Eddy, Francis Tozer (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Hanke, Arthur Harold (Arcadia, CA)

05/439392

07/15/1975

02/04/1974

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222/630

239/318, 251/312

A47L17/00; E03C1/046; E03C1/04; B67D5/24

222/57,193 251/203,209,208,312 239/318

Tollberg, Stanley H.

Lane, Hadd

Green, William P.

We claim

1. A dispenser for mixing an additive liquid into a primary fluid, comprising:

2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said second opening is of a size to open into said valve chamber through approximately 180° about said axis.

3. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said third passage has an essentially cylindrical portion centered about an axis generally perpendicular to and intersecting said first mentioned axis, and of a diameter approximately the same as the diameter of said circular wall of the valve chamber.

4. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said restricted first opening and said larger second opening are located essentially diametrically opposite one another with respect to said axis.

5. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said groove has a radially inner wall which curves essentially circularly about an axis offset eccentrically from but essentially parallel to said first mentioned axis, and which is essentially tangent to said circular wall of said chamber at one location and is spaced a maximum distance radially inwardly at a diametrically opposite location.

6. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said groove has a cross-section at a first location which is smaller than the cross-section of either of said openings, and progressively increases to a cross-section at a second location which is greater than that of said restricted first opening but much less than that of said larger second opening.

7. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said valve element has a portion projecting outwardly from said body structure and which is manually actuable to turn the valve element about said axis, there being an annular second groove formed in said outer surface of the valve element at a location axially between said metering groove and said outwardly projecting portion of the valve element, and a seal ring contained in said second groove and annularly engaging said circular wall of said chamber in fluid sealing relation.

8. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said means for attaching said container to said body structure include a downwardly opening and downwardly facing internally threaded recess into which an upper threaded neck of a container is detachably connectible, there being a suction tube projecting downwardly from said body structure into said container to conduct liquid upwardly to the body structure and communicating at its upper end with said third passage.

9. A dispenser as recited in claim 8, in which said groove is formed eccentrically with respect to said axis and increases progressively in depth from a diameter at a first location corresponding substantially to that of said outer surface of the valve element to a maximum depth at a second location diametrically opposite said first location, said third passage having a cylindrical portion intersecting said valve chamber in a relation forming said second opening and having a diameter approximately equal to that of said circular wall of the valve chamber, so that said second opening communicates with said valve chamber through approximately 180° about said axis.

10. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said valve element has a portion projecting outwardly from and beyond a side of said body structure, there being a handle carried by said outwardly projecting portion for turning the valve element about said axis, means for limiting the turning movement of said said valve about said axis, and an O-ring disposed within a second groove formed in said outer surface of said valve element at a location between said metering groove and said handle and engaging said circular wall of the valve chamber in sealing relation.

11. A dispenser as recited in claim 10, in which said means for limiting said turning movement of the valve element include a pin projecting laterally from said valve element axially between said seal ring and said handle and received within an arcuate slot formed in said body structure in a relation limiting rotary movement of said valve element and retaining it against axial removal from said chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved dispensers for feeding an additive liquid into a stream of water or other fluid. For simplicity of discussion, the invention will be illustrated and discussed primarily as applied to a dispenser for adding soap into a stream of water flowing to a shower head.

There have in the past been proposed various types of devices for mixing a liquid into a stream of water or the like. One such prior device designed for use as a soap dispenser includes a rotary valve element which is mounted in a valve body to turn about an axis between two predetermined open and closed positions, in order to selectively either add soap to the water in predetermined proportions, or completely close off the delivery of soap so that clear water is delivered to the shower head for rinsing. In that device, the rotary element has a groove in its outer surface which in one condition places two fluid conducting passages in communication. However, the use of such a device in actual practice is very inconvenient and unsatisfactory, in view of the fact that it permits no adequate and precise regulation of the proportion of additive liquid which is mixed into the water, but instead at one point in the movement of the valve changes abruptly and almost instantaneously from a condition in which no additive can pass through the valve to a condition in which the maximum attainable proportion of additive is passed. This eliminates any possibility of adjustment of the valve setting by a user to compensate for differences in water hardness, soap concentrations, and the like, or differences in personal preference as to the type of soap solution which may be considered optimum by different individuals. In addition, this prior device is structurally more complex than would be desired, and does not provide an adequately effective seal against leakage of the liquid soap from the device at the location of the rotary valve element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved dispenser valve unit which is of the above discussed general type but is so constructed as to allow a very gradual and accurately controllable adjustment of the proportion of the additive liquid which is delivered into the main fluid stream, within relatively wide limits from a full off condition to a full on condition. At the same time, this is accomplished with a structure which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture, can function effectively over long periods of time without adverse effect on the mechanism, and which is sealed very positively against leakage of the liquid from the device at the location of the movable valve element or any other point. Structurally, the controlled gradual regulation of the rate of delivery of the additive liquid to the main water stream is achieved by providing the rotary valve element with a peripheral metering groove which extends arcuately along the outer surface of the valve element and which is dimensioned in unique manner to increase progressively in cross-section as the groove advances circularly about the rotary axis of the valve element. When the valve is then turned from an off position toward a full on position, the groove of progressively increasing cross-section gradually moves past a point of communication with an associated fluid passage, so that the restriction offered to the liquid flow by the groove gradually decreases to gradually increase the rate of liquid delivery therethrough. Preferably, the indicated change in groove cross-section is attained by progressively increasing the depth to which the groove is cut radially inwardly into the periphery of the valve element. For maximum simplicity of manufacture, this varying depth of groove can be provided by forming the groove to have a radially inner wall defining its depth which curves circularly about an axis which is offset eccentrically from but parallel to the main rotary axis of the valve element.

An additional feature of the invention relates to a way in which the valve element may be retained with minimum structure but very positively against axial withdrawal from the body of the dispenser. For this purpose, the valve element may have a pin connected into an opening formed in a side of the rotary valve element, and received within a locating slot formed in the body of the device, with that slot serving both to limit rotary movement of the valve element and prevent axial withdrawal of the valve element after insertion of the pin into the valve. Further, an extremely effective but structurally simple liquid seal may be provided by provision of an annular seal ring located within a second groove in the periphery of the valve element and engaging the body of the device annularly in sealing relation at a location axially between the first mentioned metering groove and an outer end of the valve element at which a handle is provided for actuating it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a liquid metering arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention and typically illustrated as utilized for adding liquid soap into a stream of water flowing to a shower head;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial section through the dispenser valve unit of FIG. 1, showing the rotary valve in its closed condition;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 2, but showing the valve element in a partially open condition;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sections taken on lines 5--5 and 6--6 respectively of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, I have shown at 10 a dispenser for mixing a liquid such as liquid soap into a stream of water, typically flowing from a shower supply pipe or tube 11 to a shower head 12, from which the water is discharged in the form of a shower spray 13. It will of course be understood that the dispenser 10 may be either formed separately as shown, or as an integral part of the shower head 12 for installation as a unit.

The water supply tube 11 has an externally threaded end 14 (see FIG. 2) which is connected into an internally threaded inlet passage 15 formed in the body 16 of dispenser 10. At the opposite end of body 16, this part may have an externally threaded portion 17 centered about the same axis 18 as is threaded inlet 15, and onto which an internally threaded portion 19 of the shower head is connected.

Connected to the underside of dispenser 10 is a bottle or other container 20 within which a quantity of liquid soap 21 or the like is held, to be drawn upwardly progressively to the top of the container 20 through a suction tube 22 for admixture with water flowing through body 16 of the dispenser. Bottle 20 may have an upper reduced neck 23 (FIG. 2) which is externally threaded as shown, for connection to internal threads 24 formed within a downwardly facing and opening recess 25 provided in a downwardly projecting portion 26 of dispenser body 16. In the installed condition of the device, threads 23 and 24 are desirably centered about a vertical axis 27 which intersects the inclined axis 18 of the previously discussed inlet and outlet threaded connections 15 and 17 at an acute angle a which is substantially less than 90° in order to allow the bottle 20 to be essentially vertical while the main flow of water through body 16 is inclined downwardly.

Extending between the internally threaded inlet recess 15 and an aligned discharge recess 28 at the opposite end of body 16, this body contains a reduced diameter cylindrical passage 29 through which the main stream of water flowing to the showerhead passes, and which is centered about the previously mentioned axis 18. At a location approximately midway between the opposite ends of passage 29, a much smaller diameter restricted metering passage 30 extends upwardly within body 16 to a location 31 at which passage 30 opens upwardly into the bottom of passage 29. At its lower end, restricted passage 30 opens downwardly at 32 into the top of a cylindrical passage 33 which extends into body 16 essentially transversely of passage 29, with the cylindrical side wall 34 of this passage 33 being centered about a horizontal axis 35 lying in a plane perpendicular to axis 18. As seen in FIG. 4, the passage 33 terminates at one end (the left end in FIG. 4) at an end wall 36 formed by the material of body 16 and disposed transversely of axis 35. At its right end in FIG. 4, the passage 33 opens outwardly through the side of body 16 so that a valve element 37 contained therein may project outwardly for attachment of an actuating handle 38 thereto. Liquid soap can flow upwardly from suction tube 22 in jar 20 into passage 33 through a short passage 39, which may have a first cylindrical portion 40 centered about vertical axis 27 and receiving and retaining the upper end of suction tube 22, and a second portion 41 inclined leftwardly and upwardly in FIG. 2 to intersect and open into a central portion of passage 33 at its underside and in essential alignment with the upper restricted passage 30. Portion 41 of passage 39 preferably is of a diameter at least about as great as the diameter of cylindrical surface 34 of passage 33, so that liquid soap can flow upwardly into passage 33 through approximately 180° of the underside of passage 33.

The valve element 37 may be very simply formed as a single elongated part which may be easily machined to the illustrated shape from a very high quality corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel. More particularly, valve element 37 may be considered essentially as a simple rotary shaft element having an outer cylindrical surface 42 extending at a constant diameter d along the entire length l of the element 37 except insofar as that outer surface is interrupted by a first metering groove 43, a seal ring groove 44, and a reduced diameter end portion 45 of the valve element for receiving handle 38. The diameter d of the main portion of the outer surface of valve element 37 corresponds approximately to the internal diameter of inner surface 34 of body 33, being only very slightly smaller than surface 34 to allow insertion of valve element 37 into passage 33 and turning movement of the valve element therein. At its left end, the valve element may terminate in a transverse surface 46, parallel to and closely proximate to end wall 36 of passage 33.

Metering groove 43 extends arcuately about the periphery of valve element 37 at the location of, and in essentially the plane of, restricted passage 30. This groove 43 does not extend entirely about the element 37, but rather extends only from a first end 47 of the groove (FIG. 3) to a second end 48. Between these extremities of the groove, the outer surface 42 of element 37 has an uninterrupted portion 49 which extends at the same diameter d as the remainder of surface 42, and therefore engages very closely the cylindrical wall surface 34 of passage 33. Consequently, when the valve element is in the closed position of FIG. 2, surface area 49 engages surface 34 entirely about the lower end 32 of passage 30, in a relation effectively closing off flow of any liquid soap into passage 30 for delivery upwardly therethrough to passage 29.

As the groove 43 extends circularly from the location 47 of FIG. 3, in a clockwise direction, the depth t of the groove radially into element 37 progressively increases, from a zero depth condition at the location 47 to a maximum depth location at a location 50 diametrically opposite the center of ungrooved region 49. Beyond that location 50, the depth t can again decrease progressively to the second extremity 48 of the groove. This progressive variation of depth is desirably achieved by machining the groove 43 into the material of element 37 circularly about an axis 51 which is offset eccentrically from but parallel to the main axis 35 of element 37 and its outer surface 42. The inner wall 52 of groove 43 may be cylindrical about axis 51, while the opposite side walls 53 of the groove may lie in planes disposed directly transversely of axis 35 and axis 51.

Within the second groove 40, which is centered about axis 35, there is provided an O-ring 54 or other flexible annular seal element, which annularly engages element 37 and the inner surface 34 of passage 33, to form an annular fluid tight seal preventing leakage of any soap or water rightwardly beyond the location of the O-ring in FIG 4, and toward the handle 38. This handle 38 may contain an internal cylindrical recess 55, into which the reduced diameter external cylindrical surface 45 of element 37 projects, with a short roll pin 155 or the like projecting through an aperture in handle 38 and into an opening or recess 57 in part 37 to lock the handle permanently in place. The handle may have a pointer portion 58 coacting with markings 59' formed on the outer surface of body 16, to indicate the rotary setting of the handle as between an "off" position and several progressively more open "on" positions. The handle and valve element 37 preferably turn through 180° between the extreme settings of the valve.

For limiting the extent of rotary motion of valve element 37, there is provided at the right side of body 16 as viewed in FIG. 4 an outwardly projecting boss portion 59 of the body, through which the passage 33 extends to a location 60 at which the passage opens rightwardly through a transverse end surface 61 formed on the boss. At its underside, this boss 59 contains an arcuate slot 62, extending through slightly more than 180° from the location of a first horizontal downwardly facing end shoulder 63 formed at one end of the slot to a second downwardly facing horizontal end shoulder 64 formed at the other end of the slot (See FIG. 6). A cylindrical pin 64', preferably a `roll pin,` is connected into a transverse bore 65 formed in valve element 37 at the location of slot 62, and has a portion 66 projecting outwardly into that slot and engageable with shoulders 63 and 64 to limit rotary movement of valve element 37 and handle 38 about axis 35 to 180°. At the right side of slot 62, as viewed in FIG. 4, the boss 59 forms an essentially semicircular end wall 163, which blocks rightward movement of pin 64 in FIG. 4, and thereby locks element 37 very effectively against withdrawal from passage 33. The inner surface 63' of end wall 163 and an opposed surface 64 at the opposite side of the slot may extend directly transversely of axis 35 to axially locate the pin in all settings of the valve element.

At a location above passage 33, body 16 may contain a small diameter very restricted vent passage 65, extending parallel to axis 35 from the outer surface of body 16 into the side of main passage 29, to function as an antisiphon vent and also to attain aeration of the water delivered to the showerhead.

In using the device, pin 64 permits rotation of valve element 37 in a counterclockwise direction from the full off position of FIG. 2 to a full on position represented in broken lines in FIG. 3. In the FIG. 2 position, the full diameter portion 49 of the valve element circularly between the extremities 47 and 48 of the groove closes off any flow of soap upwardly into passage 30, as previously discussed, and thereby prevents intermixture of any soap with the water being fed to the showerhead. When handle 38 and valve element 37 are turned a short distance in a counterclockwise direction, as toward the full line position of FIG. 3, the very small cross-section end portion of groove 43 near its extremity 47 gradually moves into a position beneath and opposite passage 30, to pass a small amount of liquid soap through that reduced portion of groove 43 into passage 30 for delivery into the water. As the valve is turned farther in a counterclockwise direction, the portion of the groove opposite passage 30 has a progressively increasing depth t, and therefore a progressively increasing cross-section transversely of the length of the groove, to pass an increasingly greater proportion of soap to the water. Ultimately, the portion of the groove radially opposite passage 30 has a cross-section which is greater than the cross-sectional area of passage 30, so that a maximum amount of soap is then passing through the groove and passage, with the major restriction thereafter being provided by passage 30 to positively limit the amount of soap being passed in the full open condition of the valve. In the broken line setting of FIG. 3, even though the grooved region 49 is facing downwardly toward the soap inlet passage from tube 22, the passage 49 still communicates with the opposite ends of groove 43 near extremities 47 and 48 sufficiently openly to have an effective groove cross-section greater than that of passage 30, so that still passage 30 is the main limiting factor. Thus, very accurate and precise regulation of the amount of soap being delivered is attained with an extremely simple structure manufacturable at very low cost.

In assembling the device, valve element 37 may first be inserted into passage 33 before connection of pin 64 to the valve element, and then the valve element may be locked in place by insertion of pin 64 into opening 65 in the valve element, and by frictional retention therein.

While a certain specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed as typical, the invention is of course not limited to this particular form, but rather is applicable broadly to all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.