Pressure control fill valve

Abstract

A pressure control fill valve for a pressurized dispenser container comprises a first and second end and a base, a first and second circumferential lip. The lips enable placement of the valve in an opening of a pressurized dispenser container in first a position, where a propellant gas can be filled into the container and a second position for complete closing of the container. According to the invention, the second lip of the valve is asymmetric about its circumference. This prevents the valve from being pushed out of the opening of the container in case of high over-pressure or enlargement of the opening due to a temperature increase. The invention eliminates the hazard of a loss of valve and propellant gas in case of high temperature.

Claims

1. A pressure control fill valve having an essentially cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis, a side surface and a first end and a second end, comprising: a base at the second end, a first circumferential lip at the first end of the valve, and second circumferential lip separated from the base by a circumferential groove, and one or more recesses on the side surface of the valve extending from the first end through the first circumferential lip and to the second circumferential lip, and a cavity having one opening arranged at the base at the second end of the valve and extending from said base toward the first end of the valve, wherein the cavity is defined by a flexible wall that separates said cavity in the base from the one or more recesses on the side surface and wherein the cavity is vacant allowing deformation of the cavity upon application of pressure with the ability of the cavity to return to said cavity's original shape when said pressure is released, wherein the second circumferential lip is asymmetric about said second circumferential lip's circumference.

2. The pressure control fill valve according to claim 1 wherein the one or more recesses comprise two recesses and wherein further the second circumferential lip protrudes to a larger degree in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis within a first section of said second circumferential lip's circumference between the two recesses than in a second section of circumference opposite the first section.

3. The pressure control fill valve according to claim 1 wherein the second circumferential lip has a surface facing the base of the valve, where said surface extends at an angle to the surface of the base, the angle being in the range from 0 to 15.

4. A pressurized dispensing container having a container for a fluid and a container having an opening and configured to contain pressurized propellant gas wherein said pressurized dispensing container comprises a pressure control fill valve according to claim 1 for closing the opening of the container for pressurized propellant gas.

5. The pressurized dispensing container according to claim 4 wherein the container is made of plastic.

6. The pressurized dispensing container according to claim 4 wherein the container is made of metal.

7. The pressurized dispensing container according to claim 6 wherein the container is made of aluminum.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the following, the invention is described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the pressure control fill valve according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the embodiment of the valve of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a first section of the valve of the FIG. 1 along lines A-A,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a second section of the valve of FIG. 1 along lines B-B,

(6) FIGS. 5a and b show two positions of the valve within the opening of a gas container of a pressurized dispensing container, where FIG. 5a shows the position at normal pressure and FIG. 5b shows the position of the valve in case of an over pressure into a tilted position.

(7) Like numerals in the various figures indicate same elements unless specified otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a pressure control fill valve 1 as it may be used to close off the opening of a propellant gas container of a pressurized dispenser container, and which will reliably leak gas in the case the gas is over-pressurized and without the risk of a removal of the valve.

(9) The valve 1 has an essentially cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis L extending from a first end 2 to a second end 3, a circumferential side surface S and a base 4 at the second end 2. When the valve 1 is positioned in an opening to close off a container for a propellant gas, the first or inner end 2 will be directed to the inside of the container, while the second or outer end 2 will be directed to the outside of the container.

(10) The valve 1 comprises a base 4, having a diameter larger than the diameter of the side surface S.

(11) In order to enable a first positioning of the valve 1 within an opening of a container, the valve 1 comprises a first lip 5 near the inner first end 2, which forms a first inner circumferential groove 6, into which a rim of an opening may be engaged. Flutes or recesses 7 are arranged evenly on the sides surface S about the circumference of the valve 1 and allow a gas to be filled into the container when the valve is placed in this first positioning. The recesses 7 extend from the first lip 5 to a second lip 8 near the second end 3, the second lip 8 forming a second groove 9 together with the base 4. Once the container has been filled with a propellant gas, such as air, the valve 1 is then pushed further into the container opening into a second positioning, such that the rim of the opening engages with the second circumferential groove 9.

(12) According to the invention, the second lip 8 is asymmetric about its circumference having a varying degree of radial protrusion about its circumference, where the radial direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. For example, the extent of its radially outward protrusion is greater in a first section 10 between the recesses 7 than in a second section 11 diametrically opposite of section 10.

(13) The top view in FIG. 2 illustrates this asymmetry more clearly. The radial protrusion of the second lip 8 in section 10 extends up to 10% or more beyond the radial extent of the lip 8 in the other, diametrically opposite section 11.

(14) FIG. 3 shows the asymmetry of the second lip 8 in its cross-section. The lip 8 comprises in this exemplary embodiment of the invention, a conical shape leading to a point. The underside 12 of the lower lip 8 facing the base 4 in the shown example forms an angle with the base or with the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the cylindrically shaped valve. The angle may be in the range for example of 10-15. Such angling allows easier de-molding of the element during fabrication. However, for the function of the asymmetry and the tilting of the valve in case of over-pressure, such angle is essentially not necessary. Depending on the fabrication method chosen the angle could also be 0.

(15) The cross-section B-B through the recesses 7 shown in FIG. 4 shows the symmetry of the valve in that cross-section.

(16) FIGS. 3 and 4 also show in cross-section the cavity 13 in the base 4, which is essential for the enablement of a leakage of gas in case of over-pressure. The cavity 13 and recesses 7 are separated by a flexible wall, which deforms when a pressure is applied and reverts to its original shape when the pressure subsides due to the gas leakage.

(17) FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate the tilting of the valve in case of an overpressure compared to its normal position. In the normal position the valve is positioned in the opening, where base 4 and second circumferential lip 10 are arranged about the edge 14 of the opening. When the pressure inside the container increases the valve is pushed out such that the smaller protrusion 11 of the second circumferential lip is pushed past the edge of the opening 14 while the larger protrusion 10 remains on the inner edge of the opening. As a result, the longitudinal axis L of the valve tilts with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the container and its opening.

(18) While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present.