U.S. patent application number 10/549070 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for dispensing apparatus at a container for a liquid or several liquids, at a conduit or the like.
Invention is credited to Hugo Nilsson.
Application Number | 20060261098 10/549070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20291097 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060261098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nilsson; Hugo |
November 23, 2006 |
Dispensing apparatus at a container for a liquid or several
liquids, at a conduit or the like
Abstract
The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus at a
container (1) for a liquid or several liquids or at a conduit. The
front wall (2) of the container or the like has a dispensing tube
(3), which is provided with a seat-forming holding element (10) for
a valve body (20). According to the invention the valve body is
mounted concentrically in the tube opening (8), has a rod-like
shape (21) and is with an outer end (22) guided by said holding
element (10) and with an inner end (26) of a cup spring (28), which
surrounds it and which at least in its rest or closing position is
designed as a cone, which is open towards the first-mentioned end
and which is supported by and is prestressed against the inner side
of said front wall (2) or a corresponding wall in said dispensing
tube or the like (3).
Inventors: |
Nilsson; Hugo; (Ljungby,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS & BUJOLD, P.L.L.C.
112 PLEASANT STREET
CONCORD
NH
03301
US
|
Family ID: |
20291097 |
Appl. No.: |
10/549070 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 19, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE04/00596 |
371 Date: |
September 12, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/496 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/48 20130101;
B65D 41/04 20130101; B65D 47/2075 20130101; B65D 83/0005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/496 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/40 20060101
B65D025/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 23, 2003 |
SE |
0301184-8 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A dispensing apparatus at a container (1) for a liquid or
several liquids, at a conduit or the like (44), a support wall (2)
being provided in connection with a dispensing tube or the like
(3), which is provided with a seat-forming holding element (10) for
a valve body, wherein the valve body is concentrically disposed in
the tube opening (8), has an oblong, rod-like shape (21) and is,
with an outer end (22), guided by the holding element (10), which
also has a flow-limiting function, and with an inner end (26) of a
resilient element, which surrounds the same, preferably one at
least in a rest or closing position as a cup spring (28), designed
as a truncated cone, which is open and inverted towards the
first-mentioned end and which is supported by and is prestressed
around the tube against the inner side of the front wall (2) or a
corresponding wall in the dispensing tube (3), and the entire
dispensing apparatus is made of a material having the same
properties throughout.
15. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
opening (8) of the tube, suitably at some distance from its orifice
plane (9), e.g. 3-20 mm, an inwardly projecting tip (10) all around
is disposed, which is the holding element and at the same time a
cone for a flow constriction, in that the lip suitably is made
jointly with the tube and the entire container respectively,
preferably through injection moulding, and projects with a
narrowing obliquely forwards towards the center of the orifice
plane with an of between about 30-60.degree..
16. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at the
narrowing area the shoulder (11) of the lip, in an axial direction,
extends somewhat further towards the rear end (7) of the container
to improve support for the free end area (12) of the lip in a
direction from the container end, the lower side (13) of the lip
shoulder is generally straight, comprises about half this side of
the lip and includes an angle of about 20.degree. with the inner
wall (14) of the tube, which for the rest suitably is slightly
cylindrical, whereas the lip on its upper side (15) in addition to
a slight concave curvature at the shoulder is generally straight
and includes an angle of between about 40-80.degree. between it and
the adjacent tube wall, and the lip in connection with the lower
side (13) of the lip shoulder at the lower side forms a short,
suitably slightly concave side (16), which preferably slightly
diverges in relation to the upper side (15) and which suitably via
a quite pronounced buckling point (17) changes into a generally
straight release side (18), which jointly with the upper side
outwards forms a sharp lip point (19) with an angle of between
about 10-40.degree. and which includes an angle of between about
5-45.degree. with the tube axis in its imaginary extension, as well
as in that the lip covers between about 30-70% of the
cross-sectional area of the tube opening (8) and extends over about
10-50% of the diameter of the tube opening.
17. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
valve body (20) has a rod-shaped or generally cylindrical body
(21), the front or outer end (22) of which is a forwardly or
outwardly, preferably softly rounded head (23) with a fastening
edge (24) all around, which projects above the body, which edge is
located within an at least generally radial plane, in relation to
the body, and this head in connection with the fastening edge forms
a suitably axial or slightly narrowing, short cylindrical surface
(25) which, via a small bending radius, is changed into a softly
rounded main surface or the head is cone-shaped.
18. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
rear or lower end (26) of the body suitably ends abruptly (at 27)
and changes here into the cup spring (28), which jointly with the
rear body end suitably is roughly truncated cone-shaped with a cone
angle of between about 30-60.degree. and is open forwards so at to
surround the rear body end with a distance, which increases from
the end surface (27), the cup spring has a uniform thickness and
ends as a roughly radial front end surface (29), a slightly
obliquely outwardly and forwardly directed point being formed with
an angle of about 300, this point preferably is slightly rounded
and has a bending radius of 0.2-1 mm, and the change from the end
surface (29) to the inner or front surface (30) of the cup spring
is formed by an edge all around with a small bending radius.
19. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the cup
spring is provided with a number of through openings (31), evenly
distributed along its periphery, crosswise, possibly coaxially
directed along the body, preferably openings with a relatively
large diameter of about 15-40% of the extension of the spring from
the body, or slit-shaped, possibly radially directed openings,
which freely end at the periphery of the cup spring.
20. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
diameter of the body is about 10-50% smaller than the width of the
tube opening (8) and/or the front end (22) and the rear end (26) of
the body preferably has the same diameter, a short or oblong
concentric diameter reduction (32) extending between the two ends
and/or the fastening edge (24) extends inside the diameter
reduction (32) in order to jointly with it form a V-groove (33),
into which the lip point (19) roughly with the same shape an
penetrate and in this way allow a particularly efficient holding
action and sealing respectively, and/or the diameter reduction (32)
penetrates the fastening edge (24) and with a small distance into
the front edge (22) of the body or the fastening edge (24) and the
diameter reduction (32) extend inwards with a small angle.
21. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at
least at the filled container (1) a lid (5) is designed to be
completely screwed down on the body (3) in order to abut, with an
inner rise (36), against the head (23) and possibly press it
slightly harder by means of the fastening edge (24) and possibly a
V-groove on the lip point (19) respectively, particularly the
latter, in addition to the lip in its entirety, being designed to
least one of expand and penetrate slightly into the material of the
rod-shaped body (21) to increase the sealing pressure and make the
holding together more efficient, the valve (20), with or without a
lock screwed on, is designed to be slightly prestressed between the
lip (10) and the front wall (2), the lip tending to push the valve
body outwards, and the cup spring (28) tending to pull the valve
body further inwards into the container, the total prestressing
distance being designed to be about 1-10 mm, the possible
cooperation between the lock and the valve element, with a small
pressing downwards of the latter, being designed to slightly
prestore the prestressing, which is advantageous to the area around
the lip, but preferably without completely loosing the elasticity
of the abutment of the cup spring against the front wall.
22. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, when
the dispensing is discontinued, the pressure of the contents in the
container is designed to cease, the cup spring, due to its inherent
elasticity, spring backs to the closing position, and, when this
springing back takes place, a volume contained by the cup spring,
the front wall and the tube, is designed to be increased, a small
vacuum being formed, which is designed to be cancelled, partly due
to a drawing of liquid into the volume from the interior of the
container through the openings in the cup spring and partly due to
a drawing of liquid from the outer free end of the tube outside the
valve body head (23) and the lip (10) and thanks to the annular gap
(37), the valve closing being accelerated, and the vacuum is so
weak, that no air is drawn into the container from the outside,
because only a fraction of the liquid-filled or of a liquid film
covered space outside the lip is involved, and, when the valve is
closed, a pressure balance occurs through the openings in the cup
spring, only the remaining elasticity of the latter, i.e. an
elastic abutment pressure against the inner side of the front wall,
keeping the valve closed.
23. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein during
the unstressing movement of the cup spring its free surface (29) is
designed to slide along the inner side of the front wall (2), the
change from the inner side (30) of the cup spring to the surface
(29) being designed principally to promote the sliding contact and
subsequently the entire surface (29) and finally the radially
outwardly located pointed part in order to protect the point of the
cup spring and the inner side of the front wall.
24. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cup
spring is completely closed, whereas the rod-shaped body (21) is
made hollow with a cavity (38), which is open backwards and extends
preferably all the way to the forward rod end (22), where the
cavity (38) preferably ends abruptly but communicates with the area
outside this rod area via crosswise through the body directed,
along the periphery distributed dispensing holes (39), which
suitably have a horizontal rectangular profile and which are
covered by the lip (10) in the closing position, and below the
dispensing holes (39) preferably a pointed bead (40) is disposed
all around the outside of the body, which bead is designed to stop
liquid from penetrating into the hollow space (41) between the body
(21), the cup spring, the front wall, the tube and the lip, and/or
the bead is designed, in the open position, to retain the lip point
at a small distance from the body in order to, when approaching the
closing position, guide the lip point past the dispensing holes and
only after passing these holes allow the lip point to cover the
holes.
25. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein,
particularly for one-way purposes, the function of the front wall
(2) is removed to a shoulder inside the tube (3), which in a
preferably oblong shape is made in one piece jointly with the
container, the rear container end (7) preferably being open until
the filling, after which it is designed to be closed, preferably by
welding.
26. The dispensing apparatus according to claims 14, wherein the
apparatus comprises an outwardly circular cylindrical plug (45)
with a front/outer end as an orifice plane (9) and with a
rear/inner end, which will function as a support wall (2), and with
a central through opening (8) between these two ends with a lip
(10) for a valve body (20), which plug is designed to be fastened
on one of a container tube (3) and a conduit (44).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus of
the type set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Such dispensing apparatuses usually are mounted at one end
of tubular containers, pots or the like, which contain a liquid,
which is to be sold. These containers can be made of a rigid or
deformable plastic material, sheet metal, aluminium sheet or the
like. They can be provided with a piston with a certain or many
different possible shapes and an actuator for the piston and/or be
designed to be compressed in order to dispense the contents in the
container. The liquid can be a glue, a sealant, a pharmaceutical, a
medical product, a food product etc. and can have an arbitrary
consistency, e.g. flow easily or be viscous.
[0003] One strives, which such dispensing apparatuses after a
completed dispensing, to be able to carry out a satisfactory and
particularly an air-tight closing; and to obtain a uniform
dispensing; and to abruptly and without waste stop the dispensing;
and to empty a container as completely as possible respectively.
Sometimes one mainly strives to obtain just one of these
characteristics, sometimes several and sometimes all of them,
according to the specific application area. By using a dispensing
apparatus, mounted in a conduit or the like, an automatic liquid
dispensing will be achieved only above a certain pressure level and
a quick and waste-free blocking of the dispensing by going below
said level.
[0004] However, what is aimed at often is not attained at all or
not in a satisfactory or reliable way. The main object of the
present invention is to always obtain a completely satisfactory,
reliable and air-tight closing after a completed dispensing,
irrespective of the viscosity of the used liquid. Additional safety
means, which secures and improves the closing position, preferably
are used.
[0005] Also, according to the invention it must be possible, if so
desired, to abruptly and without waste be able to stop the
dispensing and empty a container as completely as possible
respectively. With the known dispensing apparatuses the dispensing
is namely often done in an uncontrollable way and e.g. trickle or
flowing afterwards may happen. This will be stopped in an efficient
way by using the present invention.
[0006] Another drawback of known techniques is, that the force,
required for the dispensing, is inadequate and it is for instance
necessary to use relatively large forces and still obtain a too
limited dispensing or a relatively small use of force will result
in a too large dispensing. The object of the present invention is
in this, respect to make it possible for a carefully adjustable
control to obtain, with adequate forces and a desirable speed, a
uniform dispensing of a desirable amount. This means, that it is
possible to control the use of the medium to a desired volume,
which means, that a desired amount always will be obtained and that
consequently no unnecessary energy will be used. This is an
important factor in the life cycle of the product.
[0007] Known constructions of dispensing apparatuses are often
relatively complicated, expensive and time-consuming to mount. They
are sensitive to disturbances and are often not integrated with or
adapted to the container. Their functionality can be negatively
affected during long storage periods or varying storage conditions.
Finally, the design and the position of the dispensing apparatuses
often result in, that the apparatuses easily are damaged and that
their function is jeopardized.
[0008] The construction results in a variety of environmental
consequences, which are factors, which must be considered and which
in modern products are of vital importance.
[0009] Thanks to the described design opportunities have been
created allowing the production of the entire dispensing apparatus
in just one material and also adjusted to be coordinated with the
material of the container. Thus, the entire unit can be recycled,
with minimal environmental damages. In known constructions several
materials have often been used, which means, that these apparatuses
can not be recycled in an appropriate way. Thus, from the point of
view of the society it is important, that constructions, which do
not require virgin resources, will be used. The dispensing
apparatus according to the present invention is such a
construction.
[0010] Another important function of the new construction is, that,
compared to known solutions, the used, almost empty
container/bottle does not leak in an uncontrollable way after its
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In all these respects the present invention will provide
important improvements or will eliminate existing deficiencies and
dangers. Also, the invention will develop the state of the art in
this field in various additional respects. Some of these are the
opportunities for recycling and integration respectively, i.e. the
supply of containers having completely or at least partially
integrated dispensing apparatuses, which so far often have been
made by other manufacturers and/or of other manufacturing
materials, e.g. metal, which is conducive to risks of functional
problems etc.
[0012] These objects are realized according to the present
invention by mainly designing a dispensing apparatus of the type
set forth in the introduction above in a way, which is set forth in
the characterizing clause of claim 1.
[0013] Additional characterizing features and advantages of the
present invention are set forth in the following description,
reference being made to the enclosed drawings, which show a few
preferred but not limiting embodiments in a partly schematic
way.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Embodiments are shown in detail in diametrically axial,
partly in the sake of clarity somewhat schematic cross-sections, in
which:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a dispensing apparatus
according to the invention in a rest or closing position, with part
enlargements;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus according to FIG. 1 in a working
or dispensing position;
[0017] FIG. 3 are views according to FIG. 1 of another embodiment
of a dispensing apparatus according to the invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 shows the apparatus according to FIG. 3 in a working
or dispensing position;
[0019] FIG. 5 are views according to FIG. 1 of a fourth embodiment
of a dispensing apparatus according to the invention, in which the
container for it in an integrated form comprises all the
components, which are essential for the dispensing;
[0020] FIG. 6 shows the apparatus according to FIG. 5 in a working
or dispensing position;
[0021] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged outer dispensing tube area, which
is a component of a dispensing apparatus, designed according to
FIGS. 1-6, which area includes a sealing lip in a not actuated
condition in a diametrically axial cross-section; and
[0022] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another modified
dispensing apparatus according to the invention, which is
particularly suitable for a mounting in a conduit or the like.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In the drawings an e.g. rotation-symmetrical container 1 is
shown, which has a front outwardly suitably slightly convex support
wall 2, which in a centrally and axially projecting position is
provided with a preferably mainly cylindrical dispensing device or
tube 3 having an outer thread 4, designed for a screwing on of a
lid 5 with a corresponding inner thread 34. This device and
possibly a portion of wall 2 may alternatively comprise a separate
part (not shown), which can be inserted into an opening, designed
for this purpose, in said wall. This type of design may be
preferable, in case it is suitable to fill the container from the
front and then adapt the dispensing device. In the first-mentioned
case the rearwardly or downwardly open container is filled from
this later direction, and then a piston 6 is adapted in the same
direction or the rear or the lower container end 7 is closed by
welding. Finally, the container, the dispensing tube and the
remaining dispensing means can be integrated according to FIGS. 5
and 6.
[0024] The container suitably is made of a plastic material,
particularly of polyethylene or polypropylene. However, a metal,
particularly aluminium, can be used as an alternative.
[0025] In opening 8 of the dispensing tube an inwardly projecting
lip 10 all around, comprising a holding element and a valve seat,
suitably is arranged in a practical embodiment at a small distance
from orifice plane 9, e.g. 3-20 mm. Lip 10 can be regarded as a
cone, which cooperates with body 21 of valve 20 and which thus
displays a breaking, limiting function in connection with the
squeezing out of the enclosed medium from the container. The lip
suitably is made jointly with the tube and the entire container
respectively, preferably through injection moulding, and projects
in a tapering or narrowing way obliquely forwards towards the
centre of the orifice plane under a general or average angle of
30-60.degree., preferably about 45.degree.. The tapering is done,
expressed in detail and shown in FIG. 7, by extending shoulder 11
of the lip in the axial direction somewhat longer towards rear end
7 of the container in order to increase the support for free end
area 12 of the lip towards said container end. Lower side 13 of the
lip shoulder suitably is mainly straight, includes about half this
side of the lip and encloses an angle of e.g. about 20.degree. with
cylindrical inner wall 14 of the tube, which for the rest suitably
is flat, whereas the lip on its upper side 15, in addition to a
weak concave arching at the shoulder, mainly is straight and
enclose an angle of on average 40-80.degree., preferably about
60.degree. between itself and the opposite tube wall. In connection
with side 13 the lip forms on its lower side a short, suitably
somewhat concave side 16, which thus easily diverges from upper
side 15 and which, via a more pronounced buckling point 17, is
transformed into a mainly straight release side 18, which jointly
with the upper side at its farthest end forms a sharp lip point 19
with an angle of 10-40.degree., preferably 25.degree.. Release side
18 encloses an angle of 5-45.degree., preferably about 25.degree.,
with the tube axis in its imaginary extension. The lip occupies
about 30-70% of the cross-sectional area of opening 8, i.e. extends
over about 10-50% of the diameter of opening 8.
[0026] Lower or rear end 7 of the container may in certain cases be
welded up after the filling of the container in a filling station.
In other cases this end may be left open and in this end a piston 6
may be introduced after the filling, which in both cases suitably
is accomplished by turning the container upside-down, but the tube
or the like 3 must first be closed, particularly by providing it
with a valve body 20 for an automatic closing.
[0027] Valve body 20 has a rod-shaped or mainly cylindrical body
21, front end or outer end 22 of which comprises a forwardly or
outwardly, preferably softly rounded head 23 having a round
fastening edge 24, which projects above said body and which is
located within an at least mainly radial plane in relation to said
body. In connection with said fastening edge said head forms a
suitably axial or weakly conical, short cylindrical surface 25,
which via a small bending radius is transformed into a softly
rounded main surface. As an alternative the head can be designed as
a cone.
[0028] Rear or lower end 26 of body 21 suitably ends abruptly at 27
and is transformed hear into a cup spring 28, which jointly with
the rear body end suitably roughly is designed as a truncated cone
with a cone angle of 30-60.degree., preferably about 45.degree., is
open forwards, i.e. surrounds the rear body end at a distance,
which increases from end surface 27. A cup spring is to be defined
in this connection as any type of resilient or elastic means,
applied around the body. Thus, it may be e.g. blades, legs and even
threads, separated from each other by spaces. However, cup spring
28 preferably principally originates from the basic shape of a cup
or plate and is of uniform thickness, but it ends as a roughly
radial front end surface 29, a somewhat obliquely outwardly and
forwardly extended point being formed with an angle of about
30.degree.. This point is slightly rounded, i.e. has a bending
radius of 0.2-1 mm. The transition from end surface 29 into inner
or front surface 30 of the cup spring comprises a round edge with a
small bending radius, because said surfaces jointly enclose an
angle of 130-170.degree., preferably about 150.degree.. Also, the
cup spring is provided with a number of holes 31, which are evenly
distributed along its periphery, have a relatively large diameter,
e.g. 15-40% of the extension of the spring from said body and are
through holes, straight through, possibly coaxially through the
body. Instead of holes arbitrarily designed, e.g. slot-shaped,
radially extending openings can be used, possibly openings, which
freely end at the periphery of the cup or plate.
[0029] The diameter of said body is e.g. 10-50% smaller than the
width of opening 8 of the tube. In this way a dispensing duct with
a sufficiently large cross-sectional area is obtained. Front end 22
and rear end 26 of the body preferably have the same diameter, but
a smaller or larger concentric diameter reduction 32 may extend
between the two ends. This will facilitate the production and
results in material savings. In certain cases (see e.g. FIGS. 5 and
6) fastening edge 24 may extend inside diameter reduction 32 and
form jointly with it a V-groove 33, in which lip point 19 roughly
cone-shaped can be introduced and in this way secure a particularly
efficient holding action and sealing respectively. As an
alternative diameter reduction 32 may penetrate fastening edge 24
and to some extent into end 22 or solutions similar to the
above-mentioned solutions may be used, i.e. part 24 as well as part
32 may have a small angle inwards.
[0030] The design shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 functions in the following
way: In FIG. 1 container 1 is filled with a liquid and lid 5 is
screwed down completely onto tube 3. The lid, possibly having an
inner rise 36, abuts head 23 and possibly presses it somewhat
firmer downwards against fastening edge 24 and possibly a V-groove
on lip point 19 (see FIG. 7) respectively, particularly the latter,
in addition to the lip in its entirety, being expanded somewhat
and/or being allowed to penetrate a certain distance into the
material of rod-shaped body 21 in order to increase the sealing
pressure and make the joining more efficient. However, valve 20,
with its lid or without, is slightly prestressed between lip 10 and
free wall 2, i.e. the lip tends to push the valve inwards, whereas
cup spring 28 tends to pull the valve further into the container.
The total prestressing distance may be 1-10 mm, preferably about 2
mm in a practical embodiment, while the described cooperation
between the lid and the valve, with a certain pressing downwards of
the latter, prestores the prestress somewhat for the benefit of the
area around the lip, but preferably without a complete
disappearance of the elasticity of the bearing of the cup spring
against the front wall. However, the cup spring is disengaged
somewhat and its front, outer point slightly abuts the front
wall.
[0031] In case the lid is removed or is replaced with a spout 35
according to e.g. FIG. 4, primarily the prestress is adjusted, in
case the pressure action has been exerted on the valve, the holding
and sealing action of the lip decreasing somewhat. In case it is
desirable to dispense a portion of the contents in the container,
an elastic container wall will be compressed in order to increase
the pressure on the contents in the container and e.g. a piston 6
is activated respectively, also the pressure being increased on the
cup spring from inside the container and the spring being
compressed with a slight levelling off-tendency towards the front
wall, until the front valve body end is lifted from lip 10 and
allows the lip to be constricted elastically, mainly radially
outwards, an annular groove 37 being formed between the lip and
rod-shaped body 21, liquid being propagated and penetrating
openings 31, into the dispensing element hole and said annular gap
and out from the dispensing element or the like and towards the
application area (FIG. 2). During the dispensing the cup spring,
the openings in it and the lip, which is elastically held outside
said annular gap, will jointly allow a certain substantial constant
dispensing pressure, which results in, that the dispensing will be
very even. The lip plays now an important role in the form of a
valve cone, which surrounds rod-shaped body 21, thereby designed to
control the dispensed flow. The gap between lip 10 and body 20 can
be selected depending on the type of medium to be controlled. In
case the dispensing pressure is too low, valve 20 and lip 10
respectively will be closed, In case the dispensing pressure is too
high, the cup spring, the openings in it and the lip have a damping
action, only a small increase of the dispensed amount and a small
increased dispensing speed being realized. By dimensioning to a
corresponding degree and carrying out a mutual size adjustment for
these parts, it is possible to control the dispensing extensively.
In case it is desirable to stop the dispensing, the operator just
removes the pressure on the contents in the container, the cup
spring due to its inherent elasticity springing back to its closing
position, shown in FIG. 1. When the spring springs back, the total
volume between the spring cup, the front wall and the valve element
increases and a weak vacuum results, which is eliminated, partly
because liquid is drawn into said volume from the interior of the
container through the openings in the cup spring and partly because
liquid is drawn from the exterior free end of the dispensing
element outside valve body head 23 and lip 10 and through annular
gap 37, which accelerates the valve closing, particularly because
said vacuum is obtained also on the entire lower side of the lip
and also the release side. The size of this vacuum level can be
changed by changing the size of the spring force and consequently
be adjusted to conditions, which are suitable for various
applications. However, the vacuum is so small, that no air is drawn
into the container from the outside, because only a small fraction
of the space, filled with liquid or covered by a liquid film,
outside the lip is involved. When the valve is closed, a pressure
adjustment takes place through the openings in the cup spring and
only the remaining elasticity of the latter, i.e. an elastic
abutment pressure against the inner side of the front wall, keeps
the valve closed.
[0032] During the described release movement of the cup spring free
surface 29 slides along the inner side of the front wall, the
passage from inner side 30 to surface 29 primarily allowing the
sliding contact (FIG. 2), then the entire surface 29 and finally
(FIG. 1) the radially and outwardly located pointed part. When a
closing is changed into a dispensing, the process is the opposite.
This means, that the cup spring point and the inner side of the
front wall are protected and that these parts can obtain a long
life without fatigue or functional disturbances.
[0033] After the dispensing a lid 5 suitably is screwed onto the
dispensing element again, the effects described above being
obtained. In case the contents in the container is a glue, it may
be suitable to wait a little, until the glue residue in the
outermost dispensing element part has solidified and can be
removed. In case a spout is used, it is possible to throw it away
together with solidified glue residues in it and in the opening of
the dispensing element, when a new dispensing, using a new spout,
will take place again later on.
[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 there are no
openings 31 in the cup spring and the rod-shaped body 21 is instead
hollow. The rearwardly open cavity 38 extends all the way to front
rod end 22, where the large cavity 38 ends abruptly, but it
communicates with the area outside this rod area through dispensing
holes 39, which extend through the body and are disposed along the
periphery and which suitably have a horizontal rectangular profile
and are covered by lip 10 in their closing position. Because
release side 18 of the lip from point 19 can be oblique a little
downwards and outwards, it can be advantageous, if a pointed bead
40, which extends around the outer side of the body, is arranged
below dispensing holes 39. It is shown in FIG. 3, that bead 40
penetrates the lip a little in the closing position and stops
liquid from penetrating into hollow space 41 between body 21, the
cup spring, the front wall, the dispensing element and the lip,
which in certain cases can be important, e.g. in case hollow space
41 is to be filled with air or another liquid. The bead can also,
in the open position in FIG. 4, keep the lip point at a small
distance from the body in order to guide the lip point, on its way
to its closing position, past the dispensing holes and only after
the passage of these holes allow the lip point to abut the holes,
the walls of which close to the head otherwise being able to damage
the lip point.
[0035] This embodiment functions otherwise like the first described
embodiment, but the contents of the container does not penetrate
the cup spring but is fed through the rod-shaped body and, when a
certain pressure level has been reached, through the dispensing
holes, when the valve element has been removed slightly from the
lip and the dispensing holes have been exposed. When the pressure
has fallen below said pressure level, the cup spring will again
draw the valve body downwards to the closing position according to
FIG. 3.
[0036] In FIGS. 5 and 6 an embodiment of the container is shown,
which is substantially similar to the embodiment according to FIGS.
1 and 2. Instead of front wall 2 in the first embodiment in this
second embodiment a shoulder is arranged within dispensing element
3, which in a preferably oblong shape is made in one piece with the
container. Rear container end 7 is open until the filling, and then
it will be closed, preferably by welding (see FIG. 6).
[0037] The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is particularly suitable for
a mounting in a conduit 44 or in a container tube. The design
comprises a plug 45 with a circular cylindrical outer surface, the
front/outer end of which is orifice plane 9 and the rear/inner end
of which is used as said support wall 2. In its interior the plug
is designed like the design according to FIGS. 1 and 2, possibly
according to FIGS. 3 and 4. The valve is also designed according to
these figures or according to a few of the rest of the figures. The
advantage of this design is, that it can be applied on conventional
container tube or conduit designs, where the fastening is done in a
known fashion. Thus, when the design is mounted in a conduit, where
the force and the prestressing respectively of the cup spring
preferably is much larger than the force and the prestressing used
for container designs, means are obtained, by selecting said
force/prestress, which allows an automatic dispensing above a
corresponding pressure level and also an automatic, waste-free
closing, when the pressure level is lower than said level. Also,
the flow will be uniform.
[0038] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above and shown in the enclosed drawings, which can be
modified and supplemented in an arbitrary way within the scope of
the inventive idea and the following claims. Thus, details can be
exchanged between the various embodiments.
* * * * *