WO1997003000A1 - Valve for a pressurised container and container provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve for a container suitable for containing a pressurised substance is disclosed. The valve comprises a valve body and a control rod that is movable within the valve body between a valve opening position and a valve closing position when the container is in a normal use position. The valve further comprises a gravity-responsive movable member for disabling the valve when the container is moved out of the normal use position beyond a predetermined point. Said movable member (5) engages the control rod (3') when said container is moved out of the normal use position beyond said predetermined point, and positions itself between the valve body and the control rod when said rod is urged into said valve opening position.

Description

 Valve for pressurized container and container so equipped.

The present invention relates to a valve for a pressurized container, and more specifically relates to a valve of the type comprising a valve body and a control rod movable in the valve body between an open position of the valve and a closed position. thereof, and a movable member sensitive to the action of gravity, intended to prevent the distribution of the product contained in the container when the latter is moved, beyond a predetermined limit, from a normal position d 'use.

In practice, the latter generally corresponds to an arrangement of the container either upside down or upside down, with its substantially vertical axis. The aforementioned movable member intervenes to oppose the opening of the valve if the head of the container does not occupy a normal position of use.

FR-A-2,375,111 discloses a valve equipped with a valve sensitive to the action of gravity, placed in a pipe for supplying the valve with product. This valve comprises a ball capable of being applied against a product passage orifice serving as a seat for the ball when the container is upside down, for closing said supply conduit. The valve has the drawback, given the small cross section of said orifice, of subjecting the flow of the product to a significant pressure drop.

It has been proposed, in FR-A-2,680,161, to remedy this drawback by increasing the section of said orifice and by establishing, when the valve is closed, a communication between the interior volume under pressure of the container and the region of the valve located downstream of the ball in order to balance the pressures on either side of the latter and to prevent it from remaining pressed against the said orifice when the container returns to a normal position of use.

The object of the present invention is to provide a valve which is simple in construction, does not cause excessive pressure drop and whose operation is particularly reliable.

It achieves this by the fact that said movable member is able to cooperate with the control rod to be interposed between the latter and the valve body when the container is moved away from a normal position of use and that the control rod is urged to move towards said open position.

Thus, it is possible in a particular embodiment of the invention, to ensure that said movable member prevents the control rod from reaching said open position.

In another embodiment of the invention, the interior of the valve body communicates by a product supply orifice with the interior of the container and the control rod is able to maintain said movable member in a position for closing said orifice when it is urged to move in the direction of said valve opening position.

Thanks to the invention, it is not necessary to provide a communication between the interior volume under pressure of the container and the region of the valve located downstream of the movable member when the latter occupies a position rendering the valve inoperative.

In addition, it is possible to convey the product to the discharge port of the valve without excessive pressure drop.

The invention also relates to a container equipped with a valve as mentioned above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, of two non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic axial section of a valve according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 represents the valve of FIG. 1 in its normal position of use,

FIG. 3 shows the valve of FIG. 1 in an inverted position relative to the normal position of use, the control rod being at rest,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, the control rod being pushed in,

FIG. 5 is a schematic axial section of a valve according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 represents the valve of FIG. 5, in the normal position of use, FIG. 7 represents the valve of FIG. 5 in an inverted position relative to the normal position of use, the control rod being at rest, and

- Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, the control rod being pressed.

There is shown in Figure 1 a valve 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. This valve 1 comprises a valve body 2 and a control rod 3 elongated along a longitudinal axis X and able to move axially in the valve body 2 between a closed position of the valve (shown in FIG. 1) and a valve open position (shown in Figure 2). The valve body comprises, in the embodiment described, an upper part 2a. housing a return spring 4 for the control rod 3 in said closed position and a lower part 2b housing a movable member sensitive to the action of gravity, constituted in the example described by a ball 5 whose role will be specified in the following.

Part 2a is closed at its upper end by a sealing washer 6 through the center 7 by the control rod 3. The washer 6 rests on the upper end face 8 of the portion _2a, bordered by a boss ring 9 intended for fixing the valve body 2 by crimping in a housing 10a_ a cup 10 to crimp itself at its periphery on a container known in itself and not shown. The control rod 3 passes through the bottom of the housing 10a _^ by means of a bore 11. The cup 10 maintains the part 2a. tight against the sealing washer 6 and ensures a tight fixing of the valve body 2 in the housing 10a ^

The control rod 3 is traversed by an inner conduit 12 opening at one end on its upper end edge 13 and at the other end on a lateral orifice 14 located at about mid-length thereof. The spring 4 is wound on a cylindrical surface 15 of the control rod 3 serving as a guide, bears axially at its upper end on the base of a crown 16 projecting from the rod 3 and at its lower end on a transverse wall lower part 17 of part 2a _, generally extending perpendicular to the axis X. The control rod 3 is biased by the spring 4 upwards until a lip stops device 16a _^ of the crown 16 against the sealing washer 6. The orifice 14 then opens onto the thickness of the sealing washer 6 and is closed by the latter. The tightness of the closure is improved by the fact that the lip 16 ^, by applying to the lower front face of the sealing washer 6, isolates the center 7 of the latter from the interior of the container.

The aforementioned wall 17 is traversed in its center by a bore 18 for the passage of the lower end 19 of the control rod 3. The diameter of this bore 18 is chosen so as to provide space with the portion of the control rod 3 which is engaged inside of it an annular clearance 20 allowing the product contained in the container to flow from the inside of the lower part 2b of the valve body 2 towards the inside of the upper part 2a. Part 2b is closed at its lower end by an insert 21 comprising a tube 22, provided with an anchoring cone 23 to be inserted into a tube immersed in the product to be dispensed, inside the container. This product is surmounted, in the normal position of use of the container, by a propellant gas under pressure. The part 21 comprises an upper tube 24 extending inside the part 2b of the valve body 2. The tubes 22 and 24, of axis X, are connected to a support wall 25 which is flat and perpendicular to the X axis, fixed at its periphery to the lower end of part 2b. The part 21 forms with the part 2b of the valve body a cavity 26 in which the ball 5 can move. This cavity 26 is delimited radially on the outside by an internal conical surface 27 of the part 2b, forming an angle of a few degrees with the longitudinal axis X, and superiorly by a surface 28 of the part 2b, symmetrical of revolution around the axis X, having the shape of a spherical cap concave downwards and crossed at its top by the hole 18 The cavity 26 is delimited radially on the inside by the external surface 29 of the upper conical tube 24, parallel to the surface 27, and forming with the latter an annular groove of width adapted to receive the ball 5. In the example described, the distance separating the surfaces 27 and 29 is slightly greater than the diameter of the ball 5. The internal section of the tubing 22 is constant, cylindrical of revolution around the axis X. The internal section of the upper tubing 24 narrows in the direction of the control rod 3. More specifically, this internal section converges to form a cone of generator inclined relative to the axis X by an angle greater than the angle between the generator of the surface 27 and the axis X. The wall of the upper tube 24 thickens as one approaches from its upper end where it defines a product supply orifice 31 whose diameter is less than the diameter of the ball 5, and which corresponds in the example described to approximately one third of it. The end surface 32 of the upper tube 24 bordering the orifice 31 is convex towards the control rod 3.

The lower end surface 19 of the control rod 3 is concave, shaped to match the curvature of the ball 5 and cause it to move when the container is used upside down, as will be explained below.

The valve 1 is intended to operate normally when the container is used upside down, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and to be inoperative when the container is used upside down, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the normal position of use of the container, when the control rod 3 is pressed into the valve body 2, the orifice 14 opens out under the sealing washer 6 and allows a product to flow out along the arrowed path P in the figure 2. The product coming from the dip tube fixed to the end piece 22 passes through the supply orifice 31, then the wall 17 thanks to the annular clearance 20 formed between the bore 18 and the lower end of the control rod 3 , passes in the interval formed between the annular lip 16a and the lower front face of the washer 6, in the orifice 14, and leaves the control rod through the conduit 12 to be routed to a distribution nozzle known in it- same and not shown, for example fixed on a pusher fitted to the upper end of the control rod 3. The ball 5, which rests in the bottom of the annular groove formed between the surfaces 27 and 29 does not impede the flow of the product.

When the container is turned over with the valve at rest, as shown in FIG. 3, the ball 5 is guided by the conical surface 27 and the concave surface 28 towards the bore 18 and, the end - O -

19 of the rod 3 coming at the edges of the bore 18 adjacent to the cavity 26, the ball 5 is housed in the concavity of the end 19. If the user pushes the control rod 3 into the body 2, the ball 5 moves with the control rod 3 and it is applied by the latter against the edges of the orifice 31 which it comes to close, as shown in FIG. 4. The ball 5 thus opposes the passage of product and the valve is inoperative.

In the example described, the stroke of the control rod which is necessary to apply the ball 5 against the orifice 31 and to close the latter, is greater than the stroke necessary to clear the orifice 14.

As a variant, in an embodiment not shown, the orifice 31 and the end 19 of the control rod 3 could be brought closer so that, when the control rod 3 applies the ball 5 against the orifice 31 , the orifice 14 is always closed by the sealing washer 6. The ball 5 would then act simply to limit the displacement travel of the control rod 3 in order to prevent it from reaching the depression necessary to release the orifice 14 and open the valve.

There is shown in Figures 5 to 8, a valve according to a second embodiment of the invention, the valve operating normally when the container is upside down, and being rendered inoperative when the container is inverted.

The valve 1a has a part 2a _, identical to that of the previous embodiment, and similarly fixed to the cup 10 of the container.

Identical reference signs have been used to designate elements common to the two embodiments shown in the figures, the description of which will not be repeated in detail.

The valve 1 'comprises a control rod 3' which differs from the control rod 3 previously described in that it extends beyond the bore 18 to protrude inside a second part 2b 'of the valve body 2 '. Part 2b 'is identical externally to part 2b previously described, but defines a cavity 26', in which the ball 5 moves, of different shape. The cavity 26 'is delimited laterally by a surface conical 27 ′ converging away from the control rod 3 ′, of generatrix making an angle of a few degrees with the axis X. This conical surface 27 ′ is connected above a surface 28 ′ concave towards the control rod 3 ′, constituted in the example described by a spherical cap. The cavity 26 'is delimited opposite the surface 28' by the transverse wall 17 of the part 2a. valve body 2 '. The surface 28 'is crossed at its top by a bore 31' opening into the interior of the tube 22, which is devoid of dip tube in this embodiment and which could be omitted. The part 2b 'internally comprises a web of material 24' of frustoconical shape, defining with the surface 27 'an annular groove whose opening width is slightly greater than the diameter of the ball 5. When the control rod 3' is at rest, its end 19 'is located at the upper end of the web 24'. The diameter of the bore 31 'is less than the diameter of the ball 5. The end 19' has a convex spherical shape in the direction of the bore 31 '.

The operation of the valve is as follows.

In the normal position of use of the container, the ball 5 rests in the bottom of the annular groove delimited by the web of material 24 'and the surface 27'. When the user pushes the control rod 3 ′ into the valve body 2 ′, the orifice 14 is released, and the product can flow along the arrowed path P in FIG. 6, through the bore 31 ′, the annular clearance formed between the bore 18 and the control rod 3 ', the annular gap between the lip 16a and the sealing washer 6, to leave the control rod 3' through the conduit 12.

When the container is inverted, the ball 5 falls into the bottom of the concave surface 28 'and is positioned in the orifice 31', as shown in FIG. 7.

When the user pushes the control rod 3 ′, the end 19 ′ presses on the ball 5 and keeps it pressed against the edges of the orifice 31 ′ which it closes, as shown in FIG. 8. The valve it is thus rendered inoperative.

Finally, the invention makes it possible to make a valve of a pressurized container inoperative or not depending on the head-up or head-down position of the latter, without however causing a pressure drop excessive flow of product leaving the container. The structure of a valve according to the invention is simple, and it is inexpensive to produce. Holding the ball control rod in the closed position allows the use of a ball of small dimensions and low weight, and to obtain rapid movements of the ball towards the positions rendering the valve inoperative or on the contrary allowing its normal operation.

Of course, various modifications can be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is thus possible to modify the shape of the control rod or that of the valve body, or even to replace the return spring with an elastic return member molded with the control rod. It is also possible to use a metal ball 5, made of rigid plastic or elastomer.

Claims

1. Valve for container capable of containing a pressurized product, this valve comprising a valve body and a control rod, movable in said valve body when the container is in a normal position of use, between an open position of the valve and a closed position thereof, the valve further comprising a movable member sensitive to the action of gravity, capable of rendering the valve inoperative when the container is moved aside, beyond a predetermined limit, from its normal position of use, characterized in that said movable member (5) is able to cooperate with the control rod (3; 3 ') when said container is moved, beyond said predetermined limit, from its normal position of use for interposing between the valve body and the control rod when the latter is urged to move towards said open position. 2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable member is capable of interposing between the valve body and the control rod to prevent the latter from reaching said open position. 3. Valve according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the interior of the valve body (2; 2 ') communicates through a product supply orifice (31; 31') with the interior of the container, and by the fact that the control rod is able to maintain said movable member in a closed position of said orifice. 4. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that said product supply orifice (31) opens at the end of a tube (24) projecting inside a cavity (26) of the body valve (2) by providing with the wall of said valve body an annular groove capable of accommodating said movable member (5) in the normal position of use of the container, and by the fact that the wall of said cavity facing said orifice 'supply (7) is generally concave towards said tube (24) and perforated at its top (18) for the passage of one end (19) of the control rod (3), the latter being further shaped so as to transporting said movable member to apply it against said orifice (31) when it is moved from said position of closing towards said open position and the container is in said position away from its normal position of use. 5. Valve according to claim 4, characterized in that the tubing (24) has at its end through which said feed orifice (31) opens a generally convex shape towards said control rod (3). 6. Valve according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that said end (19) of the control rod (3) is concave towards said tube (24). 7. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that said product supply orifice (31 ') opens into the bottom of a concave surface (28') in the direction of the control rod (3 ') of a cavity (26 ') of the valve body (2') in which said movable member (5) is retained, and by the fact that said control rod (3 ') opens into said cavity (26') opposite of said orifice (31 '). 8. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said movable member is constituted by a ball (5). 9. Pressurized container, characterized in that it is equipped with a valve according to any one of the preceding claims.