FR2736039A1 - VALVE FOR SPRAYER AND SPRAYER SO EQUIPPED - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve for a sprayer comprising a container capable of containing at least one product to be packaged and distributed and a propellant gas, this valve comprising a control rod movable axially in a valve body between a closed position of the valve and an open position thereof, the rod comprising channels respectively intended for conveying the propellant gas and the product to a spray nozzle, these channels each opening out at one end outside the portion rod engaged in the valve body, the rod sliding through two seals respectively intended to ensure the isolation of said channels in said closed position of the valve. Said channels (22, 28) open, when said rod (3) is in said closed position, through orifices (24, 31) oriented axially and respectively bordered by rings (16, 21) capable of being applied against associated front faces of the seals (18, 11; 11) to isolate said channels from the interior of the container.

Description

The present invention relates to a sprayer valve

  comprising a container adapted to contain at least one product to be packaged and dispensed and a propellant gas, the valve comprising a control rod movable axially in a valve body between a closed position of the valve and an open position of that the rod comprising channels respectively for conveying the propellant and the product to a spray nozzle, these channels each opening at one end outside the rod portion engaged in the valve body. The control rod slides through two seals respectively to ensure isolation

  said channels in said closed position of the valve.

  Valves of this type are known in which the aforementioned channels open out of the stem portion engaged in the valve body by radially oriented orifices and closed by the thickness of the seals when the control rod is in its closed position of the valve. A disadvantage of these known valves is the relatively large control rod driving stroke which is necessary to clear said orifices and reach the position

opening of the valve.

  The object of the present invention is to propose a valve of the aforementioned type that can open after a driving stroke of the rod of

  command less than that of known valves.

  It achieves this by the fact that said channels open, when said rod is in said closed position, by orifices oriented axially and respectively bordered by rings adapted to be applied against the associated end faces of the seals to isolate

  said channels from the interior of the container.

  The invention advantageously makes it possible, by modifying the manner in which said crowns are shaped, to act on the degree of depression of the latter in the joints so as to be able to sequentially close said orifices and to isolate the channel of delivery of the propellant gas

  the nozzle, in order to purge the latter.

  Alternatively, or additionally, one can play on the hardness of the seals to achieve the sequential closure of said orifices

and purging the nozzle.

  The subject of the invention is also a sprayer equipped with a

valve as aforesaid.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention

  will appear on reading the detailed description which follows,

  Non-limiting examples of embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic axial section of a valve according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a section along line II - II of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic axial section of a valve according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a section along line IV - IV of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a schematic axial section of a valve according to a third embodiment of the invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic axial section of a valve according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic cross-section of FIG. Section 9 is a schematic axial section of a valve according to FIG. nth example of embodiment of the invention and - Figure 10 is a section along the line X-X section of the

figure 9.

  There is shown in Figure 1 a valve 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. This valve 1 comprises a valve body 2 and a control rod 3 mounted & sliding inside the valve body 2 between a closed position, corresponding to FIG. 1, and an open position (not shown ). A spring 4 is housed in the valve body 2 to return the control rod 3 upwards in the closed position of the valve. The control rod 3 is capped with a spray head or push button 5 provided with a spray nozzle 6. The valve body 2 has at its upper end an outer annular boss 7 for its retention by crimping in a housing 8a of a cup 8 to be fixed on a container not shown, able to contain a

  liquid product to be packaged and dispensed and a propellant.

  The cup 8 is crimped on a container not shown at its periphery at 8a with the interposition of a sealing washer 33, so that

known in itself.

  In the example described, the product is contained in a flexible bag and the propellant is contained in the container outside the bag. The interior of the pocket communicates with the interior of the valve body 2 by a flexible tube not shown, force-fitted on a tip 9 extending lowerly the valve body 2 and provided with an anchoring cone 10. The use of a flexible bag to hold the product allows the use of compressed air as propellant. The bag protects the product from contact with the air so that it can be kept inside the container in good conditions and is mixed with the propellant gas only at the time of its expulsion. Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible to add to the propellant gas a substance capable of

keep in touch.

  A seal or sealing washer 11 is disposed in the bottom of the housing 8a and the valve body 2 is applied by its upper end edge 14 against the lower end face 11a of said washer.

sealing 11.

  The control rod 3 is formed at its upper part with an internal cylindrical portion 3a of revolution and a sleeve 12 coaxial with the

part 3a.

  *. - The sleeve 12 is grooved internally as shown in Figure 2. The ribs 12a formed between two consecutive grooves serve as spacers for positioning the sleeve 12 on the control rod 3. The sleeve 12 is integral with the push button 5 in the described example and it crosses the bottom wall of the housing 8a of the cup 8 in favor of a bore 8b and slides in a sealed manner in the opening 13 of the

sealing washer 11.

  The control rod comprises an enlarged lower portion 3b, integral with the portion 3a and able to move in the valve body 2. The portion 3b has over a portion of its length an outer cylindrical surface 15 of revolution around the X axis. A ring 16 forms radially projecting with respect to the cylindrical surface 15 at the lower end of the part 3b. This ring 16 is centered on the X axis, tapered upwards and has, in section in a section plane

  axial, a triangular shape as shown in Figure 1.

  The ring 16 provides the body 2 with an annular clearance allowing product passage from the inside of the nozzle 9 towards its tapered edge 17. The latter applies, when the control rod 3 is at rest, on a joint In the example described, the latter has a square section and is sealingly applied by its radially outermost surface on the inner surface of the valve body 2 and

  by its radially innermost surface on the cylindrical surface 15.

  A spacer ring 19 is axially interposed between the face of the

  seal 18 opposite the ring 16 and the sealing washer 11.

  The inner upper part 3a of the control rod 3 is connected to the lower part 3b forming a shoulder 20 extending perpendicular to the axis X, terminated at its periphery by an annular ring 21 centered on the axis X, tapered upwards and having in section in a cutting plane containing the X axis a triangular shape as shown in FIG. 1. When the control rod 3 is in its rest position, the annular ring 21 is applied by its edge slender

on the sealing washer 11.

  The control rod 3 is traversed, for almost all of its length, by a blind hole 22 opening out at the upper end of the portion 3a and centered on the axis X. The bottom of this bore 22 communicates through a recess 23 extending radially with an annular space 24 formed between the cylindrical surface 15 and the tapered portion of the ring 16. This annular space 24 constitutes an orifice, axially oriented, through which the product conveying channel opens to the outside the control rod portion engaged in the valve body. The lower end edge of the control rod 3 is recessed in 25 to accommodate a plate 26 serving as a guide to the upper end of the spring 4. The radial recess 23 extends in contact with the plate 26. A boss annular protruding form 27 on the bottom wall of the valve body 2 to serve as a guide to

  the lower end of the spring 4.

  The upper inner portion 3a of the control rod 3 defines with the sleeve 12 a plurality of channels 28 extending parallel to the axis X, communicating at their upper end with a conduit 29 opening on the nozzle 6 and at their lower end , by radial bores 30, with an annular space 31 formed between the external surface of the part 3a and the ring 21. The annular space 31 constitutes an orifice, oriented axially, through which the channels for conveying the propellant gas flow to the outside of the control rod portion 3 engaged in the

valve body.

  The blind hole 22 opens at its upper end on a conduit 32 communicating with the nozzle 6. The conduits 29 and 32 jointly feed a discharge port 6a of the nozzle 6 to project a mixture of product and propellant in the form of a aerosol in the direction of an axis Z perpendicular to the axis X. A recess 35 is formed in the boss 7 of the valve body 2 for the passage of propellant through the valve body. A corresponding recess 36 is formed in the ring portion 19 adjacent to the recess 35 and allows the propellant gas having passed through the valve body.

  by the recess 35 to win the crown 21.

  The operation of the valve 1 is as follows.

  At rest, the tapered edges of the rings 16 and 21 respectively rest against the annular sealing seals 18 and 11 and isolate the annular chambers 24 and 31 from the inside of the container. When the user presses the top 5a of the pushbutton 5, the sleeve 12 bears with its lower end edge on the shoulder 20 and pushes the

  part 3b of the control rod 3 in the valve body.

  The sleeve 12 and the part 3b slide through the seals 18 and 11 without moving these latter in order to define precisely the degree of depression of the rod leading to the feed.

  annular chambers 24 and 31 in product and propellant.

  When the tapered edges of the rings 16 and 21 have ceased to rest on the associated seals, product may flow, under the pressure of the propellant into the container, into the interior 34 of the valve body, through the annular gap formed between the ring 16 and the seal 18 to gain, through the recess 23 and the blind hole 22, the conduit 32. Propellant can flow through the recess 35 of the body valve 2 and 36 of the ring 19 forming spacer, the annular gap formed between the tapered edge of the ring 21 and the sealing washer 11, by the holes 30 and the

  channels 28, to the duct 29 to reach the nozzle 6.

  By adjusting the hardness of the seals 18 and 11, it is possible to sequentially produce the product and propellant gas distribution during the opening and closing of the valve. More specifically, using an annular seal 18 made of a material of lesser hardness than that in which the washer 11 is made, the tapered edge of the ring 16, when the control rod is depressed, stops last last on the seal 18. This allows, advantageously, to purge propellant from the discharge orifice 6a of the nozzle, and to avoid that otherwise

  of the product, while drying, does not obturate this one.

  There is shown in Figure 3 a valve 101 according to a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from the previous one in that the valve body 102 is no longer constituted by a single piece but by the assembly of an upper part 102a and a lower part 102b, and by the fact that the stem control is formed by assembling a radially inner portion 103a and a portion

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  radially external 103b. Part 103a is traversed axially by a blind hole 122 identical to the bore 22 described above. Crowns 116 and 121, respectively identical to the rings 16 and 21 previously described, are integral with the portion 103b which is in the example described in the form of a ring fitted on the portion 103a. The plate acting as a guide to the spring 4 is in this embodiment integral with the portion 103a and defines a shoulder 37 on which the portion 103b axially bears support at the end of its fitting -on the portion 103a. The upper portion of the portion 103a substantially corresponds to the one-piece embodiment of the sleeve 12 and the portion 3a of the previous embodiment. An annular recess 128 axially traverses the portion 103a from the upper end edge thereof to radial bores 130 through which it communicates with an annular space 31 identical to that of the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, it will be noted in the examination of Figure 4 the absence of radial ribs in the annular recess 128. The same reference numbers have been assigned to the elements common to this embodiment and the previous embodiment. The spacer ring 19 is replaced in the example described by an annular rib 119 integral with the portion 102a and radially projecting on the inner surface thereof. The upper portion 102a is perforated as previously, at 35, for the passage of propellant. The assembly of the parts 102a and 102b of the valve body 102 is performed after having introduced in the portion 102a successively the annular seal 18 and the control rod. The operation of the valve 101 is identical to the operation of the valve 1

previously described.

  There is shown in Figure 5 a valve 201 according to a third embodiment of the invention. This valve 201 differs from the valve previously described with reference to FIG. 1 in that the valve body is made in two parts 102a, 102b identical to those of the valve body described with reference to FIG. 3 and in that the

  holes 30 are oriented obliquely upwards.

  There is shown in Figure 7 a valve 301 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The valve 301 differs from the valve 101 previously described in that the valve body is in one piece, identical to the valve body 2 of the embodiment described with reference to Figure 1. A spacer ring 19 is used

  for axially positioning the annular seal 18 in the valve body.

  FIG. 9 shows a valve 401 according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention. The control rod is identical, except the length of the sleeve 12 and that of the upper part 3a, to that described with reference to FIG. 1. The valve 401 differs from the valve described above with reference to FIG. the valve body comprises an upper part 402a and a lower part 402b separated, separated by an annular seal 418. The lower part 402b is provided on its outer periphery, at its upper end, with an annular boss 407 and the stack consisting of the sealing washer 11, the upper part 402a, the annular seal 418 and the annular boss 407 is retained by crimping in a housing of the cup 8 as shown in Figure 9. The seal 418 has an axial section of rectangular shape of long sides perpendicular to the X axis and is perforated at its periphery, at 440, for the passage of propellant gas. The annular boss 407 is recessed above the aperture 440, at 441, to allow a passage of propellant gas from inside the container into an annular chamber 442 surrounding the ring 21. The portion 402a is under the in the form of an internally stepped ring, having in axial section the general shape of a U, as shown in FIG. 9. The part 402a is applied by a lower end face 443 on the upper end face of the seal 418. The base part 402a is radially recessed at 444 to allow delivery of the propellant gas passing through the seal 418, through the opening 440, to the chamber 442. An annular clearance 445 is formed between the radially inner edge 25 of the base of the upper part 402a and the cylindrical surface 15

of the control rod 3.

  Of course, it is possible to make various modifications to the examples of embodiment which have just been described without departing from the scope of the

present invention.

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Claims (8)

  A sprayer valve comprising a container adapted to contain at least one product to be packaged and dispensed and a propellant, said valve comprising a control rod movable axially in a valve body between a closed position of the valve and a position opening thereof, the rod comprising channels respectively for conveying the propellant and the product to a spray nozzle, these channels each opening at one end outside the rod portion engaged in the valve body, the rod sliding through two seals respectively intended to ensure the isolation of said channels in said closed position of the valve, characterized in that said channels (22, 28; 122, 128) open when said rod (3; 103a, 103b) is in said closed position by axially oriented orifices (24, 31) respectively bordered by rings (16, 21; 121) adapted to be applied against associated end faces of the seals (18, 11; 418, 11) for   isolating said channels from the interior of the container.   2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that said rings (16, 21; 116, 121) are shaped so as to sink to different depths in said seals (18,   11; 418, 11) for sequentially isolating said orifices.   Valve according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized by   the fact that said seals (18, 11; 418, 11) have different hardnesses so as to sequentially achieve isolation of said orifices (24, 31).   Valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 3,   characterized by the fact that said crowns (16, 21) have come from   material with the control rod (3).   5. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that said rings (116; 121) are integral with a ring (102b) fitted on a portion (102a) of the control rod.   Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that said rings (16, 21; 116, 121) are centered on the longitudinal axis X of the control rod (3; 103a, 103b) and have a tapered edge.   Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the control rod (3) is formed at its upper part by the union of an inner part (3a) and a sleeve (12).   engaged on said inner portion and secured to a push button (5).   8. Sprayer equipped with a valve according to any one of the preceding claims.