US3417962A

US3417962A - Liquid dispensing valve

Info

Publication number: US3417962A
Application number: US514182A
Authority: US
Inventors: William R Fuerst
Original assignee: Dole Valve Co
Current assignee: Dole Valve Co
Priority date: 1965-12-16
Filing date: 1965-12-16
Publication date: 1968-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-24

Description

Dec. 24, 1968 w. R. FUERST 3,417,962

LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE I v Filed Dec. 16, 1965 ZSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. mum/w 1?. fbae r W w MWORNEYS Dec. 24, 1968 w. R. FUERST 3,417,962

LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE Filed Dec. 1'5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M/ML/AM 1e. FZ/EksT MA W l m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,417,962 LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE William R. Fuerst, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 514,182 Claims. (Cl. 251-262) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liquid dispensing valve having a valve head and an integrally formed sleeve and having a valve push-rod inserted interially of the sleeve against the valve head and moved in a reciprocating motion .by an operator handle. Movement of the handle causes the rod to be depressed thereby extending the resilient sleeve and opening the valve head. Restoring the position of the handle releases the push-rod and allows the resilient sleeve to urge the valve head into a closed position.

This invention relates to a liquid dispensing valve and in particular to a dispensing valve having a valve head and an integrally formed biasing means for maintaining the valve in a closed position and for providing a closing force during operation of the valve head.

Increasing the availability of beverage dispensers to increasing numbers of users has demanded both a reduction in cost and an improvement in durability. These factors, in turn, have required reducing the number of operating parts, removing the operating parts from the influence of the dispensed fluid and using non-metallic operating parts wherever possible.

It is apparent that minimizing the number of operating parts reduces the cost of both manufacture and maintenance. Also, by removing operating parts from the influence of the dispensed fluid, repairs necessitated by the deterioration and the clogging of the cooperable members may be eliminated. In addition, metallic parts used in a beverage dispensing valve must be of a high quality and, therefore, of a comparatively high cost to avoid contamination of the fluid or deterioration of the metallic elements.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a liquid dispensing valve which has reduced cost and maintenance requirements and which has a minimum number of operating parts.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a liquid dispensing valve having the operating members removed from contact with the dispensed fluid.

It is another object of this invention to provide a liquid dispensing valve having a resilient but non-metallic biasing member for developing a closing force on the valve head.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a molded rubber sleeve having an integrally formed valve head and a mounting flange disposed at opposite ends thereof and having a cylindrical wall portion for exerting a restoring force on the integral valve head.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description and the associated drawings wherein reference numerals are utilized in designating a preferred embodiment and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a liquid dispensing valve according to this invention as mounted within a concave wall portion of a pressurized liquid container;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the molded rubber sleeve of this invention as employed within the liquid dispensing valve of FIGURE 1;

1 FIGURE 3 is an end view of the molded rubber sleeve as shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an alternate form of the dispenser valve shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing an alternate rubber sleeve as used in the valve of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the sleeve of FIGURE 5.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown generally in FIGURE 1 as comprising a valve body 10 mounted within a concave wall 11 of a pressurized liquid container 12. The valve head of this invention is formed integrally with a cylindrical sleeve which is prestretched during assembly and which provides a continuous restoring force for the valve head. The cylindrical rubber sleeve also provides a shield for an actuating pin and, at the same time, acts as a seal for the valve body 10.

The valve body 10 is mounted within the pressurized container 12 at an opening 13 formed substantially centrally of the concave wall portion 11. The mounting is accomplished through the provision for a radially extending ridge 14 formed rearwardly of the valve body 10 and a cylindrical lip 15 formed forwardly thereof. The lip 15 is maintained contiguous with the inner surface 16 of the concave wall 11 while the cylindrical lip 15 is reformed by the application of heat to grasp the outer surface of the wall 11. An O-ring 17 is provided in the usual manner to maintain a pressure seal for the mounting of the valve body 10 within the opening 13 of the wall 11.

The valve body itself has an inlet section 18 secured by suitable means at a point 19 of the valve body. The inlet section 18 is provided with an inlet passageway 20 which connects to an annular valve chamber 21 formed at the rear of the main body section.

The annular valve chamber 21 is connected directly to an actuation chamber 22 formed axially thereof and which is provided with an actuation opening 23 formed forwardly of the valve assembly. Also, an outlet spout 24 is formed integrally with the valve body 10 and has an outlet passageway 25 conducting from the actuation chamber 22. It is apparent, therefore, that in the absence of a valve member, fluid will flow continuously from the inlet passageway 20 through the valve and actuation chambers 21 and 22, respectively, to the outlet passageway 25.

The valve member of this invention consists of a molded rubber sleeve 26 which is disposed within the actuation chamber 22 for providing the compelte control function to regulate the flow of fluid from the inlet 20 to the outlet 25.

Essentially, the molded rubber sleeve 26 comprises a cylindrical wall portion 27 and an integral valve head 28. In addition, the rubber sleeve 26 is provided with a mounting flange 29 extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall portion 27.

The molded rubber sleeve 26 is mounted within the actuation chamber 22 through the tensioning or stretching of the cylindrical wall portion 27 between two oppositely facing surfaces. First, the end wall surface 30 of the annular valve chamber 21 faces inwardly of the tank 12 and provides a surface for grasping a tapered wall section 31 of the resilient valve head 28. Second, the valve body 10, and, in particular, the actuation chamber 22 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 32 having an outer surface 33 for engaging the inner surface 34 of the mounting flange 29. Therefore, the valve head 28 and the mounting flange 29 disposed about the surfaces 30 and 33 of the valve body provide a means for stretching the cylindrical wall portion 27 within the actuation chamber 22.

The tensioning or stretching of the cylindrical wall portion 27 of the rubber sleeve 26 biases the resilient valve head 28 against a valve seat 35 formed at the end wall 30 about the junction of the chambers 21 and 22. This bias is accomplished by providing the cylindrical portion 27 to have relatively thin Wall segments, while providing the valve head 28 to be formed of substantially thick mass of the resilient material. In this way, the wall portion 27 is made substantially elastic for performing the biasing function and the resilient valve head 28 is provided to be substantially rigid to maintain a firm engagement with the valve seat 35.

The molded rubber sleeve 26 not only provides a valve head and a biasing means for closing the valve seat but also maintains a pressurized seal for the actuation chamber 22. This seal is accomplished about the inwardly directed flange 32 and is found in the pressurizing contact between the surfaces 33 and 34 of the ridge 32 and the mounting flange 29. Therefore, the same force which biases the valve head 28 in a closed position against the valve seat 35 also maintains the mounting flange 29 in firm engagement with the outer surface 33 of the flange 32.

The valve head 28 of the rubber sleeve 26 is operated by a rigid pin 36 which is disposed within a hollow chamber 37 formed centrally of the cylindrical wall portion 27. The valve stem 36 consists of a shaft 38 and radially enlarged

collars

39 and 40. The collar 39 is formed at the innermost extremity of the shaft 38 and provides an enlarged blunt surface 41 for contacting the inner surface 42 of the valve head 28. The collar 39 also has a rounded face 43 for contacting the inner surface 44 of the hollow region 37. Likewise, the collar is provided with a rounded face 45 for contacting the inner surface 44 of the hollow region 37. The rounded surfaces 43 and 45 of the

collars

39 and 40 therefore provide minimum sliding contact with the rubber sleeve 26. In this way, the shaft 38 may be depressed for operating the valve head 28 of the valve seat 35 with a minimum of friction or drag. The result is a significantly reduced wear at the inner surface 44 and a reduced effort of operation.

To depress the shaft 38, the valve stem 36 is provided with a rounded head 46 extending outwardly of the outermost surface of the mounting flange 29 and provides the degree of movement of the shaft 38 and determines the amount of lift rendered to the valve head 28.

Actuation of the valve stem 29 is accomplished by means of a handle or lever 47 which is pivotally mounted at a point 48 on a bracket 49 extending from the valve body 10. The handle 47 is provided with a convex surface 5!) for contacting the rounded surface 46 of the valve stem 36. As the handle 47 is rotated clockwise in FIGURE 1, the rounded surface 50 is reorientated for depressing the valve stem 36 through a sliding motion with the head 46 of the shaft 38.

Motion of the handle 47 is limited by guide stops which are formed on the valve assembly and the handle respectively. In particular, a plane surface 51 is formed at the upper region of the spout 24 for contacting a similar surface 52 of a boss 53 extending downwardly from the convex surface '50 of the handle 47. Also, a notch 54 is formed within the bracket 49 and a tab 55 is formed integrally with the handle 47 for being carried within the limits provided by the notch 54 which is well understood.

It may be noted that the restoring force of the rubberlike sleeve 26 acts through the rounded face 46 of the valve stem 36 on the convex surface 50 of the handle 47.

Therefore, the integral rubber sleeve 26 not only restores the closed position of the valve head 35 but also restores a favorable position for the handle 47 as shown in FIGURE 1.

An alternate form of the liquid dispensing valve of this invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6.

In FIGURE 4, a valve structure 10 is similar to the structure of the valve shown in FIGURE 1, and likewise many of the elements of the valve unit in FIGURE 4 are identical to elements shown in FIGURE 1, and therefore reference numerals have been carried forward from FIGURE 1 t0 FIGURE 4.-

However, the valve of FIGURE 4 is provided with an inlet restrictor 60 which consists of an elongated tapered tube 61 for extending from the valve 10 into the liquid within the tank or drum 11. The slender tube 61 has an inlet pasageway 62 which is tapered from a point 63 to a point 64 forming the entrance to an inlet chamber 65.

The inlet chamber 65 is semi-spherical and the tubing portion 66, forming the inlet chamber 65, is connected to the main valve body at a groove 67.

The inlet restrictor 60 performs two important functions: first, the narrow pasageway 62 limits the rate of flow of fluid from the container 11 through the spout 24. Therefore, the passageway 62 can be properly sized to allow a desirable flow of fluid from the container 11 when the valve is held in a fully opened position. This avoids the possibility of high pressure at the spout 24 which would be undesirable for filling a glass or other similar vessel. The second important function performed by the restrictor passageway 62 is to reduce or substantially eliminate the foaming of the fluid stored Within the container 11. Since the container 11 is pressure-tight, and since the contents of the container may be under a gas pressure such as the pressure of carbon dioxide, the fluid will tend to foam if suddenly introduced to a low pressure region. Therefore, the restrictor passageway 62 provides a means for gradually reducing the pressure on the fluid for avoiding the stimulation of foam that could otherwise 'be expected.

In FIGURE 4, the valve seat of the valve 10, indicated by reference numeral 68, is sloped relative to the actuation chamber 22. This sloped orientation allows the seating of a bulbous-type valve head 69 associated with the rubber sleeve 26. The valve head 69 being spherical in shape conforms substantially to the configuration of the portion 66 of the inlet restrictor 60'. This configuration allows the smooth flow of fluid through the restrictor pasageway 62 and around the bulbous valve head 69 in such a manner as to avoid the introduction of abrupt flat surfaces into the path of the flow. Once again, the purpose of this structure is to reduce foaming which tends to occur in the fluid upon contacting an abrupt surface at a relatively high velocity. Therefore, the configuration of FIGURE 4 may be more suited to certain effervescent type fluids than the configuration of FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that various modifications may be suggested by the embodiment disclosed, but I desire to claim within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as come within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having a valve chamber formed therein,

said valve chamber having an inlet leading thereto and an outlet conducting therefrom,

a valve seat formed within said valve body intermediate said inlet and said outlet,

a rubber-like sleeve mounted within said valve body at one end and having a valve head formed at the opposite end thereof,

said valve head being cooperable with said valve seat for controlling the flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet,

said rubber-like sleeve being pre-stretched for biasing said valve head into a closed position, and

means for operating said valve head relative to said valve seat.

2. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having an inlet chamberand a connecting valve chamber formed therein,

said inlet chamber having an inlet leading thereinto and said valve chamber having an outlet conducting therefrom,

said inlet chamber having an end wall extending radially outwardly of said connecting valve chamber,

a valve seat formed at said end wall about said valve chamber,

an actuation opening formed within said valve body axially of said valve seat,

a molded rubber-like sleeve having a radially enlarged valve head formed at a first end and a radially enlarged mounting flange formed at a second end,

said rubber-like sleeve disposed within said chamber and having said radially enlarged valve head extending within said inlet chamber for being cooperable with said valve seat at said end wall,

said rubber-like sleeve having said second end thereof extending through said actuation opening and having said mounting flange extending exteriorly of said valve body at said actuation opening,

said rubber-like sleeve being stretched between said end wall and the exterior of said valve body at said actuation opening for biasing said valve head in a closed position, and

means for opening said valve head against the biasing force of said rubber-like sleeve.

3. A liquid dispensing valve as described in claim 2 wherein said molded rubber-like sleeve is provided with a hollow-cylindrical chamber having an opening centrally of said mounting flange and extending longitudinally to said valve head, and wherein means are provided to extend within said hollow chamber for lifting said valve head off said valve seat against the biasing force of said rubber-like sleeve.

4. In a liquid dispensing valve having a valve body, an inlet and outlet, and a cylindrical chamber interconnecting the inlet to the outlet, a rubber-like sleeve comprising:

a cylindrical wall portion having a resilient boss formed integrally at one end thereof and a mounting flange formed at a second end,

said resilient boss and said mountmg flange extending radially outwardly of said cylindrical wall portion for overlying outwardly facing end walls of a cylindrical chamber and for stretching said cylindrical wall portion therebetween,

said rubber-like sleeve having a hollow center and receiving a valve stem thereinto for urging said resilient boss off an overlying position at an end wall of a cylindrical chamber and for further stretching said cylindrical wall portion thereby.

5. A valve body having an inlet,

a valve chamber conducting from said inlet,

a radially reduced actuation chamber formed axially of said valve chamber and leading therefrom,

an actuation opening formed axially of said actuation chamber,

an outlet conducting from said actuation chamber,

a valve seat formed within said valve chamber about the junction of said valve and actuation chambers,

a mounting surface formed exteriorly of said valve body about said actuation opening,

a rubber-like sleeve having a cylindrical wall portion,

a radially enlarged valve head formed at a first end thereof and a radially enlarged mounting flange formed at a second end,

said rubber-like sleeve disposed within said actuation chamber with said valve head disposed within said valve chamber at said valve seat and said mounting flange disposed exteriorly of said valve body at said mounting surface, said cylindrical wall portion being prestretched by said disposition of said valve head and said mounting flange,

means coacting with said rubber-like sleeve for urging said valve head off said valve seat and for allowing a flow of fluid from said inlet through said valve chamber and actuation chamber to said outlet.

6. A valve body as described in claim 5 wherein said means coacting with said rubber-like sleeve to open said valve head comprises:

a valve stem inserted interiorly of said sleeve for being contiguous with the inner surface of said valve head, and

means mounted on said valve body for depressing said valve stem and thereby controlling the flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet.

7. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having an inlet, an outlet and an interconnecting passage between said inlet and said outlet,

a valve seat formed within said passage and an actuation opening formed within said valve body,

a rubber-like sleeve having an integral valve head and mounting flange formed at opposite ends thereof,

said valve head disposed at said valve seat and said mounting flange disposed about said actuation opening, said rubber-like sleeve being pre-stretched between said valve seat and said actuation opening and biasing said valve head into a closed position at said valve seat and urging said mounting flange for providing a pressure seal about said actuation opening,

means extending within said actuation opening for operating said valve head relative to said valve seat.

8. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve seat formed within said passage and an actuation opening formed within said valve body.

a rubber-like sleeve having an integral valve head and mounting flange formed at opposite ends thereof.

said valve head disposed at said valve seat and said mounting flange disposed about said actuation opening,

said rubber-like sleeve being pre-stretched between said valve seat and said actuation opena,

a valve stem inserted interiorly of said sleeve and having a radially enlarged collar formed thereon for maintaining said stem in spaced relation with the inner surface of said sleeve, means for actuating said valve stem.

9. A liquid dispensing valve as described in claim 1 wherein said valve head of said rubber-like sleeve is bulbous-shaped to permit the smooth flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet, whereby foaming of highly effervescent fluids can be substantially eliminated.

10. A liquid dispensing valve as described in claim 5 wherein an inlet restrictor is provided to conduct fluid from a fluid source,

said inlet restrictor having a gradually tapered Wall portion and a substantially semi-spherical chamber portion; and

said valve head being bulbous-shaped and being cooperable within said semi-spherical chamber for pro- Viding a smooth fluid flow to said outlet.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 70,600 12/1958 France. 823,752 11/1959 Great Britain.

Heeter et a1 222-518 X Appel et 1 222 509 X 5 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. Collins 8 X N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

Isserstedt 222-518 X Miller 222-518 CL Ward 222-509 x 10 222 s09, 518; 251-335