US3283962A - Three-position valve for aerosol container having a chamber with spaced inlets from container interior - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1966 M. E. WHITMORE 3,283,962

THREE-POSITION VALVE FOR AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A CHAMBER WITH SPACED INLETS FROM CONTAINER INTERIOR Filed Sept. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 ,1 46 IO I 45 INVENTOR. MAX E. WH/ TMORE ATTORNEYS Nov. 8, 1966 M. E. WHITMORE THREE-POSITION VALVE FOR AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A CHAMBER WITH SPACED INLETS FROM CONTAINER INTERIOR Filed Sept. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

' INVENTOR. MAX E. WH/ TMORE ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent THREE-POSITION VALVE FOR AEROSOL CON- TAINER HAVING A CHAMBER WllH SPACED INLETS FROM CONTAINER INTERIOR Max E. Whitmore, 7585 Samuel Lord Drive, Chagrin Falls, Ohio Filed Sent. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 395.172 16 Claims. (Cl. 222402.18)

This invention relates generally to valve mechanisms of the type used in conjunction with pressurized containers, and more specifically to a new and improved dispensing valve which can be used when the container is in ei ther an upright or inverted position and which is selfcleaning.

Prior to the invention described and claimed in my U.S. Patent No. 3,049,271, issued August 14, 1962 for Valve Mechanisms for Pressurized Cans, there was no dispensing valve which was both self-cleaning and capable of being operated in either an upright or inverted position of the container. The invention disclosed in that patent provided such a valve mechanism. In general, the patented construction comprises a valve stem which is reciprocable in a hollow valve body having an upper inlet opening communicating with the top of the can and a lower inlet opening communicating with the bottom of the can. The valve stem is movable from a closed position to first and second operative positions wherein the outlet passage of the valve stem communicates with the upper and lower inlet openings, respectively. An annular packing ring is mounted in the Valve body around the stem to seal its inlet opening from the lower opening in the first position and from the upper opening in the second position.

The present invention contemplates new and useful improvements in a dispensing valve of the type described. One important feature of the invention resides in improved sealing structure which is effective to seal the inlet port of the valve stem from both inlet openings of the valve body in a closed position of the stem and selectively to seal the inlet port from the inlet openings in the two operative positions of the stem.

With the resilient packing rings which have been used in the past, there has been a tendency for the gaseous propellant to leak from the pressurized container around the stem in its closed position. The conventional sealing ring arrangements also have been subject to wear during use due to the manner in which the rings were flexed and/or the friction of the valve stem so that the seals gradually lost their effectiveness. The resulting loss of the propellant due to leakage from the can when it was not in use resulted in an insuflicient amount of the propellant being available completely to expel all of the liquid product.

The structure provided by this invention effectively prevents leakage by forming a positive gas tight seal over the inlet port of the stem when the valve is closed. In addition, the preferred structure includes a radial flange on the valve stem which coacts with the valve body in a closed position to assist in preventing leakage around the stern. In this manner, the inlet openings of the valve body are completely sealed off from the valve stem inlet and from the part of the valve stem projecting from the top of the body. The resulting sealing arrangement is I 3,283,962 Patented Nov. 8, I966 ice long-lived and will not lose its effectiveness in preventing gas leakage because of use.

Another important feature of the invention resides in a simplified, relatively inexpensive, and easily assembled valve construction. Heretofiore, many of the conventional valves have been complex, primarily because of the manner in which it was attempted to provide a seal around the stem. As a result, these prior structures have been difiicult to assemble and were relatively expensive.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hollow valve body having a first inlet opening communicating with the top of the container and a second inlet opening communicating through a dip tube with the bottom of the container. A valve stem having an out-let passage with an inlet port and an outlet port is movable in the valve body from a closed position to a first operative position in which the first inlet opening and the inlet port are in communication and to a second operative posit-ion in which the inlet port communicates with the second inlet opening. To seal the valve, there is preferably provided a primary seal member which coacts with the stem to form a gas-tight, positive seal over the inlet port in the closed position. A radial flange on the stem is in Wiping engagement with the inside of the valve body and abuts the primary seal member in the closed position. In this manner, the gaseous propellant is positively prevented from leaking around the valve stem and through its outlet passage.

A secondary seal member is located in the valve body and coacts with the stem to prevent the flow of fluid from the dip tube through the valve body in the closed and first positions of the stem. In the preferred embodiment, the stem is formed with an elongated slot which serves to by-pass the secondary seal member in the second position of the valve, thereby allowing fluid to flow firorn the dip tube through the second inlet opening and into the outlet or discharge passage of the stern.

Other features, advantages and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partially sectioned view of a pressurized container embodying the preferred valve mechanism of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view of the valve mechanism in a closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the valve in another operative position; and,

FIGURE 4 is another view similar to FIG. 2 showing the valve in a fully open position.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the new valve is gene-rally indicated by reference numeral 10. The valve 10 is shown in conjunction with a typical pressurized container in the form of an aerosol can 11. The can 11 may contain a liquid product 12 and a gaseous propellant or p-ressurizing element 13. The can 11 is illustrated in an upright position with the liquid 12 settled at the bottom of the can away from the valve 10 and with the gaseous propellant 13 surrounding the valve.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the valve mechanism 10 is shown to comprise a valve body 20 which may be crimped or otherwise secured in the top of the can 11. The valve body 20 is formed with a through axial bore 21 which terminates at a lower inlet opening 22. A dip tube 23 is suitably connected to the lower end of the valve body 20 so that the opening 22 is in communication with the bottom part of the container 11. The bore 21 includes an intermediate co-unterbore 24 which terminates at a shoulder 25 and an enlarged upper end portion 26. As shown, the enlarged upper end portion 26- and the counterbore 24 are joined by an axially inwardly and downwardly sloping shoulder 27. The valve body 20 also has a transverse inlet opening 28 which opens inwardly on the sloping shoulder 27 and is in communication with the top portion of the can 11.

A cap 34 having a center opening 35 is suitably secured to the upper end of the valve body 20 across the mouth of the enlarged end portion 26 of the bore 21. A primary sealing member 36 in the form of a ring is mounted against the cap 34 within the mouth of the bore portion 26. The primary sealing member 36 is preferably formed of a resilient material, such as a synthetic rubber or the like, and may be secured within a groove in the bottom surface of the cap 34. A secondary sealing member 37 formed by a ring of plastic or other suitable material is mounted in the bore 21 against the shoulder 25. The spaced sealing members 36, 37 cooperate to define a fluid chamber or cavity 38 within the portions 24, 26 of the bore 21.

A reciprocable valve stem 45 extends into the bore 21 and has a substantially fluid-tight running fit through the opening 35 of the cap 34 and the sealing rings 36, 37. As shown, the upper end portion of the valve stem 45 is provided with an axial outlet passage 46 which extends from an inlet port 47 formed through the side wall of the stem to a discharge or outlet port. 48 which vents to the outside of the can 11. The lower end portion of the valve stem 45 is provided with an inlet passage 49. According to the illustrated construction, the inlet passage 49 is formed by an elongated slot cut in the side wall of the valve stem.

The valve stem 45 also includes a radial flange 50 or desk which is adjacent the upper end of the slot 49 and below the inlet port 47. The flange 50 may be formed integrally with the stem or it may be a separate member which is suitably secured thereto. The flange 50 is formed with a passage 51 which is located outwardly of the valve stem and extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the flange so as to permit fluid in the chamber 38 to flow past the flange. In the preferred embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the flange 50 is in wiping engagement with the wall surface of the enlarged bore portion 26 and the lower peripheral edge 52 of the flange is beveled to mate with the sloping shoulder 27 of the bore 21. When seated on the shoulder 27, the flange is adapted to close the inlet opening 28.

The valve stem 45 has a normal closed position shown in FIG. 2 in which the inlet port 47 is out of the fluid chamber 38 and is sealed closed by the primary sealing member or ring 36. In this closed position, the flange 50 is engaged against the ring 36 and the slot 49 is spaced from the sealing ring 37 with the chamber 38. The valve stem 45 is urged into the closed position by a coil spring 55 which is disposed around the valve stem between the flange 50 and the sealing ring 37 The valve stem 45 is movable from the closed position into two operative positions wherein the inlet port 47 is in the fluid chamber 38 and is in communication with either the inlet opening 28 or the lower opening 22 of the bore 21. In the first operative position shown in FIG. 3, the flange 50 is spaced between the ring 36 and the inlet opening 28, As will be apparent, fluid entering the chamber 38 is free to flow through the flange passage 51 and into the inlet port 47 of the valve stem outlet passage 46. Further inward movement of the valve stem 45 is eflective to place the stem in its second operative position (FIG. 3) wherein the beveled surface 52 of the flange 50 is seated on the shoulder 27 so as to close the valve body inlet opening 28. In this second operative position, the slot 49 extends from the fluid chamber 38 past the sealing ring 37. Thus fluid is permitted to flow into the lower end of the bore 21, past the sealing ring 37 into the chamber 38, and then through the flange passage 52 into the inlet port 47 of the outlet passage 46.

When the valve stem 45 is held in its closed position by the spring 55 as shown in FIG. 2, the primary sealing ring 36 closes the inlet port 47 so as to form a positive seal against the escape of gaseous propellant through the valve. At the same time, the engagement of the flange 50 against the inner surface of the ring 36 cooperates to prevent the propellant from escaping from around the valve stem. Thus, the described structure achieves the objective of a simplified and effective positive seal for preventing escape of both the propellant and the product.

OPERATION When the can 11 is in an upright position, the valve stem 45 may be fully depressed to the position shown in FIG. 4. When the valve stem is fully depressed, the valve 10 is in a product-discharge position. The inlet opening 28 is closed by the flange 50 and the slot 49 provides communication between the lower end opening 22 of the bore and the chamber 38. Thus, the liquid product is forced up the dip tube 23 by the pressure of of the gaseous propellant and throughthe opening 22 into the lower end of the valve body 20. The liquid product flows in the slot 49 past the secondary sealing member 37 into the chamber 38 and then through the flange passage 51 into the inlet port 47 of the valve stem. The liquid product flows through the central outlet passage 46 and is discharged from the outlet 48 into the atmosphere.

To clean the discharge outlet 48 after each use of the can 11 in an upright position, the valve stem is permitted to move axially outwardly until it is in the position of FIG. 3. The inlet 28 is open in this cleaning position, while the bore opening 22 is sealed from the fluid chamber 38 by the ring 37. Thus, the gaseous propellant can pass into the chamber 38 through the inlet 28 and through the flange passage 51 into inlet port 47 of the central valve stem passage 46. Passing of the propellant through the outlet passage 46 tends to blow away and disperse any residue of the liquid product which may remain within the outlet port 48.

When the desired amount ofpropellant has been released so that the passage 46 and the outlet 48 are sufficiently cleared, the valve stem 45 is fully released until it again assumes the closed position of FIG. 2. As explained above, the valve mechanism is fully closed in this position so that escape of the gaseous propellant is prevented when the can is not in use.

When a container 11 is used in an inverted position, the product flows to the end of the can around the valve 10 and the gaseous propellant is caused to rise to the opposite end of the can around the distal end of the dip tube 23. In order to discharge the liquid product with the can in an inverted position, the valve stem is partially depressed to the position shown in FIG. 3. In this position the liquid product is forced through the inlet opening 28 into the chamber 38, through the flange passage 51, and into the inlet port 47 of the valve stem passage 46. The liquid product is discharged into the atmosphere through the valve stem passage 46 and the outlet 48. Thus, in an inverted position of the can 11, partially depressing the valve stem 45 is effective to discharge the liquid product into the atmosphere.

When the valve stem is fully depressed with the can in an inverted position, a quantity of propellant can be released to purge the valve stem passage 45. The valve body inlet 28 is closed to prevent the liquid product from entering the chamber 38, while the slot 49 is positioned to by-pass the ring 37. Thus, the propellant flows through the dip tube 23, into the chamber 38, through the flange passage 51, and into the valve stem passage 46 where the propellant is discharged through the outlet 48. This method of cleaning is not as effective as that previously described, however, since it may require a substantial amount of the liquid product to be expelled from the dip tube and the chamber 38. The preferred way of cleaning the valve after using the can in an inverted position is to place the can in an upright position so that a quantity of the propellant may be released as described above in conjunction with FIG. 3.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve mechanism adapted to be used in combination with a pressurized container, said valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a valve body member having an internal chamber and first and second spaced inlet openings into said chamber,

(b) a movable operating member extending into said chamber, said operating member having an outlet passage extending from an inlet port to an outlet p (c) said operating member being movable between a closed position of said inlet port and first and second positions wherein said inlet port communicates with said first and second inlet openings, respectively,

(d) primary sealing means coactablewith said operating member to prevent the escape of fluid under pressure from between said members and to seal said inlet port in said closed position,

(e) one of said members including secondary sealing means spaced from said primary sealing means and operatively disposed between said inlet port and said second inlet opening, said secondary sealing means being coactable with the other of said members in said closed and first positions to prevent the flow of fluid through said second inlet opening and into said chamber,

(f) said other of said members including a by-pass passage to permit fluid flow from second inlet opening past said secondary sealing means when said operating member is in said second position, and,

(g) means carried by one of said members and coactable with the other of said members to block fluid flow between said first inlet opening and said inlet port when said operating member is in said second position.

2. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means of paragraph (g) is carried by said operating member and is disposed between said sealing means within said chamber.

3. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said secondary sealing means is carried by said body member, and wherein said by-pass passage is formed in said operating member.

4. A valve mechanism adapted to be used in combination with a pressurized container, said valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a valve body member having a bore,

(b) a movable operating member extending within said bore, said operating member including an outlet passage extending from an inlet port to an outlet port,

(c) spaced apart, primary and secondary sealing means coactable between said members to define a fluid chamber within said bore,

(d) said body member including an inlet opening into said chamber,

(e) said operating member being movable between:

(i) a closed position wherein fluid communication between said inlet opening and said inlet port is blocked by said primary sealing means,

(ii) a second position wherein said inlet opening and said inlet port are in fluid communication, and,

(iii) a third position,

(f) means carried by one of said members and coactable with the other of said members to block fluid flow between said inlet opening and said inlet port when said operating member is in said third position, and

(g) one of said members including an inlet passage providing fluid communication into said chamber when said operating member is in said third position.

5. A valve mechanism adapted to be used in combination with a pressurized container, said valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a valve body member having a chamber and a first inlet opening into said chamber,

(b) a movable operating member extending into body member, said operating member including an outlet passage extending from an inlet port to an outlet port, 1

(c) one of said members being formed to define a second inlet opening into said valve body chamber,

(d) primary sealing means carried by said body member, said primary sealing means being coactable with said operating member to prevent escape of pressurized fluid therebetween and to block fluid flow between said first inlet opening and said inlet port in a closed position of said operating member,

(e) said operating member being movable from said closed position to first and second positions wherein said inlet port is within said valve body chamber,

(f) secondary sealing means coactable between said members, said secondary sealing means cooperating with said one member to close said second inlet opening in said closed and first positions and to permit fluid flow into said chamber through said second inlet opening in said second position, and,

(g) means carried by one of said members for closing said first inlet opening in said second position.

6. A valve mechanism adapted to be used in combination with a pressurized container, said valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a valve body member having a through bore and first and second spaced inlet openings into said bore,

(b) a valve stem member reciprocable in said bore, said valve stem member having an outlet passage extending from an inlet port to an outlet port,

(c) primary sealing means carried by said body member, said primary sealing means coacting with said stem member to prevent escape of pressurized fluid therebetween and to seal said inlet port in a closed position of said stem member,

(d) secondary sealing means carried by one of said members in spaced relation to said primary sealing means to define a fluid chamber in said bore, said secondary sealing means being coactable with the other of said members to prevent fluid flow through said second inlet opening into said chamber in first and second positions of said stem member,

(c) said other of said members including an inlet passage extending between said second inlet opening and said fluid chamber when said operating member is moved to said second position, and,

(f) means carried by one of said members and coacting with the other of said members to seal said inlet port from said first inlet opening when said stem member is in said second position.

7. A valve mechanism adapted to be used in combination with a pressurized container, said valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a valve body member having a through bore and first and second spaced inlet openings into said bore;

(b) a valve stem member reciprocable in said bore,

said valve stem member having an outlet passage extending from an inlet port to an outlet port;

() primary sealing means carried by said body member, said primary sealing means coacting with said stem member to prevent escape of pressurized fluid therebetween and to seal said inlet port in a closed position of said stem member;

(d) secondary sealing means carried by one of said members in spaced relation to said primary sealing means to define a fluid chamber in said bore, said secondary sealing means being coactable with the other of said members to prevent fluid flow through said second inlet opening into said chamber in first and second positions of said stem member;

(e) said other of said members including an inlet passage extending between said second inlet opening and said fluid chamber when said operating member is moved to said second position;

(f) means carried by one of said members and coacting with the other of said members to seal said inlet port from said first inlet opening when said stern member is in said second position; and,

g) said means carried by one of said members comprising a flange on said stem member in wiping engagement with the wall of said bore, said flange having a passageway opening on opposite faces to provide fluid communication between said first inlet opening and said inlet port when said stem member is in said first position.

8. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein said secondary sealing means comprises a ring carried by said valve body member, and wherein said inlet passage comprises a slot formed in said stem member.

9. In a liquid dispensing apparatus including a container for a liquid and a gaseous pressurizing agent, the combination with said container of a valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a hollow valve body projecting into said container, said valve body having first and second spaced inlet openings communicating with the inside of said container,

(b) a valve stem reciprocable in said valve body, said valve stem having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, said outlet passage extending from an inlet port to an outlet port venting to the outside of said container,

(c) a primary sealing member carried by said valve body in peripheral sealing engagement with said valve stem,

((1) a secondary sealing member carried by the valve body within said bore in peripheral sealing engagement with said valve stem,

(e) said sealing members cooperating to define a fluid chamber in said bore,

(f) a radially extending flange on said valve stem between said inlet port and said inlet passage,

(g) a spring acting on said valve stem to urge it to a closed position wherein said inlet port is sealed from said fluid chamber,

(h) said valve stem being movable to a first position wherein said inlet port is within said chamber and in communication with said first inlet opening and to a second position wherein said first inlet opening is closed by said flange and said inlet passage provides fluid communication between said inlet port and said second inlet opening.

10. In a liquid dispensing apparatus including a container for a liquid and a gaseous pressurizing agent, the combination with said container of a valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a valve body secured to said container, said valve body including a bore having an outer end and an inner end, said inner end of said bore being in communication with the bottom portion of said container,

(b) a first sealing member in the outer end portion of said bore,

(c) a second sealing member mounted within said bore in spaced relation to said first sealing member to define a fluid chamber,

(d) said valve body having an inlet opening communicating between said chamber and the top portion of said container,

(e) a reciprocable valve stem disposed in said bore and having a substantially fluid-tight running fit with said sealing members,

(f) said valve stem including an internal passage extending from an inlet port positionable in said chamber and an outlet port venting outside of said container, an elongated slot located between said inlet port and said inner end of said stem, and means for closing said inlet opening in one position of said stem, and

(g) said stem being movable between a closed position wherein said inlet port is sealed by said first sealing member, a first position wherein said inlet port is within said chamber in communication with said inlet opening, and a second position wherein said inlet opening is closed by said closing means and said second sealing member is between the ends of said slot, whereby fluid can flow from the lower end of said bore into said fluid chamber and said inlet port.

11. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein said closing means comprises a radial flange on said valve stem in wiping engagement with the wall of said bore, said flange having a fluid passage extending between its opposite faces.

12. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flange is engageable with said first sealing member in said closed position.

13. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 12 wherein the wall of said bore is formed with a shoulder, said inlet opening being located at said shoulder, and said flange being engageable against said shoulder in said second position.

14. In a liquid dispensing apparatus including a container for liquid and a gaseous pressuring agent, the combination-With said container of a valve mechanism comprising:

(a) a hollow valve body projecting into said container, said valve body having first and second spaced inlet openings communicating with the inside of said container;

(b) a valve stem reciprocable in said valve body, said valve stem having an outlet passage extending from an inlet port to an outlet port venting to the outside of said container;

(0) a three-position valve means operably connected to said valve stem;

(d) said three-position valve means including a means for bringing said inlet port into communication with the inside of said hollow valve body when said three-position valve is in a second and third position and for preventing said inlet port from communicating with the inside of said hollow valve body when said three position valve is in a first position;

(e) said three-position valve means including a means for closing said first spaced inlet opening while said three position valve means is in said second position; and,

(f) said three-position valve means including a means for closing said second spaced inlet opening while said three-position valve means is in said third position, I

15. The combination claimed in claim 14 in which said means for closing said first spaced inlet opening comprises a radially extending projection mounted on said valve stem within said hollow valve body to be positioned against the inside of said hollow valve body over said first spaced inlet opening while said valve stem is in a second position and to be positioned away from said first spaced inlet while said valve stem is in a first and a third position, said first, second, and third positions of said valve stem corresponding to said first, second, and third positions of said three position valve.

16. The combination of claim 15 in which said projection comprises a radially extending flange mounted on said valve stem to be in wiping engagement with the inside wall of said hollow valve body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

14. IN A LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS INCLUDING A CONTAINER FOR LIQUID AND A GASEOUS PRESSURING AGENT, THE COMBINATION WITH SAID CONTAINER OF A VALVE MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW VALVE BODY PROJECTING INTO SAID CONTAINER, SAID VALVE BODY HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SPACED INLET OPENINGS COMMUNICATING WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER; (B) A VALVE STEM RECIPROCABLE IN SAID VALVE BODY, SAID VALVE STEM HAVING AN OUTLET PASSAGE EXTENDING FROM AN INLET PORT TO AN OUTLET PORT VENTING TO THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER; (C) A THREE-POSITION VALVE MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE STEM; (D) SAID THREE-POSITION VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A MEANS FOR BRINGING SAID INLET PORT INTO COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID HOLLOW VALVE BODY WHEN SAID THREE-POSITION VALVE IS IN A SECOND AND THIRD POSITION AND FOR PREVENTING SAID INLET PORT FROM COMMUNICATING WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID HOLLOW VALVE BODY WHEN SAID THREE POSITION VALVE IS IN A FIRST POSITION; (E) AND THREE-POSITION VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID FIRST SPACED INLET OPENING WHILE SAID THREE POSITION VALVE MEANS IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION; AND (F) SAID THREE-POSITION VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID SECOND SPACED INLET OPENING WHILE SAID THREE-POSITION VALVE MEANS IS IN SAID THIRD POSITION.

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