US3586068A

US3586068A - One-piece valve

Info

Publication number: US3586068A
Application number: US833399A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Nicholson
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-16
Filing date: 1969-06-16
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22
Also published as: BE750638A; DE2010650B2; AU1622570A; CA920998A; NL166659B; NL7006893A; DE2010650A1; NL166659C; SE356441B

Abstract

A one-piece valve having a tubular body to one of which there is integrally attached a closure member which is compressed within the bore of the tubular body to seal the same when subjected to pressure forces acting on the end of the valve.

Description

United States Patent John B. Nicholson Country Club Hills, 111. 833,399

June 16, 1969 June 22, 1971 Continental Can Company, Inc. New York, NY.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ONE-PIECE VALVE 13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 141/20, 141/326, 222/494, 222/495, 222/501, 251/349 Int. Cl B651! 31/00 Field olSuuch 251/342, 349, 353, 354; 222/494, 495,501; 141/3, 20, 326

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,282,474 11/1966 German 251/353 X 3,340,561 9/1967 Schwartzman 222/501 3,348,742 10/1967 Assauit 251/354 3,434,695 3/1969 Green 251/349 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorneys-Fred P. Kostka, Joseph E. Kerwin and William A.

Dittmann ABSTRACT: A one-piece valve having a tubular body to one of which there is integrally attached a closure member which is compressed within the bore of the tubular body to seal the same when subjected to pressure forces acting on the end of the valve.

PATENTEU JUH22 1971 SHEET 1 [1F 3 INVENTOR JOHN B. NICHOLSON ATT Y PATENTEU M22197} SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR B. NICHOLSON J 0 BY Kl/46v ATT'Y.

ONE-PIECE VALVE The present invention relates to valves and more particularly to a valve adapted for use in pressurized containers for either charging the container or dispensing the contents therefrom.

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a fluid pressure responsive valve made as a single unitary piece and having fluid passage means formed therein and an integral plug which is compressible within the fluid pressure means to seal the passages when fluid pressure forces are imposed on the valve and to be released from compression to open the passages when a force opposing the fluid pressure forces is applied on the plug.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple one piece valve which is made from a resilient compressible material and having fluid passage means and an integral closure which is operative to close the passage when the valve is compressed It is still another object taken in conjunction with the immediately foregoing object in which the valve is constructed and arranged so that the integral closure effectively seals the fluid passage means upon application of a fluidized pressure force on said valve.

It is another object to provide a one-piece valve capable of being applied to a pressurized container to serve as either a charging valve to charge the container with a pressurized fluid or as a dispensing valve for dispensing the contents from the container.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a pressurized container having an opening in which there is inserted a one-piece valve made from a flexible and compressible material and having a fluid passage means and an integral closure member which is compressed within the fluid passage to seal the latter when the container is charged with a fluid under pressure.

The foregoing objects are generally accomplished by a onepiece valve made from a flexible and compressible material and includes a substantially tubular body having a closure member flexibly attached adjacent one end thereof extending into the bore of the tubular body andcompressed therein to seal the bore when the end is subjected to pressures greater than atmospheric within the container.

More particularly, the one-piece valve is insertable into an opening of a container so as to compress the tubular body intermediate the ends thereof and into engagement with the closure member in the fluid passage means. The valve is inserted into the container so that the fluid under pressure within the container acts on the flexibly connected end of the closure member to compress the plug into the bore and thereby seal the fluid within the container. The valve is opened by a force applied on the end of the closure member opposite to that on which the fluid pressure forces are applied thereby to release the closure member from compression within the bore and provide a passage through the tubular body.

Further objects and features will hereinafler appear.

In The Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressurized container having a dispensing valve and a charging valve embodying the structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the bottom of the container and illustrating the valve of the present invention prior to being inserted into a charging opening;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the valve inserted in the charging opening;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the valve during the charging operation for charging fluid under pressure into the container;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 2 to 4 inclusive but showing the sealed position of the valve after the charging operation is completed;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 1 and in particular showing the valve of the present invention applied as a dispensing valve.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a container or can 10 of the type generally used for dispensing aerosol products. The aerosol container 10 embodies generally a charging valve 11 and a dispensing valve 11a both incorporating the structure of the present invention. The aerosol container 10 includes a generally cylindrical metal body 12 enclosed at the upper end by an upper domed shaped closure 13. The closure 13 is secured to the body 12 by means of a conventional double seam. Attached to the dome closure 13 as by clinching in the standard manner is a closure disc 14 on which the dispensing valve 11a is mounted.

Attached to the bottom or under side of the container body 12 is an end closure plate 17 also secured to the body by means of a double seam 18. The end closure plate 17 includes an axial recess 19 in which there is formed an opening 21 bounded by an upwardly projecting flange 22. Seatable within the opening 21 is the charging valve 11 of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6. The charging valve 11 serves to charge the container with a fluid under pressure to provide the propellant force for dispensing the product from the aerosol container 10. In this connection, it should be mentioned that the propellant fluid may be incorporated into the product to be dispensed therewith as is common practice in aerosol containers, or the propellant may be maintained separate from the product to be dispensed as in a container having a product bag or the like on which the propellant acts. The latter type containers are generally known as dual compartment aerosol containers.

The charging valve 11 comprises a tubular body 23 of generally cylindrical cross section. The valve 11 is made from a flexible and resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber or plastic such as polyurethane and the like and is inserted into the charging opening or orifice 21 on the underside of the container 10.

As shown, the tubular body 23 is formed at one end with an upper truncated dome section 24 for facilitating the insertion of the valve into the opening 21. Contiguous with the truncated dome section 24 is a cylindrical section 26 which is of larger diameter than the orifice 21. An annular groove 27 is formed at the lower end of the cylindrical section 26 and accommodates the upstanding flange 22 bounding the opening 21 therein. Extending from the lower end of the annular groove 27 is an enlarged horizontal flange 30, which is accommodated within the axial recess 19 in the end closure 17 to prevent lateral movement of the valve 11 when inserted within the opening 21.

The bore 28 of the tubular body is formed with a large bore section 29, an intermediate bore section 31 and a small bore section 32. The large bore section 29 and intermediate bore section 31 define a shoulder 33 at the juncture thereof. Integral with the shoulder 33 and extending into the large bore section 29 is an annular flexible web 34. Formed in the web 34 is a plurality of ports or openings 36 which provide communication between the upper bore section 29 and the intermediate bore section 31.

Extending from an integral with the web 34 is a downwardly projecting closure member or plug 37 which is of lesser diameter than the intermediate bore section 31 and small bore section 32 as shown in FIG. 1. However, upon insertion of the valve 11 into the orifice 21 the resilient tubular 16 is compressed thereby to constrict the intermediate bore section 31 as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the lower end of the plug 37 remains spaced above a shoulder 37 formed at the juncture of the intermediate bore section 31 and small bore section 32 which is also constricted. Thus the plug 37 closes the valve 11 so that fluid is unable to pass between the

bore sections

31 and 32 and the large bore section 29 via the ports 36 in the web 34.

To open the valve 11 to charge fluid into the container body 11, a charging head assembly 38 is placed into engagement with the outer surface of the end closure 17 of the container as shown in HO. 4. The charging head assembly 38 may include a reciprocal spindle 39 which upon elevation is operative to engage and force the plug 37 upwardly out of the constricted portion of the intermediate bore section 311 so that the sidewall of the plug 37 is spaced from the wall of the intermediate bore section 3i to provide an annular passage 40. In this position of the plug 37, fluid is free to flow through the annular passage M and via the web ports 36 into the container body ll ll.

The propellant or pressurized fluid is charged into the container body llll from a suitable source of fluid (not shown) via spindle bore 411. As shown in MG. 4, the charged fluid flows in the direction of the arrows through the bore ill and outwardly through inclined passages Ma into the intermediate bore section 311 and through the annular passage d into the container body it via the ports 3%.

When the container body it is fully charged, the spindle 33 is retracted and the container end 17 is displaced out of engagement with the charging head assembly 33. At the same time, the pressure forces of the pressurized fluid within the container body llll act on the upper end or face d2 of the plug 37 force the latter downwardly into the constricted portion of the intermediate bore section 311. in this connection, it is to be noted that the plug 37 is compressed within the intermediate and small bore section 311 and 32 and the lower end or face 44 of the plug 341 is tightly seated against a shoulder 43 defined at the juncture of the intermediate and small bore sections 3ll and 32. in this manner, the plug 37 is snuggly seated along the horizontal shoulder did and also along the constricted vertical wall of the intermediate bore sections 3i and 32 so that an effective seal is thereby formed at the opening 211.

Referring now to H6. 6, the valve lllla is shown applied to the upper closure disc for use as a dispensing valve. The valve llla may be similar in all respects to the valve ill with the exception that a tubular extension 3th: depends upwardly from the flange 30. The tubular extension 30a is formed with a bore having a serrated wall 3tllb.

The valve lllla is mounted in an end closure opening Sll so that the flange 343 is received within an axial recess 52. The opening 311 is of smaller diameter than the cylindrical section 26 of the tubular valve body 23 so that the intermediate bore section 311 is constricted. Normally, the valve lie is in the closed and sealed position shown in MG. 7 in full lines and held therein by means of the pressure forces exerted by the pressurized fluid or propellant within the container body it acting on the face 413.

For opening the valve lllla and thereby to dispense the contents from the container, there is provided an actuating assembly 53. The actuating assembly 53 includes a tubular sleeve dd having an outer serrated wall which coacts with the serrated bore wall 3b to fasten the sleeve therein. The tubular sleeve 54% includes a bore 36 having a shoulder 57. Vertically slidable within the bore 56 is an actuating stem 5% having a shoulder 59 which abuts the bore shoulder 57 in the closed position of the valve ll lia.

A longitudinal fluid passage on having inclined intake passages tillla at the lower end extends through the stem 58. An actuating button 61 having a product discharge orifice 62 and an axial passage 63 communicating with the fluid passage so is attached to the projecting end of the stem 58 as by means of a force fit. Normally, the actuating stem 58 assumes the position shown in full lines in FIG. 7. However, upon the application of a downwardly force as by fingers of the user on the button M, the shaft 5% displaces the plug 37 downwardly to the phantom line position. in this position, the walls of the plug 37 are out of engagement with the walls of the small and intermediate bore sections 311 and 32 so that the contents of the container are free to flow through the annular space 441) and the web ports 36 and thereby into the passage so via the inclined passages 60a. The contents are then discharged from the actuating button in through the axial passage 63 and orifice 62.

Upon release of the button, the pressure forces in the container acting on the plug face 43 are operative to reseat the latter in the bore section 3ll and return the actuating assembly components to the full line position.

Under some circumstances, a dip tube may be required to efficiently dispense the products from the container. As shown in H6. 7, the large bore section 29 provides a convenient location for attaching a dip tube 65. The dip tube 65 may be secured within the large bore section 29 with a force fit. The presence of the dip tube 65 does not alter the function of the valve as described heretofore because the fluid pressure forces act on the plug face 433 in the same manner to retain the valve closed until an opposing force is applied on the opposing face 32.

What I claim is:

l. A valve comprising a one-piece body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body and including an axial bore extending upwardly into said body from one end thereof, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to the other end of said body and extending into said bore for substantially axial movement between a position permitting fluid flow through said bore and a position for sealing said bore upon compression of said closure member therein.

2. A valve comprising a one-piece body made from a flexible and compressible material, an axial bore extending upwardly into said body from one end thereof, an annular flexible web adjacent to the other end of said bore and having a plug depending therefrom, port means in said annular web communicating with said bore, said plug extending into said bore substantially axial for movement between a position seatable within said bore upon compression of said plug therein to seal said bore from said ports and to a position permitting fluid passage through said valve body through said bore and said ports when said plug is released from compression within said bore.

3, A valve for a container charged with a fluid under pressure greater than atmosphere and having an opening into which said valve is insertable, said valve comprising a onepiece body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body including an axial bore extending upwardly into said body from one end thereof, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to the other end of said body and substantially axially extending into said bore and being movable to seal said valve under the internal pressure forces in said container acting on one end of said closure member and being longitudinally displaceable relative to said bore to permit flow through said fluid passage means when an external force greater than said internal pressure force is applied to the other end of said closure member.

43. A valve for a container charged with a fluid under pressure greater than atmosphere and having an opening into which said valve is insertable, said valve comprising a onepiece body made from a flexible and compressible material, said body having a cross-sectional area grater than said container opening so as to be compressed therein, fluid passage means extending through said body including an axial bore extending into said body from one end thereof, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to the other end of said body and substantially axially extending into said bore and being movable to seal said bore when compressed therein and to permit fluid flow through said fluid passages when released from compression.

5. A charging valve for charging and sealing a pressurized container having an opening into which said valve is insertable, said charging valve comprising a one-piece body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body including an axial bore extending through said body, a plug integrally connected adjacent to one end of said body and substantially axially extending into one end of said bore to permit charging of pressurized fluid into said container through the other end of said bore and said fluid passage means and being compressible within said bore to seal the pressurized fluid within the container by the pressure forces exerted therein by said pressurized fluid charged into said container.

6. The charging valve as defined in claim 5 wherein an annular web connects said plug adjacent to said upper end of said body.

7. The charging valve as defined in claim 6 wherein a circular recess is formed in the upper end of said body and said web is foldably disposed in said recess.

8. A valve and a container charged with a fluid under pressure greater than atmosphere and having an opening into which said valve is insertable, said valve comprising a onepiece tubular body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body including an axial bore of said tubular body, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to one end of said body for substantially axial movement so as to be compressible into said bore to seal said valve under the internal pressure forces in said container acting on one end of said closure member and being longitudinally displaceable relative to said bore out of compression engagement therewith to permit fluid flow through said fluid passage means when an external force greater than said internal pressure force is applied to the other end of said closure member.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein an opening is formed in the upper end of a container and said valve is inserted in said opening, for use as a dispensing valve and wherein a dip tube is connected to said valve body at said other end of said body.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said clip tube is seated in said bore at the other end of said bore.

11. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein an annular flange defining a bore extension extends from said other end of said valve body, and a dispensing valve actuating assembly is seated in said bore extension.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said actuating assembly includes a tubular sleeve seated in said bore extension, and wherein a stem is slidably mounted in said sleeve and engages said closure member for exerting a force opposing said pressurized fluid force in said container and acting on said closure member.

13. A valve comprising a one-piece tubular body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body and including an axial bore constrictable along the length thereof, and a closure member integrally connected adjacent to one end of said body extending substantially axially into said bore and being compressible therein for sealing said bore.

Claims

1. A valve comprising a one-piece body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body and including an axial bore extending upwardly into said body from one end thereof, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to the other end of said body and extending into said bore for substantially axial movement between a position permitting fluid flow through said bore and a position for sealing said bore upon compression of said closure member therein.

2. A valve comprising a one-piece body made from a flexible and compressible material, an axial bore extending upwardly into said body from one end thereof, an annular flexible web adjacent to the other end of said bore and having a plug depending therefrom, port means in said annular web communicating with said bore, said plug extending into said bore substantially axial for movement between a position seatable within said bore upon compression of said plug therein to seal said bore from said ports and to a position permitting fluid passage through said valve body through said bore and said ports when said plug is released from compression within said bore. 3, A valve for a container charged with a fluid under pressure greater than atmosphere and having an opening into which said valve is insertable, said valve comprising a one-piece body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body including an axial bore extending upwardly into said body from one end thereof, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to the other end of said body and substantially axially extending into said bore and being movable to seal said valve under the internal pressure forces in said container acting on one end of said closure member and being longitudinally displaceable relative to said bore to permit flow through said fluid passage means when an external force greater than said internal pressure force is applied to the other end of said clOsure member.

4. A valve for a container charged with a fluid under pressure greater than atmosphere and having an opening into which said valve is insertable, said valve comprising a one-piece body made from a flexible and compressible material, said body having a cross-sectional area grater than said container opening so as to be compressed therein, fluid passage means extending through said body including an axial bore extending into said body from one end thereof, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to the other end of said body and substantially axially extending into said bore and being movable to seal said bore when compressed therein and to permit fluid flow through said fluid passages when released from compression.

8. A valve and a container charged with a fluid under pressure greater than atmosphere and having an opening into which said valve is insertable, said valve comprising a one-piece tubular body made from a flexible and compressible material, fluid passage means extending through said body including an axial bore of said tubular body, a closure member integrally connected adjacent to one end of said body for substantially axial movement so as to be compressible into said bore to seal said valve under the internal pressure forces in said container acting on one end of said closure member and being longitudinally displaceable relative to said bore out of compression engagement therewith to permit fluid flow through said fluid passage means when an external force greater than said internal pressure force is applied to the other end of said closure member.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said dip tube is seated in said bore at the other end of said bore.