Patent Application
20120104029
This application relates to chemical distribution and more particularly to a valved bottle cartridge for a chemical source container used in a chemical proportioning dispenser system.
It is known to supply chemicals to a proportioning dispenser in bottles or plastic containers having open mouths at their upper ends. Cartridges or inserts are placed in the mouths to seal off the contents, prevent spillage and provide an interface with a dispenser and through which chemical can flow when the bottle is operably oriented to a station in a dispenser or otherwise interconnected to a dispenser. One such cartridge is shown in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,318 which is incorporated herein by reference. Another is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,456, also incorporated herein by reference.
Desired function of such inserts is twofold. First, it is desirable to provide an insert which prevents or substantially reduces any chemical leakage, should the container be overturned. Secondly, it is desirable to provide a cartridge which readily flows chemical when properly connected to a dispenser, and without seepage of air into the chemical flow.
Prior cartridges have been found useful, however, there are desirable improvements in the areas of the valve, the seals, the venting and other structural and functional aspects of such cartridges.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a bottle cartridge with an improved valve for passing chemical out of the bottle or container when the cartridge is operatively connected to a dispenser component of a dispensing system or propotioner.
It is further desirable to provide an improved one-way air intake for use when chemical is drawn from the bottle.
It is also desirable to provide an improved bottle cartridge having improved sealing and operational methods.
It is also desired to provide an improved bottle cartridge allowing venting when chemical is withdrawn, yet preventing or minimizing spillage if the container is overturned.
To these ends, the invention contemplates a bottle cartridge or container mouth insert having a normally closed spring-loaded valve core operable to an open position when connected to a dispenser. When the core is moved to a closed position, the cartridge vents the bottle or container through an open cartridge mouth, around a valve core flange and through a vent passage in the cartridge body.
When connected to a dispenser and in open condition, the bottle mouth is sealed by a dispenser coupling or cap. Venting during chemical withdrawal occurs through a one-way valve in the dispenser coupling, and again around the valve core flange and through an aperture in the cartridge body.
Any spillage through the aperture and around the valve core flange is minimized on bottle or container turn over.
Moreover, the cartridge body and the valve core define dual seals and sealing surfaces respectively, active when the cartridge is open and one active when the cartridge is closed, thus enhancing sealing for any operative configuration of the cartridge.
Thus, when the valve core is spring-biased to its closed position, the core seals to the cartridge in one seal area and any venting is around the core flange and through the cartridge body aperture. When the core is moved to its open position by connection to a dispenser coupling, venting is through the dispenser coupling and again around the core flange and through the cartridge body aperture. In both cases, the core is sealed to the cartridge, preventing leakage therepast of chemical on any tipping or turn over and, as well, sealing against air seepage into any dispensing chemical flow when the core is in an open position.
It has also been desired to overcome any natural “stiction” or unwanted friction between the seals of the cartridge and the sealing surfaces of the valve core, and which might interfere with the operation of the valve defined by these components.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide both improved cartridge and valve core without any inherent friction or “stiction” characteristics as would interfere with desired valve operation. It is also desirable to provide an integral cartridge with sufficient rigidity for positive capture in a bottle mouth, yet of sufficiently softer characteristic to provide adequate sealing with the valve core.
To this end, the invention contemplates a cartridge body comprising a mix of 80% polypropylene and 20% polyethylene and a valve core of lubricated acetate. The polypropylene is relatively stiff, while the polyethylene is relatively softer. This combination provides a cartridge which is sufficiently soft and flexible in the seal area, but is also sufficiently rigid to provide a snap fit of the cartridge into the surrounding bottle mouth. The lubricated acetate provides a hard material to interact with the sealing surfaces in the cartridge body and the lubrication reduces the “stiction” between the surfaces. Preferably the dispenser coupling or overcap can be of polyethylene material and the umbrella-shaped, one-way air valve element in the cap is preferably of an EPDM material.
Accordingly, the invention provides a significantly improved bottle cartridge for chemical dispensing and related methods.
These and other benefits and advantages will become even more readily apparent from the following written description in which:
It will be understood the terms “bottle” and “container” are used interchangeably to refer to a chemical reservoir or supply having a mouth typically at an upper end thereof. The terms “cartridge” and “insert” are herein used interchangeably to refer to the invention described herein. The term “dispenser” is used to refer to any device of the type used to draw or receive concentrated chemical from a bottle for proportioning, dispensing or both. The terms “dispenser coupling” or “dispenser cap” are used to refer to structure for connecting the bottle or bottle cartridge to the dispenser, whether in a fixed docking station or merely in a coupling operatively connecting the cartridge and bottle to a tube for conducting concentrated chemical to a dispenser or other form of chemical use apparatus not typically referred to as a dispenser. Accordingly, the “dispenser coupling” or “dispenser cap” could also be defined by a connector or overcap for connecting a tube through the cartridge for chemical flow therethrough, the cap, when applied to a bottle mouth, operating the valve core of the cartridge to an open position. When the cap is removed, the valve core of the cartridge is spring-biased to a closed position.
Turning now to
As shown in
The closure (not shown) can be sealed over mouth 14 as described, whether or not cartridge 12 is in place within the mouth 14. Accordingly, filled bottles 10 can be transported in leak-free condition, whether or not a closure cap is in place. Moreover and as will be described, once cartridge 12 is in place with mouth 14, the cartridge 12 prevents leakage, even when there is no closure cap, and as will be described.
It will be appreciated that bottle 10 can be of any suitable configuration such as that shown in the Figures or in any other configuration, and presenting a mouth, preferably such as mouth 14.
With reference to
Insert 12 includes an insert body 24 defining a first seal 26 comprising a first seal surface 27 and a second seal 28 comprising a second seal surface 29. Seals 26, 28 define a circular, tapered bore of varied diameter as shown, with the seal surfaces 27, 29 comprising walls of that bore.
At the upper end 30 of insert body 24 is a circular lip 31.
A valve core 32 includes a hollow valve core 34 and an integral flange 36 from which core 34 depends. Core 34 is provided with one or more fluid passages 38.
When the valve 32 is in its closed position, the core 34 is raised so that passage 38 is within the second seal 28, preventing passage of chemical concentrate therethrough into the hollow interior of core 34.
When the valve 32 is in open position, the core 34 is lowered and the passage 38 extends below the second seal 28 and second seal surface 29, opening the hollow core 34 for passage of chemical concentrate.
A spring 40 is operably disposed between a floor 41 of insert body 24 and the underside 43 of flange 36 of valve body 32. Spring 40 biases flange 36 upwardly into engagement with retaining lip 31 of insert body 24.
It will be appreciated that insert body 24 is circular in shape and sized to provide a friction or snap-in fit within mouth 14. Also, insert body 24 is provided with appropriate recesses as at 45 to receive the upper circular end of a lower funnel-like cap 46 having a tip 47 for connection to pick-up tube 18.
Turning now to cap 22, the preferably round cap has a circular opening 50 in top 55 and a depending annular skirt 52, with internal threading (not shown), cooperating with the external threads of mouth 14 so the cap 22 can be twisted or screwed into place on mouth 14.
An actuating plate 54 is disposed beneath the top 55.
Plate 54, preferably, also defines a depending hollow boss 58 and an upstanding connection nipple 60 for connection to a concentrated chemical discharge tube 20 (
Plate 54 also includes a one-way vent hole 67 closed against fluid movement out of cap 22 by flexible flap valve member 68. Air can be pulled into insert 12 through vent 67, around flange 36 and through body 24 and into bottle 10 through a vent hole 69 upon concentrated chemical being drawn from bottle 10. Chemical cannot escape in a reverse flow, however, should bottle 10 be upset as member 68 closes vent 67 against outward flow, flexing away from vent 67 only upon a reverse pressure differential in the opposite direction.
Finally, it will be appreciated that plate 54 provided with the depending hollow boss 58 with an outer surface 72 that engages with the interior surface 76 of boss 34 extending upwardly from flange 36 to facilitate reciprocal, non-tilting movement, of flange 36 when urged downwardly by application of cap 22 and plate 54 as the cap 22 is screwed onto bottle mouth 14.
Operation of the insert 12 is as follows. When no cap 22 is screwed on mouth 14, and assuming insert 12 is installed in mouth 14, as in
In this position, passage 38 is sealed off by surfaces 29. When cap 22 is screwed onto mouth 14, the depending actuating boss 58 of actuating plate 54 engages the flange 36 of valve core body 32 and pushes core 32 downwardly.
In this valve-open position (
In this valve open position, note that outer surfaces of core 34 are sealed off by both first seal 26 and second seal 28.
Also note that the outer surface 72 of boss 58 is now sealed to inner surface 76 of core 34. Thus, the only flow passage of any concentrated chemical out of bottle 10 is through core 34 and nipple 60, with all other surfaces being sealed. Thus, even if bottle 10 is tipped over after application of cup 22, there is no leakage.
On removal of cap 22, spring urges flange 36 upwardly, core 34 rises, fluid passage 38 is sealed, and there is no leakage from bottle 10.
As noted, when cap 22 is functionally applied to mouth 14 and concentrated chemical is being withdrawn from bottle 10, any vacuum produced in bottle 10 is relieved by air flowing through vent 67 past one-way valve 68 around flange 36 into insert and through vent 69. That passage is closed off upon removal of cap 22 and closure of flange 36 against lip 31.
Finally, and in order to facilitate the operation of core 32 reciprocally in valve body 12, it will be appreciated these components are formed of mutually cooperative materials preferably comprising a mixture of about 80% polypropylene and 20% polyethylene for the body 12 and lubricated acetate for the core 32.
This provides sufficient flexibility and softness in the seal areas, but is of sufficient rigidity to facilitate substantial fit of insert 12 into mouth 14. Preferably, the cap 22 may be made from a suitable material such as a polypropylene, while the valve member 68 is made preferably from an EPDM mat.
Accordingly, the invention provides and attains the goods, benefits and advantages described herein.
These and other modifications and variations of the invention will be readily appreciated by the foregoing to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention and applicant intends to be bound only by the claims appended hereto.
