwardly a disstance sufiicient so that when the relief valve 34 is inserted in aperture 22 the valve head 54 in the closed position is below the upper surface of the top portion 16. As a further modification, the relief valve, rather than being externally threaded, can be provided with a surface to give a force fit within the aperture 22 of the closure member 14. In this instance, the relief valve is shown with a knurled outer peripheral surface. Preferably, also, in this embodiment there is provided an O-ring or gasket 76 to provide sealing engagement of the flange member 16 with the neck spout 10.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in the various figures when the internal pressure of the container 12 exceeds a predetermined value, for instance, the ambient pressure existing in the environment surrounding the external surface of the container or in usual situations atmospheric pressure, due to the generation of gas by a low volatile liquid therein, the vapors escape through the disk 30 and exert force on valve head 54 or O-ring $6, compressing the spring 60 and urging the valve head 54 out of engagement with valve seat 52. The excess vapors are thus vented to the atmosphere.

The spring 60, of course, is one selected having a pre-' determined spring constant such that when the internal pressure of the container resumes a predetermined value after expulsion therefrom of excess gases the spring will return to its original state, thus seating valve head 54 in sealing engagement with valve seat 52 and preventing any introduction of the surrounding atmosphere into the container or further loss ofthe containers contents. The choice of a suitable spring can easily be determined by those skilled in the art and 1 the spring tension can vary according to such factors as the size of the closure member and the strength of the container.

Preferably, the closure member is made of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene but any plastic material resistant to the liquid contents of the container can be employed.

The gas-permeable, substantially liquid -impermeable disk employed with the instant invention can be made of carbon or the like. For instance, the disk can also be made of Carborundum, or a glass frit.

The volatile liquid of the container is, preferably, 0,0- dimethyl -'S-4-oxor'- 1,2,3-benzotriazin 3(4I.-I)-ylmethyl phosphorodithioate. The closure member is equally advantageously used when the liquid is 0,0-diethylS-4-oxo- 1,2,3,-benzotriazin-3 (4H) -ylmethyl phosphorodithioate.

I claim:

1. A closure member for a volatile liquid container comprising a top portion and an integral body portion adapted for connection to said container, an aperture extending longitudinally through said top portion and said body portiomsaid aperture at one end being in com- 1 munication with the atmosphere and being in communication with the interior of the container at the other end,

, a porous disk mounted within said aperture adjacent said a other end, valve means mounted within said aperture adjacent said one end, and ring sealing means below said valve means in sealing engagement with theupper surthe interior of the container at the other end, a gas pervious, substantially liquid impervious disk mounted within said aperture adjacent said other end, valve means mounted within said aperture adjacent said one end, and ring sealing means below said valve means in sealing engagement with the upper surface of said porous disk and said valve means, said valve means adaptable to vent the gaseous contents of said container.

3. A closure member for a volatile liquid container comprising a top portion and a body portion, a first aperture extending longitudinally through said top portion and said body portion, said aperture at one end being in communication with the atmosphere and being in communication with the interior of the container at the other end, a detachable cap member having a downwardly depending flange member having threaded means on the interior surface thereof for engagement with corresponding external threaded means on said container, said cap member provided with a second aperture overlying said aperture of said closure member, a sealing ring in sealing engagement with said top portion and said container, a porous disk mounted within said first aperture adjacent said other end, valve means mounted within said first aperture adjacent said one end, ring sealing means below said valve means in sealing engagement with the upper surface of said porous disk and said valve means, said valve means adaptable to vent the gaseous contents of said container through said first and second i apertures.

4. A closure member for a volatile liquid container comprising a top portion and an integral body portion, said body portion having external threaded means for engagement with corresponding internal threaded means on said container, an aperture extending longitudinally through said top portion'and said body portion, said aperture at one being in communication with the atmosphere and being in communication with the interior of the container at the other end, said aperture provided with an annular shoulder adjacent said other end, a gas pervious, substantially liquid impervious disk mounted on'said annular shoulder, valve means mounted within said aperture adjacent said one end, ringsealing means below said valve means in sealing engagement with the upper surface of said porous disk and said valve means, said valve means adaptable to vent the gaseous contents of said container.

5. The closure member of claim 1 wherein the volatile liquid is 0,0-dim ethyl S- hoxo-l=,2,3-benzotriaZin-3(4H)- ylmethyl phosphorodithioate.

6. The closure member of claim 1 wherein the volatile liquid is 0,0 diethyl S-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3 (4H)- ylmethyl phosphorodithioate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS I OSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

- PESHOCK, As t mil? Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CLOSURE MEMBER FOR A VOLATILE LIQUID CONTAINER COMPRISING A TOP PORTION AND AN INTEGRAL BODY PORTION ADAPTED FOR CONECTION TO SAID CONTAINER, AN APERTURE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID TOP PORTION AND SAID BODY PORTION, SAID APERTURE AT ONE END BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE ATMOSPHERE AND BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AT THE OTHER END, A POROUS DISK MOUNTED WITHIN SAID APERTURE ADJACENT SAID OTHER END, VALVE MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID APERTURE ADJACENT SAID ONE END, AND RING SEALING MEANS BELOW SAID VALVE MEANS IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID POROUS DISK AND SAID VALVE MEANS, SAID VALVE MEANS ADAPTABLE TO VENT THE GASEOUS CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER.

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