Valve with outlet flow rate regulation, and container equipped with such a valve

Abstract

A valve ( 1 ), particularly for an aerosol container, includes, inside a valve body ( 2 ), an inlet passage ( 4 ) communicating with the container and an outlet passage ( 10 ), a first elastic return ( 16 ) for urging the valve ( 1 ) into the closed position, and a regulator for regulating the product outlet flow rate, which includes a second elastic return ( 14 ) for supplying a set-point pressure for the regulator. The second elastic return ( 14 ) is arranged in a compartment ( 12 ) of the valve body ( 2 ) isolated from the product, the pressure inside the compartment ( 12 ) being equal to atmospheric pressure.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
       1. A valve for a container, comprising: 
       a valve body;  
       an inlet passage provided in said valve body configured to communicate with a container;  
       an outlet passage communicating with the exterior of said container;  
       means for selectively communicating the outlet passage with said inlet passage in response to an actuation command;  
       first elastic return means for urging the valve into a closed position; and  
       regulating means for regulating a product flow rate through said valve, comprising second elastic return means for supplying a set-point pressure for said regulating means, said second elastic return means arranged in a compartment of said valve body isolated from a product to be discharged from the container, wherein a pressure inside said compartment is substantially equal to atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
       2. The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein said flow rate regulating means comprises: 
       a regulating chamber arranged between said inlet passage and said outlet passage, said regulating chamber including an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice;  
       closing means for changing a degree of opening of at least one of said inlet orifice and said outlet orifice, in accordance with a pressure within said regulating chamber, said closing means being mounted on said second elastic return means; and  
       a piston arranged to separate said compartment from the product.  
     
     
       3. The valve according to  claim 2 , wherein said piston is secured to said closing means. 
     
     
       4. The valve according to  claim 3 , wherein said closing means comprises: 
       first outlet closing means for closing said outlet orifice, comprising an annular skirt provided on said piston and arranged inside said regulating chamber, wherein a position of said annular skin with respect to said outlet orifice determines the degree of opening of said outlet orifice.  
     
     
       5. The valve according to  claim 2 , further comprising a flexible diaphragm provided in said regulating chamber between said piston and said second elastic return means so as to isolate said piston in a leaktight manner from said second elastic return means, wherein said piston is slidably mounted in said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       6. The valve according to  claim 3 , further comprising a flexible diaphragm provided in said regulating chamber between said piston and said second elastic return means so as to isolate said piston in a leaktight manner from said second elastic return means, wherein said piston is slidably mounted in said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       7. The valve according to  claim 4 , further comprising a flexible diaphragm provided in said regulating chamber between said piston and said second elastic return means so as to isolate said piston in a leaktight manner from said second elastic return means, wherein said piston is slidably mounted in said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       8. The valve according to  claim 5 , wherein said flexible diaphragm is at least one of overmolded and bi-injection molded with a body of said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       9. The valve according to  claim 2 , further comprising stop means for maintaining a minimum product outlet flow rote in the event of an overpressure inside said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       10. The valve according to  claim 2 , wherein said closing means includes inlet closing means secured to said piston for changing a degree of opening of said inlet orifice of said regulating chamber, in accordance with a pressure inside said regulating chamber; 
       wherein said closing means is configured such that when said inlet orifice is in the closed position, said outlet orifice is at least partially open.  
     
     
       11. The valve according to  claim 2 , wherein said inlet orifice is arranged in an end wall of said regulating chamber, wherein said outlet orifice is situated in a side wall of said regulating chamber at a predetermined distance from said end wall, and wherein said valve further comprises an annular lip arranged axially between said end wall of said regulating chamber and said outlet orifice, said annular lip configured to provide a seal between said regulating chamber and said valve body. 
     
     
       12. The valve according to  claim 2 , wherein said outlet passage is formed of a valve stem secured to said regulating chamber, said regulating chamber being mounted on said first elastic return means, and wherein said valve stem comprises a part that emerges from said valve body and forms an outlet duct that can be placed in communication with said valve body via a radial passage that passes radially through said valve stem. 
     
     
       13. The valve according to  claim 12 , wherein said valve stem is configured such that when said valve is in the closed position, said radial passage is kept opposite a seal located in said valve body. 
     
     
       14. The valve according to  claim 13 , wherein said seal is located in an upper part of said valve body. 
     
     
       15. The valve according to  claim 2 , wherein said closing means is configured such that when the pressure inside said regulating chamber drops below a predetermined value, said closing means closes said outlet orifice of said regulating chamber in a leaktight manner so as to interrupt dispensing of product. 
     
     
       16. A container for dispensing a product under pressure, this container being equipped with a valve, said valve comprising: 
       a valve body;  
       an inlet passage provided in said valve body configured to communicate with a container;  
       an outlet passage communicating with said inlet passage;  
       means for selectively communicating the outlet passage with said inlet passage in response to an actuation command;  
       first elastic return means for urging the valve into a closed position; and  
       regulating means for regulating a product now rate though said valve, comprising second elastic return means for supplying a set-point pressure for said regulating means, said second elastic return means arranged in a compartment of said valve body isolated from a product to be discharged from the container, wherein a pressure inside said compartment is substantially equal to atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
       17. The container according to  claim 16 , further comprising a container body defining a reservoir containing the product to be dispensed, an end wall closing a first end of said container, and a push-button for actuating the valve, wherein said valve is provided on a second end of said container. 
     
     
       18. The container according to  claim 17 , wherein said push-button comprises a diffuser for discharging the product, said diffuser comprising at least one of a nozzle, a grid, and a porous end piece. 
     
     
       19. The container according to  claim 17 , wherein said diffuser comprises a swirl-inducing nozzle. 
     
     
       20. The container according to  claim 17 , wherein said diffuser comprises a sinter or an open-cell foam. 
     
     
       21. The container according to  claim 16 , further comprising a container body defining a reservoir containing the product to be dispensed, an end wall closing a first end of said container, and a push-button for actuating the valve, wherein said valve is provided on a second end of said container. 
     
     
       22. The container according to  claim 21 , wherein said push- button comprises a diffuser for discharging the product, said diffuser comprising at least one of a nozzle, a grid, and a porous end piece.   
     
     
       23. The container according  claim 21 , wherein said diffuser comprises a swirl- inducing nozzle.   
     
     
       24. The container according to  claim 21 , wherein said diffuser comprises a sinter or an open- cell foam.   
     
     
       25. A valve for a container, comprising: 
       
         a valve body:  
       
       
         an inlet passage provided in said valve body and configured to communicate with a container;  
       
       
         an outlet passage communicating with the exterior of said container;  
       
       
         an opening/closing element for selectively communicating the outlet passage with the inlet passage;  
       
       
         a barrier which is movable to control a degree of opening/closing of an outlet orifice in communication with the outlet passage;  
       
       
         a first elastic return element positioned to urge the opening/closing element into a closed position; and  
       
       
         a second elastic return element positioned in a compartment of said valve body which is at atmospheric pressure and which is isolated by said barrier from a product to be discharged from the container, said second elastic return element pressing on said barrier in opposition to the pressure of the product to be discharged from the container. 
       
     
     
       26. The valve according to  claim 25 , further comprising as regulating chamber arranged between said inlet passage and said outlet passage, said regulating chamber including an inlet orifice and said outlet orifice, wherein said barrier comprises a piston whose position changes in accordance with a pressure within said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       27. The valve according to  claim 26 , wherein said piston includes a skirt which is positionable to close said outlet orifice. 
     
     
       28. The valve according to  claim 27 , wherein said skirt comprises an annular skirt provided on said piston and arranged inside said regulating chamber, wherein a position of said annular skirt with respect to said outlet orifice determines the degree of opening/closing of said outlet orifice. 
     
     
       29. The valve according to  claim 26 , wherein said barrier further comprises a flexible diaphragm isolating said compartment from said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       30. The valve according to  claim 27 , wherein said barrier further comprises a flexible diaphragm isolating said compartment from said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       31. The valve according to  claim 28 , wherein said barrier further comprises a flexible diaphragm isolating said compartment from said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       32. The valve according to  claim 31 , wherein said flexible diaphragm is at least one of overmolded and bi- injection molded with a body of said regulating chamber.   
     
     
       33. The valve according to  claim 25 , further comprising a stop positioned for maintaining a minimum product outlet flow rate in the event of an overpressure inside said regulating chamber. 
     
     
       34. The valve according to  claim 25 , further comprising an inlet closing element secured to said piston, wherein said closing element is configured such that when said inlet orifice is closed, said outlet orifice is at least partially open. 
     
     
       35. The valve according to  claim 25 , wherein said inlet orifice is arranged in an end wall of said regulating chamber, wherein said outlet orifice is situated in a side wall of said regulating chamber at a predetermined distance from said end wall, and wherein said valve further comprises an annular lip arranged axially between said end wall of said regulating chamber and said outlet orifice, said annular lip configured to provide a seal between said regulating chamber and said valve body. 
     
     
       36. The valve according to  claim 25 , wherein said outlet passage is formed of a valve stem secured to said regulating chamber, said regulating chamber being mounted on said first elastic return element, and wherein said valve stem comprises a part that emerges from said valve body and forms an outlet duct that can be placed in communication with said valve body via a radial passage that passes radially through said valve stem. 
     
     
       37. The valve according to  claim 36 , wherein said valve stem is configured such that when said valve is in the closed position, said radial passage is facing a seal located in said valve body. 
     
     
       38. The valve according to  claim 37 , wherein said seal is located in an upper part of said valve body. 
     
     
       39. The valve according to  claim 26 , wherein in said barrier is configured such that said outlet orifice is closed when the pressure inside said regulating chamber drops below a predetermined value. 
     
     
       40. A container for dispensing a product under pressure, the container having a valve comprising: 
       
         a valve body;  
       
       
         an inlet passage provided in said valve body and configured to communicate with the container;  
       
       
         an outlet passage communicating with the exterior of said container;  
       
       
         an opening/closing element, for selectively communicating the outlet passage with the inlet passage;  
       
       
         a barrier which is movable to control a degree of opening/closing of an outlet orifice in communication with the outlet passage;  
       
       
         a first elastic return element positioned to urge the opening/closing element into a closed position; and  
       
       
         a second elastic return element positioned in a compartment of said valve body which is at atmospheric pressure and which is isolated by said barrier from a product to be discharged from the container, said second elastic return element pressing on said barrier in opposition to the pressure of the product to be discharged from the container. 
       
     
     
       41. A valve for dispensing a product from a container, comprising: 
       
         a regulating chamber defining an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice, a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein said first compartment includes said inlet orifice to receive said product, and said second compartment is isolated from said first compartment so that said second compartment is isolated from said product in said first compartment;  
       
       
         a movable divider disposed inside said regulating chamber between said first and second compartments; and  
       
       
         a positioning device disposed in said second compartment such that said positioning device is isolated from said product in said first compartment, said positioning device being coupled to said movable divider so as to position said movable divider in at least a first position and a second position,  
       
       
         wherein said product passes through said outlet orifice when said movable divider is positioned in said first position and said product cannot pass through said outlet orifice when said movable divider is positioned in said second position. 
       
     
     
       42. The valve according to  claim 41 , wherein said second compartment is maintained at atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       43. The valve according to  claim 41 , wherein said movable divider comprises a piston. 
     
     
       44. The valve according to  claim 41 , wherein said positioning device comprises a spring. 
     
     
       45. The valve according to  claim 41 , further comprising an inlet closing element coupled to said movable divider such that said product cannot pass through said inlet orifice when said movable divider is in said first position. 
     
     
       46. The valve according to  claim 41 , further comprising a valve body; an inlet passage provided in said valve body and configured to communicate with said container; an outlet passage communicating with the exterior of said container; an opening/closing element for selectively communicating the outlet passage with the inlet passage; and an elastic return element positioned to urge the opening/closing element into a closed position.