Metering valve assembly and method for manufacturing such a valve assembly

• US 10,246,251 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lindal France SAS (Aerosol Invention)
• Original Assignee: Lindal France SAS (Aerosol Invention)
• Inventors: Bodet, Herve, Peltier, Jerome, Gaillard, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US15/580,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20180141745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 222200
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/54 Metering valves ; Metering valve assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/12 with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0636 characterised by the loading device of the membrane, e.g. spring

Abstract

A metering valve assembly for closing the housing of an aerosol generator includes a valve body (3) provided with a transfer chamber (31) in which is housed a valve (5) movable between a closed position and an open position, and a reservoir (4) in contact with the transfer chamber, constituted by a rigid wall (41), a flexible membrane (42), a planar peripheral edge (411) for attaching the flexible membrane and a bottom wall (413) inside the peripheral edge. A spring element (43) inside the reservoir is constituted by a curved plate having a convex face toward the flexible membrane and designed to deform toward the bottom wall (413) and to allow the flexible membrane (42) to move closer to the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to return to its initial shape as soon as the valve returns to the closed position.

Claims

1. Metering valve assembly intended for closing the housing of an aerosol generator, comprising:

a valve body provided with a transfer chamber in which is housed a valve movable between a closed position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the inside of the housing, but is not in contact with the outside, and an open position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the outside, but is not in contact with the inside of the housing,

a reservoir in contact with the transfer chamber, constituted by a rigid wall and a flexible membrane, the rigid wall having a planar peripheral edge for attaching the flexible membrane and a bottom wall located inside the peripheral edge, the reservoir being placed on the valve assembly so that, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, it is inside the housing, and

a spring element placed inside the reservoir, the spring element being designed to deform in the direction of the bottom wall and to allow the flexible membrane to move closer to the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to return to its initial shape as soon as the valve returns to the closed position,

wherein the spring element is constituted by a curved plate having a convex face oriented toward the flexible membrane and a concave face oriented toward the rigid wall,

wherein one or more stops are formed on the bottom wall of the rigid wall and/or on the concave face of the spring element to limit the deformation of the spring element in the direction of the bottom wall.

2. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the rigid wall comprises at least one row of several studs constituting stops to limit the deformation of the spring element in the direction of the bottom wall.

3. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the concave face of the spring element is provided with at least one rib.

4. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein a groove is formed in the bottom wall of the rigid wall, the groove being extended by a connecting channel which puts it in contact with the transfer chamber.

5. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane is concave and forms a cavity having a peripheral wall that surrounds the bottom wall and connects the bottom wall to the peripheral edge.

6. Metering valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein the spring element comprises two opposite lateral edge faces, the edge faces being inclined so that, in the rest position of the spring, they are supported on the peripheral wall of the cavity of the rigid wall.

7. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spring element comprises two opposite lateral edge faces, and the portion of the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane and located inside the space defined by the peripheral edge is planar or convex, recesses being provided in the rigid wall, in the space located inside the peripheral edge, so that the lateral edge faces of the spring element can bear on the rigid wall.

8. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is placed vertically.

9. Metering valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the rigid wall of the reservoir is backed against the valve body.

10. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve body comprises a tubular portion located below and in the extension of the transfer chamber, the rigid wall of the reservoir being backed against this tubular portion, and an inlet channel putting the housing in contact with the transfer chamber being formed in the tubular portion.

11. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is mounted on a housing containing a product to be dispensed and a propellant gas.

12. Metering valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is provided with a diffuser provided with a flow regulator, the flow regulator comprising a piston movable between a closed position in which the piston does not let the product pass through when the valve assembly is open, and an open position that lets the product pass through when the valve assembly is open, wherein the piston moves into the open position when the pressure of the product exiting the valve assembly reaches or exceeds a setpoint value and the piston returns into the closed position as soon as the pressure of the product exiting the valve assembly falls below the setpoint value.

13. Process of manufacturing a metering valve assembly, wherein the metering valve assembly is a valve assembly intended for closing the housing of an aerosol generator, comprising:

a valve body provided with a transfer chamber in which is housed a valve movable between a closed position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the inside of the housing, but is not in contact with the outside, and an open position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the outside, but is not in contact with the inside of the housing,

a reservoir in contact with the transfer chamber, constituted by a rigid wall and a flexible membrane, the rigid wall having a planar peripheral edge for attaching the flexible membrane and a bottom wall located inside the peripheral edge, the reservoir being placed on the valve assembly so that, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, it is inside the housing, and

a spring element placed inside the reservoir, the spring element being designed to deform in the direction of the bottom wall and to allow the flexible membrane to move closer to the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to return to its initial shape as soon as the valve returns to the closed position,

wherein the spring element is constituted by a curved plate having a convex face oriented toward the flexible membrane and a concave face oriented toward the rigid wall,

the process comprising;

molding the rigid wall of the reservoir in a mold containing at least a first mold portion designed for molding the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane, and

molding the spring element in a mold containing at least a second mold portion designed for molding the concave face of the spring element.

14. Process according to claim 13, wherein the first mold portion, intended for molding the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane, is provided with one or more recesses for molding one or more stops on the bottom wall, removable elements of a set of interchangeable removable elements of different sizes being able to take place in these recesses in order to vary the height of the stop or stops relative to the bottom wall depending on the selection of the removable elements.

15. Process according to claim 13, wherein the second mold portion, intended for molding the concave face of the spring element, is provided with one or more recesses for molding one or more stops on the concave face of the spring element, removable elements of a set of interchangeable removable elements of different sizes being able to take place in these recesses in order to vary the height of the stop or stops relative to the concave face of the spring element depending on the selection of the removable elements.

16. Process according to claim 13, wherein the first mold portion, intended for molding the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane, is provided with a housing in which a part of a set of interchangeable parts having different heights and shapes can take place in order to form the bottom wall with different shapes and/or with different positions relative to the peripheral edge depending on the selection of the interchangeable part.

17. Process according to claim 14, wherein the second mold portion, intended for molding the concave face of the spring element, is provided with one or more recesses for molding one or more stops on the concave face of the spring element, removable elements of a set of interchangeable removable elements of different sizes being able to take place in these recesses in order to vary the height of the stop or stops relative to the concave face of the spring element depending on the selection of the removable elements.

18. Process according to claim 14, wherein the first mold portion, intended for molding the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane, is provided with a housing in which a part of a set of interchangeable parts having different heights and shapes can take place in order to form the bottom wall with different shapes and/or with different positions relative to the peripheral edge depending on the selection of the interchangeable part.

19. Process according to claim 15, wherein the first mold portion, intended for molding the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane, is provided with a housing in which a part of a set of interchangeable parts having different heights and shapes can take place in order to form the bottom wall with different shapes and/or with different positions relative to the peripheral edge depending on the selection of the interchangeable part.

20. Metering valve assembly intended for closing the housing of an aerosol generator, comprising:

a valve body provided with a transfer chamber in which is housed a valve movable between a closed position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the inside of the housing, but is not in contact with the outside, and an open position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the outside, but is not in contact with the inside of the housing,

a reservoir in contact with the transfer chamber, constituted by a rigid wall and a flexible membrane, the rigid wall having a planar peripheral edge for attaching the flexible membrane and a bottom wall located inside the peripheral edge, the reservoir being placed on the valve assembly so that, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, it is inside the housing, and

a spring element placed inside the reservoir, the spring element being designed to deform in the direction of the bottom wall and to allow the flexible membrane to move closer to the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to return to its initial shape as soon as the valve returns to the closed position,

wherein the spring element is constituted by a curved plate having a convex face oriented toward the flexible membrane and a concave face oriented toward the rigid wall,

wherein a groove is formed in the bottom wall of the rigid wall, the groove being extended by a connecting channel which puts it in contact with the transfer chamber.

21. Metering valve assembly intended for closing the housing of an aerosol generator, comprising:

a valve body provided with a transfer chamber in which is housed a valve movable between a closed position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the inside of the housing, but is not in contact with the outside, and an open position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the outside, but is not in contact with the inside of the housing,

a reservoir in contact with the transfer chamber, constituted by a rigid wall and a flexible membrane, the rigid wall having a planar peripheral edge for attaching the flexible membrane and a bottom wall located inside the peripheral edge, the reservoir being placed on the valve assembly so that, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, it is inside the housing, and

a spring element placed inside the reservoir, the spring element being designed to deform in the direction of the bottom wall and to allow the flexible membrane to move closer to the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to return to its initial shape as soon as the valve returns to the closed position,

wherein the spring element is constituted by a curved plate having a convex face oriented toward the flexible membrane and a concave face oriented toward the rigid wall,

wherein the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane is concave and forms a cavity having a peripheral wall that surrounds the bottom wall and connects the bottom wall to the peripheral edge.

22. Metering valve assembly according to claim 21, wherein the spring element comprises two opposite lateral edge faces, the edge faces being inclined so that, in the rest position of the spring, they are supported on the peripheral wall of the cavity of the rigid wall.

23. Metering valve assembly intended for closing the housing of an aerosol generator, comprising:

a valve body provided with a transfer chamber in which is housed a valve movable between a closed position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the inside of the housing, but is not in contact with the outside, and an open position, in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the outside, but is not in contact with the inside of the housing,

a reservoir in contact with the transfer chamber, constituted by a rigid wall and a flexible membrane, the rigid wall having a planar peripheral edge for attaching the flexible membrane and a bottom wall located inside the peripheral edge, the reservoir being placed on the valve assembly so that, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, it is inside the housing, and

a spring element placed inside the reservoir, the spring element being designed to deform in the direction of the bottom wall and to allow the flexible membrane to move closer to the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to return to its initial shape as soon as the valve returns to the closed position,

wherein the spring element is constituted by a curved plate having a convex face oriented toward the flexible membrane and a concave face oriented toward the rigid wall,

wherein the spring element comprises two opposite lateral edge faces, and the portion of the face of the rigid wall oriented toward the flexible membrane and located inside the space defined by the peripheral edge is planar or convex, recesses being provided in the rigid wall, in the space located inside the peripheral edge, so that the lateral edge faces of the spring element can bear on the rigid wall.