WO2007107174A1

WO2007107174A1 - Structural unit for a dispensing valve for dispensing pressurized fluids, and container having a structural unit of this type

Info

Publication number: WO2007107174A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/003589
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adalberto Geier
Original assignee: Coster Tecnologie Speciali S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-03-21
Filing date: 2006-04-19
Publication date: 2007-09-27

Abstract

Structural unit (10) comprising a dispensing valve (11) for dispensing fluids, foams, gels or flowable materials of the like which are pressurized in a container (12), and comprising a seal (13) which acts between the dispensing valve (11) and a container or lid opening (14), wherein the dispensing valve (11) or a valve head (15) which is assigned to the latter can latch into the container or lid opening (14) with external support on the container (12) or on a container lid (16), wherein the seal is formed by a separate sealing ring (13) which is made from soft elastic material and is held in a clamped manner between the dispensing valve (11) or the valve head (15) which is assigned to the latter on one side and that wall of the container (12) or the lid (16) which delimits the container or lid opening (14) on the other side, on account of the latching of the dispensing valve (11) or the valve head (15) which is assigned to the latter in the container or lid opening (14).

Description

"Assembly unit for a dispensing valve for the delivery of pressurized liquids, and containers with such a unit"

Description

The invention relates to a structural unit consisting of a dispensing valve for dispensing in a container under pressure liquids, foams, gels od. Like. Flowable materials, and a seal, according to the preamble of claim 1, and a container with such a unit.

Such a unit is known from US 3,845,888. The same applies to a container with such a unit. In the known imple mentation form, the dispensing valve or its valve body is held by a so-called valve plate within a container lid opening, under latching to the peripheral edge of the lid opening. The valve body is also connected by latching with the valve plate. For the purpose of locking the valve disk within the cover opening, the valve disk has a latching cylinder extending through the cover opening into the container interior with a detent nose extending over the outer circumference, which for the purpose of latching the valve disk and thus the dispensing valve within the cover opening The peripheral edge of the same engages behind. Between the

Latch and the resting on the outside of the container lid valve plate is formed on the locking cylinder is still a circumferentially extending sealing nose. This comes after latching the valve disk with a funnel-like tapered into the container interior in the annular wall of the lid opening in contact, in order to seal the container interior from the outside environment in this way. However, this sealing nose is made of the same material as the valve disk, ie from a relatively hard plastic, with the result that the sealing effect of this sealing nose can be maintained only limited. In particular, it is to be feared that the sealing effect is always canceled when the dispensing valve is slightly tilted due to the action of obliquely applied forces within the container opening. In addition, it is necessary that the sealing nose and the lid opening limiting annular wall are matched tolerance-free; because only then a certain sealing safety is guaranteed. The known construction thus does not allow major manufacturing tolerances.

On the other hand, the known construction has the advantage that the valve disc can be made of inexpensive plastic; because it is no longer necessary to fix the usually made of tinplate valve plate by crimping with the interposition of a sealing element at the opening edge of the container or lid opening, such as e.g. in EP 0 471 503 A2 or also EP 0 697 348 A1 is proposed. Incidentally, the latter version also corresponds to the state of the art practiced today. This prior art is expensive to produce and in particular also expensive in terms of the materials used.

The present invention has for its object, while maintaining the material and fixing technical advantages of the solution according to US 3,845,888 further develop this to the effect that a secure seal of the container interior is ensured against the environment.

This object is achieved with respect to a structural unit by the characterizing features of claim 1 and with respect to a container with such a structural unit by the features of claim 19.

An essential point of the present invention is therefore that a separate sealing ring made of soft elastic sealing material used and between the dispensing valve or a valve plate associated therewith on the one hand and the container or lid opening limiting wall on the other hand is clamped. The separate sealing ring is thus in a broader sense between the outer support of the dispensing valve and the valve plate associated therewith on the container or container lid and the locking means cooperating with the container or lid opening, in particular the peripheral edge of the container or lid opening for the Locking the dispensing valve effective. By using this separate sealing ring manufacturing tolerances can be easily compensated. An exact coordination of the correspondence dierenden components is not required. The assembly is simple because the soft elastic material of the sealing ring during assembly, ie when locking the valve disk or the dispensing valve in the container or lid opening can be easily deformed or displaced with appropriate training a highly effective fluid seal.

The valve disk itself can be made of cheap plastic as in the prior art according to US 3,845,888. A crimp connection between the valve disk and the peripheral edge of the container or lid opening is not required. The valve body of the dispensing valve can also be locked on the valve disk in a manner known per se, specifically with the interposition of a sealing disk made of soft elastic sealing material.

Overall, therefore, the dispensing valve including valve plate can be made of relatively cheap plastic material. Sheet metal processing is no longer required. Nevertheless, a high sealing effect is guaranteed.

In a first embodiment, the sealing ring is designed as an annular disc. An alternative imple mentation form is characterized in that the sealing ring is designed as an annular L-shaped profile. In particular, in this imple mentation form, the sealing ring is preferably arranged within a corresponding recess in the valve body or valve disc so that it is flush with the associated outer surfaces of this component.

According to the state of the art according to US Pat. No. 3,845,888, the container or lid opening may be formed on the container-inner end of a ring wall which tapers into the container interior in a funnel-like manner.

Furthermore, on the outside, the container or lid opening may be delimited by a circumferential bead. Bead and inner opening edge limit the container opening container outside or container inside in the axial direction.

A concrete embodiment is characterized in that, when the dispensing valve is latched within the container or lid opening, the sealing ring is interposed between a peripheral flange or annular step formed on the dispensing valve or on the valve plate associated therewith and the wall delimiting the container or lid opening the container or lid on the other hand is clamped. In order to obtain a particularly good and safe fluid seal, the aforementioned clamping is carried out in particular between said circumferential flange on the one hand and the aforementioned circumferential bead as the outer boundary of the container or lid opening on the other.

In particular, when using an annular L-shaped profile as a sealing ring fills this by appropriate deformation of the two ring legs the annular gap between the dispensing valve or the associated valve disc on the one hand and the container or lid opening limiting container or top wall on the other. This annular gap is formed, in particular, when the container or lid opening is delimited by a ring wall tapering into the interior of the container in a funnel-like manner. Between this annular wall and a cylindrical part of the valve disk which is latched into the container or lid opening, the aforementioned annular gap is formed. This then has an approximately wedge-shaped cross-section, which is filled by the above-mentioned sealing ring after latching of the dispensing valve or the associated valve disc.

To further increase the tightness, it is advantageous if, when using an annular L-shaped profile as a sealing ring and latching of the dispensing valve within the container or lid opening of the container inner peripheral edge of the container or lid opening at the extending to the container interior ring leg of the sealing ring is supported both radially and axially. In addition, this additional axial tolerances can be compensated very easily. It is obtained in this variant, a cross-sectionally U-shaped sealing distance between container or lid opening on the one hand and dispensing valve or the dispensing valve associated valve disc on the other. The abovementioned embodiment is therefore characterized, inter alia, by the peripheral edge of the container or lid opening defined by a material cutting edge being covered by the material of the sealing ring, in particular of the vertical leg, or embedded within this material. It should be noted that the container lid is usually made by painting or coating corrosion-protected tinplate or aluminum. The container opening is produced by punching or turning. This creates a peripheral edge that is not protected from corrosion. In order to avoid corrosion in this area, it is extremely advantageous if the punching or cutting surface, which defines the peripheral edge of the container or lid opening, is protected in the installed state by sealing material from the container contents. In the latching connection according to US Pat. No. 3,845,888, such a corrosion protection is not ensured since the cut edge of the lid or container opening is not embedded within a soft-elastic sealing material, but is merely supported on a hard-elastic latching projection. In known manner, the container opening is formed either on a dome-shaped end face of the container or a dome-shaped container lid.

Further features and advantages of the structural unit according to the invention or a container designed according to the invention will be described with reference to two exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in more detail in the accompanying drawing. Show it:

1 shows a first embodiment of a guide arrangement engaged in a container opening or cover opening in longitudinal section;

FIG. 2 shows a detail II in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale; FIG.

3 shows a second embodiment of a latched in a container or lid opening dispensing valve in longitudinal section.

FIG. 4 shows a detail IV in FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale; FIG.

Fig. 5 shows the detail IV in the deformed state corresponding to Fig. 34 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 shows a modified embodiment of a valve disk in longitudinal section;

FIG. 7 shows the valve disk according to FIG. 6 in plan view; FIG.

8 shows a detail VIII in FIG. 6 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of a dispensing valve latched in a container or lid opening, in longitudinal section; FIG. and

Fig. 10 shows the detail X in Fig. 9 in an enlarged scale.

It should be noted in advance that the same components of the two aforementioned embodiments are each provided with the same reference numerals and insofar are described in detail only with reference to one of the two embodiments. Accordingly, Figures 1 to 5 each show a structural unit 10 consisting of a dispensing valve 11 for the delivery of in a container, not shown 12 under pressure Fluids, foams, gels od. Like. Flowable materials, and a seal 13, which is effective between dispensing valve 11 and a container or lid opening 14 limiting container or top wall. The dispensing valve 11 or a valve plate 15 associated therewith can be latched into the container or lid opening 14 with support on the container 12 or a container lid 16.

The container and in particular the container lid 16 are preferably made of tinplate. Alternatively, aluminum, plastic or glass is conceivable. In particular, it is also conceivable to form container and lid in one piece.

The dispensing valve 11 comprises a fluid-tight at the edge 21 of an opening formed in the valve plate 15 opening 22 fastened valve body 17, an axially displaceable in the valve body 17, from a closed position out against the action of an elastic member, in particular a helical compression spring 20, movable Abgaberöhr- Chen 19th and a between the edge 21 of the opening 22 and the valve body 17, the dispensing tube 19 tightly surrounding ring seal 18 made of rubber od. Like. Elastic sealing material, such that these in the closed position of the dispensing tube 19 and dispensing valve 11 has an access 23 to a dispensing tube 19 trained discharge channel 24 closes. At the container interior end of the valve body 17 is still a connecting tube 25 is formed, to which a riser 26 can be pushed in a conventional manner.

This basic concept of the dispensing valve 11 is embodied equally in all embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 or FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

However, the mentioned assembly 10 includes not only the above-described dispensing valve, but in particular also a separate sealing ring 13 made of soft elastic material, for. As rubber, silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, between the outer support of the dispensing valve 11 and the associated valve disc 15 on the container 12 and container lid 16 on the one hand and the container or lid opening 14 associated latching means, in particular the peripheral edge 27 of the container or cover opening 14 for the latching of the dispensing valve 11 or whose valve plate 15 is effective. In the imple mentation form according to Figures 1 and 2, the seal 13 is formed as an annular disc.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5, the seal 13 comprises an annular L-profile having a horizontal leg 28 and vertical legs 29. In known manner, the peripheral edge 27 of the container or lid opening 14 is formed at the container interior end of a funnel-like into the container interior tapered annular wall 30. On the outside, the container or lid opening 14 is bounded by a circumferential bead 31. Between this bead 31 and a valve plate 15 formed on the peripheral flange 32, the seal 13 is clamped, with appropriate deformation, so that a secure fluid seal between the container interior and the external environment is also ensured if the mutually corresponding components more or less larger Have tolerances. Instead of the peripheral flange 32 may be formed on the outer periphery of the valve disk 15 and a corresponding annular step.

The elastic deformation of the seal 13 and the locking of the valve plate 15 and discharge valve 11 is ensured in the container opening 14 under elastic bias. For this purpose, a trained on the outer circumference of a cylindrical portion of the valve disk 15 annular projection 33 inside the container engages behind the peripheral edge 27 of the container or lid opening 14, as shown in Fig. 1. This locking is - as already mentioned above - maintained by the elastic deformation of the seal 13.

The valve disk 15, which includes a cylindrical portion 34 extending through the container or lid opening 14, is preferably made of relatively inexpensive plastic, e.g. PVC od. Like. An enclosure of the valve plate 15 by crimping is no longer necessary. As a result, compared to today practiced prior art, the production is greatly facilitated. Also, it is no longer necessary to produce the valve disk 15 made of metal, in particular tinplate or aluminum.

The seal 13 may be fixed or permanently arranged on the underside of the peripheral flange 32 of the valve disk 15, in particular injection-molded. It is also conceivable to place the seal 13 within an annular groove on the underside of the valve disk such that the seal 13 terminates flush with the underside of the valve disk or a peripheral flange 32 thereof. As a result, the entire height of the dispensing valve outside the container or lid 16 can be reduced.

The imple mentation form according to Figures 3, 4 and 5 differs from that of Figures 1 and 2 only in that a ring-shaped L-profile is used as the seal 13, which comprises a horizontal leg 28 and vertical leg 29. This ring seal is disposed in the corner region between the cylindrical portion 34 and the peripheral flange 32 of the valve disk 15. The thickness of the vertical leg 29 of the annular L-shaped profile 13 corresponds to the height of the annular projection 33 at the container inner end of the cylindrical portion 34 of the valve disk 15, as Fig. 4 shows very well. In this respect, the vertical leg 29 and annular projection 33 along the outer circumference are flush.

Figures 3, 4 and in particular Fig. 5 can be seen very well that when using an annular L-shaped profile 13 as a sealing ring this by appropriate deformation of the two ring legs 28, 29, the annular gap between dispensing valve 11 and the associated valve disc 15 on the one hand and the container or lid opening 14 bounding container or lid wall on the other hand fills. In particular, the gap between the container or lid opening 14 bounding annular wall 30 and the cylindrical portion 34 of the valve disk 15 is filled by sealing material. Reference is made in this regard to FIGS. 3 and 5.

As can further be seen in FIG. 3 and in particular also in FIG. 5, the container-inner circumferential edge 27 of the container or lid opening 14 is supported both radially and axially when the dispensing valve 11 is latched to the vertical leg 29 of the seal 13 extending towards the interior of the container , The axial counter-Ab support of

Valve plate 15 takes place between the peripheral bead 31 and peripheral flange 32 in a similar manner as in the imple mentation form of Figures 1 and 2. It is further ensured that the unprotected in terms of corrosion peripheral edge 27 of the container or lid opening covered by the soft elastic sealing material, possibly even embedded in this. The advantageousness of this embodiment has already been mentioned above. As a result, the aforementioned peripheral edge is protected in particular from the container contents, which can be quite aggressive.

As already stated above, the dispensing valve 11 or its valve body 17 is latched to the valve plate 15. For this purpose, in the illustrated embodiment, the valve plate 15 has, on the container side, a pot-shaped recess which is formed inside the cylindrical section 34. In this cup-shaped recess of the valve body 17 of the dispensing valve 11 is latched.

Figures 1 and 3 can also be found that on the inside of the cup-shaped recess defining cylindrical portion 34, a locking projection, namely, a circumferentially extending locking ring 36 is formed by the the valve body 17 of the dispensing valve 11 is held within the cup-shaped recess of the valve disk 15, under spring bias. The resilient bias of the locking connection between the valve plate 15 and the valve body 17 is obtained by the aforementioned sealing ring 18. As also mentioned above, the sealing ring 13 can be either molded on the valve plate and connected in one piece with this or brought as a separate component to the plant. When forming the sealing ring 13 as a separate component, this can be kept according to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 8 by means of fixing cam 37 on the valve plate 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing ring is designed as an annular L-shaped profile. The mentioned fixing cams 37 are located on the upper side or on the underside of the valve disk 15 or the peripheral flange 32 of the same facing side of the horizontal leg 28. According to FIG. 7, six locating cams 37 are distributed uniformly over the circumference, namely formed. These are received within complementary openings 38 on the peripheral flange 32 of the valve disk (see FIGS. 6 and 8). 6 and 8 can also be seen that the fixing cam 37 each comprise a pin-like portion 40 with respect to this wider head 39. The last-mentioned embodiment lends itself above all to when the seal or the sealing ring 13 does not consist of injection-molded elastomer, which forms a fusion bond with the plastic of the valve disk 15.

As already mentioned, the container opening may be formed on a dome-shaped end face 35 of the container 12 or on a dome-shaped container lid 16. In the former case, the dome-shaped shape of the face is an integral part of e.g. tinplate or aluminum container.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a further embodiment of a constructional unit designed according to the invention in longitudinal section. This assembly also has an L-profile as a sealing ring 13, wherein the container interior 12 facing the end of the vertical leg 29 has a radially outwardly extending, such as bead-like annular projection 41, on which the container inner peripheral edge 27 of Behälterbzw. Lid opening 14 can be supported (see in particular Fig. 9).

The bead-like annular projection serves primarily for the axial support of the peripheral edge 27, so that the annular projection 33 described with reference to FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 can be dispensable. All disclosed in the application documents features are claimed as essential to the invention, as far as eineln or in combination with the prior art are new.

S e c tio ns:

10 unit

11 dispensing valve

12 containers

13 seal

14 container or lid opening

15 valve plates

16 container lid

17 valve body

18 sealing washer

19 delivery tubes

20 compression spring

21 opening edge

22 valve disc opening

23 access

24 discharge channel

25 connecting tubes

26 riser

27 peripheral edge

28 horizontal legs

29 Translucent thighs

30 ring wall

31 bead

32 peripheral flange

33 ring projection

34 cylindrical portion of the valve disk

35 dome-shaped front side of the container

36 snap ring

37 fixation cams

38 receiving opening

39 head

40 pin-like section

41 ring bulge

Claims

claims

1. assembly (10) consisting of a dispensing valve (11) for the delivery of in a container (12) under pressure liquids, foams, gels od. Like. Flow capable materials, and a seal (13) between the dispensing valve ( 11) and a container or lid opening (14) is effective, wherein the dispensing valve (11) or a valve plate associated therewith (15) under external support on

Container (12) or on a container lid (16) in the container or lid opening (14) can be latched, characterized in that the seal is formed by a separate sealing ring (13) made of soft elastic material due to the locking of the dispensing valve ( 11) or the associated. Valve plate (15) in the container or lid opening (14) between the dispensing valve (11) and the associated valve plate (15) on the one hand and the container or lid opening (14) bounding wall of container (12) and Cover (16) on the other hand clamped.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing ring (13) is designed as an annular disc.

3. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing ring (13) is designed as an annular L-Profϊl.

4. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the peripheral edge (27) of the container or lid opening (14) at the container interior end of a funnel-like in the container interior in the tapered annular wall

(30) is formed.

5. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outside of the container or lid opening (14) by a circumferential bead

(31) is limited.

6. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sealing ring (13) when latching the dispensing valve (11) or the associated valve disc (15) within the container or lid opening (14) between one on the dispensing valve (11) or on the associated valve disc (15) formed peripheral flange (32) or ring stage on the one hand and the Behälterbzw. The lid opening (14) limiting wall of the container (12) or lid (16) on the other hand is clamped under elastic deformation.

7. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in particular when using an annular L-profile (13) as a sealing ring this by appropriate deformation of the two ring legs (28, 29) the annular gap between the dispensing valve (11) and the this assigned valve plate (15) on the one hand and the container or lid opening (14) limiting container or

Cover wall, in particular ring wall (30) on the other hand fills.

8. Assembly according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that when using an annular L-shaped profile (13) as a sealing ring and latching of the dispensing valve (11) and the associated valve disc (15) within the container or Cover opening (14) of the container inner peripheral edge (27) of Container or lid opening (14) on which the container interior extending towards the annular leg (29) of the sealing ring (13) is both radially and axially supported, in particular such that the defined by a material cutting edge peripheral edge (27) by the material of the sealing ring (13) is covered or embedded within it.

9. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the dispensing valve (11) associated with the valve disc (15), by means of which the fixation of the dispensing valve (11) in the container or lid opening (14), made of plastic is.

10. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the dispensing valve (11) or its valve body (17) is latched to the valve plate (15).

11. Assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the valve plate (15) container side has a pot-like recess into which the

Valve body (17) of the dispensing valve (11) can be latched.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that on the inside of the cup-shaped recess a locking projection, in particular a circumferentially extending locking ring (36) is formed, through which the valve body (17) of the dispensing valve (11) is held, and Although under elastic preload.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the resilient bias of the latching connection between valve plate (15) and valve body (17) is obtained by a between these two parts arranged sealing ring disc (18) made of elastic material.

14. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the sealing ring (13) on the valve plate (15) either molded and integrally connected thereto or brought as a separate component to the plant.

15. Assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that when forming the sealing ring (13) as a separate component of this cam by means of fixing (37) is held on the valve plate (15).

16. An assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that arranged on the underside of the valve disc (15) or the peripheral flange (32) of the same side facing the sealing ring (13) a plurality, in particular six fixing cams (37) distributed uniformly over the circumference , in particular formed, which are received within complementary openings (38) on the peripheral flange (32) of the valve disk (15).

17. Assembly according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the fixing cams (37) each comprise a pin-like portion (40) with respect to this wider head (39).

18. Assembly according to one of claims 3 to 17, characterized in that when using an L-profile (13) as a sealing ring, the container interior facing the end of the vertical leg (29) has a radially outwardly extending, such as bead-like annular projection (41). has, on which the container inner peripheral edge (27) of the container or lid opening (14) can be supported.

19. Container with a structural unit according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the container opening is formed on a dome-shaped end face (35) of the container (12) or a dome-shaped container lid (16).