Flow control device and process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10150598-B2
Application number	US-201715590154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	Apr 8, 2015
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A flow control device (20) and process are provided for controlling the flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system (22). The device (20) includes a housing (30/40) that defines an orifice (84) for communicating between the supply system (22) that has an outlet end defining a discharge opening (57). The device 20 further includes a valve (140) having a flexible, resilient valve head (160) that has confronting, openable portions (186) movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration when the valve head (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head (160). The valve (140) is located across the housing outlet end discharge opening (57) so that the valve (140) and the housing (30/40) together define an expansion chamber (198) between the orifice (84) and the valve (140).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flow control device ( 20 ) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system ( 22 ) that has an opening ( 24 ) between an exterior and interior of the supply system ( 22 ), said flow control device ( 20 ) comprising:
A. a housing ( 30 / 40 ) that
1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening ( 24 );
2) defines an orifice ( 84 ) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior; and
3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening ( 57 ); and

B. a valve ( 140 ) having a flexible, resilient valve head ( 160 ) that has
1) at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) through said valve head ( 160 ); and
2) confronting, openable portions ( 186 ) along said at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions ( 186 ) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head ( 160 ) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head ( 160 ); and

wherein said valve ( 140 ) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening ( 57 ) at a location spaced from said housing orifice ( 84 ) so that said valve ( 140 ) and said housing ( 30 / 40 ) together define an expansion chamber ( 198 ) between said orifice ( 84 ) and said valve ( 140 ) for receiving the fluid substance at a pressure reduced from the pressure within the supply system ( 22 ), wherein
said housing ( 30 / 40 ) is a two-nice housing ( 30 / 40 ) comprising
1) an annular frame ( 40 ) for
a) being attached to the supply system ( 22 ) at the supply system opening ( 24 ); and
b) receiving said valve ( 140 ) supported thereon; and

2) an annular retainer ring ( 30 ) that
a) is received in said annular frame ( 40 );
b) defines said orifice ( 84 ); and
c) retains said valve ( 140 ) in said annular frame ( 140 ) so that said expansion camber ( 198 ) is defined between said annular retainer ring ( 30 ) and said valve ( 140 ), and wherein

said annular frame ( 40 ) includes
1) a first annular wall ( 51 );
2) a frustoconical seating surface ( 53 ) extending radially inwardly from said first annular wall ( 51 ) for engaging a portion of said valve ( 140 ); and
3) a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart beads ( 59 ) that extend radially inwardly from said first annular wall ( 51 ) and that are spaced axially inwardly of said seating surface ( 53 ) for engaging said retainer ring ( 30 ) to hold said retainer ring ( 30 ) in snap-fit engagement against a portion of said valve ( 140 ) to clamp said valve ( 140 ) between said retainer ring ( 30 ) and said annular frame ( 40 ).

2. The flow control device ( 20 ) in accordance with claim 1 which said annular frame ( 40 ) includes
1) a second annular wall ( 62 ) around said first annular wall ( 51 ); and
2) a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs ( 66 ) extending from said second annular wall ( 62 ), each said tab ( 166 ) including a radially outwardly facing recess ( 68 ) for receiving a portion of the supply system ( 22 ) in snap-fit engagement to mount said flow control device ( 20 ) to the supply system ( 22 ).

3. The flow control device ( 20 ) in accordance with claim 2 which each said tab ( 66 ) has a chamfered distal end ( 71 ) to accommodate initial sliding engagement with, and movement relative to, the supply system ( 22 ) to effect snap-fit engagement of said flow control device ( 20 ) with the supply system ( 22 ).

4. A flow control device ( 20 ) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system ( 22 ) that has an opening ( 24 ) between an exterior and interior of the supply system ( 22 ), said flow control device ( 20 ) comprising:
A. a housing ( 30 / 40 ) that
1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening ( 24 );
2) defines an orifice ( 84 ) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior; and

3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening ( 57 ); and
B. a valve ( 140 ) having a flexible, resilient valve bead ( 160 ) that has
1) at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) through said valve head ( 160 ); and
2) confronting, openable portions ( 186 ) along said at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions ( 186 ) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head ( 160 ) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head ( 1601 ; and

wherein said valve ( 140 ) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening ( 57 ) at a location spaced from said housing orifice ( 84 ) so that said valve ( 140 ) and said housing ( 30 / 40 ) together define an expansion chamber ( 198 ) between said orifice ( 84 ) and said valve ( 140 ) for receiving the fluid substance at a pressure reduced from the pressure within the supply system ( 22 ), wherein
said orifice ( 84 ) has a B diameter which is about 3.3 times a length of said orifice ( 84 ).

5. A flow control device ( 20 ) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system ( 22 ) that has an opening ( 24 ) between an exterior and interior of the supply system ( 22 ), said flow control device ( 20 ) comprising:
A. a housing ( 30 / 40 ) that
1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening ( 24 );
2) defines an orifice ( 84 ) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior; and
3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening ( 57 ); and

B. a valve ( 140 ) having a flexible, resilient valve head ( 160 ) that has
1) at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) through said valve head ( 160 ); and
2) confronting, openable portions ( 186 ) along said at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions ( 186 ) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head ( 160 ) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head ( 160 ); and

wherein said valve ( 140 ) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening ( 57 ) at a location spaced from said housing orifice ( 84 ) so that said valve ( 140 ) and said housing ( 30 / 40 ) together define an expansion chamber ( 198 ) between said orifice ( 84 ) and said valve ( 140 ) for receiving the fluid substance at a pressure reduced from the pressure within the supply system ( 22 ), wherein
said orifice ( 84 ) has a diameter which is about 40% of a diameter of said valve head ( 160 ) when said valve ( 140 ) is closed.

6. A flow control device ( 20 ) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system ( 22 ) that has an opening ( 24 ) between an exterior and interior of the supply system ( 22 ), said flow control device ( 20 ) comprising:
A. a housing ( 30 / 40 ) that
1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening ( 24 );
2) defines an orifice ( 84 ) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior; and
3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening ( 57 ); and

B. a valve ( 140 ) having a flexible, resilient valve head ( 160 ) that has
1) at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) through said valve head ( 160 ); and
2) confronting, openable portions ( 186 ) along said at least one self-sealing slit ( 184 ) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions ( 186 ) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head ( 160 ) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head ( 160 ); and

wherein said valve ( 140 ) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening ( 57 ) at a location spaced from said housing orifice ( 84 ) so that said valve ( 140 ) and said housing ( 30 / 40 )

Assignees

• Aptargroup Inc

Inventors

• Hatton Jason
• Brunner Andrew
• Smith Andrew

Classifications

• B65D47/2025

  Flexible bung-type elements · CPC title

• B65D47/2037

  the element being opened or closed by actuating a separate element which causes the deformation, e.g. screw cap closing container slit · CPC title

• B65D47/44

  combined with slits opening when container is deformed or when pad is pressed against surface to which contents are to be applied (pliable tubular containers with valves opening when closure is pressed against surfaces {B65D47/2018}) · CPC title

• B65D47/2031 Primary

  the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure (B65D47/2025 takes precedence) · CPC title