US2766913A - Dispensing valve - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1956 A. E. WILSHUSEN DISPENSING VALVE Filed Dec. 21, 1953 w n E Q. Azzgggmw 2 fi a .w w WM IN VEN TOR ATTOfZNEY- United States Patent f DISPENSING VALVE Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,196

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-394) This invention has to do with improvements in cap and valve assemblies of a type applicable to gas-charged containers for products such as cream, mayonnaise and the like, and operable to dispense the gas-permeated material in an expanded or whipped condition created by the gas expansion upon release from the container.

Generally considered, the invention is directed to improved features applying to a dispensing valve assembly comprising a container cap or closure, a valve seating upwardly toward or against the closure and having a tubular stem extending through the cap and conductive of the fluid to be dispensed. Primarily the invention is concerned with the provision of a member preferably of cap-like form, so associated with the stem as to contain it and serve the purposes of locking the stern against valve opening movement.

With respect to the general cap and valve assembly, the invention contemplates accommodation of the valve and its stem within any of various forms of caps or crowns, preferably in a manner taking advantage of a standard form of cap and its ready applicability to any of various containers necked to accommodate the cap. In this type of assembly, the valve and stem are accommodated for both axial and lateral tilting movements so that the valve may be unseated fully or partially about its periphery, the latter being the more usual condition. In accordance with the invention, provision is made for locking the valve against opening, as during shipping and distribution of the product, and by the same means, for containing and enclosing the stem. In the later described specific embodiment of the invention, such means has the form of a tubular nozzle element threaded on the stem for movement into and out of engagement with the cap, and carrying an annular flange serving as a finger piece by which the valve may be opened by pressure applied at any location about the stem.

All the various features and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment will be understood more fully from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a general view, mainly in elevation, showing one form of the invention with the dispensing head rocked to valve opening position, certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing all the dispenser parts in cross-section and with the 'head in valve closing position;

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of the dispenser parts positioned as shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a varia tional and preferred form of the invention.

First it may be mentioned that the dispensing head and valve assembly, generally indicated at 10, is applicable to containers of various shapes and sizes and for the purpose of dispensing any material, of which cream and mayonnaise are typical, capable of being transformed into expanded or whipped condition by virtue of the expansive eiiect, upon release, of a gas such as nitrogen dioxide,

2,766,913 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 with which the container is charged under substantial pressure. As previously indicated, however, it is found particularly advantageous to use a form of container having a mouth so shaped and sized as to be receivable within and closed by the ordinary type of crimp-edge crown or cap.

Referring to the drawing, the container 11 is shown to have a mouth 12 to which is applied a cap 13, the edge of which is crimped down about the container. The cap contains a circular seal 14 made of a deformable and resilient material, preferably rubber (e. g. neoprene) serving the dual purposes of a seal between the mouth and cap to prevent fluid escape from the container, and of a seat for the valve, generally indicated at 15. If desired, the center portion of the seal may be thickened downwardly at 16 to present a flat face valve seat 17, and upwardly at 18 to extend through opening 19 in the cap.

The valve 15, preferably of plastic composition, has a head 20 and an integral tubular stem 21 extending through opening 22 in the seal 14, the latter thus engaging and forming a fluid-tight seal about the stem. The valve head 20 contains an annular recess 23 communicable with the stem bore 24 through radial, circularly spaced openings 25 or 26 in the stem 21. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the openings 25 may be positioned above the seating surface 27 of the head so that when the valve is closed the openings 25 will be sealed with the bore of the seal 18, but are brought below the face 17 when the valve is open, thus permitting fluid escape from the container through the openings 25 into the stem bore 24. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the openings 26 are positioned below the seat face 17 and at all times in communication with the recess 23.

The assembly 10 comprises a tubular head 30 threaded at 31 on the stem 21 for adjustment axially thereof into and out of engagement with the cap 13. Dispensing nozzle 32 inserted in the end of the head 30 has a passage 33 in alignment and open communication with the stern bore 24. During shipment and distribution of the container and attached valve assembly 10, and between uses thereof, the nozzle 32 may be closed by a cap 34. Unseating of the valve is resisted by coil spring 35 contained within the head opening 36 about the stem 21, and bearing against the cap 13 and the head shoulder 37.

Following initial charging of the container with its contents, and to assure against inadvertent opening of the valve, the head may be screwed down on the valve stem to the point of engagement with the cap 13, thus locking the valve against either axial or tilting opening movement. When the contents of the container are to be dispensed, the head 30 may be unscrewed away from the cap to permit whatever range of valve opening is desired, although preferably the head is turned only to an extent giving the valve such limited opening as will restrict the discharge sufliciently to prevent excessive flow. With the head thus released, the valve ordinarily and most conveniently will be opened by a lateral or rocking movement of the head and valve stem assembly, as illustrated by the Fig. 1 position. With the container 11 held in one hand, the head and valve stem assembly may be tilted very conveniently and in any direction, by thumb pressure applied to the diverging circular head flange or skirt 30a. Upon release of the finger pressure, spring 35 immediately restores the valve to closed position.

In addition to assuring complete distribution of fluid from the container about the stem for discharge through openings 25 or 26 when the valve is unseated, recess 23 serves a further purpose in providing space for the accumulation of liquid, e. g., cream, between successive openings of the valve. The presence of liquid. as dis- 1 solvent.

7 through radial openings 50jwith the stern bore 51.

maintenance of a complete seal against the, escape of 7 gas from the container when the valve is closed Fig. "4 illustrat'es a variational form of the invention 'adapted to a more simplified and economical construction largelyby reason of the elimination of the spring 35 and utilizing anextension of the cap seal as a resilient valve seating element. Here the crown cap 46 is shown to contain a rubber seal 41 which may have a substantially flat or planar under-face engaged by the valve 42, the seal having a tubular portion 43 extending up through the cap a substantial distance and exteriorly confining the stem 44 below its flange 45. As before, the head 46 carries a nozzle 47 and is threaded at 48 on the stem. 2 The valve 42 may be formed as a plastic head applied to and integrated with the lower end of the stem after its insertion through the cap, as by a suitable binder or Annular recess 49in the head communicates As previously indicated, in use thevalve ordinarily will be opened simply by lateral tilting of the head. Here such movement of the parts is resisted by rubber'sleeve 43, the resiliency of which restores the valve to'closed position when finger pressure against the head is released. It will be;noted that thebottom surface of the flange 45 is undercut for reception of theupper end' of the sleeve, a feature, of advantage for insuring maintenance of a gas-tight seal as when the container is being charged with gas under pressure by application of a filling head (not shown) to the stem 21' before placement of,the

head 46 thereon.

I claim:

For use with a gas-pressure dispenser adapted to dispense a fluid in gas-expanded state, a dispensing valve assembly comprising a cap fadapted to be secured to the mouth of the container and havinga central opening, an annular valve seat positioned against the under side of the cap in registration with, its central opening, a valve having a stern extending upward through the said annular valve seat and opening and having a head at the lower end of the valve stem, said head including an outer seating margin adapted to engage upwardlyand seat against the iannular valve seat, the valve head further having an annular fluid drain recess radially inward References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,565,954 Dey Aug. 28, 1951 2,615,597 Tomasek etal. Oct. 28, 1952 2,704,622 Sofler Mar. 22, 1955' -.2,709,111

Green May 24, 1955

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