US3497108A - Automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1970 J. MASON 3,497,108

AUTOMATIC DISPENSER Filed Oct. 26. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3.

M/I/ENTOR d/MM/E L. MASON a Y H/s AWOEWEYS fiAEQ/S, M501, RUSSELL fi/zi-teu Feb. 24, 1970 J. L. MASON 3,497,108

AUTOMATIC DISPENSER Filed 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L/IMM/E. L. MASON a? ms ATTORNEYS fiAee/s, M507, Russaz. 2 KER/v United States Patent M 3,497,108 AUTUMATHI DISPENSER Jimmie L. Mason, Hacienda Heights, Califi, assignor to Dart Industries Inc., Los Angcles, Calif., 21 corporation of Delaware Filled Get. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 678,421 int. Cl. BtlSf 11/00; 365d 83/14 US. Cl. 222-s1 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISLOSURE An automatic dispensed including a storage capsule containing a dispensable substance and an assembly for automatically dispensing the substance at predetermined intervals from a reservoir. A movable discharge valve mechanism reciprocates between an open and a closed position. due to pressure differentials in the reservoir caused by the accumulation and discharge of the substance. The dispensing assembly, or a portion of it, may be detachable and resusable.

This invention relates to automatic dispensers and more particularly to an automatic dispenser where a dispensable substance is retained under pressure or by suitable means for forcing flow of the substance. A common form of container for the substance is the aerosol container and such a form or method of packaging will be used throughout this specification as illustrative; however, types of containers employing other means for forcing flow of the substance are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

In a typical aerosol package, a capsule contains the dispensable substance, which may include a dispensable commodity such as an insecticide or deodorizing agent, under pressure from a propellant which forces the commodity into a standpipe which in turn lead to a manually operated nozzle and valve assembly. The propellant usually is a gas under pressure or a liquefied gas which has a pressure greater than atmospheric at ordinary temperatures. The dispensable substance, however, may be only the propellant itself which, upon discharge, would be used as a motive or drive force in the operation of some type of mechanism such as a toy steam engine or a whistle. Any such dispensable substance is intended to be within the scope of this invention. Manual pressure applied to the nozzle and valve assembly opens the valve to emit a mist or spray of the substance from the standpipe through the nozzle to the atmosphere. Oftertimes, however, it is necessary or desirable to emit the substance without the required manual operation, such as where the package is inaccessible or where periodic discharges are desired and the manual operation would be both vexations and time-consuming.

Dispensing containers have been developed where the dispensing operation is automatic rather than manual. or both, and certain of these devices include means for regulating the time intervals between successive dis charges. These automatic dispensers, however, are quite intricate and expensive to manufacture and usually the entire device must be discarded when the supply of the stored substance is exhausted from its container. Typically the discharge mechanism and the actuation mechanism are separate complex assemblies functioning apart from one another, which results in problems of maintenance of the parts and error in the proper time intervals between successive discharges.

I have developed a novel automatic dispenser which will periodically dispense a stored substance at prede termined intervals, where the intervals are variable. A simple reciprocable discharge nozzle provides the dis 3,497,108 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 charge valve for a relatively simple dispensing assembly. A toggle member attached to the nozzle provides an actuation mechanism so that the entire discharge assembly is a simple compact unit. The dispensing assembly, or a portion of it, may be detachable from the capsule containing the substance and the dispensing assembly may therefore be reusable where the capsule itself is the only item disposed of.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an automatic dispenser which is inexpensive to manufacture. Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic dispenser with a simple compact discharge assembly. A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic dispenser which periodically dispenses a substance from a container at predetermined intervals, where the intervals may be regulated.

It is another object of the invention to provide an automatic dispenser where the dispensing assembly may be detachable and reusable. Still another object of the invention is to provide in an automatic dispenser, the combination of a storage capsule; a reservoir, said storage capsule containing a dispensable substance including means forcing flow of said substance into said reservoir; and discharge valve means for dispensing said substance at predetermined intervals from said reservoir including a nozzle member and a toggle member forming a unitary mechanism, said nozzle member and toggle member being reciprocable between a first position wherein said discharge valve means is closed and a second position wherein said discharge valve means is open, and biasing means urging said toggle member toward said first position, said toggle member including means responsive to pressure in said reservoir urging said toggle member toward said second position.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational, partly sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my automatic dispenser;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the discharge assembly of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are elevational, partly sectional views of other embodiments of my invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the fixed flow regulating orifice of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional, partly elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 showing another form of shutoff mechanism and another form of fixed flow regulating orifice;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the shut-off mechanism of the embodiment of FIG. 7 taken along the line -88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the flow regulating orifice of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partly sectional, partly elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the discharge assembly of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 10.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, anautomatic dispenser 10 is shown with a container orcapsule 12 and adispensing assembly 14. For ease in illustration, the container orcapsule 12 is shown as an aerosol type of container and is described as such throughout herein; however, other forms of capsules or containers for a dispensable substance are intended to be within the scope of the invention, where the containers include some suitable means or method of forcing the flow of the sub stance. Adispensable substance 15 is stored within thecontainer 12 for periodic discharge into the atmosphere by thedispensing assembly 14. Thedispensable substance 15 may consist of various elements, such as a liquid or gas propellant, or a dispensable commodity, or a combination of a propellant and a dispensable commodity, and all such elements or combinations thereof are intended to be included within the scope of the term dispensable substance when used throughout herein.

More particularly, and as illustrative of a form of my invention employing one such dispensable substance, thedispensable substance 15 includes adispensable commodity 16, for example an insecticide or a deodorizing agent, under pressure from a typicalliquefied propellant 188 for example the chorofiuorohydrocarbons available under the trademark Freon. Thepropellant 18 forces thecommodity 16 downwardly in thecapsule 12 and into the lower end of astandpipe 20, thence upwardly through thestandpipe 20 to a normally closedrelease port 22. Therelease port 22 may include a self-sealingdiaphragm cover 24 formed abouta hollowseat support member 26 which in turn is attached to an upper retaining cup member orcap 28 of thecapsule 12. Therelease port 22 may include a common form ofrelease valve 122, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7.

Thecup member 28 forms the upper portion of thecapsule 12 and is attached to an upper circular rim oredge 30 of thecapsule 12 by crimping or other suitable means. Similarly attached to the circular rim 30' of thecapsule 12 may be a cylindrical member orlower cup 32 extending below thecap 28 and having abase portion 34 with a downwardly protruding, centrally positionedtube 36. Thetubular protrusion 36 is sized to snugly fit within the upper end portion of thestandpipe 20, and thelower cup 32 may serve an as accumulator for thecommodity 16 forced through thestandpipe 20 by thepropellant 18. Afixed orifice 38 may be provided in thetubular protrusion 36 to regulate the rate of flow of thecommodity 16 into theaccumulator 32. The capsule orcontainer 12, thestandpipe 20, theaccumulator 32, and thecap member 28 may be metallic or any suitable plastic material.

Thedispensing assembly 14 includes a hollow housing or shell member 40 which may be cylindrical with abase portion 42, and theassembly 14 is preferably detachably connected to the capsule orcontainer 12 by means of a hollowcylindrical cap member 44 beneath thebase portion 42 where thecap member 44 is sized to snugly receive the outer perimeter portion of theupper rim 30 of thecapsule 12. The friction force between thecap member 44 and therim 30 preferably is quite small and may be approximately equal to the upward force on aneedle 78 which punctures theselfsealing diaphragm cover 24. Other suitable means of detachably connecting theassembly 14 to thecontainer 12 may be provided, such as a threaded or a snap-fit type of connection (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow interior of the housing 40 provides a reservoir orvalve chamber 46 for thecommodity 16. Extending upwardly within thereservoir 46 from thebase 42 is a hollowcylindrical seat member 48 adapted to receive the lower portion of a hollowcylindrical nozzle member 50 which extends upwardly and outwardly to the atmosphere. Located approximately centrally of thenozzle member 50 is a cir cular peripheral toggle or diaphragm member 52 seated in acircular groove 54 in the upper end of the housing 40. The diaphragm member 52 may be formed from any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, metal coated plastic, or a laminate of the two materials. The diaphragm 52 may be formed as part of thenozzle member 50 or may be formed in two pieces with a stem attached to the nozzle and a separate flexing member seated on the stem (not shown). Additionally, a spring (not shown) may be provided to bias the flexible toggle member.

Anannular seal 56, for example neoprene, may be provided between the outer rim of the toggle member 52 and the housing 40 as shown. A circular seal orcap member 58 is attached, as by sonic welding, snap fitting, or bolting, to the outer end of the housing 40 and theseal cap 58 includes a central bore 60 to loosely receive thenozzle member 50. Thenozzle 50 is capped at itsbase 62 and has one Or preferably two opposed ports 64 adjacent thebase 62 and opening outwardly from anozzle discharge port 66 which opens to the atmosphere. An O-ring 68 and aretainer ring 70, retained inrespective pockets 72 and 74 of theseat member 48, act as a guide and seal for the lower portion of thenozzle 50. A central bore 76 of theretainer ring 70 is sized to loosely receive thenozzle 50 and to allow passage of thecommodity 16 therebetween.

Ahollow needle member 78 is located centrally of thebase 42 of the housing 40 and extends downwardly therefrom. Aport 80 connects theneedle member 78 with thereservoir 46. As the dispensingassembly 14 is attached to thecapsule 12, theneedle 78 punctures thediaphragm 24 allowing thecommodity 16 to flow from theaccumulator 32 orstandpipe 20 into thereservoir 46. Aneedle valve 82 is screw-threaded into aside port 84 of the housing 40 and may be used to adjust the rate of flow of thecommodity 16 from theport 80 into thereservoir 46. Theneedle valve 82 and the fixedorifice 38 beneath theaccumulator 32 thereby provide two independent flow regulators for thecommodity 16. Theneedle valve 82, being adjustable, may additionally completely block the flow of thecommodity 16 into thereservoir 46, thereby serving as a means for shutting oil the entire dispensingassembly 14.

As can be seen, thenozzle 50 and the toggle member 52 provide a discharge valve means for thecommodity 16 accumulated within thereservoir 46. When the nozzle is in the position as shown in FIG. 1, the O-ring 68 prevents flow of the commodity from thereservoir 46 to the side ports 64 of thenozzle 50. When thenozzle 50 is in the position as shown by FIG. 2, the side ports 64 are raised above the O-ring 68 and thecommodity 16 may flow into thenozzle port 66 to be discharged into the atmosphere. Discharge of thecommodity 16 into the atmosphere is produced by the initial pressure of thepropellant 18 in thecapsule 12. The toggle or diaphragm member 52 is adapted to snap between the position in FIG. 1 and the position in FIG. 2 carrying with it thenozzle member 50, and therefore thenozzle 50 and toggle member 52 reciprocate between these two positions which constitute, respectively, the closed and open positions of the discharge valve means.

Initially, the toggle or diaphragm member 52 is selfbiased due to its inherent construction into the position in FIG. 1 where the valve means is closed. A separate biasing means may be employed to bias the diaphragm member 52 into its said initial position, for example as shown by spring-biasing means 262 in FIG. 5. As thecommodity 16 accumulates in theaccumulator 32 from the pressure of thepropellant 18 and flows into thereservoir 46, the accumulation of the commodity in thereservoir 46 exerts pressure on the diaphragm or toggle 52. When this pressure exceeds the preloading tension in the toggle 52, the toggle snaps upwardly into the second position in FIG. 2, or the open discharge valve position, where thecommodity 16 in thereservoir 46 is discharged into the atmosphere. The amount ofcommodity 16 discharged is usually all or part of that portion of the commodity within thereservoir 46; however, some of the commodity Within theaccumulator 32 may be discharged as well under certain conditions. When sufficient commodity is so discharged, the pressure in thereservoir 46 recedes to below the prestressed tension or loading force of the toggle 52 and the toggle 52 snaps back to the closed valve position where thenozzle 58 is reciprocated to its position as shown in FIG. 1. This procedure is automatically repeated until the supply of thecommodity 16 in thecapsule 12 is exhausted.

The time interval between successive discharges of thecommodity 16 from thereservoir 46 is dependent upon the size of theorifice 38 as well as the position of theneedle valve 82 with respect to the port 88. Theaccumulator 32 with theorifice 38 serves as one flow regulator and time interval control mechanism while theneedle valve 82 andreservoir 46 serve as another such mechanism. Of course,orifice 38 orneedle valve 82, or both, may be omitted. Adjusting the position of theneedle valve 82 provides a means for varying the time interval between successive discharges of thecommodity 16. When the supply of thecommodity 16 is exhausted, the dispensingassembly 14 may be detached and reused on anothersimilar capsule 12, and the depleted capsule may be disposed of. Because thediaphragm 24 is self-sealing, the dispensingassembly 14 may be removed prior to the exhaustion of thecommodity 16, and thecapsule 12 may be stored for reuse.

It is apparent, therefore, that the automatic dispenser of FIG. 1 provides a mechanically simple and inexpensive dispensing assembly for the stored substance. The dispensing assembly is detachable and reusable, and the capsule for the stored substance can be discarded when the supply of the substance is exhausted. A simple recipro cable nozzle member with its toggle diaphragm provides the discharge valve means for the dispensing assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, anotherembodiment 98 of an automatic dispenser is shown. In this embodiment, a dispensingassembly 94 is contained within the container orcapsule 12 which is similar to the capsule of FIG. 1. The dispensingassembly 94 is suitably mounted within thelower cup member 32 which served as the accumulator in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The dispensable substance is again shown as including adispensable commodity 16 and apropellant 18, as exemplary. Thecommodity 16 is forced by thepropellant 18 into thestandpipe 20, thence through thetubular protrusion 36 of thebase 34 of thecup member 32. By placing theorifice 38 at the base of thestandpipe 28, an accumulation chamber 96 may be formed in the standpipe beneath the dispensingassembly 94.

Ahollow nozzle member 58 and a toggle diaphragm member 52, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, reciprocate between a first and second position and constitute the discharge valve means. A hollowcylindrical member 98 with a base 188 forms the body or housing of the dispensingassembly 94 where acentral reservoir 182 is formed about the base of thenozzle 58. The inner portion of thenozzle 58 is seated in acylindrical bore 184 in the base 108 where a neoprene O-ring 186 is suitably retained by acircular retaining ring 188.

The retainingring 188 has a central opening 189 sized to loosely receive the inner portion of thenozzle 58 and allowing thecommodity 16 to pass therebetween to the side ports 64 of thenozzle 58. A port 118 leads from thereservoir 182 through theretainer ring 188 and the base 188 to thetube member 36 and the accumulation area 96 of thestandpipe 28. An upper retaining cup or seal member 112 is provided at the top of the dispensingassembly 94 and is suitably attached to theupper rim portion 38 of thecapsule 12. The retaining cup 112 is centrally bored to receive the upper portion of thenozzle 58 as it reciprocates between its first and second positions, which correspond to the closed and open positions of the discharge valve means.

The periodic discharge of thecommodity 16 again results from the pressure difierentials between the selfbiased toggle or diaphragm member 52 and the pressure from the accumulation of thecommodity 16 in thereservoir 102. The rate of flow of thecommodity 16 is regulated by the fixedorifice 38 in the base of thestandpipe 28. A cap member 114 (shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3) may be attached at the top of thecapsule 12 and prevents thenozzle 58 from moving from its first position to its second position. The cap member 114 may therefore shut off operation of the dispensingassembly 94. When the supply of thecommodity 16 is exhausted, the entire dispenser, including thecapsule 12 and the dispensingassembly 94, may be discarded.

Another embodiment of the invention, as indicated by 128, is shown in FIG. 4. A preferably detachable and reuseable dispensing assembly 124 is shown secured to atypical aerosol capsule 12 with adispensable substance 15 including acommodity 16 under pressure from apropellant 18 forcing thecommodity 16 up through thestandpipe 28, as with the embodiment of FIG. 1. A typicalrelease valve mechanism 122 is shown at the top of thecapsule 12 and is suitably attached to acap member 126 which in turn is secured to the upperperipheral rim 38 of thecapsule 12. Atube member 128 protrudes beneath therelease valve mechanism 122 where it is received by the upper portion of thestandpipe 20. Thetube member 128 may include afixed orifice 138 to regulate the fiow of thecommodity 16 into thevalve mechanism 122 which is normally closed before the dispensing assembly 124 is attached to thecapsule 12. Thecap 126 may be threaded about the upper portion of thevalve mechanism 122, or is otherwise suitably formed for attachment of the dispensing assembly 124.

The dispensing assembly 124 includes twobody members 132 and 134 which are attached together, for example, byset screws 136 to form the housing. Abase member 138 is suitably attached to themember 132, for example by the threaded bore 148 inmember 132. Thebase member 138 has a threadedbore 142 which receives the threaded portion of thecap 126 about thevalve mechanism 122. Apin 144 in thebase member 138 protrudes downwardly within thebore 142 and applies pressure to a spring-loadedvalve member 146 of thevalve mechanism 122 as the dispensing assembly 124 is attached to thecapsule 12, thereby opening thevalve mechanism 122 allowing thecommodity 16 to flow into aport 148 of thebase member 138 and through an orifice 158 and thence into areservoir 152 in the dispensing assembly 124. The orifice 158 regulates flow of thecommodity 16 into thereservoir 152. As shown by FIG. 6, the orifice 158 is formed in anorifice assembly 151 sandwiched between twoannular seals 154 of neoprene or any suitable material, and the orifice itself may be of quite small diameter, for example .004 inch at its narrowest point. From theorifice 158 aport 156 leads to thereservoir 152.

The discharge mechanism of the dispensing assembly 124 is similar to that shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and includes a nozzle member 158 with atoggle diaphragm member 168 suitably received in themember 132, as shown in FIG. 4. Anozzle port 162 in the outer portion of the nozzle member 158 leads to the atmosphere and the inner portion of the nozzle member 158 moves or reciprocates within a bore 164 in themember 134. The outer portion of the nozzle member 158 is loosely received by acircular hole 166 in themember 132 where the nozzle member 158 is retained by an O-ring 168 and aretainer ring 178 suitably seated in themember 132 as shown. Thetoggle diaphragm member 168 is self-biased into its first position as shown in FIG. 4, constituting the closed position of the discharge mechanism, where the O-ring 168 prevents flow of thecommodity 16 into one or preferably twoopposed nozzle ports 172 leading to thenozzle discharge port 162. Pressure from thecommodity 16 accumulating in thereservoir 152 snaps thediaphragm member 168 rearwardly moving the nozzle member 158 to its second position where thecommodity 16 flows past theretainer ring 178 and into theside ports 172 and thenozzle discharge port 162 and thence into the atmosphere. When thecommodity 16 from thereservoir 152 is dispensed, the pretensioning force on thetoggle diaphragm member 160 snaps the discharge mechanism back into its first position. The nozzle and toggle members, therefore, form a simple unitary discharge valve mechanism for the dispensing assembly 124.

A shut-offdevice 173 is provided for the dispensing assembly 124 and includes a pin 174 with a shank 176 having two peripheral grooves or races 178. The shut-offdevice 173 is a ball-detent spring-loaded system where a spring plunger 180 biases a ball orball detent 182 into one of thegrooves 178. The spring plunger 180 is adjustably attached to themember 134, for example, by screw threading as shown. Normally the shut-offdevice 173 is in the open position, as indicated, and the dispensing assembly 124 will operate continuously until thecommodity 16 is exhausted from thecapsule 12. By pressing the pin 174 inwardly, the shaft 176 moves inwardly to abut against the rear face of the nozzle member 158 where the spring-loadedball detent 182 is biased into theouter groove 178 to lock the pin in position. The nozzle member 158 is thereby prevented from moving from its first position to its second or open-valve position, and the dispensing assembly is effectively shut off. To reset the dispensing assembly for automatic operation, the pin 174 is pulled outwardly until theball detent 182 is biased into theinner groove 178 of the shaft 176.

When the supply of thesubstance 15 is exhausted, the dispensing assembly 124 may be detached from thecapsule 12 and reused, and thecapsule 12 may be discarded. Thebase member 138 of the dispensing assembly 124 may also be detached from the dispensing assembly 124 and discarded or may be reused as well.

FIG. 7 shows a dispensing assembly 124a similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but including another form ofshutoff device 188 and a different form of fixedorifice 15%. The remainder of the dispensing assembly 124a and itssupply capsule 12 are similar to that shown and discussed in connection with FIG. 4. The fixed ori fice 150a, as shown in FIG. 9, includes twocircular gaskets 184 of neoprene or similar material which sandwich a thin piece ofaluminum foil 186. Theorifice 150a typically is formed by a needle hole, for example .004 inch in diameter, in the center of thealuminum foil 186, and theorifice 150a again opens to theport 156 which empties into thereservoir 152.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a shut-oif device 188 is provided for the dispensing assembly 124a. The shut-offdevice 188 includes anarm 190 bent at an angle of approximately 130 where one end of the arm is rotatably attached to apin 192. Thearm 190 is adapted to pivot within agroove 194 in a body member 13411.Member 134a is preferably circular as shown in FIG. 8. During normal operation of the dispensing assembly 124a, thearm 190 rests against apin 196 allowingnozzle member 158a to reciprocate within a bore 16412 of thebody member 134a. To shut off the dispensing assembly 124a, thearm 190 is pivoted counterclockwise to the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 8 where thearm 190 abuts against theinner face 198 of thevalve member 158a thereby preventing movement of thevalve member 158a from its first to its second position. When operation of the dispenser is again desired, thearm 190 is rotated clockwise to its position resting againstpin 196 as shown in FIG. 8. In the preferred embodiment, pins 192 and 196 are portions of the shafts of theset screws 136 which attach thebody members 134a and 132 of the dispensing assembly 124a.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 10, 11 and 12, anotherembodiment 210 of an automatic dispenser is shown. A dispensingassembly 214 is preferably detachably connected to acapsule 12 similar to the capsule of the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. Thedispensable substance 15 may again include acommodity 16 under pressure from apropellant 18 forcing thecommodity 16 up throughstand pipe 20 to arelease valve mechanism 122 attached to capmember 126 where a fixed orifice in thestandpipe 20 regulates flow of thecommodity 16. Again thecap member 126 may be screw-threaded about the upper portion ofrelease valve mechanism 122.

The dispensingassembly 214 includes atop body member 216, anintermediate body member 218, and abase member 220 forming the housing, where thebase member 220 includes a threadedbore 222 to receive thecap member 126 of thecapsule 12. As the dispensingassembly 214 is attached to thecapsule 12, a pin member 224 in thebase member 220 opens therelease valve mechanism 122 enabling thecommodity 16 to flow through aport 226 past an adjustable orifice 228 totwin accumulation chambers 230 and thence to areservoir 232. The threebody members 216, 218 and 220 are suitably attached together, as for example byset screws 234.

The adjustable orifice 228 is formed by aneedle valve 236 which projects into the end opening of theport 226. Theneedle valve 236 is adjustable and extends from a screw-threadedcap member 240 which seats on a threadedprotrusion 242 on thebody member 216. By adjusting thecap member 240, theneedle valve 236 in turn adjusts the rate of flow of thecommodity 16 from theport 226. Theneedle valve 236 may be used as a shut-01f device for the dispensingassembly 214 when theneedle valve 236 completely blocks the opening of theport 226.

Asmall chamber 244 receives thecommodity 16 when it has passed the orifice 228. Twoannular neoprene gaskets 246 seal the edges of thebody members 216 and 218, and 218 and 220, respectively, as they abut and form thechamber 244. Fromchamber 244, fiow of thecommodity 16 is diverted into twoports 248 each leading to anaccumulation chamber 230 in theintermediate member 218. Suitable sealing means 250 are provided between the base portions of theaccumulation chambers 230 and thebase member 220 which forms the bottoms of the chambers. The sealing means 250 may be annular diaphragm members as shown.Ports 252 leads from theaccumulation chambers 230 to thereservoir 232.

The discharge mechanism for thecommodity 16 within thereservoir 232 is similar to the discharge mechanisms previously discussed in connection with the other embodiments and includes anozzle member 256 with atoggle diaphragm member 258 suitably seated in theintermediate body member 218 of the dispensingassembly 214. Thenozzle member 256 reciprocates between a first and second position and constitutes the discharge valve means as previously discussed, where an annular O-ring 260 (FIG. 12) blocks flow of thecommodity 16 toside ports 262 of thenozzle member 256 when the nozzle is in its first or valve-closed position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 12.

Thenozzle member 256 is biased into said first position by the self-biasing pretension force on thetoggle diaphragm member 258 and also by a supplementary springbiasing means 263.

The upper portion of thenozzle member 256 may form an elongatedcircular shaft 264 which reciprocates within ahollow cap member 266. Thecap member 266 is suitably attached to thebody member 216 as for example by thescrew threads 268 as shown. Aspring member 270 preferably surrounds theshaft 264 of thenozzle member 256 within the bore of thecap member 266 and abuts against thediaphragm member 258 at one end and against ascrew insert member 272 of thecap member 266 at the other end, and acts to bias thediaphragm member 258 and thenozzle member 256 into the said first position. By adjustingscrew insert member 272 orcap member 266, the biasing force applied by biasing means 263 is correspondingly adjusted, providing another means of varying the discharge cycle time.

As thecommodity 16 accumulates in thereservoir 232, pressure against thetoggle diaphragm 258 and thespring 270 increases until thediaphragm 258 snaps to its second position moving thenozzle member 256 upwardly allowing thecommodity 16 to flow into theside ports 262 of thenozzle member 256 and through anozzle port 274 into aport 276 of thebase member 220 and thence to the atmosphere through anopening 278. The second position of thediaphragm 258 and thenozzle member 256, or the open discharge valve position, is shown in FIG. 10. The pretension force from thediaphragm member 258 and the biasing force from thespring member 270 force the diaphragm to snap back to its first position when thecommodity 16 has been discharged from thereservoir 232 and theaccumulation chambers 230. This process is repeated until thecommodity 16 is exhausted from thecapsule 12, or until theneedle valve 236 is adjusted to block orifice 228 to shut off the dispenser. When thecommodity 16 has been exhausted from thecapsule 12, thecapsule 12 is detached from the dispensingassembly 214 and discarded, whereas the dispensingassembly 214 may be reused.

While the preferred structures of the various embodiments have been shown and disclosed, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an automatic dispenser, the combination of:

a storage capsule;

a reservoir, said storage capsule containing a dispensable substance including means forcing fiow of said substance into said reservoir; and

discharge valve means for dispensing said substance at predetermined intervals from said reservoir, including a nozzle member and a toggle member forming a unitary mechanism and having a flow passage therethrough, said nozzle member and toggle member being reciprocable between a first position wherein said discharge valve means is closed and a second position wherein said discharge valve means is open, with said flow passage providing an outlet from said reservoir when said nozzle member and toggle member move to said second position, and biasing means urging said toggle member toward said first position, said toggle member including means responsive to pressure in said reservoir urging said toggle member toward said second position.

2. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 including shut-01f means for preventing movement of said nozzle member and toggle member from said first position to said second position.

3. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said toggle member is self-biased toward said first position.

4. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said toggle member is spring-loaded toward said first position.

5. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 including means for varying the rate of flow of said substance into said reservoir.

6. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 including an accumulation chamber for said substance communicating with said reservoir and a fixed orifice regulating flow of said susbtance into said chamber.

7. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said reservoir, said discharge valve means, and said biasing means are housed within a dispensing assembly releasably attached to said capsule.

8. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said reservoir, said discharge valve means, and said biasing means are housed within a dispensing assembly permanently affixed to said capsule.

9. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 7 including a fixed orifice contained within said capsule regulating flow of said substance into said reservoir.

10. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein said capsule includes a release means normally in a closed position preventing flow of said substance from said capsule, said dispenser including flow control means responsive to said attachment for opening said release means to permit flow of said substance into said reservoir.

11. A dispensing assembly for a capsule containing a dispensable substance including means forcing flow of said substance, said assembly including:

a reservoir for receiving a portion of said substance;

and

discharge valve means for dispensing said substance from said reservoir at predetermined intervals and including a nozzle member and a toggle member forming a reciprocable discharge mechanism having a flow passage therethrough, said discharge mechanism having a first position wherein said discharge valve means is closed and a second position wherein said discharge valve means is open, with said flow passage providing an outlet from said reservoir when said discharge mechanism moves to said second position, and biasing means urging said discharge mechanism toward said first position, said toggle member including means responsive to pressure in said reservoir urging said discharge mechanism toward said second position.

12. In an automatic dispenser for use with a container charged with a fluid under pressure, the invention comprising:

a housing for mounting to said container and including means defining a valve chamber;

flow means defining a continuously open flow passage between the interior of said container and said valve chamber; and

valve means including a flexible diaphragm carrying an outlet nozzel and moun ed in said housing forming a wall of said valve chamber, said diaphragm and nozzle being movable between a blocking position blocking fluid flow through said nozzle and a discharge position permitting fluid flow from said chamber through said nozzle, and means for biasing said diaphragm toward said blocking position.

13. An automatic dispenser as defined inclaim 12 in which said diaphragm is self-biased.

14. An automatic dispenser as defined inclaim 12 in which said means for biasing includes a spring carried in said housing.

15. An automatic dispenser as defined inclaim 12 wherein said flow means includes a rate of flow control restriction in said passage.

16. An automatic dispenser as defined inclaim 15 including means for varying said rate of flow.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,766 11/1954 Peltz 22270 X 3,187,949 6/1965 Mangel 22270 3,211,336 10/1965 Gasser 222335 X 3,258,170 6/1966 Ayres et a1.

3,305,134 2/1967 Carmichael et al. 22270 3,321,114 5/1967 Croyle 222499 3,326,418 6/1967 Kropp 22270 3,360,165 12/1967 Iketani 22254 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner FREDERICK P. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner US. 01. X.R. 222-70, 499; 137-62414

Images