US3545720A - Tilt valve - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor 541 Tim VALVE- llll 3,545,720

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Stefan M. Stein ABSTRACT: An aerosol valve having a valve body, a valve stem, a sealing gasket and valve stem-biasing means. The valve stem has an enlarged diameter inner end which is reciprocally disposed in the valve stem cavity in the valve body and its top wall is normally biased against the sealing gasket, by the biasing means, to form a seal. The valve stem has a dispensing port in it and the sealing gasket has an annular groove which surrounds the dispensing port. The seal which nonnally prevents the product from flowing into the annular groove, and hence the dispensing port, is broken when the valve stem is depressed and/or tilted, thereby permitting the product to be dispersed.

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521 USA 251/303, 251/354; 2 2/4o2.z2 511 1111. 1 F16kl/16: B65d83/00 501 FleldofSearch 251/303, 398, 354, 40, 149.8, 346, 347, 351, 353; 222/40221, 402.24

[56] ReIereneesClted uurren STATES PATENTS 2,658,714 11/1953 Fooshee 251/353 TILT VALVE This application is a continuation-in-part of application U.S. Pat. Serial No. 646,586 filed June 16, 1967 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to valves and, in particular, to aerosol valves having a dual action. By dual action is meant that the valves can be operated by tilting and/or depressing their valve stems.

Currently, aerosol valves are of two general types: the vertical-reciprocating type and the tilt action type. Both are widely used to dispense a variety of products from pressurized containers or cans.

Recently, more sophisticated aerosol valves have been demanded. Fillers demand valves which are tailored to dispense particular products so that the most effective results can be obtained for said products. Thus, aerosol valves have been designed to meter out a specific quantity of product, to mechanically break up the product into a fine spray, to foam the product before it is dispensed and similar effects. In addition, fillers are now demanding valves of these types which also can be operated both by tilting and by vertically reciprocating their valve stems.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved aerosol valves of the dual action type.

Another object is to provide improved aerosol valves of the tilt action type.

Still another object is to provide improved aerosol valves of the above character having a combination swirl-expansion chamber effect.

A further object is to provide improved aerosol valves which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured without the need of special equipment and intricate molds.

The aerosol valve of the present invention includes, generally, a valve body adapted to be affixed within a valve turret of a valve housing, a valve stem, a sealing gasket and valve stem-biasing meansfThe valve stem is of tubular construction and has an enlarged diameter closed inner end which is reciprocally disposed within the valve stem cavity in the valve body. At least one dispensing port is formed extending into the tubular valve stem, preferably immediately adjacent the top wall of its inner end. The sealing gasket has a recessed cavity in it which forms an annular groove disposed about the dispensing port. Normally, the valve stem-biasing means forcibly urge the top wall of the inner end of the valve stem against the sealing gasket to form a seal with it to prevent leakage and to control the flow of product into the annular groove.

When the valve stem is tilted, the top wall of the inner end of the valve stem cams against the sealing gasket and thereby breaks the seal. This action permits the product to flow into the annular groove and, from the groove, into the valve stem, via the dispensing port. A similar action occurs when the valve stem is depressed.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, illustrating the construction of and the manner in which the aerosol valve is assembled;

FIG. 2 is a similar sectional view, illustrating the manner in which the aerosol valve is operated, by tilting its valve stem;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial sectional view, illustrating the annular groove formed about the dispensing port or ports in the valve stem, by the recessed cavity in the sealing gasket;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the sealing gasket; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a sealing gasket formed of two annular rings which are affixed together.

. Similar reference characters refer to similar. parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawing, an aerosol valve 10 is shown having a valve body 12, a valve stem 14, valve stem-biasing means 16, and a sealing gasket 18. The aerosol valve 10 is adapted to be afiixed within a valve turret 20 of a valve housing 22 (only partly shown) of the well-known type by, for example, crimping the sidewall 24 of the valve turret 20 about the valve body 12, as at 26. The valve housing 22 is affixed to an aerosol container or can, in any suitable fashion. The aerosol valve 10 is operated to dispense the product from the can, by tilting and/or depressing the valve stem 14.

More specifically, the valve body 12 of the aerosol valve 10 is of generally tubular construction and has an enlarged diameter head portion 28 and a reduced diameter tail portion 30 which forms a dip tube attachment tail to which a dip tube (not shown) of the type generally used can be afiixed, A valve stem cavity 32 if formed in the head portion 28, and below it is a cavity 34 for receiving and retaining the valve stem-biasing means 16, which may be a spring as illustrated. The bottom wall of the cavity 34 forms a support surface 36 for the valve stem-biasing means. The dip tube tail 30 has an orifice 38 in it through which the product can flow to the valve stem cavity 32.

The valve stem 14 includes a tubular stem portion 40 which has an enlarged diameter closed inner end 42 integrally formed with it. A spring retainer 43 of a diameter substantially corresponding to the interior diameter of the spring 16 is advantageously formed on the underside of the inner end 42, for positionally retaining the spring 16 in proper alignment. The inner end 42 is movably retained within the valve stem cavity 32, with its top wall 44 normally biased against the sealing gasket 18. One or more dispensing ports 46 are formed in the sidewall of the stem portion 40, immediately above the top wall 44 of the inner end 42, and extends into the interior chamber 41 of the valve stem.

The sealing gasket 18 comprises two annular-shaped resilient rings, preferably rubber, and the aperture 48 in the upper ring 54 is slightly smaller in diameter than that of the stem portion 40 of the valve stem 14. A tight seal is therefore provided about the stem portion 40 to prevent leakage.

A recessed cavity which is larger in diameter than the aperture 48 is concentrically formed about the aperture 48 in the lower ring 56 of the sealing gasket 18 in a fashion such as to provide an annular groove 50, which can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, about the stem portion 40 of the valve stem 14, adjacent the dispensing ports 46.

The sealing gasket rings 54 and 56 can be cut from extruded tubes having appropriate size interior cavity diameters. A very soft and resilient rubber may be used for the top gasket ring to insure a positive seal. If the same type rubber were used for the lower gasket ring, and if the valve is a tilt valve, the stem would have to be tilted to a larger angle before the seal between the stem base and lower gasket ring could be broken, because the stem flange normally bites into the lower gasket ring. Also, with the lower gasket ring, a harder rubber, and the upper gasket ring, a soft rubber, the tilt angle may be better regulated, maintaining a good safe valve. Assembly is also eased if color coded gasket rings are used.

The two-gasket system also permits chemicalcompatibility. Use of different combinations of rubbers, such as: Neoprene, Buna, German Buna S., Nitrice, Butyl, Polysulphides, Polyurethane, Ethylene Propylene, Silicone, Fluorocarbon, Elastomers, etc. is possible. While many of these rubbers are expensive, their beneficial property is only necessary where contact with the product occurs. Since the lower gasket need not be as thick as the upper gasket, such greatly reduces the cost, but still insures a safe valve with a soft resilient seal gasket ring on top.

The rings 54 and 56 can be adhesively affixed together or merely held together by the valve body 12 when assembled within the valve turret 20.

Normally, the top wall 44 of the closed inner end 42 of the valve stem is biased against the lower face 52 of the sealing gasket 18 (FIG. 3) so as to form a seal to prevent flow or leakage of the product into the groove 50. Accordingly, until the aerosol valve is actuated in the manner described below, none of the product can be dispensed.

To actuate the aerosol valve 10, the valve stem 14 is depressed or tilted to break the seal formed by the top wall 44 of the closed inner end 42 and the lower face 52 of the sealing gasket 18, to permit the product to flow from the valve stem cavity 32 into the groove 50. Once in the groove 50, the product will swirl about the groove and partially expand before it flows through the dispensing ports 46 into and out of the interior chamber 41 in the valve stem 14. In flowing from the groove 50 into the interior chamber 41, the partially expanded product is, to some degree, mechanically broken up as it is forced through the dispensing ports 46.v The groove 50 therefore forms both an expansion chamber and a swirl chamber and the dispensing ports 46 perform a mechanical breakup function to provide greater product dispersion and hence a more effective spray.

It may be noted that this product dispersion is more pronounced when the valve stem 14 is tilted since the product is caused to swirl more than when the valve stem 14 is depressed. This is due to the fact that, as can be best seen in FIG. 2, a portion of the-top wall 44 of the closed inner end 42 remains biased, and hence sealed, against the lower face 52 of the sealing gasket 18. The product therefore only can enter the groove 50 at the point where the seal is broken (which in the illustrated case would-be on the left side of the closed inner end 42), and, since its rate of flow is greater than that which can flow through one or more of the dispensing ports 46 the product is forced into and caused to swirl about the confined groove 50. If the groove 50 is completely open, which it normally is when the valve stem 14 is depressed, many of these advantages are detracted from and the product is not as completely dispersed." If the product is of a type requiring substantial dispersion for most effective use, depressing of the valve stem 14 can be discouraged by failing to provide a valve button (not shown) on the end of the valve stem, or by providing a lock'ring (not shown) about the valve stem which prevents it from being depressed.

The provision of two overlaying sealing rings also has other advantages; for example:

A. Pressure Filling The double-gasket or sealing ring arrangement enables a container to be filled more rapidly under pressure. The gas can enter the container not only through the valve stem and dispensing ports, but also between the gaskets at a high rate.

B. Product Compatibility The use of two separate sealing rings allows each one to be made of a special material. The lower sealing ring with the annular chamber is cut or molded out of an exotic rubber or plastic that provides maximum chemical compatibility; yet provides a good seal to the base of the stem since this sealing ring will always be in contact with the product. The upper sealing ring is made of asoft resilient material for effectively sealing the stem sidewall seal. It should be appreciated that this sealing ring need not have the chemical compatibility as the lower sealing ring since it will only be in contact with the product during the valve actuation.

C. Valve Operation Here again, by making the sealing rings of two difi'erent materials or the same materials with different durometers, different types of valve operation can be provided. The upper sealing ring is made of a soft and resilient material for effectively sealing the stern seal during and after operation. By making the lower sealing'ring of a firm material, the valve actuation will have a very fast trigger action. Conversely, by making the lower sealing ring of a soft material, the valve actuation will not trigger by a slight touch but rather a substantial force will have to be applied, and also, the valve actuation will be slower. 3'

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scogle of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in e above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

lclairn:

1. An aerosol valve comprising, in combination: a valve stem including a tubular stern portion having an enlarged diameter closed inner end, at least one dispensing port formed in the sidewall of said stem portion in communication with the interior of said tubular stem portion; sealing means having an aperture therein; said valve stem being assembled with said stem portion extending through said aperture in said sealing means; a recessed cavityin said sealing means concentrically disposed with said aperture'therein and forming an annular groove about said dispensing port in the sidewall of said stem portion; said sealing means comprising a pair of resilient-sealing rings, each of which has an aperture centrally formed therein, the aperture in the lower one of said sealing rings being larger in diameter than the aperture in the upper one of said sealing rings and forming said recessed cavity in said sealing means when said pairs of sealing rings are affixed together in overlying relationship; said valve stem normally being biased with said closed inner end in engagement with the lower sealing ring to form a seal to prevent flow of product into said annular groove and said dispensing port and being operable to break said sealto permit said product to flow into said annular groove and said dispensing port.

2. The aerosol valve of claim 1 further including a tubular valve body having a valve stem cavity formed therein; said sealing rings being fixedly disposed within and adjacent the top of said valve body and said valve stem being assembled with said closed inner end slidably received within said valve stem cavity and with said stem portion extending through said apertures in said sealing rings; said recessed cavity in said sealing ring being concentrically disposed with and forming an annular groove about said dispensing port in the sidewall of said stem portion; and said sealing rings being arranged to allow product to flow between them when a container to which the valve is attached is pressure filled with the product.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 545 7 2O Dated December 8 1970 Inventofls) Ronald P. Ewald It is certified that error appears in {the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lead line of reference numeral I 6 is considered changed to indicate the valve stem-biasing spring, as referred to in column 2, lines 2 and 3; the lead line of reference numeral 36 is considered changed to indicate the support surface for the valve stem-biasing means, as referred to in column 2, line 1 9; a reference numeral 3 is considered added to indicate the spring retaining projection on the under side of the closed inner end of valve stem I 2, as referred to in column 2, line 26; reference numeral 1 1;. and its lead line are considered removed In Fig. 2, reference numeral 11.14. is considered added to indicate the top wall of the inner end 2 of the valve stem, as referred to in column 2, line In Fig. 3, a reference numeral l d is considered added to indicate the aperture in the upper rin' 51;. (Fig. 5) as referred to in column 2, line 36%; a reference numeral 52 is considered added to indicate the lower face of the sealing gasket 18, as referred to in column 2, lines 73 and 71+.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of August 1971.

: (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, Attesting Officer Commissioner of Peter

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