Title:
PUMP WITH FLOATING VALVE ELEMENT
United States Patent 3753518
Abstract:
The invention relates to a product dispensing pump, mountable on a container, comprising a housing, an actuator mounted on the housing and a floating valve within the housing; when the actuator is depressed, the contents of a chamber within the housing are discharged through an exhaust port; when the actuator is released, the valve slidably closes the exhaust port and opens an input to recharge the chamber.
US Patent References:
DISPENSER PUMP
Ayres - January 1970 - 3489322
Non-metallic pump dispenser
Gorman - June 1965 - 3187960
Vaporizer having first and second piston construction
Boris (nee Jokelson) - December 1965 - 3226035
DISPENSER PUMP
Ayres - January 1970 - 3489322
Non-metallic pump dispenser
Gorman - June 1965 - 3187960
Vaporizer having first and second piston construction
Boris (nee Jokelson) - December 1965 - 3226035
Application Number:
05/141192
Publication Date:
08/21/1973
Filing Date:
05/07/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
222/207, 417/553, 222/401
International Classes:
B05B11/00; F04B43/00; A61F13/20; B67D5/42
Field of Search:
222/383,384,401,209 417/550,552,553,566 128/285,270,263
Primary Examiner:
Reeves, Robert B.
Assistant Examiner:
Shannon, John P.
Claims:
1. A product dispensing pump comprising, in combination, an actuator, a floating valve element, and a housing, said housing being adapted to engage the opening of a container,
2. A floating valve element for a product dispensing pump, formed of a single piece of molded plast material, adapted to be used with a movable actuator and to be positioned within a cylinder of a housing,
3. A product dispensing pump comprising, in combination, an actuator, a floating valve assembly, and a housing, said housing being adapted to engage the opening in a container,
4. A product dispensing pump comprising, in combination, an actuator, a floating valve element, and a housing, said housing being adapted to engage the opening in a container, the actuator being slidable within a turret on the housing between a stop on the housing and the floating valve element,
5. A product dispensing pump in accordance with claim 3 in which the housing is provided with
6. A product dispensing pump in accordance with claim 1 which includes automatic venting means which is open only while the actuator is frictionally connected with the valve element. cm 7. A product dispensing pump in accordance with claim 1 including means to admit a measured amount of atmosphere to said chamber at the commencement of the intake stroke of the actuator.
2. A floating valve element for a product dispensing pump, formed of a single piece of molded plast material, adapted to be used with a movable actuator and to be positioned within a cylinder of a housing,
3. A product dispensing pump comprising, in combination, an actuator, a floating valve assembly, and a housing, said housing being adapted to engage the opening in a container,
4. A product dispensing pump comprising, in combination, an actuator, a floating valve element, and a housing, said housing being adapted to engage the opening in a container, the actuator being slidable within a turret on the housing between a stop on the housing and the floating valve element,
5. A product dispensing pump in accordance with claim 3 in which the housing is provided with
6. A product dispensing pump in accordance with claim 1 which includes automatic venting means which is open only while the actuator is frictionally connected with the valve element. cm 7. A product dispensing pump in accordance with claim 1 including means to admit a measured amount of atmosphere to said chamber at the commencement of the intake stroke of the actuator.
Description:
This invention relates to a product dispensing pump having novel advantages, including a minimum of parts and means to insure against accidental discharge of the product where internal expansion or external pressures are applied to the container for the product, which is a major disadvantage of the prior art such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,507,586 and 3,527,551 issued to E. W. Gronemeyer and me. in contrast with the prior art which utilizes a vacuum to open the intake valve and pressure to open the exhaust valve, my valve is directly operated by a mechanical force and is inoperable unless that force is applied or withdrawn.
A further object of my invention is to provide a product dispensing pump which is adaptable, with minor modification, to either pressurized containers or to containers operating at normal atmospheric pressure. In the latter type, it becomes necessary to provide means for compensating for reductions in pressure within the interior of the container when product is withdrawn therefrom. in the form of my invention for use with unpressurized containers, venting means are provided. In the adaption of my device to pressurized containers, these venting means are omitted.
Another object of the invention is directed to a solution of the problem which arises in aerosol valves where the product to be dispensed is incompatible with the propellant. In such case, it is desirable to exhaust a small amount of propellant with the product. The reason why such intermixture of a small amount of the propellant with the product produces a better performance of the device is that the propellant aerolizes better and a finer spray is produced. Hence, a further object of the invention is to provide means for mixing variable quantities of the product and the propellant in any desired ratios, thus producing a finer and more effective spray.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my device mounted on a container, the container being partly broken away;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the top of the diaphragm on my device broken away to show the internal structure thereof;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the diaphragm and sliding valve fully depressed to a discharge position;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 6, showing, however, a diaphragm and sliding valve after discharge approaching a rest position;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an alternative type of my device, mounted on a container, the container being partly broken away;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view along the lines 11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view along the lines 12--12 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10, showing the actuator of my valve and the sliding valve depressed and the device in a discharge position;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIGS. 10 and 13 showing the valve and valve actuator returning to a rest position with the exhaust port closed and the input open;
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of my sliding valve in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14;
FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the actuator of the device as disclosed in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 7, they disclose a form of my device which I refer to for convenience as the "diaphragm type." it comprises three elements, a housing indicated generally at 10, a floating valve, indicated generally at 50, and an actuator indicated generally at 70.
The housing 10 is mountable on a container 20, containing a product 22, the container having a rim 21 which is engaged by the outer mounting flange 15 of the housing. Further contact between the housing and the container is made by the sealing skirt 37 and the venting ribs 36, FIG. 3. A vent 17 provides a passageway from the interior of the container to the ambient air in a manner later to be described.
My housing 10 may be made of a moldable plastic such as polypropylene and includes, in addition to the features for engagement with the container previously described, a top base 16 on which is mounted a turret 30. The interior of the turret forms a lower chamber 38 having at one side thereof an exhaust port 13 leading to an output channel 12 and an exhaust spout 14. Within the turret is a valve cylinder 40 having at its bottom an input channel 11 to which is attached a dip tube 23, broken away in the drawings, which leads to the bottom of the container. The inner wall 43 of the lower chamber 38 terminates in a flange 33 which with the outer wall 32, forms a recess to provide for engagement with the actuator 70, later to be described. The housing further has an annular recess 44 to receive the floating valve 50, the recess 44 being closed by the base 45 of the housing 10.
In the assembly of the device, the floating valve 50 is inserted into the chamber.
The floating valve 50 is of circular form and includes a stem 51 enclosing a cylinder 52 adapted to receive the plunger 72 of the actuator 70, later to be described. At the throat of the cylinder 52 are a series of bosses 55 adapted for frictional engagement with the plunger 72. Exteriorally of the axis of the floating valve 50 in the base 56 are a series of ports 57 which provide passageways for the product 22. Strainers, not shown, may be inserted in these ports. Depending from the base 56 is a flange forming with the annular well 60 the annular slide 58. The construction terminates in a slide tip 59.
Referring to FIG. 4, which is a sectional view of the valve cylinder 40, the stem 51 and valve cylinder 52 of the floating valve 50, in the cylinder walls of the valve cylinder 40, I provide four centering ribs, 41 to guide the valve stem 51 into the throat 46 of the valve cylinder 40 so that an effective closure of the valve can be effected when the valve is depressed in a manner hereinafter to be described.
It will be observed that the annular slide 58 when the valve 50 is placed in the lower chamber 38 has a continuous peripheral contact with the inner wall 43 of the chamber. When the valve 50 is depressed to the full extent, the annular slide 58 is positioned below the opening of the exhaust port 13 so that the product 22 contained in the lower chamber 38 and the upper chamber 78 will be forced out by the mechanical pressure resulting from the reduction in the volume of the upper chamber 78 through the exhaust port 13 to the exhaust spout 14.
After assembly of the floating valve 50 with the housing 10, the actuator 70 is then added to the combination.
The actuator comprises a hemispherical diaphragm 71 and is made of a flexible material such as polypropylene. It has a centrally disposed plunger 72 coaxial with the cylinder 52 of the floating valve 50 and with the valve cylinder 40 of the housing 10. The actuator 70 is affixed to the housing 10 by insertion of the flange 33 in the housing in the annular recess formed by the annular flange 75 and the annular skirt 74 of the actuator 70 and then rivets 34 in the wall 32 of the housing 10 are formed over the ledge 73 of the actuator 70 to retain it in permanent engagement with the housing. In assembly, interiorally of the inner wall 43 of the housing 10 is the skirt 74 of the actuator 70. The shirt 74 is in peripheral contact with the inner wall 43 to a point slightly above the exhaust port 13 and terminates in a stop 76 which in operation has contact in a rest position with the annular slide 58 restricting upward movement of the valve 50 beyond the point of contact between the annular slide 58 and the stop 76. The purpose of this construction is to make certain that a surge of product 22 within the container 20 cannot have egress through the exhaust port 13 to the exhaustspout 14.
When the parts are assembled in operative position, manual pressure on the diaphragm 71 will depress the plunger 72 which by friction with the bosses 55 will depress the valve 50. The depression of the valve 50 will cause the annular skirt 58 to clear the exhaust port 13 and the pressure will force the product in the upper chamber 78 out through the output channel 12. At this point, the device takes the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing.
When pressure is released on the diaphragm 71, its spring characteristics will cause it to return to its original position, a stage in the return being shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. This upward movement will withdraw the valve 50 to a point where the slide 58 meets the stop 76 causing product from the container to enter the lower and upper chambers, 38, 78. Any solids entering the inner chamber may be strained by strainers, not shown, inserted in the ports 57, so that the product to be ejected will be free of solids in the upper chamber 78 when pressure is again put on the valve to discharge the contents of the upper chamber through the exhaust port 13 to the output channel 12.
It will be further observed that after the diaphragm type of my device has returned to the rest position, whatever pressures may be exerted by extraneous forces on the wall of the container 20, no product can be ejected through the exhaust port 13 because of the slide 58 which has closed the port 13. Any pressure on the inner wall of the slide 58 will simply increase its effectiveness as a seal.
It will be understood that where the product is held in a container at atmospheric pressure, withdrawal of the product from the container requires maintenance of the atmospheric pressure within the container to avoid the creation of a vacuum within the container when product is withdrawn therefrom. Elimination of this vacuum is accomplished in my diaphragm type of device through the movement of my housing 10 downwardly in the direction of the arrows A--A, FIG. 6, and upwardly in the direction of the arrows A' --A', FIG. 7, against the rim 21 of the container 20 when pressure is applied to and withdrawn from the diaphragm 71. When the diaphragm is depressed, as in FIG. 6, the housing 10 slides downwardly on the rim 21 of the container 20 to a point where the under portion of the base 16 of the housing is in contact with the rim 21 of the container. The sealing skirt 37 is thus moved downwardly in the direction of the arrows B--B, FIG. 6, by reason of the contact of the venting ribs 36 with the container wall, then causing the sealing skirt 37 to move inwardly in the direction of the arrows C--C, FIG. 6, so that air can pass from the ambient through the vent 17 past the venting ribs 36 into the interior of the container, thus equalizing pressure within and without the container. When pressure is removed from the diaphragm 71, the venting ribs 36 slide upwardly and outwardly as indicated by the arrows B'--B', FIG. 7, on the curved portion of the interior wall of the container to the position as shown in FIG. 7, thus restoring the sealing effect of the sealing skirt 37 which moves upwardly and outwardly as indicated by the arrows C'--C', FIG. 7, to cut off the passageways between the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the container.
Operation of the diaphragm type on a pressurized container will be later described.
It will thus be seen that this form of my device provides a simple, low-cost dispensing pump which is operable only when it is manually actuated and the arrangement of which will prevent any undesired discharge of product from the interior of the container, even if the product is held under pressure in the container.
In the alternative form of my pump which I designate as "spring actuated" in contrast with the diaphragm type, the arrangement of the device is illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 16. In contrast to the diaphragm type, it is applicable to the development of high pressures for spraying.
In contrast with the diaphragm type, the spring actuated type comprises four elements in the combination, the housing 110, the floating valve 150, the actuator 170, and a spring 180, held under tension between a seat on the housing and a seat on the actuator, later described in detail. The operation of the two forms of device are equivalent with the spring acting as an alternative for the flexibility of the diaphragm 71, in the diaphragm type.
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 8 through 16, the housing, indicated generally at 110, includes a threaded cap 115 for engagement with a container 20 through threads 118. The housing has an input channel 111, an exhaust port 113 located in the inner wall 143 of the valve cylinder 140. The exhaust port 113 leads to an output channel 112 and an exhaust spout 114. The input channel 111 has affixed to it a dip tube 23 leading to the lower portion of the container, 20, into the product 22.
Above the base 116 of the housing 110 is a turret 130, having a turret chamber 132 above the valve cylinder 140. The turret 130 terminates in a flange 133, the function of which will presently be described.
The input channel 111, extends into the valve cylinder 140 to provide a valve seat 141 with a tapered rim 142.
The floating valve 150 is movable upwardly and downwardly within the valve cylinder 140 by means presently to be described.
The floating valve 150 is of one-piece, molded plastic manufacture. It has a base 156 with a skirt extended upwardly therefrom forming a circumferential skirt 158 adapted to engage the inner wall 143 of the valve cylinder 140. The dimension of the skirt 158 is such that the rim 159 thereof, when the floating valve 150 is fully depressed, terminates below the exhaust port 113. The valve 150 has a stem 151 of cylindrical configuration terminating in a base 152 which, when the floating valve is depressed, engages the tapered rim 142 of the input channel 111 to provide a valve seat for the floating valve 150. Between the base 156 and the base 157 of the floating valve 150 are ports 155 providing for passage of product between the valve cylinder 140 and the turret chamber 132.
In assembly, after the floating valve 150 has been inserted into the housing and depressed to the point where the base 157 makes contact with the rim 142 of the valve seat 141, a coil spring 180 is positioned so that its bottom convolution 182 is seated in the seat 144 of the valve cylinder 140. So seated, the bottom convolution 182 of the coil spring provides a stop for the rim 159 of the floating valve to confine its upward movement to a point just beyond the point where the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150 closes the exhaust port 113.
Above the spring is an actuator 170 which is inserted into the turret chamber 132 before the flange 133 is peened over to confine it therein.
The actuator 170 has a top 171, a ledge 174 for coaction with the flange 133 after it is peened over, and a seat 176 for the top convolution 181 of the spring 180. Thus it will be observed that the spring 180 is held in tension between the seat 144 and the seat 176.
The actuator 170 has an actuator cylinder 175 which is coaxial with the stem 151 of the floating valve 150. The actuator cylinder 175 has a circumferential skirt 172 forming a plunger with internal bosses 173 dimensioned so that when the actuator 170 is depressed, the bosses will make frictional contact with the surface of the stem 151 of the floating valve 150, depressing the same.
The system, at rest, is shown in FIG. 10; depressed in FIG. 13 and returning to rest in FIG. 14. It will be noted that when the actuator 170 is fully depressed as in FIG. 13, the skirt 158 on the floating valve 150 is depressed so that the base 157 of the floating valve 150 is in contact with the rim 142 of the valve seat 141, closing that valve, while the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150 has been moved below the exhaust port 113 so that product contained by the actuator 170 within the turret chamber 132 is forced outwardly under pressure through the output channel 112 to the exhaust port 114.
While no attempt has been made in the drawings to show the flow of the product through the input 111 into the valve cylinder 140, through the ports 155 into the turret chamber 132 when the device is in the position shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, it should be clear from this statement and the arrangement and function of the parts that such a flow occurs and the product reaches a level within the turret chamber 132 which is a balance of the suctional force exercised in the release of the actuator 170 to a rest position and the pneumatic force of the entrapped air within the cylinder 175 and the annular space 178. It should further be clear that when the actuator 170 is depressed downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 13 the air entrapped in the cylinder 175 and the space 178 will be compressed to the degree that the actuator 170 is depressed. This compression will apply a pneumatic force to the exhaustion of the product from the turret chamber 132 so that, after the actuator 170 has been fully depressed, as in FIG. 13, pneumatic force will continue to be applied to the product resulting in a continuing discharge until a balance between the pneumatic force and the remainder of the product in the turret chamber 132 is attained. In operation, at the end of the downstroke, the pneumatic force will be sufficient to bleed a portion of air through the exhaust port 113 with the balance of the product. As the result of this arrangement, a larger quantity of the product will be exhausted than would otherwise be the case if the pneumatic force were not available to implement the mechanical force resulting from the depression of the actuator 170.
When the pressure on the actuator 170 is released, the spring 180 causes the actuator to return to the position shown in FIG. 10. the friction between the bosses 173 and the surface of the valve stem 151 causes the floating valve 150 to move upwardly to a point where the exhaust port 113 is closed and further upward movement of the floating valve 150 is restricted by contact between the rim 159 of the floating valve skirt 158 and the bottom convolution 182 of the spring 180. Further expansion of the spring 180 is restrained by contact between the ledge 174 of the actuator 170 and the flange 133 of the turret 130. Thus, whatever pressure may be exerted by extraneous forces on the wall of the container 20, no product can be ejected through the exhaust port 113 because of its closure by the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150. Any pressure on the inner wall of the skirt 158 will simply increase its effectiveness as a seal.
Venting is accomplished in an entirely different fashion in the spring type of my device, FIGS. 8 through 14. Referring to FIG. 10, it will be observed when the system is at rest and the exhaust port 113 closed by the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150, the bypass channel 117 provides for equalization between the interior of the container and the turret chamber 132. When the actuator 170 is depressed, as in FIG. 13, the curved portion of the skirt 177 of the actuator 170 is depressed to a point below the mouth of the bypass channel 117 while the ledge 174 of the actuator 170 is moved downwardly from the flange 133 on the turret 130 so that there is an open passage between the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the container, thus equalizing the pressures within and without the container. Thus, when pressure is released on the actuator 170 as in FIG. 14, the skirt 177 of the actuator moves upwardly to close the mouth of the bypass channel 117 thus sealing the interior of the container from further contact with the ambient.
When the device of my invention is being used for spraying, and it is desirable for proper dispensing of the product that a suitable mixture between the propellant, such as the atmosphere, and the product is to be secured, the quantum of the intermixture of the product and the propellant can be controlled by varying the length of the skirt 158, FIG. 13. It will be observed that, as disclosed in FIG. 13, when the actuator 170 is depressed to the maximum extent, the rim 159 of the skirt 158 is spaced below the lower portion of the opening of the exhaust port 113. as thee length of the skirt 158 can be given any desired dimension, the moment in time when the rim 159 of the skirt 158 will begin to close the exhaust port 113 on the return stroke of the actuator 170 can be controlled. Thus the quantum of propellant, normally air, that will be exhausted through the exhaust port 113 is determined by the delay on the return stroke in the closure of the exhaust port 113.
While I have described two types of my device in which the contents of the interior of the container are maintained at equalized pressure with that of the ambient atmosphere, it is obvious that my device can be utilized for pressurized containers omitting the features which are applicable to containers with equalized pressures. Thus, in the diaphragm type, there would be no vent 17 and the outer mounting flange 15 is shortened so that the base 16 of the housing is in permanent contact with the rim 21 of the container. In the spring type, the bypass channel 117 would be omitted. Then either form of the device would be usable with pressurized containers, the operation being identical with that previously described for unpressurized containers.
it will thus be seen that in each of the embodiments of my invention, I have devised a simple, low-cost, but nevertheless foolproof valve for product dispensing.
A further object of my invention is to provide a product dispensing pump which is adaptable, with minor modification, to either pressurized containers or to containers operating at normal atmospheric pressure. In the latter type, it becomes necessary to provide means for compensating for reductions in pressure within the interior of the container when product is withdrawn therefrom. in the form of my invention for use with unpressurized containers, venting means are provided. In the adaption of my device to pressurized containers, these venting means are omitted.
Another object of the invention is directed to a solution of the problem which arises in aerosol valves where the product to be dispensed is incompatible with the propellant. In such case, it is desirable to exhaust a small amount of propellant with the product. The reason why such intermixture of a small amount of the propellant with the product produces a better performance of the device is that the propellant aerolizes better and a finer spray is produced. Hence, a further object of the invention is to provide means for mixing variable quantities of the product and the propellant in any desired ratios, thus producing a finer and more effective spray.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my device mounted on a container, the container being partly broken away;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the top of the diaphragm on my device broken away to show the internal structure thereof;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the diaphragm and sliding valve fully depressed to a discharge position;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 6, showing, however, a diaphragm and sliding valve after discharge approaching a rest position;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an alternative type of my device, mounted on a container, the container being partly broken away;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view along the lines 11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view along the lines 12--12 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10, showing the actuator of my valve and the sliding valve depressed and the device in a discharge position;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIGS. 10 and 13 showing the valve and valve actuator returning to a rest position with the exhaust port closed and the input open;
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of my sliding valve in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14;
FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the actuator of the device as disclosed in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 7, they disclose a form of my device which I refer to for convenience as the "diaphragm type." it comprises three elements, a housing indicated generally at 10, a floating valve, indicated generally at 50, and an actuator indicated generally at 70.
The housing 10 is mountable on a container 20, containing a product 22, the container having a rim 21 which is engaged by the outer mounting flange 15 of the housing. Further contact between the housing and the container is made by the sealing skirt 37 and the venting ribs 36, FIG. 3. A vent 17 provides a passageway from the interior of the container to the ambient air in a manner later to be described.
My housing 10 may be made of a moldable plastic such as polypropylene and includes, in addition to the features for engagement with the container previously described, a top base 16 on which is mounted a turret 30. The interior of the turret forms a lower chamber 38 having at one side thereof an exhaust port 13 leading to an output channel 12 and an exhaust spout 14. Within the turret is a valve cylinder 40 having at its bottom an input channel 11 to which is attached a dip tube 23, broken away in the drawings, which leads to the bottom of the container. The inner wall 43 of the lower chamber 38 terminates in a flange 33 which with the outer wall 32, forms a recess to provide for engagement with the actuator 70, later to be described. The housing further has an annular recess 44 to receive the floating valve 50, the recess 44 being closed by the base 45 of the housing 10.
In the assembly of the device, the floating valve 50 is inserted into the chamber.
The floating valve 50 is of circular form and includes a stem 51 enclosing a cylinder 52 adapted to receive the plunger 72 of the actuator 70, later to be described. At the throat of the cylinder 52 are a series of bosses 55 adapted for frictional engagement with the plunger 72. Exteriorally of the axis of the floating valve 50 in the base 56 are a series of ports 57 which provide passageways for the product 22. Strainers, not shown, may be inserted in these ports. Depending from the base 56 is a flange forming with the annular well 60 the annular slide 58. The construction terminates in a slide tip 59.
Referring to FIG. 4, which is a sectional view of the valve cylinder 40, the stem 51 and valve cylinder 52 of the floating valve 50, in the cylinder walls of the valve cylinder 40, I provide four centering ribs, 41 to guide the valve stem 51 into the throat 46 of the valve cylinder 40 so that an effective closure of the valve can be effected when the valve is depressed in a manner hereinafter to be described.
It will be observed that the annular slide 58 when the valve 50 is placed in the lower chamber 38 has a continuous peripheral contact with the inner wall 43 of the chamber. When the valve 50 is depressed to the full extent, the annular slide 58 is positioned below the opening of the exhaust port 13 so that the product 22 contained in the lower chamber 38 and the upper chamber 78 will be forced out by the mechanical pressure resulting from the reduction in the volume of the upper chamber 78 through the exhaust port 13 to the exhaust spout 14.
After assembly of the floating valve 50 with the housing 10, the actuator 70 is then added to the combination.
The actuator comprises a hemispherical diaphragm 71 and is made of a flexible material such as polypropylene. It has a centrally disposed plunger 72 coaxial with the cylinder 52 of the floating valve 50 and with the valve cylinder 40 of the housing 10. The actuator 70 is affixed to the housing 10 by insertion of the flange 33 in the housing in the annular recess formed by the annular flange 75 and the annular skirt 74 of the actuator 70 and then rivets 34 in the wall 32 of the housing 10 are formed over the ledge 73 of the actuator 70 to retain it in permanent engagement with the housing. In assembly, interiorally of the inner wall 43 of the housing 10 is the skirt 74 of the actuator 70. The shirt 74 is in peripheral contact with the inner wall 43 to a point slightly above the exhaust port 13 and terminates in a stop 76 which in operation has contact in a rest position with the annular slide 58 restricting upward movement of the valve 50 beyond the point of contact between the annular slide 58 and the stop 76. The purpose of this construction is to make certain that a surge of product 22 within the container 20 cannot have egress through the exhaust port 13 to the exhaustspout 14.
When the parts are assembled in operative position, manual pressure on the diaphragm 71 will depress the plunger 72 which by friction with the bosses 55 will depress the valve 50. The depression of the valve 50 will cause the annular skirt 58 to clear the exhaust port 13 and the pressure will force the product in the upper chamber 78 out through the output channel 12. At this point, the device takes the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing.
When pressure is released on the diaphragm 71, its spring characteristics will cause it to return to its original position, a stage in the return being shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. This upward movement will withdraw the valve 50 to a point where the slide 58 meets the stop 76 causing product from the container to enter the lower and upper chambers, 38, 78. Any solids entering the inner chamber may be strained by strainers, not shown, inserted in the ports 57, so that the product to be ejected will be free of solids in the upper chamber 78 when pressure is again put on the valve to discharge the contents of the upper chamber through the exhaust port 13 to the output channel 12.
It will be further observed that after the diaphragm type of my device has returned to the rest position, whatever pressures may be exerted by extraneous forces on the wall of the container 20, no product can be ejected through the exhaust port 13 because of the slide 58 which has closed the port 13. Any pressure on the inner wall of the slide 58 will simply increase its effectiveness as a seal.
It will be understood that where the product is held in a container at atmospheric pressure, withdrawal of the product from the container requires maintenance of the atmospheric pressure within the container to avoid the creation of a vacuum within the container when product is withdrawn therefrom. Elimination of this vacuum is accomplished in my diaphragm type of device through the movement of my housing 10 downwardly in the direction of the arrows A--A, FIG. 6, and upwardly in the direction of the arrows A' --A', FIG. 7, against the rim 21 of the container 20 when pressure is applied to and withdrawn from the diaphragm 71. When the diaphragm is depressed, as in FIG. 6, the housing 10 slides downwardly on the rim 21 of the container 20 to a point where the under portion of the base 16 of the housing is in contact with the rim 21 of the container. The sealing skirt 37 is thus moved downwardly in the direction of the arrows B--B, FIG. 6, by reason of the contact of the venting ribs 36 with the container wall, then causing the sealing skirt 37 to move inwardly in the direction of the arrows C--C, FIG. 6, so that air can pass from the ambient through the vent 17 past the venting ribs 36 into the interior of the container, thus equalizing pressure within and without the container. When pressure is removed from the diaphragm 71, the venting ribs 36 slide upwardly and outwardly as indicated by the arrows B'--B', FIG. 7, on the curved portion of the interior wall of the container to the position as shown in FIG. 7, thus restoring the sealing effect of the sealing skirt 37 which moves upwardly and outwardly as indicated by the arrows C'--C', FIG. 7, to cut off the passageways between the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the container.
Operation of the diaphragm type on a pressurized container will be later described.
It will thus be seen that this form of my device provides a simple, low-cost dispensing pump which is operable only when it is manually actuated and the arrangement of which will prevent any undesired discharge of product from the interior of the container, even if the product is held under pressure in the container.
In the alternative form of my pump which I designate as "spring actuated" in contrast with the diaphragm type, the arrangement of the device is illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 16. In contrast to the diaphragm type, it is applicable to the development of high pressures for spraying.
In contrast with the diaphragm type, the spring actuated type comprises four elements in the combination, the housing 110, the floating valve 150, the actuator 170, and a spring 180, held under tension between a seat on the housing and a seat on the actuator, later described in detail. The operation of the two forms of device are equivalent with the spring acting as an alternative for the flexibility of the diaphragm 71, in the diaphragm type.
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 8 through 16, the housing, indicated generally at 110, includes a threaded cap 115 for engagement with a container 20 through threads 118. The housing has an input channel 111, an exhaust port 113 located in the inner wall 143 of the valve cylinder 140. The exhaust port 113 leads to an output channel 112 and an exhaust spout 114. The input channel 111 has affixed to it a dip tube 23 leading to the lower portion of the container, 20, into the product 22.
Above the base 116 of the housing 110 is a turret 130, having a turret chamber 132 above the valve cylinder 140. The turret 130 terminates in a flange 133, the function of which will presently be described.
The input channel 111, extends into the valve cylinder 140 to provide a valve seat 141 with a tapered rim 142.
The floating valve 150 is movable upwardly and downwardly within the valve cylinder 140 by means presently to be described.
The floating valve 150 is of one-piece, molded plastic manufacture. It has a base 156 with a skirt extended upwardly therefrom forming a circumferential skirt 158 adapted to engage the inner wall 143 of the valve cylinder 140. The dimension of the skirt 158 is such that the rim 159 thereof, when the floating valve 150 is fully depressed, terminates below the exhaust port 113. The valve 150 has a stem 151 of cylindrical configuration terminating in a base 152 which, when the floating valve is depressed, engages the tapered rim 142 of the input channel 111 to provide a valve seat for the floating valve 150. Between the base 156 and the base 157 of the floating valve 150 are ports 155 providing for passage of product between the valve cylinder 140 and the turret chamber 132.
In assembly, after the floating valve 150 has been inserted into the housing and depressed to the point where the base 157 makes contact with the rim 142 of the valve seat 141, a coil spring 180 is positioned so that its bottom convolution 182 is seated in the seat 144 of the valve cylinder 140. So seated, the bottom convolution 182 of the coil spring provides a stop for the rim 159 of the floating valve to confine its upward movement to a point just beyond the point where the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150 closes the exhaust port 113.
Above the spring is an actuator 170 which is inserted into the turret chamber 132 before the flange 133 is peened over to confine it therein.
The actuator 170 has a top 171, a ledge 174 for coaction with the flange 133 after it is peened over, and a seat 176 for the top convolution 181 of the spring 180. Thus it will be observed that the spring 180 is held in tension between the seat 144 and the seat 176.
The actuator 170 has an actuator cylinder 175 which is coaxial with the stem 151 of the floating valve 150. The actuator cylinder 175 has a circumferential skirt 172 forming a plunger with internal bosses 173 dimensioned so that when the actuator 170 is depressed, the bosses will make frictional contact with the surface of the stem 151 of the floating valve 150, depressing the same.
The system, at rest, is shown in FIG. 10; depressed in FIG. 13 and returning to rest in FIG. 14. It will be noted that when the actuator 170 is fully depressed as in FIG. 13, the skirt 158 on the floating valve 150 is depressed so that the base 157 of the floating valve 150 is in contact with the rim 142 of the valve seat 141, closing that valve, while the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150 has been moved below the exhaust port 113 so that product contained by the actuator 170 within the turret chamber 132 is forced outwardly under pressure through the output channel 112 to the exhaust port 114.
While no attempt has been made in the drawings to show the flow of the product through the input 111 into the valve cylinder 140, through the ports 155 into the turret chamber 132 when the device is in the position shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, it should be clear from this statement and the arrangement and function of the parts that such a flow occurs and the product reaches a level within the turret chamber 132 which is a balance of the suctional force exercised in the release of the actuator 170 to a rest position and the pneumatic force of the entrapped air within the cylinder 175 and the annular space 178. It should further be clear that when the actuator 170 is depressed downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 13 the air entrapped in the cylinder 175 and the space 178 will be compressed to the degree that the actuator 170 is depressed. This compression will apply a pneumatic force to the exhaustion of the product from the turret chamber 132 so that, after the actuator 170 has been fully depressed, as in FIG. 13, pneumatic force will continue to be applied to the product resulting in a continuing discharge until a balance between the pneumatic force and the remainder of the product in the turret chamber 132 is attained. In operation, at the end of the downstroke, the pneumatic force will be sufficient to bleed a portion of air through the exhaust port 113 with the balance of the product. As the result of this arrangement, a larger quantity of the product will be exhausted than would otherwise be the case if the pneumatic force were not available to implement the mechanical force resulting from the depression of the actuator 170.
When the pressure on the actuator 170 is released, the spring 180 causes the actuator to return to the position shown in FIG. 10. the friction between the bosses 173 and the surface of the valve stem 151 causes the floating valve 150 to move upwardly to a point where the exhaust port 113 is closed and further upward movement of the floating valve 150 is restricted by contact between the rim 159 of the floating valve skirt 158 and the bottom convolution 182 of the spring 180. Further expansion of the spring 180 is restrained by contact between the ledge 174 of the actuator 170 and the flange 133 of the turret 130. Thus, whatever pressure may be exerted by extraneous forces on the wall of the container 20, no product can be ejected through the exhaust port 113 because of its closure by the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150. Any pressure on the inner wall of the skirt 158 will simply increase its effectiveness as a seal.
Venting is accomplished in an entirely different fashion in the spring type of my device, FIGS. 8 through 14. Referring to FIG. 10, it will be observed when the system is at rest and the exhaust port 113 closed by the skirt 158 of the floating valve 150, the bypass channel 117 provides for equalization between the interior of the container and the turret chamber 132. When the actuator 170 is depressed, as in FIG. 13, the curved portion of the skirt 177 of the actuator 170 is depressed to a point below the mouth of the bypass channel 117 while the ledge 174 of the actuator 170 is moved downwardly from the flange 133 on the turret 130 so that there is an open passage between the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the container, thus equalizing the pressures within and without the container. Thus, when pressure is released on the actuator 170 as in FIG. 14, the skirt 177 of the actuator moves upwardly to close the mouth of the bypass channel 117 thus sealing the interior of the container from further contact with the ambient.
When the device of my invention is being used for spraying, and it is desirable for proper dispensing of the product that a suitable mixture between the propellant, such as the atmosphere, and the product is to be secured, the quantum of the intermixture of the product and the propellant can be controlled by varying the length of the skirt 158, FIG. 13. It will be observed that, as disclosed in FIG. 13, when the actuator 170 is depressed to the maximum extent, the rim 159 of the skirt 158 is spaced below the lower portion of the opening of the exhaust port 113. as thee length of the skirt 158 can be given any desired dimension, the moment in time when the rim 159 of the skirt 158 will begin to close the exhaust port 113 on the return stroke of the actuator 170 can be controlled. Thus the quantum of propellant, normally air, that will be exhausted through the exhaust port 113 is determined by the delay on the return stroke in the closure of the exhaust port 113.
While I have described two types of my device in which the contents of the interior of the container are maintained at equalized pressure with that of the ambient atmosphere, it is obvious that my device can be utilized for pressurized containers omitting the features which are applicable to containers with equalized pressures. Thus, in the diaphragm type, there would be no vent 17 and the outer mounting flange 15 is shortened so that the base 16 of the housing is in permanent contact with the rim 21 of the container. In the spring type, the bypass channel 117 would be omitted. Then either form of the device would be usable with pressurized containers, the operation being identical with that previously described for unpressurized containers.
it will thus be seen that in each of the embodiments of my invention, I have devised a simple, low-cost, but nevertheless foolproof valve for product dispensing.