BALL JOINT VALVE

Abstract

A valve for a container for dispensing pressurized fluid has a housing which is mounted on a valve cup, a hollow stem provided in a passage of the housing which stem has at least one lateral inlet opening at its lower end and an outlet opening at its upper end. The lower end of the stem is ball-shaped and forms a ball joint with a correspondingly ball-shaped ball socket being part of the housing, wherein the upper part of the housing is provided with sealing means and the stem is tiltable between a closed position and an open position.

Claims

1. A valve (1) for a container for dispensing pressurized fluid, said valve (1) comprising a housing which is mounted on a valve cup (2), a hollow stem (3) provided in a passage of the housing which stem (3) has at least one lateral inlet opening (5) at its lower end and an outlet opening (4) at its upper end, wherein the lower end of the stem (6) is ball-shaped and forms a ball joint with a correspondingly ball-shaped ball socket (7) being part of the housing, wherein the upper part of the housing is provided with sealing means (8) and the stem (3) is tiltable between a closed position and an open position and wherein the stem (3) is provided with a sealing part (9) that abuts the sealing means (8) of the housing.

2. (canceled)

3. The valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein the stem (3) is displaceable between a closed position and an open position and the stem (3) is pushed in the closed position by means of the sealing means (8) pushing against the sealing part (9) of the stem.

4. The valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means (8) are provided with recesses (11).

5. The valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upper part of the stem (3) is provided with a thread (10).

6. The valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein the valve cup (2) is crimped around the housing wherein the valve cup (2) is positively connected to the sealing means (8) made up of an elastic material.

7. The valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing is of one piece of plastic and welded onto the cup (2) and the sealing part (9) of the stem (3) is welded to the sealing means (8) of the housing.

8. A method for producing the valve according to claim 1, wherein the housing is welded by ultrasonic welding onto the cup (2) and the sealing part (9) of the stem (3) and the sealing means (8) of the housing are connected by laser-welding.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the stem (3) is made of a material absorbing a maximum of laser energy, whereas the housing is made of a material that allows the laser beam to traverse the housing and heat up the area of the sealing part (9) of the stem (3) and the sealing means (8) of the housing where the laser welding occurs.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In the following, the invention is discussed more in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings in which

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a valve according to the present invention mounted to a container,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a cut representation of the valve of FIG. 1,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a cut representation of the valve of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in an open position,

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a cut representation of the valve of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in another open position,

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a side representation of a second embodiment of a valve according to the invention in the closed position,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a cut representation along the axis B-B of FIG. 5,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a side representation of the valve according to FIGS. 5 and 6 in the open position,

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a cut representation along the axis C-C of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] The FIGS. 1 to 4 show a valve 1 mounted on a valve cup 2 of a container.

[0044] The valve 1 comprises a housing with a ball socket 7 and sealing means 8 made up of an elastic material and in positive connection with the valve cup 2. The stem comprises a ball-shaped lower end 6 forming a ball joint with the ball socket 7 of corresponding shape. The stem 3 has at least one lateral inlet opening 5 at its lower end 6 and an outlet opening 4 at its upper end forming a passageway for the filling material of the container. The stem has a sealing part 9 that abuts the sealing means 8 and inhibits the loss of filling material and gas and the entering of water vapor into the container in between the housing and the stem 3. The sealing means 8 show multiple recesses 11 which allow an easier deformation of the sealing means 8 when the stem 3 is tilted or pushed in its open position.

[0045] In FIG. 2, the valve 1 is shown in its closed position. The inlet openings 5 of the lower end 6 of the stem 3 situated in the container abut in the closed position the ball socket 7 thereby closing the passageway through the stem 3.

[0046] In FIG. 3, the valve 1 is shown in an open position. The stem 3 is pushed downward therefore compressing the sealing means 8 via the sealing part 9 and the inlet openings 5 are displaced from the ball socket 7 thereby opening the passageway through the stem 3. This can be used for filling the container via the valve 1.

[0047] In FIG. 4, the valve 1 is shown in an open position. The stem 3 is tilted and deforming the sealing means 8. The tilting of the stem 3 makes rotating the ball-shaped lower end 6 of the stem 3 in the ball socket 7. As a result, the inlet openings 5 are losing the contact to the ball socket 7. Therefore, the passageway through the stem 3 is opened.

[0048] The valve of FIGS. 5 to 8 comprises a one-piece housing with a ball socket 7 in its lower part and sealing means 8 in positive connection with the valve cup 2. The stem comprises a ball-shaped lower end 6 forming a ball joint with the ball socket 7 of corresponding shape. The stem 3 has at least one lateral inlet opening 5 at its lower end 6 and an outlet opening 4 at its upper end forming a passageway for the filling material of the container. The stem has a sealing part 9 that abuts the sealing means 8 and inhibits the loss of filling material and gas and the entering of water vapor into the container in between the housing and the stem 3.

[0049] The valve according to FIGS. 5 to 8 can be made of plastic without use of elastic materials such as rubber or TPE. The properties of the plastic materials are used for providing a hinge or joint.

[0050] Preferably, the housing is welded by ultrasonic welding onto the cup 2.

[0051] The sealing part 9 of the stem 3 and the sealing means 8 of the housing are preferably connected by laser-welding. In this case, the stem 3 is preferably black in order to absorb a maximum of laser energy, whereas the housing is semi-transparent (opaque) or transparent so that the laser beam can traverse the housing and heat up the area of the sealing part 9 of the stem 3 and the sealing means of the housing where the laser welding occurs.

[0052] In FIGS. 5 and 6, the valve 1 is shown in its closed position. The inlet openings 5 of the lower end 6 of the stem 3 situated in the container abut in the closed position the ball socket 7 thereby closing the passageway through the stem 3.

[0053] In FIGS. 7 and 8, the valve 1 is shown in an open position. The stem 3 is tilted and deforms the sealing means 8. The tilting of the stem 3 makes rotating the ball-shaped lower end 6 of the stem 3 in the ball socket 7. As a result, the inlet openings 5 are losing the contact to the ball socket 7. Therefore, the passageway through the stem 3 is opened.