Self-cleaning, aerosol valve for separate fluids

• US 4,431,119 A
• Filed: 11/19/1981
• Issued: 02/14/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William R. Stoody
• Original Assignee: William R. Stoody
• Inventors: Stoody, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US06/323,123
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 222/148, 222/402.18, 222/402.17, 222/402.1, 222/144.5, 222/145, 222/129, 222/635, 222/94, 222/402.24, 239/308, 239/337, 239/323, 239/353, 239/356, 239/369, 239/371
• US Class Current: 222/129
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/34 Cleaning or preventing clogging of the discharge passage
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/62 by membrane, bag, or the like containers in which the content is delivered by the contracting forces inherent in the bag B65D83/0061

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a manually operated, self-cleaning, aerosol valve that is adapted to maintain separation of fluids while they are within the valve body. The valve is internally separated by a sealing gasket that cooperatively engages a valve seat, and an outwardly projecting discharge passageway stem member. When the valve is in a nonoperating state, engagement of the gasket with respect to the valve seat prevents discharge passage of a first fluid to the stem passageway, and engagement of the gasket with respect to the stem prevents discharge passage of a second fluid. In cofluid dispensing state, first and second ports into the stem discharge passageway are positioned on opposite sides of the gasket. This allows first and second fluids to separately enter the stem passageway, and maintains separation of fluids awaiting discharge. When the valve is operated in positions intermediate the shut and cofluid dispensing state, both first and second fluid ports are positioned to receive first fluid only. Thus, in intermediate operating positions of the valve, first fluid can purgingly pass through both fluid ports and stem passageway to effect self-cleaning, and separation of fluid awaiting discharge can still be maintained.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning cofluid dispensatory valve adapted to maintain separation of a first fluid from a second fluid prior to effluence, which comprises:

a housing having an upper open end first fluid transit chamber separated from a lower second fluid transit chamber;

a resilient annular sealing barrier disposed within said housing to maintain sealing separation of said chambers;

a unifier means affixed on said first fluid transit chamber to retain said valve in a definable unit;

a resilient annular gasket adapted to provide sealing closure at said open end;

a resiliently mounted dispensatory actuator means that includes an outwardly projecting, depressible, stem member that maintains slidable sealing engagement with said gasket and cooperative valvular engagement with said barrier;

an annular valve seat means fitted loosely around said stem, and positioned engagingly between said gasket and said barrier;

said valve seat being normally seated between said gasket and said barrier, and unseated by axial movement along said stem;

said stem further maintaining cooperative sealing engagement with central portions of said barrier to urge said seating and unseating and maintain sealing separation of said chambers;

said stem also including a discharge passageway that is provided with at least one fluid port and at least one second fluid port;

said ports each situated to allow first fluid discharge flow through said stem passageway when said actuator is in an intermediate operating position, whereas, said valve seat means is unseated;

said first and second fluid ports further being situated to be within respective first and second fluid transit chambers to allow concurrent flow of first and second fluids through said stem passageway when said actuator is operated to its lowermost position, for cofluid dispensing;

said valvular engagement being adapted to allow fluid flow communication between said second fluid port and said second fluid transit chamber when said actuator is operated for cofluid dispensing.

2. In the invention of claim 1, a perforated spacer interposing said gasket and said barrier adjacent their periphery to effect mounting and sealing of said gasket and said barrier.

3. In the invention of claim 1, said dispensatory actuator means including a dispensing head cooperatively depending from said stem.

4. In combination with the invention of claim 3, a position control means adapted for cooperative engagement with said dispensing head to govern operation of said actuator means.

5. A self-cleaning cofluid dispensatory valve adapted to maintain separation of a first fluid from a second fluid prior to effluence, which comprises:

a housing having an upper open end first fluid transit chamber separated from a lower second fluid transit chamber;

a resilient annular sealing barrier disposed within said housing to maintain sealing separation of said chambers;

a unifier means affixed on said first fluid transit chamber to retain said valve in a definable unit;

a resilient annular gasket adapted to provide sealing closure at said open end;

a resiliently mounted dispensatory actuator means that includes an outwardly projecting, depressible, stem member that maintains slidable sealing engagement with said gasket and cooperative valvular engagement with said barrier;

an annular valve seat means fitted loosely around said stem, and positioned engagingly between said gasket and said barrier;

said valve seat being normally seated between said gasket and said barrier, and unseated by axial movement along said stem;

said stem further maintaining cooperative sealing engagement with central portions of said barrier to urge said seating and unseating and maintain sealing separation of said chambers;

said stem also including a first fluid discharge passageway that is provided with at least one first fluid port, and a second fluid discharge passageway that is provided with at least one second fluid port;

said ports situated to allow first fluid discharge flow through said first and second fluid passageways of said stem when said actuator is in an intermediate operating position, whereas, said valve seat means is unseated;

said first and second fluid ports further being situated to be within respective first and second fluid transit chambers to allow concurrent flow of first and second fluids through respective first and second fluid passageways of said stem member when said actuator is operated to its lowermost position, for cofluid dispensing;

said valvular engagement being adapted to allow fluid flow communication between said second fluid port and said second fluid transit chamber when said actuator is operated for cofluid dispensing.

6. In the invention of claim 5, said dispensatory actuator means including a dispensing head cooperatively depending from said stem member.

7. In the invention of claim 6, said dispensing head being adapted to maintain separation of said fluids until said fluids have departed from passageways of said dispensing head.

8. In the invention of claim 7, said dispensing head being adapted to cause mixing of said departed fluids.

9. In combination with the invention of claim 6, a position control means adapted for cooperative engagement with said dispensing head to govern operation of said actuator means.

10. In the invention of claim 5, said dispensatory actuator means including a dispensing head that is adapted to utilize discharge flow of a first fluid to cause concurrent discharge flow of a second fluid.