Dispensing apparatus

Feb. 6, 1940. ι_. τ. ward 2, 189,643

DISPENSING APPARATUS

Filed April 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Lawrence 7/. Ware/,

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Feb. 6, 1940.

L. T. WARD

DISPENSING APPARATUS

Filed April 25, 1936

2,189,643

Sheets-Sheet 2

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JnvenNor;

Laurence 7'. Ware/,

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Patented Feb. 6, 1940

2,189,643

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,189,943 DISPENSING APPARATUS Lawrence T. Ward, New York, N. Y. Application April 25, 1939, Serial No. 79,445 12 Claims, (a. 299—95) _? This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a dispensing device of general application, wherein a source of gas pressure is provided and controlled, as desired, 5 to cause portions of fluid within a supply tank to be forced therefrom.

The main object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device that is associated with a high pressure carbon dioxide container known to the 10 trade as a “sparklet bulb” which is utilized as a source of gas pressure to dispense a liquid.

Another object is to provide a unitary piercing pin and discharge valve that is arranged to be supported in position to pierce a carbon dioxide 19 bulb, but which may be readily removed from its support to permit substitution or placement of a new valve and pin unit.

Another object is to provide a unitary piercing pin and discharge valve that is provided at one 30 end with a, piercing pin and at the opposite end with a valve operating rod whereby the unit may be positioned to permit the pin thereof to engage a carbon' dioxide bulb and the valve rod thereof to be engaged directly by a manually operable valve operating plunger.

® Another object is to provide a dispensing apparatus wherein small, portions of a source of gas under pressure may be released as desired and utilize such portions to dispense or discharge a portion of fluid from a main fluid supply tank.

Another object is to provide a dispensing device that is simple in construction and comprised of a minimum of parts whereby such parts may be assembled or replaced in a minimum of time __ and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These and further objects will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein—

Figure 1 is a view in section of a dispensing 40 ^unit;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section showing a piercing pin and discharge valve unit associated with a COz bulb holder;

Fig. 3 is an “exploded” view of a pin and valve 4g unit and the supporting parts therefor showing all parts detached to permit replacement of a pin and valve unit;

Fig. 4 is a view in section of a compression operated pin and valve unit;

gg Fig. 5 shows a modified form of a compression operated unit;

Fig. 6 is a modification showing a tension operated unit;

Fig. 7 is a further modification showing a roes tary operated unit; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of a valve operating plunger.

According to the prior art and practice, liquid dispensing devices that make use of the well BO known CO2 bulb as a source of gas pressure have been provided with a piercing pin for the bulb and some form of check valve has been employed to close the gas port in the pin in a manner to permit and require that the entire gas content of the bulb be discharged at dne instant into the 5 liquid supply tank and permit removal of the bulb. In such type of dispenser, a high gas pressure exists at all times within the supply tank which, obviously, necessitates that the tank and associated parts, including valve controls, be de- 10 signed to withstand such high pressure which results in the use of expensive materials, added weight, high cost of production and increased cost of repair and adjustments. In such type of dispensqjj, also, material loss of gas pressure 15 occurs at various points even though great care is exercised to provide proper materials, joints and valves.

According to the invention herein disclosed, the gas content of the bulb, after it has been 20 pierced, is retained within the confines of the bulb and a unitary pin and valve mechanism in a highly compressed state. When it is desired to dispense a portion of liquid, the discharge valve associated with the pin is operated man- __ ually to permit a small charge or portion only of ⁸⁸gas to feed into the space above the liquid in the main tank or in an amount sufficient to force a desired portion of liquid from this tank. As a result, an ample discharge of liquid may be secured with a relatively low pressure of gas exerted upon the liquid in the tank. It is sufficient, therefore, to design the fluid tank and related parts to withstand a relative low gas pressure which results in a material saving in gg weight and cost of a dispensing unit.

In order to further simplify the construction and increase its efficiency, the invention contemplates a novel arrangement of liquid discharge valve which is secured to and movable 45 with an operating plunger which functions also to control the gas releasing valve.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a liquid tank ί formed from metal, glass or any desired material, is shown as detachably secured by a 4g screw connection 2 to a dispensing head 3. A gasket 4 provides a gas tight seal between parts I and 3. As an example of one form of dispenser, an atomizing type has been shown wherein a common form of discharge pipe and unit 5 may 50 be used to feed liquid to a port 6. A small orifice 5' is made in one tube of unit 5 near its upper end and a fluid inlet port 5” serves to feed fluid to the other tube. A bulb holder 7 receives a bulb 8 and may be rotated to force the bulb 55 against a piercing pin 9. As will be described further on in detail, the pin 9 is formed as a unit 10 with a discharge valve it which is secured to and operable by a valve rod 12. A dispensing lever 13 is pivoted at 14 to the head 3. 90

8,188,643

The lever 13 is arranged to engage within a yoke or slot 15 formed on one end of a valve operating plunger 16. A piston valve 17 is secured to the other end of plunger 16 by a screw • thread connection. The valve 17 is slidably mounted within a bore 18 formed in head 3.

A pair of gaskets or packing rings 19, 20 is arranged on the valve 17 to provide a gas tight fit between valve 17 and bore 18. A valve facing TO 21 of rubber or the like is positioned to engage a valve seat 22 adapted to engage in one position and close the inner end of a fluid outlet port 23 which leads to the forward or fitting end 24 of the head 3, which end is shown as threaded for 1· attachment to any desired type of delivery tube.

A screw plug 25 is provided to force a gasket 26 into a gas tight engagement with the plunger 16 to prevent leakage around the plunger as it slides within the head 3. A strong compression spring BO 27 is positioned between the valve 17 and a shoulder 28 formed on the unit 16 and functions to retain the valve 17 and lever 13 at their extreme left hand position, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that, in this position, the valve 17 ³³ is forced into firm engagement with the seat 22 to prevent delivery of fluid to the port 23.

The plunger 16, when moved inwardly by the lever 13, may engage the valve rod 12 and open the gas release valve 11 to permit a quantity of •0 gas to flow from the bulb 8 into the bore 18 but to the right hand or inner end of the valve 17 from whence this gas may flow through a small port 29 into the tank I.

It will be noted that the pin and valve unit 10, M the valve 17 and the plunger 16 are mounted in axial alignment within the bore 18, and that the initial movement of the plunger 16 to the right will first open the outlet port 23 and, upon further movement, engage valve rod 12 to open the 4* gas discharge valve 11 to permit gas to feed into tanke I. Upon release of lever 13, the spring 27 will close the port 23 to cut off fluid delivery. The lever 13 and valve 17 may be. moved to open the port 23 to dispense the liquid Intermittently as long as sufficient gas pressure remains within the tank I.

The piercing pin and valve unit 10 is shown in detail in Fig. 4 and comprises a casing 30 to which is firmly secured the pin 9. A gas port 31 __ is formed in the pin and closed end of the casing. A gas release valve unit 32 is detachably mounted within the casing 30 and is held in position by a screw plug 33 threaded into the open end of the casing. A valve tube 34 having a flared __ end 36 is held in firm engagement with casing 30 by means, of the plug 33 which forces the flared end against a tapered shoulder 36 formed on casing 36. The flared end 35 may be faced with a resilient material to provide a gas tight connection. The valve 11 is secured to the rod 12 which passes through a port or bore 37 in plug 33 and a port 38 in tube 34. A compression spring 39 is secured at one end to a lug 40 formed on the rod 12 and its other end engages a shoulder 41 0g formed on the tube 34. The valve f I acts as a check valve to retain gas within the casing 30 and engages a seat 42 formed on the closed end of the tube 34. Movement of the rod 12, however, by the plunger 16 will uncover the port 38 and 70 compress the spring 38 and release of the rod 12 will permit the spring 39 to close the valve I I and port 38.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, the unit 10 is positioned in the bore 10 with its flanged shoulder 43 70 engaged with the inner edge 44 of the bore.

A bulb neck washer 45 is retained in position against the unit 10 by means of a threaded collar 40. The bulb neck is forced within a tapered opening 47 in this washer in a manner to provide a gas tight seal around this neck. The pin ⁵and valve unit may be removed and replaced with a new unit with extreme facility as indicated in Fig. 3 by merely withdrawing the collar 46 and washer 45 which permits withdrawal of the unit 10 from the bore 18. 10

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, a valve casing 48 is shown as closed at one end by a threaded flanged plug 49 which carries a piercing pin 50. A valve operating rod 51 carries a valve 52, the washer 53 of which is arranged to engage 16 and close a gas port 54 through which the rod 61 passes. A compression spring 55 is provided to assist in retaining the valve 52 on its seat, the pressure of this spring being additive to the pressure exerted by any gas within the casing 48. ²⁰The rod 51 is adapted to be operated in a manner similar to the valve rod 12 of Fig. 4.

The modified valve and pin unit 56 shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that in Fig. 5 except as to the type of valve. In this figure, the valve 57 is ten- ²³sion operated, there being a strong tension spring 58 arranged to exert a strong pressure on the valve 57 to force the same against a seat 59 in a manner to close the gas port 60. When such a tension operated type of valve is used, means will 30 be provided on the dispensing device to move the valve rod 6i against the tension of spring 58 to unseat the valve 57.

A rotary type of valve is shown in Fig. 7, wherein a valve 62 may be forced with great pressure 36 against a seat 63 to close a gas port 64 by means of a valve operating rod 65 which is threadably engaged within a bore 66 formed in one end of the valve casing 67. The valve 62 is mounted upon the end of the rod 65 by means of a swivel 40 joint 66. The valve 62 is seated by rotation of the rod 65. Any gas released by the valve 62 may leave the casing 67 through a port 69.

In operation, a gas bulb 8 is placed within the holder 7 and the latter is rotated to cause the 45 pin 9 to pierce the bulb seal and permit gas under pressure to flow into casing 30. The lever 13 may be moved towards the tank I until the plunger 16 contacts the valve rod 12 to unseat the valve 11 and permit a small quantity of gas to pass ports 38, gg 37 and 29 into the tank I whereupon fluid will be forced out through ports 6 and 23 in the form of a spray. Delivery of fluid may be suspended by release of lever 13, whereupon the spring 27 will force valve (7 against its seat 22 to close outlet _Mport 23. Lever 13 may be operated to dispense fluid as long as sufficient pressure remains in tank I and pressure therein may be restored by an extreme movement of the lever 13 to permit the plunger 16 to operate the gas release valve fl. *0

When the valve 11 or pin 9 becomes defective from constant use of the device, a new unit may be installed by simply removing the holder 7, collar 46 and gasket 45, whereupon the spring 27 will eject the old unit 10 from the opening 18 66 and a new unit may be inserted in its stead with a new gasket 45 and be retained in operative position by replacement of the collar 46.