US3520450A

US3520450A - Fluids dispensing valve

Info

Publication number: US3520450A
Application number: US735031A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel B Prussin; Jimmie L Mason
Original assignee: Dart Industries Inc
Current assignee: Dart Industries Inc
Priority date: 1968-06-06
Filing date: 1968-06-06
Publication date: 1970-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1987-07-14
Also published as: CH522156A; FR2010308A1; NL6908596A; NL140476B; BE734168A; DE1926443A1; DE1926443B2; GB1277454A; SE347168B; LU58809A1

Description

July 14, 1970 s ussm ET AL 3,520,450

FLUIDS DISPENSING VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet ,L

Filed June 6, 1968 2 N71 MR5, SAMUEL B. PRUSSI N JIMMIE L.MASON July 14, 1970 s, p uss ET AL 3,520,450

FLUIDS DISPENSING VALVE Fiied June 6, 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet :3

July 14, 1970 s p uss ET AL 3,520,450

FLUIDS DISPENSING VALVE ,4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1968 77/ FIG. I5

wTnRs, SAMUEL B. PRUSSIN JIMMIE L.MASON July 14, 1970 5, PRUSSlN ET AL 3,520,450

FLUIDS DISPENSING VALVE Filed June 6, 1968 4 Shegats-Sheet 4 :QE kin A C \i ii iii .in ii i! E.

I Fm

f [\TORS. E PRUSS IN M L M A SON United States Patent 01 fice 3,520,450 Patented July 14, 1970 3,520,450 FLUIDS DISPENSING VALVE Samuel B. Prussin, Los Angeles, and Jimmie L. Mason,

Hacienda Heights, Calif., assignors to Dart Industries Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 6, 1968, Ser. No. 735,031 Int. Cl. B65d 35/22 U.S. Cl. 22294 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluids dispensing valve and method, said valve having a pair of poppet valves operable by a common operating member and disposed to dispense fluids through a common chamber and nozzle, said valves having actuating means slightly spaced apart therebetween, such that during a valve closing operation, one of said valves may be closed slightly before the other of said valves closes, thereby allowing said other valve to pass fluid therethrough and cause purging of one of said fluids from said chamber and nozzle during each closing movement of the fluid dispensing valve of the invention at the end of each operating cycle thereof, and while holding the valve in a normal dispensing attitude.

This invention relates to a self-cleaning fluids dispensing valve, and more particularly, to a fluids dispensing valve having series operable valve members adapted sequentially and concurrently to dispense a plurality of fluids through a common chamber and dispensing nozzle and to cause automatic purging and cleaning of said chamber and nozzle by one of the fluids at the end of each valve operating cycle while holding the valve in a normal dispensing attitude.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fluids dispensing valves have been used for a great variety of fluids dispensing purposes. Many prior art valves are subject to malfunctions due to residues which collect therein. Such residues may collect in valve chambers and dispensing nozzles used to dispense products, such as antiperspirant sprays, starches and paint sprays, or the like. Furthermore, aerosol shaving cream dispensers, and particularly those used for mixing fluids to create chemical reactions have encountered problems with relation to undesirable reactions within the valve chambers and resultant deterioration of the fluids in the respective aerosol containers thereof.

Various valves for the purpose of dispensing a plurality of fluids have been utilized to dispense relatively reactive fluids, however, such valves have been quite complicated in order to maintain complete isolation of the relatively reactive fluids from each other, such as to prevent reactions of the fluids within the containers thereof before dispensing of such materials therefrom.

Accordingly, there has been a requirement for compact, simple and economical automatically purging and self-cleaning valve having a minimum of moving parts, and which will operate to prevent the collection of an undesirable residue in the valve and dispensing nozzle structures of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel fluids dispensing valve and method, said valve having series operable valve members adapted sequentially and concurrently to dispense fluids through a common chamber and to cause automatic purging and cleaning of the chamber by one of the fluids at the end of each fluid operating cycle while holding the valve in a normal dispensing attitude. The

foregoing function is accomplished by novel valve structure of the invention, wherein first and second valves are provided with actuating means comprising spaced apart members which permit slight opening of said second valve without the opening of said first valve, and whereby progressive further opening of said second valve causes said actuating means to open said first valve and permit concurrent operation of both valves to allow a plurality of fluids to be mixed in a chamber and dispensed therefrom, and whereby, with the closing motion of said second valve, the said first valve is first closed such that a fluid from only one source may pass through said chamber and a dispensing nozzle to purge and clean the chamber and nozzle before the final closing of said second valve.

The mechanism of the invention is particularly simple and reliable, and very economical to produce in small parts, such as those which may be made of plastic and which are economically practical for use in connection with expendable aerosol products containers.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a very simple and economical self-purging and cleaning valve particularly adapted for use in dispensing various aerosol products.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple, economical and compact fluids dispensing valve which is particularly adapted for use in connection with expendable aerosol fluid dispensing containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very novel and simple valve mechanism, wherein a pair of series operated poppet valves are operable to deliver fluids relative to a common chamber and dispensing nozzle, and are sequentially opened and closed by simple spaced mechanism carried by the respective valves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-cleaning fluids dispensing valve particularly adapted to purge itself at the end of each cycle of operation and which is particularly adapted to dispense products such as antiperspirant sprays, starches and paint sprays, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple fluids dispensing valve, wherein first and second sequentially operated valve members may communicate with first and second relatively reactive chemical fluids sources, under pressure; the valve members operating to conduct the separate fluids from said sources into a common mixing chamber; said valve members operable in sequence to permit efficient purging of the chamber by a passage of fluid from said second source into the chamber at the end of each valve operating cycle, and thus fluid from said first source is purged from the chamber, thereby preventing subsequent chemical reaction thereof with said second fluid source communicating directly with the interior of said chamber.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel method for purging and cleaning aerosol valves while holding the aerosol valve and its dispenser in a normal dispensing position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a pair of fluids dispensing containers disposed in concentric relation with each other and showing a fluids dispensing valve of the invention in connection therewith;

FIG. 2 is a enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view taken from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but showing one of a pair of valve members of the invention in slightly open position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a progressive operation of the fluids dispensing valve of the invention with both valve members therein in open position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of a pair of fluids dispensing containers disposed in concentric relation with each other and showing a modified fluids dispensing valve of the invention in connection therewith;

FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the modified valve of the invention, taken from the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing one of the valve members of the invention in partially open position;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing a progressive operation of the fluids dispensing valve of the invention, wherein both valve members thereof are in open position to permit concurrent dispensation of a plurality of fluids;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken from the line 1212 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken from the line 13l3 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the fluids dispensing valve of the invention for use in dispensing single phase aerosol products, such as antiperspirants, starches, paint sprays, and the like, wherein one liquid fluid and one vapor fluid may be dispensed by the valve of the invention, and showing a conventional dip tube in connection with the valve for such purposes; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7, showing the modified valve of the invention with a dip tube in connection therewith and adapted for use in dispensing single phase aerosol products, such as antiperspirant sprays, starches and paint sprays, or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The self-cleaning fluids dispensing valve of the invention is primarily concerned with means which automatically purges and cleans the valve and valve chamber,

together with the dispensing nozzles thereof at the end of each operating cycle of the valve of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14 of the drawings, the fluids dispensing valve of the present invention is disposed in a valve housing 10 carried by a substantially conventional cap 12 of a container 14 which may be of substantially conventional construction known in the art of aerosol products containers.

When the valve of the invention is used as shown in FIG. 1, it is adapted to dispense a plurality of fluids, such as may be required to produce a hot foam shave lather.

When the valve of the invention is used, a shown in FIG. 14, it may dispense such products as antiperspirants, starches and paints, or the like, as will be hereinafter described.

The valve housing 10, as shown in FIG. 1, carries a collapsible bag-like container 16 which is adapted to contain a first source, while the container 14 is adapted to contain a second source of fluid to be dispensed through the valve housing 10 of the invention, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

An operating member 18 is utilized for manual operation of the dispensing valve of the invention, and this operating member 18 is in the form of a movably mounted hollow dispensing nozzle having a fluids dispensing open end 20.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the valve housing 10 may be made of plastic or any other suitable material, and is a generally hollow cylindrical structure having an external annular wall 22 pressed into a hollow cylindrical generally cup-shaped portion 24 of the container cap 12. The cup-shaped structure 24 has a partially enclosed end 26 provided with an opening 28 therein. This opening 28 is slightly larger in diameter than a circular opening 30 of a resilient gasket 32 which intimately engages and surrounds a hollow cylindrical valve stem 34 which is fitted into a cylindrical portion 36 of the operating member 18. The cup-shaped structure 24 retains the gasket 32 compressively engaged with an open end 33 of the housing 10.

Disposed in the valve housing 10 are first and

second valve members

38 and 40. The valve member 40 is fixed to the stem 34, as will be hereinafter described.

The

valve members

38 and 40 are generally annular poppet valves having relatively opposed

annular ledges

42 and 44, respectively, between which a compression spring 46 exerts force tending to hold the

valve members

38 and 40 against

seats

48 and 50, respectively. The seat 48 is disposed in one end 52 of the housing 10 while the seat is disposed in the opposite end 53 of the housing 10 and constitutes an annular portion of the resilient gasket 32 against which an annular portion of the valve member 40 bears. The spring 46 tends to hold both of the halves closed against their respective seats.

Communicating internally of the seat 52 of the first valve member 38 is a first fluids inlet passage 54 which communicates with the interior of the collapsible bag 16. This bag 16 is provided with a neck portion 56 sealingly secured onto a hollow neck portion 58 of the housing 10, all as shown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The poppet valve stem 34 is a hollow tubular structure having a fluids dispensing bore 60. The stem 34 is provided with a plurality of ports or openings 62 adjacent to the seat 50 of the valve, and adjacent to its outlet, such that when the valve 44 is moved from its seat, fluids may flow around the poppet head of the valve and through the openings 62 and into the bore 60.

Actuating mechanism of the invention provides for interengagement and sequential operation of the

valve members

38 and 40. This actuating mechanism, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a recess 64 in the poppet valve member 38. This recess 64 being preferably annular and surrounded by a surrounding wall structure 66. The poppet valve member 40* is provided with a projecting portion 68 of substantially smaller diameter than the recess 64 to provide a spaced relation thereof with the wall structure 66 so as to permit slight tiltable or axial opening of the valve 40 without having the projection 68 contact the wall structure 66.

As shown in FIG. 4, the projecting portion 68 is moved into contact with the wall structure 66, at which time the valve 40 is opened relative to its seat 50 to allow fluid, under pressure, to flow from a chamber in the housing 10. Separate fluids are mixed in the chamber 70 during dispensation thereof and during each operating cycle of the fluids dispensing valve of the invention, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the bolls ing 10 is provided with a port 72 serving as a second passage means which communicates directly with the chamber 70 and with a second fluid source internally of the container 14. Accordingly, it will be apparent that aerosol fluid, under pressure, in the container 14 communicates directly through the port 72 and with the interior of the chamber 70 in the housing 10.

It will be seen that the

valve members

38 and 40 are shown in closed position in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and are forced apart by the spring 46 into engagement with the

seats

48 and 50, so that no fluid may flow through either of the

passages

54 or 72.

The disposition of the

valves

38 and 40 in the chamber is such that the valves are forced in opposite directions from each other, whereupon the

seats

48 and 50 form opposite walls or seat structure of the housing 10 relative to the chamber 70 therein.

In operation of the fluids dispensing valve of the invention, the container, as shown in FIG. 1 of the draw ings, namely, the container 14, is preferably inverted so that the fluid therein may gravitate into direct communication with the opening 72, and such that the liquid in the collapsible bag 16 communicates directly with the passage '54 and the valve seat 48.

When the actuating member or nozzle 18 is tilted laterally of its bore axis, the valve stem 34, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, is tilted and the flexible gasket 32 is deflected, as shown in FIG. 4, so as to permit the valve member 40 to be tilted away from its seat 50. When the valve member 40 is tilted to the position, as shown in FIG. 4, the chamber 70 is momentarily open through the bore 60 of the valve stem 34 and actuator 18 to atmospheric pressure which is lower than that in the container 14 causing fluid to flow through the passage 72 into the chamber 70 and outwardly through the open end 20 of the actuator and dispensing nozzle 18. This flow initially is very slight since the projection 68 of the valve 40 engages the recess surrounding structure 66 causing the valve 38 to move to the open position, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, such that fluids may flow concurrently from the bag 16 around the valve 38 and through the passage 72 into the chamber 70, whereupon the two separate fluids from the bag 16 and container 14 mix in the chamber 70, and then progress outwardly through the openings 62 and passage 60, and through the hollow nozzle-shaped actuator member 18 which forms an outlet.

During the flow of the separate fluids into the chamber 70, they mix and in the event such fluids are relatively chemically reactive, any reaction which takes place may do so in the chamber 70. Such an operation may be desirable in relation to the dispensation of a plurality of fluids for creating exo thermal reactions and also creating hot foam shave lather, or the like.

In order to prevent any of the reactive materials from remaining in the chamber 70 and communicating directly through the passage 72 with the interior of the container 14 and with the fluids therein, the dispensing valve of the invention, when moved from the open position, as shown in FIG. 5, toward a closing position, causes the valve 38 to be in closed position, as shown in FIG. 4, with the valve 40 remaining momentarily open, as shown in FIG. 4. This automatically happens during a closing movement of the valve, since the valve 38 will always close before the valve 40 due to the spaced relation of the projection 68 and the recess surrounding wall structure 66.

With the valve 40 in the open position, as shown in FIG. 4, fluid under pressure, continues to flow through the passage 72 from the container 14, and this subsequent flow of the fluids from the container 14 after the valve 38 has closed, causes purging of the chamber 70 by materials from the container 14 leaving only such materials in the chamber 70 in direct communication with the materials in the container 14, and thus after the valve 40 closes, the chamber 70 contains only materials similar to those in the container 14, and prevents a reaction which tends to deteriorate materials in the container 14.

The materials previously dispensed from the bag 16, although they are reactive with the materials in the container 14 will have been purged by flow of the materials through the passage 72 from the container 14 after the valve 38 has closed and the materials therefrom have ceased to flow into the chamber '70.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that each time the valve is operated or with each cycle of operation of the dispensing valve of the invention, that the valve 40 always closes last and permits flow from the container 14 through the passage 72 to purge materials from the chamber 70 and to leave only materials from the container 14 in the chamber 70.

For purposes of correspondence with the claims, it will be noted that the

valves

38 and 40 are termed first and second valves, respectively, while the

passages

54 and 72 are termed first and second passages, and the sources of fluids in the bag 16 and container 14 are termed first and second fluid sources, respectively.

With reference to FIG. 14, it will be seen that the valve as disclosed in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6 is equipped with a conventional dip tube 73 adapted to extend to a lower portion 13 of the container 14. This use of the valve provides for the conduction of fluid from the bottom portion 13 of the container 14 through the dip tube 73 and into the bore 54 of the valve, hereinbefore described. This arrangement provides for single phase aerosol dispensation of fluids wherein one fluid may be a liquid material common to antiperspirant products or starches or paints, while another of the separate fluids in the container 10- may be in the form of a vapor which communicates through the passage 72 with the interior of the channel 70. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be used in connection with a single container 14 wherein a dip tube 73 is installed or may be used as hereinbefore described in connection with a pair of

containers

14 and 16 for a multiphase aerosol dispensing function.

In the modification of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 13 of the drawings, the

containers

14 and 16 and the container cap 12 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings. Thus, materials contained in the collapsible bag 16 constitutes a first fluid source, while materials which may be contained in the container 14 may constitute a second fluid source, and aerosol pressure fluid in the container 14 may serve to collapse the bag 16 and pressurize fluid therein.

As shown in FIG. 7, the modified structure of the invention comprises a valve housing 76 which is fixed in a cylindrical generally cup-shaped portion 78 of the cap 12, this detail being shown best in FIG. 9 of the drawings. The cup-shaped portion 78 of the cap 12 is provided with a central opening 80 therein through which a valve stem 82 projects. This valve stem 82 forms an outlet for the fluids dispensing valve of the invention, all as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The portion 78 of the cap 12 retains a resilient gasket 84 on the inner side thereof. This gasket 84 is provided with a central opening through which the valve stem extends and the gasket 84 and the cap 78 thus form one end wall for the housing 76. Adjacent this wall, so formed, is a fluid receiving and mixing chamber 88.

A second wall structure adjacent the chamber 88 is formed by a wall member 92 engaging a resilient seat member 92 which is maintained in compressed relation with an annular shoulder 96 in the housing 76.

The wall structure 90 is maintained againnst the seat member 94 which is held against the seat 96 by a compression spring 98. The spring 98 engages a ledge 99 on a poppet valve 100. The valve 100 is preferably integral with the hollow stem 82. The spring 98 thus forces the poppet valve 100, at its annular seat engaging portion 102, into engagement with a seat surface 104 of the gasket 84.

The valve stem 82 of the poppet valve 100 is provided with a bore 106 which communicates with openings 108 in the' stem. These openings 108 are disposed on the outlet side of the annular seat engaging portion 102 and adjacent the seat 104 to allow fluids to flow through the bore 106 when the poppet valve 100 is opened, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

A poppet valve 110 is provided with a stem 112 which projects through the wall structure 90. This stem 112 is provided with a bore 114 which communicates with ports 7 116 in the stem. These ports 116 are adjacent to the poppet valve 110 adjacent a seat engaging potrion 118 thereof, this portion 118 engages a valve seat surface 120 of the resilient gasket 94. The poppet valve 110 while open permits fluid to flow around and between the annular seat engagement portion 118 and the seat 120, and through the ports 116 in the stem 114 adajcent to the seat 120.

A spring 122 in the valve housing 76 is engaged at its one end with an end wall 124 of the valve housing 76. An opposite end of the spring 122 engages an annular ledge 126 on the poppet valve 110 and tends to hold it at its annular seat engaging portion 118 securely engaged with the seat portion 120 of the gasket 94.

The

poppet valves

100 and 110 are provided with respective spaced actuating

portions

128 and 136. These spaced actuating portions are relatively engageable with each other and are adapted to permit slight opening of the poppet valve 100 without opening the poppet valve 110, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The actuating portion 130 of the valve 110 is an integral portion of the hollow stem 112 and the stem 112 is provided with ports 132 in the side wall thereof to permit fluid to flow radially outward adjacent to the actuactor end portion 130 of the stem 112.

The housing 76 is provided with a first fluid passage 134 internally of a neck portion 136 of the housing. Secured to the neck portion 136 is a sealing portion 138 of the bag 16, all as shown best in FIG. 9 of the drawings. Thus, a first source of fluid from the bag 16 communicates with the passage 134 and the poppet valve 110.

The housing 76 is provided with a second fluid passage means designated 140, this being in the form of a port in the side wall of the housing 76, and this port communicates directly with the chamber 88, and at a location between the

valve members

100 and 110.

In opeartion of the modified dispensing valve of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 13 of the drawings, the container 14 is preferably inverted relative to the position shown in FIG. 7, such that the operating member 18 is directed downwardly and so that fluid in the container 14 communicates directly with the passage 140 and so that the fluid in the callapsible bag 15 also communicates directly with the passage 134.

In this position, the operating member 18 is tilted to tilt the valve stem 82, as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, such that the annular seat engaging portion 102 of the valve 100 is slightly spaced from the seat 104 to permit fluid to flow through the passage 140 and downwardly through the openings 108 and the bore 106 of the valve stem 82, and to be dispensed directly from the operating member 18 at its open end 20. During initial opening movement of the valve 100, the actuating

portions

128 and 130 become engaged subsequent to the opening of the valve 100 and consequently the valve 110 operates subsequently and in sequence relative to the valve 100.

With a progressive movement of the valve 100, the actuating

portions

128 and 130 of the

valves

100 and 110 cause the valve 110 to be displaced from its seat 120 and to thereby permit fluid to flow from the collapsible bag 16 through the passage 134 around the valve 110, through the slots 116 and ports 132, and into the chamber 88. Thus, when both

valves

100 and 110 are open, as shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings, the fluids from the container 14 and the bag 16 mix in the chamber 88 and flow outwardly through the valve stem 82 and the actuator nozzle 18. The fluids may react exo-thermally and/ or form such products as hot foam shave lather, or the like, when passing through the chamber 88. When suflicient materials have been dispensed, and when the valve 100 is moved toward a closed position, the valve 110 again moves back to the position, as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, and becomes closed before the valve 100 closes. This causes continued passage of fluid from the container 14 into the chamber 88 to purge the materials therefrom which have been previously dispensed through the valve 110. Thus, at the end of each opearting cycle, the valve remains open a short time after the valve closes, and thus causes flow through the passage 140 to purge the chamber 88 and leave only materials dispensed from the container 14 therein, and communicating directly with the interior of the container 14 through the passage 140. Thus, during each cycle of operation of the dispensing valve of the invention, the mixing chamber 88 is purged and contains only material which will not react with the materials communicating directly therewith via the passage 140.

For purposes of correspondence with the claims, the

valves

110 and 100 are termed first and second valves, respectively. The

passages

134 and 140 are termed first and second fluid passages, respectively, and the seats and 104 are termed first and second valve seats, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 15, the container 14 is provided with a conventional cap 12 which holds the embodied valve housing 76 of the invention. This modified valve housing being that disclosed in FIGS. 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Coupled to this valve housing 76 is a conventional dip tube 77 adapted to communicate with the bore 134 of the valve housing 76. The port is adapted to communicate with a fluid in vapor form while the dip tube 77 is adapted to communicate with a liquid, such as may be common to antiperspirant sprays, starches or paint spray products. Accordingly this use of the modified valve, shown in FIG. 15, accomplishes a single phase dispensation of aerosol products, wherein two separate fluids sources constitute one liquid source in the bottom portion of the container 14, and a vapor source in the upper portion of the container 14, said vapor source communicating with the passage 140.

In accordance with the foregoing terms, it will be understood, that separate fluid sources may be construed to mean a single phase aerosol arrangement of fluids in a single container or a plurality of fluids including a plurality of liquids and a pressurizing vapor fluid. Separate fluid sources, according to the present invention, may be construed to mean a single liquid in the bottom of a container as one fluid source, and a pressurizing vapor fluid in the same container operating as another separate fluid source.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that selfcleaning and self-purging valve of the invention is adaptable to several uses principally to maintain the valves as well as the valve mixing chambers and nozzles clean following each operating cycle thereof so as to prevent the accumulation of residue in the valve mechanism which, according to prior art practice, has caused malfunctioning of the valve, and further from the foregoing description it will be apparent that the operation of the valve of the invention prevents relatively reactive fluids from becoming contaminated due to a residue in the valve housing or valve chamber which may be retained in communication with one of the relatively reactive fluids controlled by the valve of the invention.

The invention comprises a novel method, whereby aerosol valves, which are used to dispense active ingredients of a nature which tends to clog the valve, may be purged of the active ingredients at the end of each operating cycle, while holding the valve and its related dispenser in a normal dispensing attitude. This novel method comprises the confining of an active ingredient and a vapor, under pressure, in an aerosol container, wherein the active ingredient and the vapor are dispensed through a common passage such that the active ingredient may be dispensed normally and whereing dispensation of the active ingredient has been completed, vapor is then passed through the same passages which conduct the active ingredient in order to disperse the active ingredient residue from the passages, and to clean the valve and the nozzle at the end of each operating cycle. This method involves the initial passage of vapor through the dispensing passages, then the dispensation of the active ingredient through the passages, then the shut off of the flow of the active ingredient through the passages, and then the flow of said vapor through the same passages in order to disperse and purge these passages to clean them and remove the active ingredient to prevent accumulation thereof and ultimate clogging of the passages, including the valve and the dispensing nozzle structure of the invention, At the beginning of each cycle of operation, the vapor is first passed through the passages, and at the end of each cycle, the vapor is shut off after the purging phase of the operating cycle is completed so that each time the valve of the invention is operated, the steps of dispensing vapor, then the active ingredient, then the shutting off of the active ingredient, then the purging and dispersal of the active ingredient from the passages, and then the shut off of the purging vapor all occur and are caused to follow in continuity, while the valve and the related aerosol fluids container is held in a normal dispensing attitude which is the same attitude assumed during the dispensation of the active ingredient from the valve and the related aerosol container.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a fluids dispensing valve, the combination of: a valve housing; first and second valve members movably mounted in said housing; first and second fluid source passage means communicating with the interior of said housing and adapted to conduct respective first and seconds fluids, under pressure, from separate fluid sources, said first and second passage means communicating respectively with said first and second valve members; a chamber in said housing; said first valve communicating with the interior of said chamber and with said first passage means, said first valve, when open, adapted to deliver fluid from said first source through said first passage means and into said chamber; said second passage means adapted to deliver fluid directly to the interior of said chamber; said chamber having an outlet opening; said second valve, when open, disposed to deliver a mixture of said first and second fluids from said chamber through said outlet opening; means tending to maintain said first and second valve members closed; and actuator means disposed to control opening and closing of both said first and second valves, said actuator means including first and second spaced apart engaging structures carried respectively by said first and second valve members; and a valve operating member disposed to move said Second valve to a partially open position until said spaced engaging structures are engaged, whereupon said first valve is subsequently opened thereby; and when said operating member moves said second valve toward a closed position, said first valve closes first and said second valve closes subsequently so as to permit fluid, under pressure, from said second source to communicate through said second passage means and to permit said fluid from said second source only to flow into said chamber after said first valve closes and before said second valve closes in order to purge materials from said first source out of said chamber berore said second valve closes.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first and second valve members are opposed to each other; first and second opposed valve seats in said chamber being engageable by said first and second valves; a spring disposed between said valve members tending to force said valve members against respective ones of said seats; said second passage means communicating with the interior of said housing and said second fluid source in an area of said chamber between said seats; said housing having said first passage means communicating with said first fluid source and said first seat, said housing having an outlet opening communicating with said second valve seat and said second valve member.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said valve members are both annular poppet valve members, said engaging structure of one of said valves including structure surrounding a recess therein, said recess directed toward the other one of said valve members, the other one of said valve members having a projection loosely disposed in spaced apart relation with said structure surrounding said recess to permit slight opening of said second valve member relative to said second seat without opening said first valve member relative to said first seat.

4. The invention, as defined in claim 3, wherein: said operating member is secured to said second valve mem ber, said operating member being a hollow tubular structure projecting through said outlet opening of said chamber, said hollow tubular structure having openings therethrough disposed adjacent to said second valve member at a side thereof adjacent said second seat; and flexible seal means sealingly and deflect-ably engaging said hollow tubular structure around said outlet opening of said chamber.

5. The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein: said operating member and said second valve member are tiltably movable relative to said flexible seal and said outlet opening so as to tilt said second valve member off said second seat to slightly compress said spring between said first and second valve members.

6. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a compressible fluid containing bag communicates with said first valve member through said first fluid passage; said housing having said second passage communicating directly with said chamber and said second fluid source; and a second container communicating directly with said second passage means and said housing and surrounding said bag and serving to contain said second fluid source; said container adapted to contain pressurized fluid capable of collapsing said flexible bag, and thereby pressurizing fluid therein.

7. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said housing is provided With a pair of spaced walls; said chamber being located between said walls, each of said walls having a valve stem receiving opening therein, one of said valve stem receiving openings being said first passage means and the other of said valve stem receiving openings being said outlet opening of said chamber, each of said valves being a poppet valve and having a hollow valve stem projecting through a respective one of said valve stem openings, both of said valve stems extending in the same direction; a valve seat at each of said walls engageable by a respective one of said poppet valves; a pair of springs carried by said housing and tending to hold said valves adjacent respective ones of said seats, each of said hollow valve stems having openings therethrough adjacent each respective valve and adjacent each respective seat, a stem of said first valve extending into said chamber in closely spaced relation to said second valve, whereby said second valve may be opened slightly without causing engagement of said last mentioned stem and causing opening of said first valve.

8. The invention, as defined in claim '7, wherein: said stem of said second valve constitutes said operating member and extends outwardly from said housing through said outlet opening and serving as a means for moving said second valve toward open position.

9. The invention, as defined in claim 7, wherein: a compressible fluid containing bag communicates with said first valve; a container surrounding said housing and said bag and communicating with said second fluid passage and serving to contain said second fluid source, said container adapted to contain pressurized fluid capable of collapsing said flexible bag and pressurizing fluid therein.

10. The invention, as defined in claim 9, wherein: said second valve and second valve stem are tiltably mounted so as to permit tiltable movement of said second valve ofl its respective seat and to slightly compress said respective spring and progressively to cause operating engagement of said second valve member with the stem of said first valve member.

11. In a fluids dispensing valve, the combination of: a valve housing; first and second separate poppet valve members movably mounted in said housing; first and second fluid source passage means communicating with the interior of said housing and adapted to conduct respective first and second fluids, under pressure, from separate fluid sources, said first and second passage means communicating respectively with said first and second valve members, a chamber in said housing; said first valve communicating with the interior of said chamber and with said first passage means, said first valve, when open, adapted to deliver fluid from said first source through said first passage means and into said chamber; said second passage means adapted to deliver fluid directly to the interior of said chamber; said chamber having an outlet opening; said second valve, when open, disposed to deliver a mixture of said first and second fluids from said chamber through said outlet opening; means tending to maintain said first and second valve members closed; an actuator means disposed to control opening and closing of both said first and second valves, said actuator means including means responsive to the opening of said second valve for subsequently opening said first valve; said last mentioned means of said actuator means, disposed to permit said first valve to close first and said second valve to close subsequently so as to permit fluid, under pressure, from said second source to communicate through said second passage means and to permit said fluid from said second source only to flow into said chamber after said first valve closes and before said second valve closes in order to disperse and purge materials from said first source out of said chamber before said second valve closes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,187,963 6/1965 Anderson 222402.24 X 3,325,056 6/1967 Lewis 222136 X 3,341,082 9/1967 Meshberg 222-402.18 X 3,416,711 12/1968 Gross 222-402.18 3,241,722 3/1966 Nissen 222386.5 X 3,454,198 7/1969 Flynn 222--402.22 X

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner N. L. STACK, 1a., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.