The present disclosure relates to valves, and more specifically to a vent capable of allowing bi-directional fluid flow in response to a pressure differential.
A bi-directional or pressure/vacuum vent may be used on a bulk container (e.g., a stackable shipping container) to regulate a pressure differential between the interior of the container and the ambient environment. The vent typically has large heights causing the portions of the vent to protrude from a surface of the bulk container, thereby increasing the risk of damage from contact by other containers or by implements for handling the containers (e.g., forks, harnesses, cables, etc.). The vent typically has a small-diameter pressure seal and permits fluid flow through one or more paths having relatively small area(s).
In one embodiment, a vent for selectively sealing an opening of an enclosed chamber includes a body, a first poppet, a second poppet, and a face seal. The body is configured to be coupled to the enclosed chamber. The first poppet is disposed within the body and is biased by a first biasing member. The first poppet includes a first surface. The second poppet is disposed within the body and includes a second surface. The second poppet is biased toward the first poppet such that the second surface is biased toward engaging the first surface. The face seal is positioned between the first surface and the second surface.
In another embodiment, a vent for selectively sealing an opening of an enclosed chamber includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion; a cap including a seating feature having a first dimension, the cap removably coupled to the body; a poppet disposed within the body; and a biasing member engaging the seating feature and exerting a biasing force on the poppet.
In yet another aspect, a vent for selectively sealing an opening of an enclosed chamber includes a body, a poppet, and a conical spring. The body is configured to be coupled to the enclosed chamber. The poppet is disposed within the body. The poppet is movable relative to the body in response to a fluid pressure within the enclosed chamber. The conical spring is coupled to the poppet and provides a biasing force to the poppet. The conical spring is configured to compress as the poppet moves.
Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings.
In general, the present disclosure relates to a vent for a container or reservoir. The vent allows fluid, such as air, to travel into or out of the container based on pressure conditions inside and outside the container.
As shown in
The housing 1 has a first or lower portion 104 and a second or upper portion 108 disposed along a longitudinal axis 112. The lower portion 104 is positioned at least partially in an opening (not shown) in a wall of a container (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the lower portion 104 is cylindrical in shape and has a smaller diameter than the upper portion 108, and the lower portion 104 includes external threads 2 (
A container (not shown) includes an opening that is generally cylindrical in shape and includes threads along an internal surface. The external threads 2 of the lower portion 104 engage the threads of the opening to couple the vent 100 to the opening. In the illustrated embodiment, a seal 3 is positioned adjacent the external threads 2 and proximate the intermediate portion 116. The seal 3 prevents fluid from traveling through the opening between the external surface of the vent 100 and the internal surface of the opening. When the vent 100 is coupled to the container, the intermediate portion 116 and the upper portion 108 may protrude from the surface of the container, permitting a tool (e.g., a wrench) to engage the flat surfaces 35 when coupling or uncoupling the vent 100 and the container.
In the illustrated embodiment, the outer wall 36 is open at an upper end (i.e., the end opposite the lower portion 104) and extends around a hollow center portion. Slots 10 extend through the outer wall 36 and into the hollow center portion. The vent 100 includes two slots 10 that are disposed opposite one another so that a common axis extends through both slots 10. In some embodiments, the outer wall 36 may include fewer or more slots, and/or the slots may be positioned in a different manner. The slots 10 can provide an egress path for liquid (e.g., rain water) that might otherwise collect within the upper portion 108. A seal (e.g., a tamper evident seal—not shown) may be attached to the slots 10.
As shown in
As shown in
A first poppet or pressure poppet 6 and a second poppet or vacuum poppet 27 are disposed within the housing 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure poppet 6 is disposed between the vacuum poppet 27 and the upper end (i.e., the pressure poppet 6 is disposed proximate the upper housing 108 and the vacuum poppet 27 is disposed proximate the lower housing 104), and the pressure poppet 6 extends across a width of the lower housing 104.
The vent 100 includes a groove 4 that extends around a perimeter of the intermediate portion 116. A first seal 5 (e.g., an O-ring) rests within the groove 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the walls of the groove are generally straight; in some embodiments (e.g., see
In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure poppet 6 is generally flat and includes a barrier 21 and a lip 22. The barrier 21 is disposed on an upper surface of the pressure poppet 6 (i.e., proximate the upper portion 108 of the vent 100). In the illustrated embodiment, the barrier 21 is an indentation disposed adjacent to and extending around a perimeter of each outer hole 20. The lip 22 is disposed at circumference peripheral edge of the pressure poppet 6 and protrudes axially toward the lower portion 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral edge overlaps an edge of the groove 4 while the pressure poppet 6 engages the first seal 5.
A first or pressure spring 15 is disposed in at least a portion of the pocket 26 of the cover 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure spring 15 is wider proximate the upper portion 108. The pressure spring 15 is positioned between a seat 25 of the cover 23 and the pressure poppet 6. In the illustrated embodiment, an end of the pressure spring 15 engages an outer portion of the barrier 21, and the seat 25 and the barrier 21 assist in maintaining alignment of the pressure spring 15 and the pressure poppet 6. The pressure spring 15 can be a spring having a relatively low stiffness. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure spring 15 is a conical spring, providing a flow area between the coils that exceeds the flow area through the vacuum valve at all levels of compression of the spring 15, even when the spring 15 is completely compressed (i.e., in a flat condition). For example, when the pressure spring 15 is completely compressed, the thickness of the spring wire multiplied by the number of coils is less than the difference between the spring outer diameter and the spring inner diameter by a predetermined clearance to ensure a minimum flow area. In other embodiments, an additional flow path may be provided in the cover around the seat.
The vacuum poppet 27 is positioned between the pressure poppet 6 and the end adjacent the lower portion 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum poppet 27 has a diameter less than a diameter of the interior space 40. The vacuum poppet 27 includes an annular groove 28 and a second seal 29 (e.g., an O-ring) is positioned within the groove 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the walls of the annular groove 28 are generally straight; in some embodiments (e.g., see
As shown in
A second or vacuum spring 19 is positioned around the vacuum pin 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum spring 19 extends between the seat 18 and the retaining clip 32 disposed within the first slot 31. The retaining clip 32 sets a fixed minimum height (i.e., maximum compression) for the vacuum spring 19. The retaining clip 32 can be positioned in the first slot 31 or the second slot 120, thereby permitting adjustment of the compression of the vacuum spring 19 and the spring's biasing force. Positioning the retaining clip 32 also permits adjustment of the vacuum poppet's cracking pressure, or the pressure at which the vacuum poppet 27 initially becomes unseated. In some embodiments, the biasing force of the vacuum spring 19 is set to be greater than the product of the combined mass of the poppet 27 and the vacuum pin 17 multiplied by the expected shock load (e.g., caused by movement of a container over a rough road) in order to reduce the likelihood that the vent will open inadvertently. The pocket 26 spaces the cover 23 from the vacuum pin 17 and can inhibit manual actuation of the vacuum poppet 27.
In some embodiments, the vent 100 may include a coating along an inner surface of the lower portion 104, and along surfaces of the poppets 6, 27 and the vacuum pin 17 that face the lower portion 104. The coating may be a hydrophobic (e.g., SuperHydrophobic) and/or an oleophobic coating, either of which reduce adhesion from the contents of the container on surfaces of the vent 100. The coating enables the surfaces of the vent 100 to be cleaned without completely disassembling the vent 100, which reduces cross contamination if the contents of the container are switched, or if the vent 100 is switched between containers.
In some embodiments, a colored band or O-ring (not shown) may be placed around the channel 11. The colored band can provided identifying features for the vent 100. For example, the band could be used to communicate the type of sealing material used in the vent 100, the contents of the container, or the brand of the container.
In some embodiments, a cord or lanyard (not shown) may be coupled to the vent 100. One end of the lanyard may be positioned around the channel 11, while another end of the lanyard may be coupled to a surface of the container. The lanyard tethers or retains the vent 100 to the container to avoid the vent 100 being lost or misplaced. The lanyard may be uncoupled from either the vent 100 or the container in order to move the vent 100 away from the container. The lanyard may also be color coded in order to provide similar identifying information as the colored band.
Large sealing areas of the poppets 6, 27 result in larger forces from the springs 15, 19 for a given pressure, causing increased contact with the seals 5, 29 and therefore better sealing. In a nominal or steady state condition, the springs 15, 19 have a nominal length and the pressure poppet 6 contacts the seals 5, 29. Each of the seals 5, 29 may have a large cross section and a low durometer. Large cross section/low durometer seals are more compressible than seals with larger durometers, and provide a large sealing area, which prevents fluid from exiting or entering the container while the seals are under pressure (i.e., contacted by the pressure poppet 6).
Coupling the vent 100 to the container substantially isolates the internal pressure of the container from a pressure of the ambient environment. When the internal and ambient pressures are approximately equivalent (i.e., within a predetermined tolerance of one another), the pressure poppet 6 and the vacuum poppet 27 are in a rest or steady state position (
When the internal pressure exceeds the ambient pressure, the pressure poppet 6 moves in order to vent higher pressure fluid within the container. Pressure builds within the container and applies a force to the internal face of the pressure poppet 6 (i.e., the face proximate the lower portion 104). The pressure poppet 6 and the vacuum poppet 27 move along the vacuum pin 17 toward the upper portion 108 when the force exceeds the combined biasing force exerted by the ambient pressure and the conical spring 15. The pressure poppet 6 moves away from the seals 5, 29, allowing pressurized fluid flow from the container, between the first seal 5 and the pressure poppet 6, and through circumferential flow paths 14 of the windows 9 to the ambient environment. The barrier 21 blocks liquid (e.g., water) or other debris from falling into the container when a flow path between the environment and the container is open. The lip 22 protects the first seal 5 from the impingement of fluid (e.g., water jets) and external debris.
The vent 100 can be configured in different ways, depending on the desired venting pressure differential. In some embodiments, the cover 23 can include a label on an upper surface 24 (
The venting pressure differential is primarily determined by the geometry of each cover 23a-23c and the stiffness of the pressure spring 15. In each embodiment, the relative distance between the seat 25 of the respective cover 23a-23c and the pressure poppet 6 in the steady state position affects the compression of the pressure spring 15 and therefore the biasing force exerted on the pressure poppet 6.
The pressure spring 15 is compressed as the pressure poppet 6 moves toward the cover 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure spring 15 is a conical coil spring that has a lower spring rate than a similarly sized helical spring. The conical spring 15 also includes a lesser height than a helical spring with a similar spring rate, which assists in minimizing the height of the vent 100. The containers may be stacked on top of one another, and a shorter vent 100 reduces the chances that the vent 100 becomes damaged while trying to move the containers. Minimizing the height of the vent 100 provides a compact product and the vent 100 also maximizes pressure sealing and flow areas. The conical spring 15 can be compressed to flat, which maximizes the travel height of the pressure poppet 6, and therefore the flow area of the vent 100 (particularly in relation to a high rate spring or a non-conical spring). The conical spring 15 also reduces errors (e.g., discharge pressure setting errors) due to manufacturing tolerances.
Conversely, when the ambient pressure exceeds the internal pressure, the vacuum poppet 27 moves in order to allow fluid to flow into the container. A negative pressure differential between the internal chamber and the ambient pressure may cause the ambient force to be greater than the internal force. The vacuum poppet 27 compresses the spring 19 and moves toward the lower portion 104 when the ambient force exceeds the combined biasing force exerted by the internal force and the vacuum spring 19. The vacuum poppet 27 moves away from the pressure poppet 6 so that the second seal 29 is no longer pressed against the pressure poppet 6. Air flows from the environment through circumferential flow paths 14 of the windows 9 (
In some applications, containers may not experience both large positive pressure differentials and large negative pressure differentials. The vent 100 may be configured to allow for only pressure venting or only vacuum venting in situations where venting in both directions is not required.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the screen 37 is a flame arrestor, which is a permeable barrier between the windows 9 (
In other embodiments, the screen 37 is an insect screen, which is a permeable barrier that blocks insects, or similar animals, from accessing an internal part of the vent 100 and to the container. For example, the insect screens 37 may be used on containers containing sweet substances that attract insects.
In some embodiments, the vent 100 may include a desiccant breather (not shown). The desiccant breather may be mounted on a first surface 12 and a second surface 13 along an outer diameter of the vent 100 (
The vent 500 includes a vacuum pin 517 engaging a poppet 527. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum pin 517 is riveted through a through hole 550 of the poppet 527, thereby providing a leak-tight seal. In addition, a retaining clip 532 is coupled to the vacuum pin 517 and retains a vacuum spring 519, and a spacer 530 is positioned between the retaining clip 532 and the vacuum spring 519. The spacer 530 determines the compression of the vacuum spring 519 and therefore determines the poppet pressure settings. Accordingly, pressure setting can be adjusted by replacing the spacer 530 with a spacer having a different thickness, rather than changing a position of the retaining clip 532. In some embodiments, the biasing force of the vacuum spring 519 is set to be greater than the product of the combined mass of the poppet 527 and the vacuum pin 517 multiplied by the expected shock load (e.g., caused by movement of a container over a rough road) in order to reduce the likelihood that the vent will open inadvertently.
In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum pin 517 includes a shoulder 534 that engages the spacer 530 and/or retaining clip 532 when the vacuum spring 519 is compressed to a predetermined length. The shoulder 534 therefore prevents the vacuum spring 519 from being compressed to solid (e.g., during assembly).
Also, as shown in
It is understood that the vent 100, 500 may be provided in a cover member separate from and attached to a cap body as described and shown in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/786,791, filed Dec. 31, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The embodiment(s) described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present disclosure. As such, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications to the elements and their configuration and/or arrangement exist within the spirit and scope of one or more independent aspects as described.
This application claims the benefit of prior-filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/779,334, filed Dec. 13, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62779334 | Dec 2018 | US |