Flow switch

Abstract

A flow switch assembly which includes a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are rotatably engaged relative each other. The upper and lower body portions define a chamber. The housing includes an inlet and outlet to the chamber. A valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing for movement between an open position establishing at least one passage between the inlet and the outlet and a closed position wherein the at least one passage between the inlet and the outlet is non-established (preferably by said valve member sealing at least one of said inlet and outlet). There is also provided interactive cam elements associated with at least one of the upper body portion and the lower body portion, and associated with the valve member, are provided for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position when the upper body portion of the housing is rotated relative to the lower body portion.

1 . A flow switch assembly to control flow of material into and/or out of a containment region, said flow switch assembly comprising:
 (a) a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion rotatably engaged relative to each other, the upper and lower body portions defining a chamber, the valve housing including an inlet and outlet to said chamber;   (b) a valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing for movement between an open position establishing at least one passage between said inlet and said outlet and a closed position wherein said at least one passage between said inlet and said outlet is non-established;   (c) interactive cam elements, including at least one reaction surface and a cam follower, associated with at least one of said upper body portion and lower body portion, and the valve member, in a manner for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position when the upper body portion of the housing is rotated relative to said lower body portion; and   (d) said lower body portion being integrally formed with a container including a containment region.   
     
     
         2 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said valve member is seated in said chamber and mounted by opposed axles, for rotation relative to said valve housing about a first axis, and wherein said lower body portion is engaged to said upper body portion to rotate relative to each other about a second axis non-parallel to said first axis wherein said cam follower is carried by the upper body portion to rotate along an arc about said second axis lying in a plane perpendicular to said second axis where said arc passes through a plane passing through said first axis and parallel to second axes, and wherein said at least one reaction surface defines two regions for engagement by said cam follower, a first region to be engaged by said cam follower when said cam follower is rotated towards a first distal end of said arc and a second region to be engaged when said cam follower is rotated towards the other distal end of said arc, said engagement effecting said rotation of said valve member about said first axis. 
     
     
         3 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein one or more selected from the inlet and outlet are out of alignment with said second axis. 
     
     
         4 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second axes are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said arc is bisected by said plane passing through and parallel to said first and second axes. 
     
     
         6 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second regions are each disposed proximate one of said axles. 
     
     
         7 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second regions are each disposed on a same side as the upper housing of a plane in passing through and parallel to said first axis and to which said second axis is normal. 
     
     
         8 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second regions of said at least one reaction surface each define a surface of said at least one reaction surface that are intersected by a plane in which said arc sits, at least when said valve member is intermediate of said open and closed positions. 
     
     
         9 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second regions are each defined by a discrete said reaction surface. 
     
     
         10 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a single reaction surface is defined that is of a V or U-shaped configuration to define said first and second regions. 
     
     
         11 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one reaction surface is defined by two lobes on the valve member or by a recess into said valve member, positioned to define a V-shaped configuration of said first and second regions. 
     
     
         12 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper body portion and said lower body portion are rotatably engaged with each other to allow relative rotation about an axis, there being provided by said upper and lower body portions a means cooperative to, at a rotational position of said upper and lower body portions corresponding to the valve member being in at least one of said open and closed position, draw said upper and lower body portions together more to thereby effect a clamping of the valve member by said housing to encourage said valve member to thereby sealingly engage one of said inlet and outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said means cooperative are complementary threads provided by way of a threaded engagement of said upper and lower body portions. 
     
     
         14 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said clamping by said valve housing with said valve member occurs at at least one of said inlet and outlet to said chamber to seal against said valve member about at least one of said inlet and said outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein one of said upper and lower body portions includes a skirt region with an internally presented interface region to interface with an externally presented interface region of the other of said upper and lower body portions to hold said upper and lower body portions together for said relative rotation about said axis, said skirt region including a reaction surface providing surface deviation in a direction parallel to said axis and over which a cam follower of the externally presented interface slides, said deviation is such that the cam follower is displaced in the direction parallel to said axis by said reaction surface. 
     
     
         16 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said means cooperative are a pair of ramped surfaces one each provided by said upper and lower body portions. 
     
     
         17 . The flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said means cooperative includes a ramped surface of one of said upper and lower body portions over which a region of another of said upper and lower body portions can slide to effect a relative displacement of said upper and lower body portions in a direction parallel to said axial direction. 
     
     
         18 . A consumer beverage container comprising:
 a container portion,   a lower valve body portion integrally formed with said container portion,   an upper valve body portion rotatably engaged with said lower valve body portion and defining with said lower valve body portion a chamber, said lower valve body portion including at least one passage creating an inlet to said chamber to allow fluid passage between said container portion and said chamber, the upper valve body portion including an outlet to said chamber,   a valve member seated in the chamber, said valve member mounted for movement between an open position defining at least one passage between said inlet and said outlet and a closed position wherein said at least one passage between said inlet and outlet is non-established,   a camming mechanism operatively associated with (i) at least one of (a) said upper valve body portion and (b) said lower valve body portion, and (ii) the valve member, for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position when the upper valve body portion of the housing is rotated relative to said lower valve body portion.   
     
     
         19 . The consumer beverage container as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the said at least one passage between said inlet and outlet is non-established by said valve member sealing at least one selected from said inlet and said outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The consumer beverage container as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the camming mechanism includes interactive cam elements, including at least one reaction surface and a cam follower. 
     
     
         21 . A consumer beverage container including a container defining body having an outlet for transferring fluid to and from said container defining body and a flow switch assembly as claimed in  claim 1  to operatively control the transfer of fluid. 
     
     
         22 . A consumer beverage container comprising a container body portion having a flow switch assembly controlled outlet wherein said flow switch assembly is one as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A flow switch assembly comprising
 (a) a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are rotatably engaged relative to each other and rotate about an axis, the upper and lower body portions defining a chamber, the housing including an inlet and outlet to said chamber,   (b) a valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing for movement between an open position establishing at least one passage between said inlet and said outlet and a closed position wherein said at least one passage between said inlet and said outlet is non-established,   (c) interactive cam elements associated with (i) at least one of (a) said upper body portion and (b) said lower body portion, and (ii) the valve member, for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position when the upper body portion of the housing is rotated relative to said lower body portion,   (d) at least one of said inlet and said outlet being out of axial alignment with the axis about which the upper and lower body portions rotate.