United States Patent: 3552608

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( 19263 of 19263 )

United States Patent	3,552,608
Sperry , et al.	January 5, 1971

PRESSURIZED CONTAINER FOOD VALVE

Abstract

A pressurized container valve for particulate matter and the like having a rotatable sphere with a diverging aperture extending nondiametrically therethrough. The sphere is contained in a sleeve with a seal between the sphere and sleeve across a diameter of the sphere. The seal is shaped to provide or is associated with means to effect a shearing action at the inner end of the aperture. A wire finger interconnects the spherical gate and sealing means for controlled actuation of the gate.

Inventors:	Sperry; Charles R. (Arlington, MA), Gibson; Roger L. (Lowell, MA)
Assignee:	Synectics Development *Corporation* (Cambridge, MA)
Appl. No.:	04/775,592
Filed:	November 12, 1968

Current U.S. Class: 222/516 ; 222/542

Current International Class: B65D 83/14 (20060101); B67d 003/00 ()

Field of Search: 222/548UP,554UP,516,542UP,517,512UP

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


3410461	November 1968	Barker
3204820	September 1965	Westberg
3318491	May 1967	Williamson
1882180	October 1932	Davidson et al.
2032776	March 1936	VanNess
2127389	August 1938	Church
2127465	August 1938	Church
2127489	August 1938	Rest
3204820	September 1965	Westberg
3318491	May 1967	Williamson

Foreign Patent Documents


647,229	Dec., 1950	GB
647,229	Dec., 1950	GB

Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Lane; Hadd S.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 623,061 filed Mar. 14, 1967 now abandoned.

Claims

We claim:

1. A pressurized container valve designed for use with material having a particulate content contained within a container comprising a an integral sealing means providing at least three sealing peripheries with each having a continuous, circular configuration; a spherical gate with a hole extending therethrough positioned within said sealing means and engaged in surface-to-surface contact, each of said peripheries over their entire lengths; one of said peripheries having a diameter equal to the diameter of said spherical gate and the other two peripheries of smaller diameter than said spherical gate diameter, located one on side on either side of said one periphery; means for rotating said spherical gate in one plane over distance sufficient to permit movement of at least one end of said hole over one of said other two peripheries comprising an elongated wire finger having a pair of legs, means securing one leg to said gate and means securing the other leg to said sealing means; spring means for urging said gate toward a closed position against forces applied to said finger comprising a coil spring integrally formed at one end with said other leg and supported coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation of said gate and secured at its other end to said sealing means, said sealing means including a continuous, uniformly thick, thin wall member having an annular collar extending on both sides of said one periphery, and inwardly extending lip at one end of said collar defining one of said other two peripheries, an inwardly extending annular channel defining the other end of said other two peripheries, and outwardly extending flange continuous with said inwardly extending annular channel and said other end of said coil spring comprising an integral loop positioned and secured in said annular channel.

Description

SUBJECT MATTER

The present invention relates to an improved pressurized container valve designed especially for material at least in part containing particulate matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pressurized or aerosol dispensing of particular matter, and especially foods such as orange juice having elongated particulates involve several problems not encountered in the dispensing of other materials such as pure fluids. A principal problem involving the dispensing of other mater of particulate matter is that it has a tendency to clog the valve. Many particulate materials should be sealed without any of it remaining in portions of the valve exposed to the atmosphere to avoid spoiling.

Heretofore valves that were generally available appear to have been designed primarily for use or worked best with nonparticulate matter. Such valves are unsuited for use with particulates such as referred to above because they have a tendency to clog or easily become dirty. In addition, such valves are not designed to accommodate a wide variety of particulates or be easily cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes these deficiencies and provides a pressurized container valve especially designed for use with material containing particulate matter such as food. The present invention also provides a valve construction which is simple and inexpensive to make, is adapted for mass production and filling techniques, and may be used for dispensing nonparticulates as well as particulates. The present invention also provides a valve of improved construction capable of dispensing an even flow of material while at the same time providing an effective and sturdy seal for the container to which it is attached when it is in a closed position.

One further object of this invention is to provide an improved means of stopping the flow of material which shears particulate matter partially within the valve when it is closed.

In the present invention there is provided a pressurized container valve having a means, preferably at least partially spheroid rotatable about an axis with an aperture, preferably diverging, extending through the means. A sealing means, preferably in the form of a collar, engages the periphery of the first mentioned means, effecting a seal in the case of a spheroid means across a diameter. A shear means is positioned in engagement with the first mentioned means adapted to engage particulate matter partially lying within the aperture to shear it off on closure of the seal. Means are also provided that function as secondary seals about the first mentioned means. Modifications of the invention include a valve with complete enclosure or exposure of the aperture on non use.

Other features, objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a pressurized container having a partially open valve embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on a plane passing axially through the valve;

FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive are cross-sectional elevations taken on a plane passing axially through the valve each showing modifications of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

Referring to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 there is illustrated a conventional pressurized container 1 which may contain any material suitable for aerosol dispensing but in particular material having a particulate material such as orange juice, dressings, relishes, or other food products. In addition a suitable and conventional nontoxic propellant may also be mixed with the material to be propelled in a conventional fashion. One end of this container 1 is sealed with a valve 2 embodying the present invention. This valve 2 is provided with a gate 3, preferably in the form of a metal or plastic sphere and surrounded at least about a portion of its circumference by a sealing means 4. An elongated wire finger providing a pair of legs with one leg secured to the gate and the other to the sealing means is used for controlled actuation of the gate. The gate 3 is preferably spheroid at least about those portions of it which are engageable by the sealing means 4. Other portions may assume other shapes as they are not related to the functioning of the gate. Other rotatable shapes may be used provided a constant seal may be maintained about a circumference of the seal. However, the spheroid shape is preferred and is most effective.

The sealing means 4 may be formed of metal or plastic and comprises a standard aerosol cup having an annular collar 5 that extends above and below a horizontal plane passing through the center 7 of the sphere 3. An inwardly extending lip 6 extends to the surface of sphere 3 at a horizontal plane above the center 7. The lower edge of collar 5 is preferably formed as an inwardly extending annular channel 8 that may serve the dual function of anchoring the actuating mechanism and an inner seal material, both hereafter described. The lower wall of channel 8 is continuous with outwardly extending flange 10. This flange 10 in turn is integral at its outer periphery with a downwardly facing annular channel 11 of conventional design and of the type that are ordinarily secured to the top of aerosol cans. The sealing means 4 is suitably secured by known techniques to the top of the can so as to form a suitable closure for containing the material to be dispensed.

Positioned within the collar 5 is a means 12 for seating and sealing the sphere 3. Preferably means 12 comprises an annular member formed of plastic, preferably a Teflon material. This annular member is positioned and secured between lip 6 and channel 8. The inner surface of the member 12 has an upper portion 14 complementary and in close facing relation with a circumferential band about the sphere 3. The upper end of this band is defined by the inner periphery of lip 6. The lower end of the band is parallel with its upper end, in a plane just above channel 8. The lower portion 15 of the inner surface of member 12 lies in planes parallel to the vertical axis through sphere 3 (as viewed in FIG. 2) with the edge 16 of portion 15 adjacent the sphere 3 forming a sharp angle. This sharp angle at edge 15 has a shearing action for particulate matter partially contained in the valve when it is closed as will be more clearly described hereafter.

Sphere 3 is provided with a hole 20 that extends nondiametrically through the sphere. Preferably the hole 20 diverges from a narrower end 21 to a larger end 22. In an open position narrow end 21 is within the container and larger end 22 is outside the container. In the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 2 both ends of hole 20 are rotatable to a position outside or above lip 6 when the valve is closed so that the hole may be exposed to examination and flushing purposes. This position is shown in dotted outline 23. On opening the valve by rotating the sphere 3 from a position in which the hole is in the position illustrated by dotted outline 23, the larger end 22 is kept exposed while the narrower end 21 is moved downwardly through the member 12. Thus, when narrowed narrower end 21 clears edge 16 the larger end 22 is already opened. This method of opening both ends of the hole 20 avoids sputtering and effects a laminar flow of particulate matter. The hole 20 may be closer or farther from the surface (and consequently longer or shorter) as the specific parameters of the device may require. However the closer the hole to the surface and consequently the shorter the hole the fewer degrees of rotation will be required for the sphere in order to actuate the valve.

On closing the sequence described above is reversed. In this procedure there may be particulate matter partially contained in the hole 20 and extending into the container at end 21. Under these circumstances the edge 16 acts as a shear, cutting or severing the particulate matter so that it will not clog or jam the hole 20. This feature also is beneficial if the valve becomes temporarily clogged while in use. Under these conditions the operator simply repeatedly opens and closes the valve. This will ordinarily result in the valve clearing itself.

The seal effected between sphere 3 and the means 12 involves three separate sealing zones. The principle sealing zone which is also the most critical extends about the sphere 3 along a marginal area on either side of the circumference of the sphere that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis passing axially through the sphere 3 into the container. The seal may be effected in a variety of ways. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the seal is effected by the center portion of means 12 along the approximate area 30. The effectiveness of this seal depends upon a principle somewhat similar to an O-ring sealing principle in which the sphere 3 may be analogized to the O-ring ring. The means 12 should be close fitting but not binding in area 30. This may be attained by moulding or pressure deforming means 12 of Teflon or the like into the sealing means 4. A secondary seal is effected on the outside or upper portion of sphere 3 in area 31. This secondary seal is maintained by the pressure within the container exerting outward force on the sphere 3. A third seal 32 is effected below or within the sphere. Each of these seals 30, 31 and 32 are continuous with one another and do not have clear lines of demarcation from each other. However, they function in different ways and do have different degrees of effectiveness.

The valve may be actuated in a number of suitable ways. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 there is provided means for rotating the sphere 3 so that hole 20 moves in one l plane to and from an open portion in one plane. This means includes an operating finger 35 that is secured at one end 36 to the sphere 3 outside of means 4. This finger is formed of a metal wire folded back on itself to form legs 37, 38 and conveniently bent at 39. The lower end of leg 38 is coiled at 40, preferably with the axis of the coil passing through the center of sphere 3. This coil 40 brings is continuous with a loop 41 that extends about and is secured to means 4, with the loop 41 seated in channel 8. Pressure at end 43 of the finger 35 will cause rotation of sphere 3 against tension of coil 40 to open the valve by exposing end 22 of hole 20. Release of pressure will allow the tension of coil 40 to close the valve. Other actuating means b may be used. For example, sphere 3 may be modified in shape to have a projecting detent integrally formed on it for movement of the hole in multiple planes. This detent may be used with or without a spring means for automatic closure.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 there is illustrated a modification which is similar to that previously described wherein similar numbers describe similar components as those of FIG. 2. However, in this modification the hole 20A through sphere 3 is located below the center 7 of the sphere. In this modification both ends of the hole 20A will be covered or contained in the valve when it is closed. In this arrangement the sealing mechanism tends to maintain the ends of hole 20A clean and moist by covering both these ends when the valve is not in use.

In the modification of FIG. 4 similar members identify similar components to those described above. In this modification however, means 12 is replaced with a plastic coating 12A on the inner side of means 4. This coating 12A may be formed of any suitable material having a low coefficient of function, preferably Teflon. In addition collar 5 of means 4 is closer fitting to sphere 3 and is beveled inwardly and terminates at an upper annular edge 6A having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the sphere 3, thereby retaining the sphere in a manner annular to lip 6. This modification permits easy manufacture of the members 4 and 12A in a coating and/or press process. The function of this modification is similar to that previously described, including the formation of several sealing areas between member 12A and sphere 3.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention in which similar numbers identify components similar to those described above. Here, however, the sphere 3 is formed of a slightly deformable plastic so that it will conform to the shape of means 4 and effect a relatively tight seal under the influence of the pressure within the container.

In each of the modifications described the shear means is of particular importance for a valve designed for dispensing material having a particular content. Where the particulate is long or relatively hard, such as a pepper corn, a shearing means formed of metal should be used.

Other modifications of the invention are also contemplated including, for example, the use of a conventional dip tube extending into the container for use with materials nonmiscible with a Freon propellant.

* * * * *

Current U.S. Class:	222/516 ; 222/542
Current International Class:	B65D 83/14 (20060101); B67d 003/00 ()
Field of Search:	222/548UP,554UP,516,542UP,517,512UP