US3477195A

US3477195A - Method of pressurizing a dispensing container

Info

Publication number: US3477195A
Application number: US627048A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles D Chambers
Original assignee: Valve Corp of America Inc
Current assignee: Pittway Corp; Valve Corp of America Inc
Priority date: 1967-03-30
Filing date: 1967-03-30
Publication date: 1969-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1986-11-11
Also published as: ES351923A1; FR1556935A

Description

Nov. 11, 1969 c. D. CHAMBERS 3,477,195

METHOD OF' PRESSURIZING A DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed March 30, 1967 .I 9. Sheets-Sheet 1 2 46 l 'f' I a 52 l l I 54 INVENTOR Chcwlas 'D Chambers Nov. l1, 1969 c, D. CHAMBERS 3,477,195

METHOD OF PRESSURIZING A DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed March 3o, 1967 zsheetsfsheet a Edgy-.f4 We.V Fig7 lUnited States Patent O 3,477,195 METHOD OF PRESSURIZING A DISPENSING CONTAINER Charles D. Chambers, Huntington, Conn., assgnor to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn.,

a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 627,048 Int. Cl. B65b 31/02; B65d 83/14; B67b 3/02 U.S. Cl. 53-37 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vertically collapsible product-isolating sack having a reduced neck portion at its top, through which the product passes, and having below said neck portion an externally grooved annular shoulder adapted to lit within the top shoulder of the dispenser casing and to provide passages within the casing shoulder for the charging of the casing with propellant liquid. During said charging the sack neck is supported above the casing neck and in spaced relation thereto, and the propellant liquid passes through the existing space between the necks and through the grooves of the sack shoulder, in being brought into the casing.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to small, hand-held pressurized dispensing devices, and more particularly to devices of this nature, wherein the product is kept isolated from the liquid and/or gaseous propelling medium by use of a sack disposed in the pressurized casing and in which the product is carried. Pressure cans of this type are sometimes termed Sepro cans, in the trade.

It has been the practice of eiect the pressurizing of such cans by injecting liquid propellant into the casing or can through a small opening provided in the bottom wall, and to thereafter seal the casing by applying a plug to the opening, to close-off the same. This has necessitated turning the dispenser upside down, which is a disadvantage since there was required special filling equipment. Also, special plugging equipment was needed, to closeoif the bottom lling hole in the casing.

SUMMARY The present invention obviates the disadvantages of the abovementioned prior devices, and an object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved productisolating sack for a pressurized dispenser, and an improved process for pressurizing the same, wherein the filling of the propellant liquid can be eifected through the top of the casing or can, and wherein there is not required a bottom lling opening or a subsequent plugging of the same. The foregoing is accomplished by supporting the neck portion of the product sack above the casing neck and in spaced relation thereto during the charging operation, and by bringing the propellant liquid into the casing or can through the space effected by the said arrangement and support of the neck. Additionally, a shoulder portion of the sack, which lits within the casing shoulder, is provided with outer grooves which can constitute passages for the propellant liquid being lled into the casing. A combined filling and crimping head is provided, which supports the neck portions in spaced relation, injects the propellant liquid between the neck portions of the casing and sack, and thereafter effects the closing of the casing and crimping of the valve-closure assembly thereto.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved multiple-purpose filling head for dispensers of fice the type indicated, which eifectively supports the sack neck above and spaced from the casing neck, injects the propellant liquid between the said necks, and thereafter brings the necks together and secures the same in assembled relation; to provide an improved clearance-effecting shoulder construction in a product-isolating sack of a dispenser; to provide an improved process for filling in a liquid propellant between neck portions of a productcontaining sack and a casing therefor; and to provide an improved free-flowing valve housing for a product-isolated dispenser adapted to handle viscous liquids.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a vertical or axial sectional view through a pressurized dispenser having incorporated therein the improved, product-containing and isolating inner sack made' in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of the upper portion of the dispenser of FIG. 1 prior to the inal assemblage thereof, illustrating the positions which the parts occupy during the charging of the dispenser with propellant liquid.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the improved productcarrying sack as provided by the invention.

FIG. 4 is a View like that of FIG. 2, but showing an improved lling head as provided by the invention, applied to the dispenser for the purpose of injecting the propellant liquid and thereafter crimping in place the valve and closure assemblage.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of the valve and closure assemblage of the dispenser, showing an improved valve housing.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the valve housing illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of a pressurized dispenser of smaller overall diameter, embodying the improvements provided by the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pressurized dispenser illustrated therein comprises an outer casing or can 10 having the usual inwardly concave bottom wall 12, and bulbous or convex top wall 14. The top Wall 14 has a large central opening 16a, and is often referred to as a top shoulder of the can or casing.

The dispenser further comprises a closure and valve assemblage designated generally by the numeral 18, said assemblage including a metal cup 20 having an outturned and down-turned peripheral ange 22 which is adapted to cooperate with an annular bead 23 on the wall 14, said bead extending around the opening 16 of the wall.

The valve and closure assemblage 18 further comprises a molded plastic valve housing 24 in the form of a small upright cup having a top rim portion 26 which is gripped by an upstanding central boss 28 formed as an integral part of the closure cup 20. Within the boss 28 is a valve disk 30, normally engaged by a valve shoulder 32 disposed intermediate the ends of a vertically movable, hollow valve stem 34 which passes through the boss 28 and the valve disk 30. A helical compression spring 36 engages the underside of the valve shoulder 32 and also the bottom of the valve housing 24, normally maintaining the valve stern 34 in the raised, closed position as is well understood in the art. When the valve stem 34 is depressed, a discharge of product will occur through a central discharge passage 38 in the stem 34, in the well known manner.

Within the can 10 there is a flexible or resilient plastic accordian-pleated sack 40 having a bottom wall 42 and at its upper end a top neck portion 44 disposed above and extending upward from a top shoulder portion 46. The neck portion 44 has an enlarged top edge or rim 48 terminating in an `outturned and downturned flange portion 54 which is interposed between the bead 23 of the can and the peripheral flange 22 of the closure cup. In the usual manner, the cup 20 has its side Walls crimped outward as indicated at 51 to secure the cup and neck ange 54 of the sack 40 in sealing engagement with the top wall 14 of the can 10.

The product 55 which is to be dispensed is contained in the sack 40, whereas the propellant liquid and gas is disposed exteriorly of the sack, in the space a between the latter and the casing 10. It will be understood that the pressure of the propellant will tend to collapse the sack 40 and discharge the contents of the latter through the valve stem 34 whenever the stern is depressed, as is understood in the art.

Heretofore the propellant liquid was injected or placed in the can 10 through an opening in the bottom wall 12 thereof, after which the opening was closed by a rubber plug or the like.

In accordance with the present invention, the propellant liquid is introduced into the can 10 by pouring or injecting it between the

neck portions

23 and 44 respectively of the can and sack, prior to such neck portions being secured together in sealing relation. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be understood that after the filling of the sack 40 with the product, the neck 44 of the sack and the closure cup are assembled to each other and then may be lifted an extent as shown, thereby to provide a clearance space between the sack neck and the casing neck. For such lifted position of the sack neck, the shoulder 46 of the sack may be engaged with the shoulder 14 of the can. By the present invention, outer grooves 52 are provided in the shoulder portion 46 of the sack, thereby to constitute passage through which the propellant liquid can flow when it is being filled into the can 10 between the spaced

neck portions

23, 44 of the can and sack.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the grooves 52 enable the propellant liquid to flow downward past the exterior of the shoulder 46 of the sack, between the latter and the shoulder 14 of the casing 10.

In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a novel and improved filling head comprising an upper ring 56 and a lower ring 58 having interposed between them a plurality of compression springs 60. The lower ring 58 has an annular sealing gasket 62 adapted to sealingly engage the shoulder or top wall 14 of the can 10. In the lower ring 58 are passages 64 for the propellant liquid, said passages being connected to suitable fittings 66 and hoses 68.

Carried by the lower ring 58 are spring loaded retainer arms 70 adapted to engage the underside of the flange 54 of the sack 40, thereby to insure retention of the latter on the closure cup 20.

The filling head further comprises an annular inner clamping and crimping member 72 adapted to engage the peripheral ange 22 of the closure cup 20, thereby to cooperate with the retainer arms 70 for retention of the sack neck in assembled relation on the cup 20. Nithin the tubular member 72 are crimping jaws 74 arranged to effect the crimping of the side Walls of the cup 20, as illustrated at 51 in FIG. l.

The procedure involving the top lling of the propellant liquid utilizing the filling head illustrated in FIG. 4 is as follows: The valve and closure assemblage 18 is pressed into the top rim portion of the sack 40 at a loading station on the filling line after the filling of the sack, the arrangement being such that the sack has an air tight fit with the cup 20. The can 10, sack 40 contained therein and the valve and closure assembly 18 now pass to a filling station which has the filling head illustrated in FIG. 4. The filling head comes down over the can 10 and the gasket 62 thereof seals against the shoulder 14 of the can. Parts of the filling head continue their downward movement whereby pins 76 of the upper ring 56 actuate the retainer arms 70, causing these to engage the underside of the Harige 54 of the sack. The annular member 72, in

descending, engages the ange 22 of the closure cup whereby the latter and the neck of the sack are clamped and held together.

The propellant liquid is now forced through the passages 64, whereupon it passes downward around the neck 44 of the sack, through the grooves S2 thereof and into the lower portion of the can 10. The upper and

lower rings

56, 58 are now raised, and the member 72 and crimping jaws 74 brought down to seat the closure cup on the bead 23 and crimp the cup on the inside. This secures the flange 54 of the sack 40 tightly between the bead 23 of the casing and the flange 22 of the closure cup.

The use of a sack to isolate the product from the propellant has the advantages that the product and propellant need not be compatible with each other, and that no loss of propellant occurs, to intefere with complete utilization of the product.

The sack 40, since it is easily collapsible, can be readily crumbled laterally or radially to the extent necessary to enable its easy and quick introduction into the can 10 through the top neck opening of the latter. After such introduction the product is filled into the sack, and thereafter the valve assembly is applied to the neck, in preparation for the filling of the propellant.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a small diameter sack and can, whereby collapsing of the sack is not required for its introduction into the can.

I have found that where the product contained in the sack 40 is of a viscous nature, the side walls of the valve housing 24 may be advantageously provided with a plurality of slots 80 whereby the product can freely flow into the valve housing 24 during the discharging process when the valve stem 34 is in the depressed position. The provision of the side slots 80 eliminates any tendency for restriction of flow of the product when the valve stem 34 approaches the bottom opening 82 of the valve housing. To strengthen the side walls of the valve housing, ribs 83 are provided between the slots 80, as shown.

lt will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved product-isolating sack for a pressurized dispenser, and an improved topfilling process for pressurizing the dispenser, wherein the filling of the propellant liquid can be effected through the top of the casing or can, and wherein there is not required a bottom filling opening or a subsequent plugging of the same. I have also provided a novel combined filling and crimping head adapted to support the neck portions of the sack and casing in spaced relation, and to inject the propellant liquid between the said neck portions and thereafter to effect the closing of the casing and crimping of the closure cup assembly thereto. The product-containing sack has an improved shoulder construction by which passages are provided, for leading the propellant liquid past the interior of the top shoulder of the casing, into the lower portion of the latter. Further, the valve housing carried by the closure cup is provided with a plurality of side openings whereby -viscous product can readily iiow into the housing and out through the valve stem when the latter is in its depressed position. The illustrated structures are simple and relatively inexpensive to produce and to assemble, and the top filling procedure obviates the necessity for turning the can upside down, or providing a separate closure or plug at the bottom of the can. Accordingly, the equipment required for filling and pressurizing the dispenser is greatly simplified.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. The method of pressurizing a dispensing container having therein a product-isolating collapsible sack, which includes the steps of attaching a valve and closure assembly to the neck portion of the collapsible sack, supporting the neck portions respectively of the container and sack in spaced relation to each other, injecting propellant liquid between the said spaced neck portions and into the container, and thereafter sealingly securing said neck por- -tions to each other.

2. The method of claim 1, and further including the step of sealing off the neck portion of the container from the exterior surroundings to prevent leakage of propellant 5 liquid past the container exterior.

3. The method of claim 2, and further including the step of sealing off the neck portion of the sack from the exterior surroundings, thereby conlining the path for the propellant liquid to that existing between said neck portions.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,958,170 11/196() Mayer 53-37 XR 3,225,967 12/ 1965 Heimgartner 222-206 XR 3,279,393 10/ 1966 Otken 141-100 XR THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.