Slit valves and dispensing nozzles employing same
An improved outlet valve assembly for a pump-type fluid dispenser includes a nozzle and a self-sealing slit valve having a valve head portion bounded by a peripheral sealing portion retained between the pump outlet and the nozzle. In further aspects, improved valve members, fluid dispensers, and a method for making a fluid dispenser are provided.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/608,239, filed Sep. 9, 2004. The aforementioned provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to improved dispenser valves for a fluid dispenser and dispensing nozzle tips employing the same. The valves and nozzle tip assembly in accordance with the present development may advantageously be employed in connection with a dispenser of a bag-in-a-box type and will be described herein primarily by way of reference thereto. However, it will be recognized that the valve and nozzle tip may also be used in connection with all manner of fluid types and fluid dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCommonly, a bag-in-a-box dispensing system includes a housing, such as a wall-mounted housing, and a disposable dispensing system. The dispensing system includes a disposable pump assembly coupled to a flexible bag containing a supply of product to be dispensed. Although a wide variety of pump mechanisms have been developed, they generally include a resiliently flexible or deformable chamber having an inlet fluidically coupled to the bag for and a dispensing outlet having a spring loaded valve. The spring loaded valve is normally closed and includes a spring and ball within the flow passageway, wherein the spring urges a ball into sealing engagement with the pump outlet. Commonly, the chamber is of a tube type as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,125 or of a bubble type as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,316, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In operation, a lever or other actuator on the housing is depressed to collapse the deformable chamber to increase the pressure in the chamber. The increased pressure in the chamber displaces the ball and liquid passes through the pump outlet, around the ball, and is expelled. When the actuator is released, the chamber returns from the collapsed state to its original volume, thereby decreasing the pressure within the chamber, thereby causing the ball to return to the seated position and to draw an additional charge of product from the bag into the chamber.
A one-way check valve may also be provided at the dispensing pump inlet to permit flow from the bag into the collapsible chamber, but to prevent product in the chamber from flowing back into the bag when the actuator is depressed. For example, a ball may be held in close proximity to the pump inlet via a perforated retainer. When the pressure in the chamber increases, the ball is seated against the pump inlet, thereby preventing flow of product from the chamber back into the bag. While the chamber returns to its original volume, the reduced pressure unseats the check ball and allows product to pass from the bag, through the pump inlet and around the ball through the perforated ball retainer. The bag collapses upon itself, thereby maintaining constant pressure within the bag.
A common problem with the ball and spring dispenser valves is that they tend to clog and become unusable, particularly when liquid product containing particulate matter is used or for highly viscous liquids. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates new and improved fluid dispenser outlet valves and nozzles which overcome the above-referenced problems and others. The valves and nozzles according to the present development also which reduce pump assembly complexity, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying manufacture and assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like or analogous components throughout the several views, are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
Referring now to
The chamber 16 includes an inlet 18 and an outlet 20. The inlet 18 of the chamber 16 is fluidically coupled to a source of product, preferably a flexible bag (not shown) containing the product to be dispensed via an inlet nipple 22. The preferred bag-in-box embodiment is a closed system and venting is unnecessary, since pressure in the bag is maintained as the bag collapses upon itself.
A one-way valve, such as a ball (not shown) held in close proximity to the inlet 18 via a perforated retainer (not shown) may be provided to prevent fluid from passing from the chamber 16 back into the inlet nozzle 18 during operation. The hemispherical bubble 14 is secured to a cavity back wall 24 via a retaining ring 26. The chamber outlet 20 is fluidically coupled a pump outlet nipple 28 via a conduit 30 defining a flow passageway 32.
An outlet valve assembly 12 includes an outlet nozzle 34 having an axial bore or channel 36 therein and a counterbore 38, and which is coaxially aligned with the outlet nipple 28. A slit valve 40 is seated in the counterbore 38, which defines a sleeve portion for receiving the outlet nipple 28 and an internal stop or shoulder 39. The valve 40 includes a valve head or membrane portion 42 which is bounded by a peripheral sealing edge or flange 44. The peripheral edge 44 is compressed between the end edge surface of the outlet nozzle 28 and the base of the counterbore portion 38 of the outlet nozzle 12 to provide a sealing engagement and prevent fluid from flowing around the valve member 40. Although the valve assembly is shown in connection with a dome-type pump, it will be recognized that the nozzle assembly may be used other pump types, such as tube-type pumps and others.
As best seen in
The outlet nipple 28 is coaxially or telescopically received within the counterbore 38 of the outlet nozzle 34. The inner diameter of the counterbore region 38 and the outer diameter of the outlet nipple 28 are sized to provide a friction or interference fit therebetween. The outlet nipple 28 outer surface and the counterbore 38 inner surface may optionally include aligned and mating or complimentary surface features. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the outlet nipple 28 includes raised annular ribs or protrusions 48 which engage complimentary annular channels or depressions 50 formed in the couterbore region 38. The complimentary surface features 48 and 50 provide a snap fit between the nozzle outlet 34 and the nipple outlet 28 and ensure sufficient compression of the peripheral edge 44 to prevent fluid from flowing therearound during operation. Alternatively, the respective positions of the complimentary protrusions and depressions could be reversed. Other methods for securing the pump outlet nipple 28 and the connector sleeve portion of the nozzle 34 include the use of an adhesive, cross-hatching, texturing, or other surface modification of the counterbore 38 inner surface and/or outlet 28 outer surface, providing complimentary helical threads for rotational engagement, and so forth.
The nozzle outlet 34 may additionally include one or more exterior surface features (not shown) such as projections, fins, particular geometric shape, etc., which provides a keying function to ensure proper installation of the pump within the dispenser and/or to enable the pump assembly 10 to be keyed to fit a specific dispenser pump of like or mating configuration. The use of a separately attachable nozzle outlet 34 allows a common pump assembly to be readily adapted to fit any desired key configuration by installing an appropriately keyed nozzle outlet.
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In the embodiment depicted in
The peripheral flange portion 144 of the valve member 140 as shown in
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In the embodiments depicted in
The valve members of the present invention are preferably sufficiently resistant to flow in the reverse direction so as to resist venting of ambient air into the pump when the reduced pressure is present in the chamber 16, i.e., after product has been dispensed and the actuator has been released. Ambient air is potentially contaminated and, in some cases, may degrade the product to be dispensed. Referring now to
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The outlet nozzle 234 and the pump outlet 128 may be secured via a friction fit or any of the methods described above. In the embodiment depicted in
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. For example, the present invention has been shown in connection with a bubble-type dispenser pump. However, it will be recognized that the present outlet valve may also be used to replace the conventional output valves, e.g., spring-loaded outlet valves, employed with other pump types, such as tube-type pumps and others. Also, while the illustrated embodiments are presently preferred, it will be recognized that additional valve member and valve assembly embodiments are contemplated, i.e., resulting from any desired combination of outlet nozzle type, valve sealing flange features, valve head features, and optional vent-resisting members as shown in the depicted embodiments. It is intended that the invention be construed as including these and other modifications and alterations.
Claims
1. An outlet valve assembly for a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser being of a type having a pump which has a pump inlet coupled to a fluid reservoir and a pump outlet, said outlet valve assembly comprising:
- an annular sleeve having a radially inwardly extending annular internal stop member;
- a hollow conduit member having an end edge surface defining an opening coaxially received within said annular sleeve; and
- a resiliently deformable valve member disposed within said annular sleeve, said valve member including a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion, said peripheral sealing ring sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and said edge surface.
2. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said hollow conduit member defines the pump outlet and said annular sleeve defines a nozzle tip.
3. The outlet valve assembly of claim 2, wherein said annular sleeve includes a dispensing nozzle tip portion defining an axial bore and a connector portion defining a counterbore for coaxially receiving said valve member and the pump outlet.
4. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said hollow conduit member defines a nozzle tip and said annular sleeve defines the pump outlet.
5. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said annular internal stop comprises an annular protrusion.
6. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said annular sleeve portion is adapted to frictionally engage the hollow conduit member.
7. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- said annular sleeve having an inward facing surface for engaging an outward facing surface on the hollow conduit;
- said inward facing surface having one or both of: (1) one or more projections for engaging complimentary depressions on the outward facing surface; and (2) one or more depressions for engaging complimentary protrusions the outward facing surface.
8. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve member is formed of a material selected from silicone rubber, neoprene, chloroprene rubber, and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).
9. The outlet valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- a vent-resistant member axially adjacent said valve head portion.
10. The outlet valve assembly of claim 9, wherein said vent-resistant member includes:
- a peripheral flange for retention between said valve peripheral sealing ring and one of said edge surface and said annular internal stop;
- a perforated baffle axially adjacent said valve head portion; and
- an axially extending sidewall extending between said perforated baffle and said peripheral flange.
11. A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising:
- a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice;
- a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion;
- a first annular groove formed on a first surface of said sealing ring wherein a clamping applied to said annular groove and a second surface of the sealing ring opposite said first side does not cause distortion of the valve head member.
12. The valve member of claim 11, wherein said first annular groove includes a first surface perpendicular to an axial direction and a second surface perpendicular to the axial direction.
13. The valve member of claim 11, wherein said first annular groove includes a first surface perpendicular to an axial direction and a second surface which is inclined relative to the axial direction
14. The valve member of claim 11, further comprising a second annular groove formed on the valve head portion adjacent to and concentric with respect to the first annular groove.
15. A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising:
- a valve head portion having a first, generally convex surface; a second, generally concave surface opposite said first surface; and one or more slits defining an orifice;
- a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion; and
- an annular groove formed on said second surface adjacent to the peripheral sealing ring to define a region of reduced valve head thickness adjacent to the peripheral sealing ring.
16. The valve member of claim 15, wherein said valve head portion has a cusped side cross-sectional shape.
17. A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising:
- a valve head portion having a first, generally convex surface; a second, generally concave surface opposite said first surface; and one or more slits defining an orifice;
- a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion; and
- a plurality of concentric annular grooves formed on one or both of said first and second surfaces.
18. A valve member for a fluid dispenser, comprising:
- a valve head portion having a first, generally convex surface; a second, generally concave surface opposite said first surface; and one or more slits defining an orifice;
- a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion; and
- a generally cone-shaped cavity formed on one or both surfaces at said orifice.
19. A fluid dispenser comprising:
- a pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet;
- a fluid reservoir coupled to the pump inlet; and
- an outlet valve assembly coupled to the pump outlet, said outlet valve assembly including: a hollow dispensing nozzle including an annular sleeve portion adapted to coaxially receive the pump outlet and an annular internal stop extending inwardly into an opening defined by said annular sleeve; and a resiliently deformable valve member disposed within said dispensing nozzle, said valve member including a valve head portion having one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion, said peripheral sealing ring adapted to be sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and the pump outlet.
20. The fluid dispenser of claim 19, wherein said fluid reservoir includes a flexible, non-vented container.
21. A method of making a fluid dispenser, comprising:
- providing a fluid source including a pump having a pump inlet coupled to a fluid reservoir and a pump outlet; and
- securing a valve assembly to said pump outlet, said valve assembly including a resiliently deformable valve member having a valve head portion with one or more slits defining an orifice and a peripheral sealing ring bounding said valve head portion, said outlet valve assembly selected from one of: a hollow dispensing nozzle including an annular sleeve portion adapted to coaxially receive the pump outlet and an annular internal stop extending inwardly into an opening defined by said annular sleeve, said peripheral sealing ring adapted to be sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and the pump outlet; and a hollow dispensing nozzle having an end edge surface defining an opening adapted to be coaxially received within the pump outlet, said pump outlet having an annular internal stop extending inwardly into a channel defined by the pump outlet, said peripheral sealing ring adapted to be sealingly retained between said annular internal stop and said edge surface.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said fluid reservoir includes a flexible, non-vented container.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 9, 2006
Inventor: Warren Daansen (Summerland Key, FL)
Application Number: 11/220,018
International Classification: B65D 37/00 (20060101);