US3439840A - Aerosol dispensing valve for plural sources - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 1969 F. VENUS, JR 3, 0,

7 AEROSOL DISPENSING VALVE FOR PLURAL SOURCES Filed Feb. 1, 1968 Shet I of 5 =1 50'- i i 64 26 64 I1 21i 29 77 40 26 7 FIG. 2 6O 47 44 45 Q eas Q Q (4 W 1 42 35 58 INVENTOR.

: i 56 FRANK VENUS, JR.

I BY MJZ Q F IG. 3 fih/ATTORNEYS April 22, 1969 F. VENUS, JR

AEROSOL DISPENSING VALVE FOR PLURAL SOURCES Filed Feb. 1. 1968 Sheet PEG. 4

INVENTOR.

FRANK VENUS, JR.

w ATTORNEYS FIG. 5

April 22, 1969 F. VENUS, JR

AEROSOL DISPENSING VALVE FOR PLURAL SOURCES Sheet Filed Feb. 1, 1968 FIG. 8

FIG.

INVENTOR.

FRANK VENUS, JR.

FIG. 10

L/' ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,439,840 AEROSOL DISPENSING VALVE FOR PLURAL SOURCES Frank Venus, Jr., Watertown, Conn., assignor to The Risdon Manufacturing Company, Naugatuck, Conn., a

corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 702,409 Int. Cl. B65d 83/14 US. Cl. 222-136 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to dispensing valves, and to packages incorporating such valves, for use in conjunction with two fluid products which it is desired to maintain mechanically separated until the moment of dispensing. The invention is particularly applicable to the packaging for consumer use of various fluid products in self-pressurized or so-called aerosol dispenser form.

Certain types of consumer products contain components which are reactive when mixed and must therefore be stored separately until used. Typical examples are found in certain epoxy-based paints or cements, or in producing a hot shaving lather by exothermic reactions. Each of these examples involves the use of a first fluid component which chemically reacts with a second component to produce hardening of the paints and cements, or heating of the lather in the case of shaving soap.

The proposal to package the normally reactive components in separate containers under pressure and to dispense them in admixed condition for use has been implemented in various ways in the prior art, and devices including aerosol dispensing valves for such applications have been designed and patented. While in principle the concept of providing a valve of suitable design for these applications appears simple, in practical commercial application such seeming simplicity is deceiving and not so readily achieved. Not only is there the basic need in the valve design for keeping the reactive components mechanically separated until they are to be dispensed, but there is the further problem of metering the outflow of the separate components in desired relation or proportion to produce the proper admixture in the final product. There are also the always-attendant practical problems in consumer packaging of simplicity and dependability of operation of the dispensing unit, and the often quite paradoxical requirements of economy in the fabrication and assembly of the dispensing valve and package.

It is accordingly a principal objective of the invention to provide a dispensing valve and package which are simple and efficient, accomplish the desired result in a simple and elfective manner, and most importantly whch are cornmercally practical.

In brief, the dispensing valve of the present invention is of the so-called aerosol type adapted to be used in conjunction with some form of container in holding fluid products in separate compartments under the pressure of a propellant gas. The products may be separately pressurized by a propellant in each compartment or by a single propellant in one compartment which acts through a resilient wall or diaphragm to impart pressure "ice to the product within the other compartment. Reference is made to Patent No. 3,104,785 for an example of the latter type of packaging arrangement. The dispensing valve itself is characterized by a valve housing which forms an enclosed chamber and within which a tubular valve core is mounted. The housing has provision for mounting the valve in the mouth of a container and for sealing the mouth of that container. The valve core extends through end walls of the chamber to project axially from opposite ends thereof and is axially reciprocable within said chamber, forming a sliding seal with the end walls. The core is divided interiorly by a transverse partition intermediate its ends into two separate ducts, one of which is adapted for communication with the interior of the package and the other to atmosphere. The valve assembly has provision for continuous fluid communication between a first of the two fluid components to be dispensed and the aforesaid valve chamber by a passage formed through the housing, while the second separately confined fluid component is communicated directly to an inlet end of the valve core and to the core duct therein. The core is normally biased axially to a position relative to the housing whereby a valve member on the core obturates a port that normally allows the fluid components to intermix within the chamber of the housing. Such valve member also assists in sealing off the outlet of the valve chamber. However, when the core is shifted away from its normal biased position, the first mentioned port is opened, allowing the two fluid components to come in contact with each other in the valve chamber, and simultaneously or successively a second port in the core is communicated with that chamber to allow the admixed components therein to be released through and further admixed in the second or discharge duct portion of the valve core. In general, an actuating button is mounted on the external portion of the valve core to provide a convenient means for manually shifting the core to etfeet dispensing, and to control the direction of discharge as Well as the form in which the product is discharged, for example as a spray, a foam, or a solid stream.

The invention is illustrated more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which several embodiments incorporating features of the invention are shown.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled aerosol dispensing package incorporating normally reactive fluid components, the drawing being broken away in part for simplification and clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross sectional side elevation through the central axis of the dispensing package seen in FIG. 1, wherein the parts are in the normal non-dispensing condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the valve in the nondispensing condition illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing the dispensing package in inverted position and the valve in operated condition to effect dispensing of the fluid components;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the valve as seen in the dispensing condition illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified container arrangement shown here in vertical section wherein a single container structure is divided into two compartments;

FIGS. 7-10 are enlarged fragmentary vieWs in vertical section of still other modifications of valve design incorporating the invention.

A typical aerosol dispenser 10 is seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and comprises a first or outer container 12, generally of metal, having a dispensing valve 14 and valve actuator 16 mounted in one end of the container. The latter are usually formed of molded plastic and the particular actuator configuration illustrate-d is simply one of many different types that can be employed. It is particularly adapted to dispense a shaving lather and to that end consists of a central discharge spout or nozzle 18 and a surrounding overcap 20 with which it is integrally formed. Overcap 20 is of generally frustoconical form and has upstanding diametrically opposed leg portions 22 joined transversely by a strip 24 in which nozzle 18 is mounted. This strip and portions of legs 22 are separated by a narrow slot from the remainder of overcap 20 throughout a substantial portion of their transverse extent, being joined to the overcap only at opposite ends of the strip. The legs are folded upwardly at either side of the nozzle forming a toggle. By squeezing together the opposite leg portions 22, the central transverse strip 24 and its supported nozzle are forced axially downward, as viewed in FIG. 2, and this motion is transmitted to the underlying valve 14 to open the valve as further explained below.

Valve 14 includes a mounting cup 26 of drawn metal and a cylindrical housing member 28 of molded plastic. Housing member 28 is suspended from cup 26 by crimping a central boss 29 formed in the bottom of the cup about a peripheral lip 30 at the upper end of the valve housing. Cup 26 is also crimped in its outer periphery 31 about the mouth or open end of container 12, thus sealing the mouth of the container and supporting the valve centrally of it.

A central aperture 32 is provided in boss 29 of cup 26, and a similar centrally disposed opening 34 is formed in the opposite or inner end 35 of the housing. A tubular valve core 36 is axially disposed within the housing and projects through the central apertures 32 and 34 at the opposite ends of the housing. Core 36 is reciprocable axially within limits relative to the housing and a sliding seal is formed between the core and the housing at the apertures therein. Between them, the core and housing form an annular chamber 38. At the outer end of the housing, an annular resilient grommet 40 is clamped between the underface of boss 29 and lip 30 of the subtended housing 26. The margin of the hole in grommet 40 closely encircles the projecting end of core 36 and forms a sliding seal therewith. At the opposite end of the housing, aperture 34 is surrounded by a plant tapered collar 42 which grips core 36 to form a sliding seal at that point.

Within chamber 38, core 36 is formed with a peripheral enlargement or external shoulder 44 disposed about midway along the length of the core. A compression spring 45 is confined between the underface of shoulder 44 and the bottom wall 35 of housing 26 so that the core is normally urged outwardly of the housing to cause abut ment of the outer face of shoulder 44 against the undersurface of grommet 40.

Core 36 is formed internally with a transverse partition 46 located closely adjacent the external shoulder 44, slightly outwardly therefrom along the axis of the core. Thus the core is divided into internal and external duct sections 48, 50, respectively. An inner port means 52 is formed in the wall of the inner duct section 48 at a point located between partition 46 and the outer face of shoulder 44, the latter being conically recessed as at 47. In the normal closed position of the valve shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ports 52 are obturated by the encirclement of grommet 40 about core 36 and abutment of shoulder 44 against the inner surface of the grommet.

Core 36 is also provided with outer port means 54 located immediately adjacent transverse partition 46 in the external duct section of the core. Ports 54 vent the external duct section to atmosphere in the normal closed position of the valve seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Duct section 50 is open at its outer end which is received in a socket 51 of transverse strip 24 in actuator 16 to provide open fluid communication with discharge nozzle 18.

At its inner end, core duct 48 is open, and means is provided for coupling it to a second or auxiliary container 56. As seen best in FIG. 3, inner container 56 is formed in its neck with a socket 58 within which the inner end of core 36 is frictionally engaged, whereby the inner container is coupled directly to the core and is supported from it, being reciprocable axially with it.

Auxiliary container 56 is adapted to hold one of the two fluid components to be dispensed. The component in such container is held under pressure of either a separate propellant or, where such auxiliary container is resilient rubber bag (see U.S. Patent No. 3,104,785), by pressure transmitted through the resilient wall of the bag. In either arrangement, escape through inner core duct section 48 is normally prevented by the seal elfected about ports 52 in the closed position of the valve above described.

Outer container -12 is likewise adapted to store a liquid component under pressure of a propellant gas, and communication between the interior of container 12 and chamber 3 8 is provided by an open passage formed by an opening 60 in the wall of the housing 26. Escape of fluid from chamber 38 is likewise prevented by abutment of shoulder 44 of the core and sealing grommet 40 in the closed position of the valve.

When it is desired to effect dispensing of the shave lather or other mixed product from the dispenser 10, the dispenser in this case must be inverted to the position shown in 'FIG. 4 so that the fluid contents of the outer container 12 enter chamber 38 of the housing and those of inner container 56 enter duct section 48. When actuator 16 is operated in the manner previously described to cause core 36 to be shifted axially inward of the package, the parts assume the position shown more particularly in FIG. 5. In this condition ports 52 are opened allowing fluid from inner container 56 to flow into chamber 28 of the housing and to mix with the already present fluid component from the outer container. In shifting core 36 to this position, outer port means 54 is moved past sealing grommet 40 and into communication with chamber 38, and the mixed fluid components are thus permitted to escape through ports 54 into the outer duct section 50 where they undergo further mixing in the course of egress through the nozzle 18.

Upon release of the actuating pressure, return spring 45 again shifts core 36 axially outwardly, interrupting communication with chamber 38 provided by outer ports 54, at the same time also closing off inner ports 52, stopping discharge of fluid from inner container 56 to chamber 38. In the particular form of actuator illustrated in the drawings, the valve closing action afforded by the return spring 45 is assisted by a resilient depending peripheral skirt 64 which surrounds the externally projecting end of external core duct '50. This skirt 64 is formed at the underface of strip 24 in actuator 16, and bears against the exposed surface of boss 29 in mounting cup 28. This arrangement also serves to confine or limit the drain off from ports 54 of any material remaining in the external duct section 50 of the core after the dispensing operation is completed.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in FIG. 6, valve 14 and its associated supporting cup 26 are identical with that described above. In this instance, however, the container arrangement is modified to provide a unitary structure in place of the separate outer and inner container members 12 and 56, respectively, in the previously described embodiment. To this end, container 70 which may be blown or molded plastic is formed with a transverse wall 72 dividing container 70 into upper and lower compartments 74 and 76, respectively. Wall 72 has an upstanding hollow nipple 78 providing communication through the wall into lower compartment 76. Connection between the inlet duct 48 of core 36 in valve 14 is effected by a short length of flexible tubing 80 secured at its opposite ends to the nipple 78 and core 36. The arrangement thus allows for axial motion of the core during operation of the valve to effect dispensing. Filling of the lower chamber 76 with the liquid component to be contained therein may be accomplished initially through nipple 78 prior to mounting the valve assembly in the mouth of container 70. Alternatively such filling may be effected by providing a filling port 82 in the bottom wall of the container and plugging the hole with a resilient seal 84. Several filling plug arrangements of this character are well known in the art.

Where it is necessary because of the nature of the two liquid products to be dispensed to con-fine their contact as close to the point of exit from the valve as possible, the modification shown in FIG. 7 affords certain advantages. In this instance, the shoulder 144 of core 136 is formed with an external conical surface 147 constituting a fairing at the junction of shoulder 144 and the external duct section 150. One or more ports 152 opening unto surface 147 provide passage to the inner duct section 148. Ports 152 are normally closed by engagement of surface 147 against the margin of aperture 141 in grommet 140. By placing the sealing point of inner ports 152 closer to the outlet aperture of the grommet and closer to the outer ports 154 in the core in this manner, the opportunity for contact between the separate fluid components, until they are about to leave through the external duct section of the core and to be discharged therefrom, is thus minimized.

In further modifications of the valve structure illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the transverse partition separating the inner and external duct sections of the valve core is tilted or stepped relative to the core axis. The purpose of these arrangements is to reduce any tendency for suckback of fluid to occur upon opening of the inner port in the core, whereby material from the outer container is caused to be drawn back into the inner container. This tendency can arise whenever the pressure within the inner container is lower than that of the outer container. This difference may be due to propellant pressure differences in the two containers when each is supplied with a separate propellant; or where the propellant is present in the outer container only and the inner container is of the resilient sack type mentioned before, the pressure within the inner container can be lower by a factor dependent on the resiliency of the sack material.

In FIG. 8, partition 246 in core 236 is inclined to the axis of the core and the inner port 252 passes through the side wall of the core above shoulder 244 and immediately beneath the partition into communication with the inner duct section 248. External port 254 likewise passes through the side wall of the core but immediately outwardly of partition 246 to provide a communicating passage into the external duct portion 250. Both ports 252 and 254 are normally closed by the resilient grommet 240 when the valve is in closed position as seen in FIG. 8. It will be noted however that because of the inclination of partition 246, inner port 252 is actually disposed axially outwardly of external port 254. Because of this relative displacement, inward movement of the core in actuating the valve to open it causes port 254 to establish communication between chamber 38 and the outside atmosphere through external duct section 250 momentarily ahead of the unblocking of inner port 252. In this manner it is assured that when inner port 252 becomes unblocked the pressure in chamber 38 is below that present in both the inner container 56 and the outer enclosing container (not shown but corresponding to container 12 as seen in FIG. 1). On the closing cycle of the valve, as core 236 moves back to its original position under the urging of return spring 45, inner port 252- is closed before chamber 238 regains full internal pressure, thus further ensuring against any material from the outer container entering the inner duct section 248 of the core.

A similar arrangement is shown in FIG. 9 where the partition 346 of the core is stepped diametrically of the core so as to allow placement of inner port 352 axially outwardly of external port 254 on the core.

In FIG. 10, the neck of core 436 above shoulder 444 is belled outward to form a convex surface in the area of ports 452 and 454, in contrast to the necked or conca've surface in the equivalent area of the 'valve cores of the previously described embodiments. These differences in the configuration are of significance to the precise timing of the opening and closing of the two ports relative to each other. -It may also be noted that in M68. 8 and 10, the respective shoulders 244 and 444 donot normally abut fully against the underface of the respective sealing grommets 240 and 440 in the closed position of the valve, Whereas in FIG. 9 the arrangement shows full abutment of the corresponding core shoulder 344 and grommet 340.

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol dispensing valve for use in simultaneously dispensing two separately confined fluid components which are to be mixed together only as dispensed, comprising a valve housing and mounting means for connecting said housing to a supply of the first of said two fluid components;

an enclosed chamber formed by said housing, and inlet and outlet openings in opposite ends of said chamber in substantial axial alignment;

said dispensing valve having a reciprocable core mounted in said chamber for limited axial sliding movement' relative thereto, said core extending through said chamber and projecting through said openings in the opposite ends thereof, and seal means at each of said openings making fluid tight but slidable bearing between said housing and core;

said core having open inlet and outlet ends, and duct means extending therebetween interrupted at an intermediate point by a transverse imperforate partition to form independent internal and external duct sections in the core;

an external peripheral enlargement encircling said core closely adjacent the location of said transverse partition and within said chamber, and inner port means in said core disposed between said enlargement and said transverse partition for communicating said internal duct section of said core with said chamber;

external port means in said core closely adjacent but on the opposite side of said transverse partition from said inner port means and communicating with said external duct section of said core;

a continuously open passage in the wall of said housing providing communication to the first of said fluid components, and coupling means at the inlet end of said core providing communication to the second of said fluid components;

means biasing said core outwardly of said chamber to interpose said sealing means at the chamber outlet between said inner and external port means and said chamber;

said core being movable against said biasing means to shift said inner and external port means past said outlet seal of said chamber to provide c0m- Lnunication through both said ports with said cham- 2. An aerosol dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein an actuating and dispensing button is mounted on the outlet end of said core, and said button is provided with a discharge nozzle communicating with said external duct section of said core.

3. An aerosol dispensing rvalve as defined in claim 2, wherein said button is provided with a resilient depending peripheral skirt which surrounds the externally projecting end of said core and bears against the exposed surface of said mounting means, said skirt being resiliently collapsible against said mounting means when said actuator and core are axially depressed.

4. An aerosol dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral enlargement on said core is formed in its abutting face with a conical recess, and said inner port means opens into said recess.

5. An aerosol dispensing device comprising in combination, an aerosol valve as defined in claim 1 together with first and second containers in fluid communication with said valve housing chamber and said inlet end of said valve core, respectively.

6. .lAn aerosol dispensing device as defined in claim 5, wherein said first and second containers are separate and said second container is enclosed by the first.

7. An aerosol dispensing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said containers have outlets which are disposed in substantially axial alignment, and said valve housing is disposed in the outlet of said first container, a sealing flange for securing said 'housing in said outlet to close the same and to fix said dispensing valve on said container.

8. An aerosol dispensing device as defined in claim 7, wherein said second container is fixed to and supported on the inlet end of said core by said coupling means so as to be axially reciprocable with said core within said first container.

9. An aerosol dispensing device as defined in claim 5, wherein said first and second containers are unitary and have a common transverse wall, an opening through said transverse wall, and said coupling means at the inlet end of said valve core makes fluid tight connection Within one of said containers through said opening to the other of said containers.

10. An aerosol dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said core is formed with an external conical surface constituting a fairing at the junction of said peripheral enlargement and said external duct section of said core, and said inner port means open onto said conical surface.

11. An aerosol dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the transverse partition intersects one side of said core at a point axially inwardly of the other side thereof.

12. An aerosol dispensing valve as defined in claim 11, wherein said inner port is located at a point on said stem which is axially outwardly of said external port.

13. An aerosol dispensing valve as defined in claim 12, wherein the transverse partition is stepped diametrically across the core.

14. An aerosol dispensing valve as defined in claim 12, wherein the transverse partition is inclined to the core.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,241,722 3/1966 Nissen 222 X 3,295,727 1/1967 Kates et a1. 222136 STANLEY H. TOLLB'ERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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