IL33053A - Fluid dispensing valve - Google Patents

Description

Fluid dispensing valve DART INDUSTRIES INC 31321 This invention relates to a fluids dispensing and More particularly to a valve for controlling the proportional dispensation of a plurality of the art of dispensing aerosol shaving cream or othe products having a plurality Of reacting i has been difficult to provide a manually operable valve whic cannot be throttled and which will accuratel proportion and as well as a plurality of reactive fluids to duce materials such as hot Oxidation hair dyes and other similar When the aerosol fluids dispensing valves must be small and it has been particularly difficult to efficiently or accurately proportionally dispense a plurality of fluids which densities or viscosities such that the desired chemical or thermal reaction of the fluids will take place upon It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fluids dispensing valve permitting ace urate proportioning of a plurality of fluids of different densities or viscosities without regard to the manner in which an operator manually actuates valve According to the present there is provided a fluids dispensin valve comprising a stationary annular valve seat in a valve an annular valve element in the housing having a first side engageable with annular seat and a second opposite side engageable with a valve and first and second passage means communicating with the first and second sides of the flexible valve element whereby arate pressurized fluids may flow from the first second 3 flexible a manually movable valve operating plunge member having a portion engageable with the first side of the flexible valve element at a location adjacent the stationary annular seat and also having a second portion able with the movable valve member but normally spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the distance between the first portion the valve operating plunger member and the first side of the flexible valve element to provide coacurrent flow through the first and second passages when the fluid dispensing valve operated to an open The two passages separately define flowcontrol orifices when sized in relationship to the respective fluids and pressure ratios across the serve to prevent throttling of the valve allowing a plurality relatively reactive fluids to be dispensed in accurately proportioned relationship to other independently of the degree of operator actuation of the movable operating plunger An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way o example in the accompanying 1 is an axial sectional view of a pair of fluid tainers disposed in concentric relationship with each and showing a aonthrottllng manually operable snap action valve mechanism in connection 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the valve mechanism of the invention taken from the line of and showing the valve mechanism closed 3 is a plan sectional view taken from the line of 4 a plan sectional view taken from the line 5 a similar to but showing the valve mechanism of the invention in an inverted dispensing position dispense a plurality of fluids 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the same plane as that shown in and showing details of the valve mechanism of the invention and the relative flow of a plurality of fluids In accordance with the present as shown in 1 of the an outer aerosol container 10 is provided a cap 12 into which a valve housing 14 of the invention is crimped by an annular indented structure The valve housing 14 is fore carried by the cap 12 which is with a conventional rolled crimped portion 18 securing it to the open end of aerosol container Coupled to the valve housing 14 is an inner container 20 may be of a collapsible character o may have a slidable piston as The embodiment shown includes a bag of collapsible structure adapted to respond to pressure of aerosol fluid in the interior 22 of the outer container dip tube 24 is coupled to the valve housing 14 at 26 and this di tube 24 is provided with a normally end 28 which is disposed near the normally lower portion of containe The fluids dispensing valve of the invention is adapted to be operated in an inverted as shown in such that the dip tube 24 at its open end 28 is disposed upwardly and adapted to receive aerosol vapor for sequential purging operationsof the as will be hereinafter described in to of the it will be seen that the valve housing 14 at its normally upper end 30 is housing The 14 a hollow cylindrical 38 in which a hollow cylindrical valve 40 is will be hereinafter described in The cap at its end is provided with an opening 42 through which a hollo tubular 44 nozzle 44 is adapted to dispense fluids from the containers 10 and 20 and is manual operation o the valve of the as will be described in outside diameter of the nozzle 44 is smaller than the 42 in the end of the cap and permits of the nozzle with respect to said opening as shown best i 5 of the seal gasket 34 is provided with an opening 46 somewhat smaller diameter of the nozzle and since gaske 3 it grips the perimeter of the nozzle 44 at the and provides a seal 44 is provided with a fluids dispensin bore 48 which communicates with ports 50 which extend generally in radial direction the bore 48 and outward into communication with an annular poppet valve rim portion which held i engagement with a normally inner aide of the seal gasket said side being and communicatin with the interior of the valve housing nozzle when tilted in the direction as shown in 5 of the causes the annular poppet valve rim 52 to be relieved from the inner side 54 of the gasket seal and thus allow fluids to pass inward through th outward 330532 The poppet 52 is provided with peripheral ing portion 56 tiltably movable in a bore of the valve sea nozzle 44 is integral with the poppet valve 52 and is provided with an generally spheroid cam tion 60 adapted for snap action operation of the valve mechanism of the fhis spheroid cam portion 60 an annular terminus 62 of a bore 64 in a valve actuating plunger fhis plunger 66 is provided with an annular flange slidably mounted in bore 58 the hollow cylindrical seat member A spring 70 is engaged on a stationary ledge 72 of the valve seat member and exerts force on the flange 68 of the valve 66 so as to maintain the annular rim 62 in concentric normally engaged relation with the spheroid cam portion 60 in maintain the nozzle 44 in axial alignment with the housing 14 and to maintain the annular valve portion 52 thereof in closed seated nozzle member when tilted as show i tends to move the spheroid cam portion 60 laterally relative to the bore 64 and cam the annular terminus 62 thereof in a direction away from the end 32 of the cap This portion 60 and the valve actuator 66 may be a action1 since sufficient pressure on the nozzle 44 to actuate the valve actuator 66 will cause almost instantaneous movement of valve actuator 66 by the cam portion 60 to the geometr thereof in relation to the annular terminus 62 of the bore 6 all as will be hereinafte described in The valve seat member 40 at its normally inner end 74 gages a generally resilient valve elemen 76 and clamps it sealingly against a shoulder 78 in the housing 7 I will be seen the shoulder 78 abutment for the resilient valve element as well the hollow cylindrical valve seat which is provided with a bore portion 80 in which segments 82 of the plunger are rocally as will be hereinafter described in segments 82 are formed by slots 84 which extend radially outward from the bore portion 64 and integral with these segments 82 is a generally cylindrical plunger portion 6 reciprocally mounted in a generally conforming bore 88 of a movable poppet valve member 90 which is provided with a seat engaging portion 92 and which is urged toward said seat engaging portion 92 by means of a spring 94 retained on a ledge 96 in the An end portion of the plunger portion 86 is designated 96 and spaced from a normally enclosed end of the bore 88 in the poppet valve space between the end 96 of the plunger portion 86 and the end 98 in the bore 88 is to for delayed action of the poppet valve to insure tion of a snap action of the spheroid cam relative to the annular portion 62 of the valve actuator 66 before opening of the valve member as will be hereinafter described in The seat engaging portion 92 of the poppet valve 90 opposes a stationary seat portion 100 the hollow cylindrical seat member This stationary seat portion 100 is an annular seat engageable by one side of the flexible valve element in opposition to engagement of the seat portion of the poppet valve 90 at the opposite the flexible valve element the spring 94 normally tends to hold the poppet valve membe 8 the flexible valve 76 and to cause sealing engagement at opposite sides thereof when the flexible valve element is forced against the stationary seat 100 by the spring 94 and the poppet valve member container 20 contains one fluid source which communis eates through a control orifice 102 in one end of the housing 14 and the control orifice 102 communicates directly side the flexible valve element normally engaged b the poppet valve member container 10 contains another fluid source whioh communicates through a port 104 in the side of the housing 14 with the annular seat 100 of the hollow cylindrical seat member two sources of fluid communicate with opposite sides of the flexible valve element port 104 extends directly an annular groove 106 in the perimeter of the stationary hollow cylindrical seat member and this groove 106 communicates with radial 108 which in turn communicates with an annulus 110 extending directly to the inner side of the annular seat portion and in tion with the normally upper side of the lexible valve element two separate sources of communicate with opposite sides of the valve element 76 and the stationary annular seat 100 controls the source of fluid passing through the port annular groove ports and annulus and the poppet valve member controls the flow of fluid through the control orifice 102 and inward adjacent the opposite side of flexible valve element The structure of the flexible valve element and its related seat 100 and the seat on the poppet valve member 90 are shown in detail and on enlarged scale in of the plunger portion of the valve actuator 66 adapted to engage the flexible valve element at the ends of the segments are separated by the slots The ends of these segments are designated 112 and are adapted to engage the normally upper side of the flexible valve element adjacent to the stationary seat so as to concurrently remove or displace the flexible valve 76 from the stationary seat 100 in unison engagement of the end 96 of the plunger portion 86 with the end 98 of the bore 88 in the poppet valve member the valve is adapted to operate concurrently and precisely to displace the flexible valve element from the seat and displacement of seat portion 92 of the poppet valve member 90 from the opposite of the flexible valve all as indicated best in 6 of the It will be that concurrent and proportional opening of the valve seat structures at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 76 is and particularly so in cooperation with the snap action operation of the cam portion 60 relative to the annular rim and in relation to the fixed area flow control orifices 102 and 104 communicating with the separate sources of fluids in the containers 10 and dip tube referred is carried by 10 a hollow cylindrical portion 114 of the housing hollow cylindrical portion is provided with a bore communicating with an annular groove 118 in the bore of the housing Communicating with this 118 are ports 120 in the side wall of the hollow cylindrical seat and thus the interior of the dip tube 24 communicates with a chamber 122 in interior the hollow cylindrical seat member This chamber 122 communicates directly with the annular poppet valve portion which is integral with the nozzle 44 and which as will be hereinafter described in connection with the disclosure of 5 and 6 of the As shown in 5 and 6 of the the valve mechanism of the invention is inverted with respect to that as shown in 1 and 2 of the and in this inverted the valve mechanism of the invention is adapted to operate to dispense materials the interiors of the ers 10 and 20 through the bore portion 48 of the nozzles 44 when it is properly manually actuated to an open position the annular poppet valve portion shown best in 5 of the When the container 10 is inverted and the valve mechanism of the invention is as shown in 5 of the and the nozzle 44 is titled by manual pressure of a the spheroid cam portio 60 acting on the annular ledge as hereinbefore cams the valve actuator toward the flexible valve element and during tion of manual pressure to the nozzle the spring 70 resists movement of the relative to the ledge 62 until the pressure reaches a predetermined amount at time snap action operation of the spheroid cam tion with respec to the ledge 62 occurs which very rapidly overcomes compression of the spring 70 snaps the valve actuating plunger 66 toward the flexible valve element 76 and the poppet valve member this the ends of the segments 82 engage the flexible valve element 76 at one side and the end 96 of the plunger portion 86 engages the end 98 of the bore 88 of poppe valve member and removes it from the opposite side of the flexible valve element into a as shown in wherei the seat aurface of the valve member 90 is e e forced from a side 91 of flexible valve The spacing of the seat portio 92 and side 91 is then stantially equal the spacing a side 101 of the flexible valve element relative to the stationary seat 100 from it has been previously displaced by snap action of nozzle 44 and valve actuator member it will be understood that snap action of the spheroid cam relative to annular ledge 62 is permitted to take place beforethe end 96 of the plunger element 86 engages the end 98 of the bore 88 so that the flexible valve element 76 is not actuated until the snap action mechanism reaches a point of no the snap action mechanism is allowed to attain its snap operation before opening of the flexible valve element and this is primary reason for the spacing of the 96 of plunger 86 from the end bore 88 in 44 becomes critical and passes into a snap action operation preliminary to engagement of the valve operating plunger 66 with either the flexible valve element 76 or the movable valve member and thus snap action of the mechanism is insured before the flexible valve element 76 or the movable valve member 90 is engaged by the valve operating plunger 66 and its portions 112 and as hereinbefore snap action opening of the valve of invention is important in order to prevent inadvertent throttling of the operation of the valve 76 so that instantaneous and full flow capacity operation of the control orifices 102 and 104 may take place accordance with the predetermined pressure differential acting thereacross and in accordance with the characteristics of the various fluids and the sizes of these all as hereinbefore fluid is adapted to flow from the interior of the container 20 through the control orifice 102 around and through grooves 93 in the perimeter of the poppet valve all as indicated by arrows in 6 of the This flow tinues through a central opening 77 in the flexible valve element this opening 77 being substantially larger than the diameter of the actuator stem portion fluid flowing from the Interior of the container 10 flows through the port control orifice 104 to the annular groove hereinbefore and through ports 108 the annulus hereinbefore Fluid flows from the annulus 110 around the annular stationary seat 100 and between and the side 101 of the flexible valve element In this fluids flow from opposite sides of the flexible element 76 and in equal proportions upwardly through the slots 84 which separate the segments 82 of the valve actuator tion is particularly directed to the overall operation of the valve in this Three important factors are responsible for efficient proportional dispensation of a plurality of fluids around the flexible valve and prevent operation these factors the snap action of the manually operable nozzle and the spheroid cam as well as the current dispensation of fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element and the fixed areas of the flow control orifices 102 and 104 which are sized in relation to the characteristics of the fluids being dispensed from the inner container 20 and the outer container orifice sizing depends upon the relative densities viscosities of these separate It will be appreciated that the characteristics of the fluids may be dependent upon the chemistry of the fluids in accordance with their reactive natures relative to each It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the ials used to produce an reaction in a hot foam shave lather production and in accordance with operation of the may require that one fluid have a greater relative density and consequently the higher viscosity in order to be dispensed at a proper proportional rate to the lower viscosity may require a different size control the control orifices 102 and 104 are sized to maintain the critical proportional relationship between fluids v 14 the flexible valve element 76 be completely cleared for full open and in this the flow areas at opposite sides 91 and 101 of the valve element 76 are much greater than the respective flow areas through the tive control orifices 102 ad It will therefore be appreciate that snap action operation of the poppet valve member 90 insures complete and rapid full flow area disposition around flexible valve element 76 so that a normal or determined pressure differential may exist across both of the control orifices 102 and 104 in accordance pressurizatlon of the aerosol fluid in the outer container and which reacts to pressurized materials in the inner container 20 due to its collapsible nature of piston fluid pressure it will be understood that with each opening motion of the annular valve element as shown in of the vapor may enter the normally upper open end 28 of the dip tube 24 and pass through the chamber 122 for initially purging the chamber 122 and ports as well as the bore function also services immediately before the valve of the invention is closed so that products which have been passing through the chamber 122 are purged from the outlet of the valve in order that these materials do not accumulate in the chamber 50 bore and eventually clog the clogging is thus prevented by the vapor provided throug the dip tube all as hereinbefore will be seen that the valve mechanism of the is so constructed that the bore 38 of the housing receives the hollow cylindrical valve seat structure 40 from the open end and that the nozzle as well the valve actuator flexible element poppet valve member and springs 70 and are all installed from said end 36 of the housing 14 in proper The annula indented crimped portion 16 engaging a conforming groove in the housing 14 is finally formed and serves completely to instal the elements of the valve mechanism in the housing 14 from one end thereof and with single assembly It will be appreciated that the flexible valve element 76 clamped against the ledge 78 by the hollow cylindrical valve seat member 40 due to the fact that at its outer is clamped by the flexible valve gasket 34 and the end of the cap 12 when the annular crimp 16 is formed into a conforming annular groove in the outer portion of the valve housing Those skilled in the art will appreciate the shi between the snap action valve operating the current opening of the valve seat mechanism at the sides of the flexible valve element 76 and the fixed flow control orifices 10 and 104 communicating with opposite sides of the flexible valve element and the size of these flow control orifices in accordance with the viscosities densities of the fluids which must pass through these flow control orifices in properly proportioned tionship to each other so these materials may react thermally or chemically in a predictable manner as the materialscome together in the chamber 122 and pass wardly through the bore 48 of the nozzle This relationship critical to dispensation of chemically reactive materials used in the production of oxidation hair dyes or hot foam shave 15a their individual namely the interior of the container 1G and the interior of the container fhese materials are normally isolated from each other so as to maintain the reactive ials separate until they are dispensed through the valve mechanism of the It to t hose skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the present insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (8)

CLAMS Λ - ·.

1. A fluids dispensing valve, comprising a stationary-annular valve seat in a valve housing, an annular flexible valve element in the housing having a first side engageable with the stationary annular valve seat and a second opposite side engageable with a movable valve memb-r, and first and second passage means connecting with the first and second sides of the flexible valve element whereby separate pressurized fluids may flow from the first and second passage means when the movable valve member is moved away from the flexible valve element, a manually movable valve operating plunger member having a first portion engageable with the first side1'1 of the flexible valve element at ^Location adjacent the station' ary annular seat and also havin a second portion engageable wit the movable valve member but normally spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the distance between the first portion of the valve operating plunger membe and the first side of the flexible valve element to provide concurrent flow through the first and second passages when said fluid dispensing valve is operated to an open position.

2. , A valve according to Claim 1 Therein manually operable snap action means is disposed to operate the operating plunger member to a position of snap action before the first and second portions engage the flexible valve element and the movable respectively, valve membe^e

3. * A fluids dispensing valve according to Olaim 1 wherein the manually movable valve operating plunger member comprises a plunger that constitutes the first portion of the operating plunger member and has a valve engaging portion that constitutes the second portion of the operating plunger member, and manually operable snap action means disposed to operate the plunger to a position of snap action no-return before the movable valve element is engaged and moved away from the second side of the valve element*

4. * A valve according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first and second passage means define fixed cross-sectional area flow control passages having flow capabilities substantially less than at respective first and second sides of the flexible valve element when the movable valve member is operated to a snap action position away from the flexible valve element,

5. * A valve according to Claim 3 wherein the first and second passage means define fixed cross-sectional area flow control passages having flow capabilities substantially less than at respective first and second sides of the flex-ible valve element whe the movable valve member is operated to a snap action position away from the flexible valve element, the manually operable snap action means comprising a tiltable nozzle having a cam portion thereon engageable with the plunger member and a poppet valve integral with the nozzle adapted to be opened when the nozzle is actuated to create snap action operation of the plunger member, a vapour tap dip-tube communicating with the last mentioned; poppet valve and adapted to provide sequential admission of vapour through the nozzle at the beginning and end of each operating cycle of the fluids dispensing valve to purge the same of materials from the first and second passage means to prevent • 18 » 33053/2 W thereby /accumulative clogging of the fluids dispensing valve,

6. , A valve according to Claim 3 wherein the valve element is held in the housing between a shoulder in the open end of a bore therein and the end portion of a hollow cylinder which constitutes the stationary annular valve seat and which has a bore that supports the plunger for reciprocal movement, the plunger having at its end opposite the valve engaging portion an open bore terminating in an annular ledge engaged with a spheroid cam portion on the manually operable snap action means, a spring acting on the plunger urging the annular ledge into engagement with the spheroid cam portion, the movable member being reciprocably mounted in the bore of the housing and urged by a spring into sealing engagement with the flexible valve element, all of the components in the housing bore, namely the spring, the movable valve member, the flex- ible valve element, the hollow cylinder, and the plunger being insertable into such bore from one end of the housing, and a container eap crimped on the housing and holding the components therein, the housing having a central opening through which the manually operable snap action means extends i tiltable relationship therewith, the manually operable snap action means containing a nozzle member extending outwardly beyond the cap.

7. · A fluids dispensing valve according to Claim 6 wheudn the end portion of the hollow cylinder has an outer annular clamp portion that clamps the flexible valve element to the shoulder in the bore of the housing and an inner annular seat portion concentrically spaced inwardly from the annular clamp portion engaged around a central opening in the flexible 33053/2 - 19 valve element, the first passage communicating with the annulus between the annular clamp portion and . the annular seat portion on the hollow cylinder and the exterior of the housing, the second passage being Ixi the inner end of the housing opposite the open end whereby separate pressurized fluids may flow from the first and second passages when the movable valve member is moved away from the flexible valve element, and a gasket interposed between the container cap end the housing.

8. A fluids dispensing valve substant ally as described above by way of exa ple and with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the Applicants DR. HEINHOID COHN AHD PARTNERS Bys Λ