Dispensing valve for fluids

• US 6,742,680 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Dispensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Dispensing Corporation
• Inventors: Friedman, Mitchell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US10/314,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 222/107, 222/518, 222/509, 222/501, 251/339, 267/161
• US Class Current: 222/509
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/248 the valve being opened or closed by imparting a motion to the valve stem B65D47/244, B65D47/245 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/043 with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction perpendicular to the seat

Abstract

A dispensing valve for fluids is disclosed which provides for ease of use by requiring only a minimal force exerted on the valve actuator to maintain the valve in an open position. A resilient valve actuator having the characteristics of a nonlinear spring is provided at an actuator end of the valve body and operatively connected to a plunger; with the opposite end of the plunger mounting a resilient valve seal that serves to pen and close a plurality of port openings. The valve may be manufactured with a variety of port configurations to provide for the dispensing of fluids of varying viscosities. The valve body and actuator are formed to allow the dispensing valve to be sterilized through high levels of radiation and through high temperature steam and chemical sterilization processes without degrading the valve structure or operation.

Claims

1. A dispensing valve for fluids comprising:

a. a valve body comprising;

(1) a first elongate channel having a rigid exterior wall defining a generally annular passage extending from a fluid inlet end to an actuator end; and

(2) a fluid discharge outlet intermediate said inlet end and said actuator end;

b. a valve port wall intermediate said inlet end and said discharge outlet, said valve port wall defining a valve port;

c. a resilient valve seal moveable from a closed position in which said valve seal occludes said valve port to an open position in which said valve seal does not occlude said valve port; and

d. a resilient actuator operatively connected to said resilient valve seal and operatively engaging said valve body so that said resilient actuator exerts a closing force on said resilient valve seal biasing said resilient valve seal towards said closed position, said resilient actuator exhibiting a nonlinear relationship between said closing force and displacement of said resilient valve seal from said closed position.

2. The dispensing valve of claim 1, wherein:

a. said valve port wall transverses said annular passage adjacent said discharge outlet, said valve port comprising a plurality of holes in said valve port wall and said valve port wall further defining a valve seat encircling said plurality of holes.

3. The dispensing valve of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a plunger member reciprocally mounted within said valve body and having an outer end and an inner end, said outer end being attached to said resilient actuator, and said inner end being attached to said resilient valve seal.

4. The dispensing valve of claim 3, further comprising:

a. means for arresting opening movement of said plunger member and said resilient valve seal when said plunger member and said resilient valve seal reach said open position.

5. The dispensing valve of claim 3, further comprising:

a. a stop element on said plunger member and a stop element on said valve body, said stop elements engaging one another so as to arrest opening movement of said plunger member and said resilient valve seal when said plunger member and said resilient valve seal reach said open position.

6. The dispensing valve of claim 3, wherein said discharge outlet further comprises:

a. a second elongate channel having a rigid exterior wall defining a generally annular passage having an end terminating inside said valve body in fluid communication with said fluid inlet end and an open outlet end remote from said valve body, such second elongate channel extending from said valve port to said open outlet end.

7. The dispensing valve of claim 6, wherein:

a. a portion of said rigid exterior wall of said second elongate channel forms a barrier intermediate said valve port wall and said actuator end of said valve body.

8. The dispensing valve of claim 7, wherein:

a. said portion of said rigid exterior wall of said second elongate channel defines an opening.

9. The dispensing valve of claim 8, further comprising:

a. a guide member aligned with said opening extending from said portion of said rigid exterior wall in a direction toward said actuator end of said valve body for supporting said plunger.

10. The dispensing valve of claim 6, wherein:

a. said discharge outlet is substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said valve body.

11. The dispensing valve of claim 3, said resilient actuator further comprising:

a. a central portion connected to said plunger member and a peripheral portion engaged with said valve body.

12. The dispensing valve of claim 3, wherein:

a. said resilient actuator is formed integrally with said plunger member.

13. The dispensing valve of claim 3, wherein:

a. said outer end of said plunger member is exposed for manual engagement by a user to open said dispensing valve, and said resilient actuator forms at least part of a push button for manual engagement by the user.

14. The dispensing valve of claim 13, having an actuator opening at said actuator end, said push button substantially occluding said actuator opening.

15. The dispensing valve of claim 3, wherein:

a. said resilient actuator is of a substantially conical form.

16. A dispensing valve for fluids comprising:

a. a valve body comprising;

(1) a first elongate channel having a rigid exterior wall defining a generally annular passage extending from a fluid inlet end to an actuator end; and

(2) a fluid discharge outlet intermediate said inlet end and said actuator end;

b. a valve port wall intermediate said inlet and said discharge outlet, said valve port wall defining a valve port;

c. a resilient valve seal moveable from a closed position in which said valve seal occludes said valve port to an open position in which said valve seal does not occlude said valve port; and

d. a resilient actuator operatively connected to said resilient valve seal and operatively engaging said valve body so that said resilient actuator exerts a closing force on said resilient valve seal biasing said resilient valve seal towards said closed position, said resilient actuator exhibiting a nonlinear relationship between said closing force and displacement of said resilient valve seal from said closed position;

wherein

e. said valve body, said valve port wall, said resilient valve seal, and said resilient actuator being formed from materials selected for their ability to withstand gamma and cobalt irradiation exposure of at least 5.0 MRAD.