Valve for aerosol container

• US 4,863,073 A
• Filed: 10/14/1987
• Issued: 09/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wyatt, David A., Smith, Ian J., Burt, Peter C. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US07/108,729
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 222/402.2, 222/402.19, 222/402.1, 222/453, 128/200.23
• US Class Current: 222/402.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/54 Metering valves ; Metering valve assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/36 with supply or discharge valves of the rectilinearly-moved slide type

Abstract

A valve is provided for dispensing metered doses from an aerosol container, which contains a substance to be dispensed suspended in a liquid propellant. The valve comprises a valve body (2, 3), first and second valve seals (6,7) at opposite ends of the valve body (2,3), and a valve stem (5) having an outlet (18) and a transfer port (19) extending from the exterior of the valve stem (5) to the outlet (18). A metering chamber (4) is defined by the internal wall of the valve body (2,3), the first and second valve seals (6,7) and the portion of the valve stem (5) within the cavity. The valve stem (5) is biased to a position in which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, liquid can enter the metering chamber through at least one orifice (12) which communicates with the interior of the container at a location which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, is an appreciable distance above the nearest surface which is horizontal or has an appreciable horizontal component. The orifice (12) is directed transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the valve stem (5).

Claims

1. An aerosol container, a substance to be dispensed suspended in a liquid propellant in said container, and a valve for dispensing metered doses from said aerosol container, said valve comprising a valve body having an internal wall defining a cavity therein, first and second valve seals at opposite ends of the cavity, and a valve stem having an outlet through which a dose can be dispensed from the container and a transfer port extending from the exterior of the valve stem to the outlet thereof, the valve stem passing in sliding and sealing contact through metering chamber being defined exclusively, or substantially exclusively, by the said internal wall of the valve body, the first and second valve seals and the portion of the valve stem within the cavity, the valve stem being biased to a first position which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, liquid can enter the metering chamber through at least one orifice, and being movable against said bias into a second position in which the valve stem closes off the opening in the second valve seal to prevent further liquid entering the metering chamber and in which the transfer port is in communication with the metering chamber to permit liquid to pass from the metering chamber into the outlet of the valve stem, the or each said orifice communicating with the interior of the container at a location which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, is spaced an appreciable distance from the nearest surface which, in use, is horizontal or has an appreciable horizontal component to substantially reduce or eliminate the effect of creaming, said appreciable distance being at least 3.5 mm.

2. An aerosol container, a substance to be dispensed suspended in a liquid propellant in said container, and a valve for dispensing metered doses from said aerosol container, said valve comprising a valve body having an internal wall defining a cavity therein, first and second valve seals at opposite ends of the cavity, and a valve stem having an outlet through which a dose can be dispensed from the container and a transfer port extending from the exterior of the valve stem to the outlet thereof, the valve stem passing in sliding and sealing contact through an opening in the first valve seal into the cavity, a metering chamber being defined exclusively, or substantially exclusively, by the said internal wall of the valve body, the first and second valve seals and the portion of the valve stem within the cavity, the valve stem being biased to a first position in which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, liquid can enter the metering chamber through at least one orifice, and being movable against said bias into a second position in which the valve stem closes off the opening in the second valve seal to prevent further liquid entering the metering chamber and in which the transfer port is in communication with the metering chamber to permit liquid to pass from the metering chamber into the outlet of the valve stem, the or each said orifice communicating with the interior of the container at a location which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, is spaced an appreciable distance from the nearest surface which, in use, is horizontal or has an appreciable horizontal component to substantially reduce or eliminate the effect of creaming, said appreciable distance being at least 5 mm.

3. An aerosol container, a substance to be dispensed suspended in a liquid propellant in said container, and a valve for dispensing metered doses from said aerosol container, said valve comprising a valve body having an internal wall defining a cavity therein, first and second valve seals at opposite ends of the cavity, and a valve stem having an outlet through which a dose can be dispensed from the container and a transfer port extending from the exterior of the valve stem to the outlet thereof, the valve stem passing in sliding and sealing contact through an opening in the first valve seal into the cavity, a metering chamber being defined exclusively, or substantially exclusively, by the said internal wall of the valve body, the first and second valve seals and the portion of the valve stem within the cavity, the valve stem being biased to a first position in which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, liquid can enter the metering chamber through at least one orifice, and being movable against said bias into a second position in which the valve stem closes off the opening in the second valve seal to prevent further liquid entering the metering chamber and in which the transfer port is in communication with the metering chamber to permit liquid to pass from the metering chamber into the outlet of the valve stem, the or each said orifice communicating with the interior of the container at a location which, when the container is orientated with the valve at the bottom, is spaced an appreciable distance from the nearest surface which, in use, is horizontal or has an appreciable horizontal component to substantially reduce or eliminate the effect of creaming, said appreciable distance being at least equal to the creaming rate of the suspension in distance/second multiplied by three seconds.

4. An aerosol container according to claim 3, wherein the said appreciable distance is at least equal to the creaming rate of the suspension in distance/second multiplied by 5 seconds.