WO1991005190A1

WO1991005190A1 - Dispensing valve

Info

Publication number: WO1991005190A1
Application number: PCT/AU1990/000449
Authority: WO
Inventors: Morris Wynne Price
Original assignee: Ongle, Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1989-09-27
Filing date: 1990-09-26
Publication date: 1991-04-18
Also published as: GB9206544D0; JPH05501841A; ZA907691B; GB2252396B; GB2252396A

Abstract

A dispensing assembly for a fluid container, which incorporates a flexible container (12) with a supporting container (14), has a body (16) which is adapted to be secured, as by welding, to the wall of the flexible container (12). The body (16) has an axial, threaded bore (18) which terminates at a shoulder (19), and an axially extending skirt (21). A spigot (28) engages in the body (16) with a boss (29) housed within the skirt (21) and a stub portion (33) extending axially into the bore (18). A cylindrical part (34) on the stub (33) carries threads to engage threaded bore (18). A shoulder (31) extends between the stub (33) and boss (29) to sealingly engage the body shoulder (19). The inner end (30) of the stub (33) is also fixed to the wall of the container (12) such that rotational and axial movement of the spigot (28) in the body (16) ruptures the wall to permit liquid to be dispensed through the valve.

Description

DISPENSING VALVE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus for a fluid container and relates particularly to a dispensing tap or valve assembly for fluid containers of the type incorporating an outer support container and an inner, flexible bag or liner from which the fluid is dispensed.

Many forms of liquid dispensers have been proposed for dispensing liquids from containers, particularly those of the type commonly referred to as "bag-in-the- box" containers which are used for marketing a variety of liquids, particularly beverages such as fruit juice, wine and other liquids. With such containers, the inner, flexible container is generally formed of a synthetic plastic material, or a laminate of several synthetic plastic and/or other materials such as metal foil, which act to prevent or limit oxygen passing through the container and into contact with liquid therein. On withdrawal of liquid from the container, the flexible inner container collapses around the remaining liquid which allows the liquid to be withdrawn without air entering the inner container. Background of the Invention

Various dispensing taps and valves have been proposed for use with such containers. However, some such taps and valves are formed in a way which allows oxygen to permeate through the tap or valve structure and into contact with the liquid in the container thus resulting in a degree of oxygenation of the liquid within the container.

Another major problem with containers of the type referred to is the difficulty in maintaining a flexible container in a sealed, and therefore oxygen free, condition until the container is used. Another difficulty with containers of the type mentioned is to provide a leak proof dispensing valve or tap which, in the closed position, is airtight and prevents the liquid in the container leaking therefrom. Background Art

Various proposals have been made to avoid or reduce the problems referred to above. Most commonly, and in order to increase the shelf life of containers, a tap or valve body is sealed to the inner container, and the outlet opening of the body is sealed by a diaphragm. In Australian Patent No. 526,182 (45725 79) to A.C.I. Operations Pty. Ltd., the diaphragm is formed by sealing the material of the inner container across the end of the tap or valve body. The diaphragm is pierced by the end of a spigot mounted in the body and axially movable from an outward, inoperative position to an inward, dispensing position. A dispensing valve is arranged to control delivery of fluid from the container after the diaphragm has been ruptured.

With this arrangement, the tap or valve comprises three parts, the body, the piercing spigot and the tap or valve.

In another arrangement described in Australian Patent No. 526,803 (62101/80) to Die Molders Pty. Ltd., the diaphragm is formed as part of the dispensing valve which is secured to the wall of the inner container. Again, with this arrangement, the dispensing valve or tap assembly comprises three parts which must be assembled in the appropriate manner to permit liquid to be dispensed from the container.

Australian Patent Application No. 19060/83 to Christopher C. Rutter also discloses a three part tap or valve assembly in which a rotatable dispensing part has an angled inner end adapted to cut, on rotation thereof, a diaphragm formed at an angle across an inner end of a sealing cylinder located in the valve body secured to the inner container.

All the above constructions rely on closely fitting, interengaging, substantially cylindrical surfaces for sealing the dispensing part of the tap in the valve body parts. It has been found that such seals are unreliable when subjected to the internal pressures in a container and to variations in ambient temperature. Other Australian patent specifications disclosing similar forms of dispensing valves include Patent Nos. 549,264 to Rutter, Pongrass & Associates, 532,437, also to Rutter, Pongrass & Associates, 550,715 to Die Molders Pty. Ltd., and Application No. 37853/85 also to Die Molders Pty. Ltd. All these specifications disclose valve or tap assemblies having axially movable probes for rupturing a sealing diaphragm, and all the valve and tap constructions rely on interengaged cylindrical surfaces for sealing purposes.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved form of dispensing apparatus which is economical to manufacture, is easy to use and which avoids at least some of the disadvantages of existing valve or tap assemblies. It is also desirable to provide improved dispensing apparatus which, until use, maintains the integrity of the inner, flexible container.

It is also desirable to provide dispensing apparatus with an improved seal to prevent leakage of liquid from the container when the valve or tap is in its "OFF" position. Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a liquid dispensing assembly comprising a body adapted to be secured to a liquid container, a cylindrical bore in the body terminating at a shoulder at a position spaced from the container, and a spigot to engage within the bore, the spigot having a cooperating shoulder to sealingly engage the shoulder of the body to close the bore.

Preferably, the body is formed at its inner end with a flange means. When the apparatus of the invention is used with a "bag-in-the-box" liquid container, the inner flexible container is secured to the flange means by welding, adhesive, clamping or other securing means. With such a container, the body has a second flange means spaced from the first flange means to define a groove to receive a wall portion of the outer container, thus providing support for the body.

In one form of the invention, the annular shoulder of the body extends between the bore and a substantially cylindrical, coaxial skirt integral with the body. The spigot may be formed with a boss which closely engages within the skirt, the outer end of the boss being formed with handle means to permit movement of the spigot relative to the body.

It is also preferred that the bore in the body be formed with camming means and that the spigot be formed with cooperating means whereby relative rotation of the spigot and the body results in relative axial movement therebetween. In one form, the camming means comprises a thread or thread portion extending radially inwardly from the bore and the spigot is formed with a cooperating thread or thread portion whereby relative rotation of the spigot and the body produces the relative axial movement

In another form, the camming means may comprise one or more projections on either the spigot or the bore and cooperating grooves on the bore or spigot, respectively, the grooves being of spiral form.

In a most preferred form of the invention, when used in conjunction with a flexible liquid container, such as of the "bag-in-the-box" type, the flexible inner container is secured to both the body and the inner end of the spigot during assembly of the dispensing apparatus. With this arrangement, the inner container is sealed so as to prevent oxygen contacting the contained liquid. To enable liquid to be withdrawn, rotation of the spigot relative to the body and the consequential axial movement of the spigot tears the inner container material from the inner end of the spigot thus permitting liquid to flow from the inner container through the rupture into the dispensing valve.

In order that the invention is more readily understood, two embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid dispensing valve in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, with the valve parts disassembled,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the dispensing valve of Figure 1 in assembled relationship with a liquid container,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing the valve in an operative, liquid dispensing position, and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a modified embodiment of the invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, the dispensing tap of this embodiment is particularly adapted for a "bag-in-the-box" container having an inner container 12 formed of relatively thin, synthetic plastic material or polymer film which is designed to prevent exposure of the liquid contents to the atmosphere and thus prevent oxygen from coming into contact with the container contents. The inner container 12 is carried in an outer container 14 of substantially rigid material, such as cardboard or the like. Such containers are well known. However, while the invention is particularly suited to such containers, it will be appreciated that the principles of the invention are not limited to its use with any particular container and that the dispensing assembly may be adapted for use with any form of container from which material is to be dispensed. The dispensing valve of this embodiment comprises a body 16 having an inner, substantially radially extending flange 17 to which the inner container 12 is secured as by welding or the like. The flange 17 is formed with inner and outer ribs 15 and 20, the inner rib being circular and immediately adjacent a bore 18 in the body 16 while the outer rib 20 extends around the outer peripheral edge of the flange 17. The ribs provide defined areas to which the inner container is welded or otherwise secured. The bore 18 in the body 16 terminates at its outer end in a substantially radially outwardly extending shoulder 19. Radially outwardly of the shoulder 19, the body 16 is formed with a skirt 21 which is substantially coaxial with the bore 18 and has on one side an outlet aperture 22. The skirt 21 is relatively thin-walled and flexible. The shoulder 19 is provided with a pair of circular, sealing grooves 27. On its outer surface, the body 16 has a second flange 23 spaced from the first flange 17 to define a groove 24. The groove 24 is of a width to closely receive a wall portion of the outer container 14 to substantially rigidly support the body.

The bore 18 is provided with projections 26, in the form of thread portions, extending obliquely to the bore axis.

A spigot 28, which engages within the body 16, has a boss portion 29 which closely engages within the skirt 21. The inner end of the boss portion 29 is formed as a shoulder 31 to engage the shoulder 19 of the body, the shoulder 31 having a pair of circular ribs 32 to sealingly engage the grooves 27. A stub portion 33 extends from the boss 29, the stub portion 33 carrying a substantially cylindrical part 34 which is coaxial with the boss 29. The cylindrical part 34 is threaded on its outer surface to cooperate with the thread projections 26 in the bore 18. The cylindrical part 34 is spaced from the stub portion 33 by three or more ribs 36 which define therebetween openings for the passage of liquid from the inner container 12.

As shown in Figure 2, when the tap of this embodiment is assembled with an inner and outer container 12 and 14, respectively, the inner container 12 is secured both to the flange 17 and to the inner end 30 of the stub portion 33. The inner container 12 is preferably secured to the end 30 by welding, but adhesive or other means may be used. When the inner container 12 is welded to the end 30 of the spigot 28, the welding anvil may be provided with a circular rib which, during welding, deforms, weakens or defines a tear line on the material of the inner container 12 which facilitates rupturing of that material during use of the dispensing valve of the invention. ^"* It will be appreciated that the inner container 12 is welded to the inner end 30 of the stub portion 33 when the spigot 28 is fully engaged within the body 16.

When so assembled, the inner container 12 is filled with liquid and sealed in a known manner. In this condition, the inner container is able to prevent the liquid therein coming into contact with oxygen as the container wall is unbroken. In order that the contents of the container 12 are able to be dispensed, the handle 37 provided on the boss portion 29 is rotated. This rotation causes the spigot 28 to move axially outwardly relative to the body portion 16 due to the engagement of the threaded cylindrical part 34 with the projections 26. The axial movement causes that portion of the inner container 12 welded to the inner end 30 of the projecting portion 33 to tear or rupture whereby liquid from the container is able to pass through the openings defined by the ribs 36 and into the space 38 now defined by the spaced shoulders 19 and 31, the skirt 21 and the projecting portion 33. As the outlet aperture 22 communicates with this space, liquid from the container is able to be dispensed through the outlet.

On rotation of the handle 37 in the opposite rotational direction, the spigot moves axially relative to the body to the sealing position in which the pair of ribs 32 on the shoulder 31 sealingly engage the pair of grooves 27 on the shoulder 19.

As the tap sealing is performed by interengaging shoulders, with the aid of projecting sealing ribs and corresponding grooves, leakage from the container is substantially prevented. If desired, O-rings may be provided on one or other of the shoulders 19 and 31 to provide a more secure sealing.

It will be appreciated that the shoulders 19 and 31 need not be at right angles to the bore axis but may extend at any appropriate angle. It will also be appreciated that by welding the inner container 12 to the end of the spigot 28, the axial and rotational movement of the spigot relative to the body provides the necessary rupturing forces to tear the welded part of the inner container 12 from the remaining material. Such an arrangement obviates the need for the provision of a separate piercing joint or other rupturing instrument. As indicated previously, u will be understood that the inner container may be secured to the body portion 16 by any suitable means, including clamping, which is known in the an.

Also, any suitable form of threaded engagement, camming or the like may be used to provide the necessary relative axial movement between the spigot and the body.

In the modified form of the invention as shown in Figure 4, the interengaging, sealing shoulders 119 and 131 are formed as the reverse of those illustrated in the first embodiment. That is, the shoulder 119 on the body extends radially inwardly from the bore 118, and the cooperating shoulder 131 on the spigot 128 extends radially outwardly from the boss 129. The threaded cylindrical part 134 has openings therethrough so that fluid can pass from the container 12 to the outlet 122.

In this embodiment, the skirt 121 is formed with a bearing housing 138 to receive and support the boss 129 and, at the same time, to define a liquid outlet chamber 139 from which the outlet opening 122 opens. As with the previous embodiment, the inner container 12 is welded both to the flange 117 and to the inner end 130 of the spigot 128. Rotational and axial inward movement of the spigot 128 relative to the body 116 causes rupturing of the inner container about the welding line on the spigot end 130.

Claims

Claims.

1. A liquid dispensing assembly comprising a body adapted to be secured to a liquid container, a cylindrical bore in the body terminating at a shoulder at a position spaced from the container, and a spigot to engage within the bore, the spigot having a cooperating shoulder to sealingly engage the shoulder of the body to close the bore upon axial relative movement.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bore is formed with first cooperating means and the spigot is formed with second cooperating means so shaped as to cause said axial relative movement upon relative rotational movement.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the liquid container, when secured to the body, forms a sealed diaphragm across the cylindrical bore, and an inner end of the spigot extends substantially perpendicular to its axis and is adapted to be secured to the diaphragm, the relative axial movement of the spigot in the bore causing rupturing of the diaphragm.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the body has a radially outwardly extending flange to which the inner container is to be secured as by welding.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the body has a second flange spaced from the first flange to define a groove.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the shoulder on the body extends radially outwardly from the bore and is formed with one or more sealing ribs or grooves, the body having an axially extending, substantially cylindrical skirt to closely receive a boss on the spigot which extends axially from the cooperating shoulder, and the cooperating shoulder having ribs or grooves to engage those on the body shoulder.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spigot has a handle on its outer end.

8. A liquid dispensing valve for a container having an inner, flexible bag containing the liquid to be dispensed and an outer, supporting container, said valve comprising a body having a cylindrical bore extending from an inner end to a shoulder means, and skirt means extending outwardly from the shoulder means, and a spigot having boss means received by the skirt means, an inwardly extending stub means, shoulder between the boss means and stub means to sealingly engage the shoulder means on the body, and a cylindrical portion on the stub means, the cylindrical bore and cylindrical portion having cooperating threads or thread equivalents whereby relative rotational movement of the spigot in the body results in relative axial movement, and means on the body and the spigot to which the inner bag container is able to be secured.

9. A valve according to claim 8 wherein the shoulder on the body extends in a direction radially outwardly from the bore.

10. A valve according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein passageways extend between the cylindrical portion and the stub means through which liquid may pass to a liquid outlet opening in the skirt.

11. A valve according to claim 8 wherein said shoulder on the body extends in a direction radially inwardly from the bore, and an outlet chamber is defined between the boss on the spigot and the skirt, the skirt having an outer end forming a bearing and seal for the boss.

12. A valve according to any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the body has flange means to which the inner container is adapted to be sealed to form a diaphragm across said bore, and the spigot has an inner end adapted to be secured to the diaphragm.

13. A container having a substantially rigid outer container, an inner, flexible bag to contain liquid to be dispensed, and a valve according to any one of claims 1 to 12, said valve being welded to the inner bag so as to seal the bore in the valve body with the valve spigot also being welded to the inner bag.

14. A dispensing assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.