Valve stem lock mechanism

Abstract

The open armature for a liquid container is intended to be connected to an outlet port or outlet opening of a transport and storage container, particularly for a liquid, and comprises an armature housing (11) in which a valve body is disposed that is pivotable by a valve stem (16) and serves to open and close a flow cross-section of an outlet pipe, a connection end of the valve stem (16) for connection to the valve body disposed in the outlet pipe of the armature housing (11), and an actuation end of the valve stem (16) that protrudes from the armature housing (11) through a housing dome (21) formed in the armature housing (11). A mating engagement is established between the housing dome (21) and the valve stem portion housed within the housing dome (21) to axially fix the valve stem (16) within the armature housing (11).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an opener armature for liquid containers, in particular to an opener armature for connection to an outlet port or outlet opening of a transport and storage container for liquids, comprising an armature housing in which a valve body is arranged that is pivotable by a valve stem and serves to open and close a flow cross-section of an outlet pipe, wherein a connection end of the valve stem connected to the valve body is arranged in the outlet pipe of the armature housing and an operating end of the valve stem protrudes from the armature housing through a housing dome formed on the armature housing. [Background technology]

[0002] US Patent No. 5,399,633 discloses an opening armature of the above-mentioned type, in which the valve stem is axially fixed within the armature housing between a housing dome and a valve stem portion housed within the housing dome, with a pressure-fit connection between the valve stem portion and the housing dome being achieved by a suitable fit between the diameter of the valve stem portion and the inner diameter of the housing dome.

[0003] Therefore, in order to mount the valve stem in the housing dome of the armature housing, the valve stem portion of the valve stem must be pressed into the hole in the housing dome to ensure that there is sufficient friction lock between the valve stem portion and the housing dome to axially fix the valve stem in the armature housing. The pressing force required for mounting to provide a corresponding pulling force for the valve stem removal must be so great that the valve stem cannot be unintentionally removed from the armature housing during the operation of the opening armature. Thus, a pressing force greater than that actually required to install the valve stem is obtained. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2018 102 062 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The object of the present invention is therefore to propose an opening armature with a valve stem which requires little installation force without adversely affecting the secure axial fixation of the valve stem in the armature housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve said object, the opener armature according to the invention has the features of claim 1.

[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a mating engagement is established between the housing dome and a valve stem portion housed within the housing dome to axially secure the valve stem within the armature housing.

[0008] By axially fixing the valve stem via a fit between the valve stem and the housing dome, the installation force required to install the valve stem simply needs to be sufficient for the fit to be established, and the valve stem is axially fixed via the established fit regardless of the installation force.

[0009] Particularly preferably, the engagement means is realized with a radial dome protrusion formed at the passage opening of the valve stem part for establishing the mating engagement, which also serves as the passage of the valve stem part, and the radial dome protrusion forms an axial locking mechanism together with the radial stem protrusion of the valve stem part. Due to this preferred embodiment, an armature housing that is typically manufactured by injection molding can be manufactured without the need to change the mold used for the injection molding process. Instead, an armature housing having a housing dome formed therein, which requires the use of a molding core defining a receiving hole for receiving the valve stem, can be manufactured with only minor modifications of the molding core used so far, without the need to change the mold itself or even requiring a new mold.

[0010] If the dome protrusion is formed at the axially lower end of the passage opening in the housing dome, the axial fixation is realized in the transition area between the outlet tube and the housing dome and thus at a particularly stiff point of the armature housing.

[0011] Preferably, the dome projection is inclined, with a relatively short locking ramp rising sharply in the direction of the valve stem installation, and a relatively long, flat latching ramp falling in the direction of the valve stem installation, which means that the locking ramp and the latching ramp are easy to manufacture in an injection molding process for manufacturing an armature housing with a core that is forcibly demolded. In addition, the locking ramp forms an obstacle that is relatively easy to overcome during the installation of the valve stem, and the latching ramp forms an upward slope in the removal direction, preventing the valve stem from being removed unless a relatively large pulling force is applied.

[0012] Combined with the advantageous configuration of the dome projection described above, it is particularly advantageous if the stem projection is also of a sloping shape and has a locking ramp descending towards the installation direction and a locking shoulder formed at the end of the ramp, since the inverse design of the locking ramp of the dome projection and the stem projection allows the locking ramps to slide against each other during installation, thus allowing installation with very little installation force.

[0013] However, in the removal direction, the locking shoulder of the stem projection and the rising latch ramp in the removal direction together form an obstacle to axial movement, and a removal force significantly greater than the installation force must be applied to move the locking shoulder of the stem projection past the dome projection.

[0014] Preferably, the valve stem portion is realized as a sealing portion for receiving a radial sealing element of the sealing means for sealing the valve stem against the housing dome, so that the housing dome has a constant inner diameter over the height of the dome protrusion, except in the area where the dome protrusion is formed, which further simplifies the manufacture of the armature housing in an injection molding process.

[0015] When the outer diameter of the stem projection corresponds to the outer diameter of the stem portion, the stem projection can simultaneously function as a surge collar located upstream of the sealing means, allowing the volume force of liquid flowing out of the armature housing acting on the seal in the sealing portion to be mitigated in terms of its effect on the sealing means.

[0016] Adjacent to the dome projection, the valve stem part advantageously has in particular a support collar for resting in a supporting manner on the locking inclined surface of the dome projection, which thus simultaneously functions as an axial seat for the valve stem.

[0017] If the support collar and the locking projection additionally have a corresponding cross-sectional profile, the dome projection and the support collar together form an axial sliding bearing for comfortable operation of the opening armature. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing an opening armature connected to a transport and storage container for liquids, the valve stem being guided in a housing dome of the armature housing; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the valve stem portion attached to the housing dome of the armature housing. [Diagram 3] 11 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a valve stem portion. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an opening armature with a valve stem portion attached to a housing dome of an armature housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the opener armature will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 shows an open armature 10 having an armature housing 11 having an inlet end 12 connected by a cap nut 13 to an outlet port 14 which is located on a liquid container 15, only the armature connection of which is shown in Figure 1. A liquid container 15 of the type shown in Figure 1 may be manufactured, for example by blow moulding, form part of an intermediate bulk container (IBC) and be placed within a cage which is placed on a pallet.

[0021] 1 shows the opening armature 10 in its closed position, in which a valve body 17 arranged on a valve stem 16 blocks a flow cross-section of an outlet pipe 19 formed by the armature housing 11. In the embodiment shown here, the valve body 17 is connected to a connection end 22 of the valve stem 16 via a stem and hub connection 18. An actuating end 20 of the valve stem 16 protrudes from the armature housing 11 through a housing dome 21 formed on the armature housing 11, and a valve stem portion 23 of the valve stem 16 is received within the housing dome 21.

[0022] As can be seen in particular in Fig. 2, an engagement means 24 is formed between the housing dome 21 and the valve stem part 23 formed in the transition area between the connection end 22 and the working end 20, the engagement means 24 having a radial dome projection 26 formed in the passage opening 25 of the housing dome 21 and realized in this embodiment as a ring web. A radial stem projection 27 is formed on the valve stem part 23. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the valve stem projection 27 and the dome projection 26 together form an axially acting locking mechanism when the valve stem 16 is installed in the armature housing 11, for which the valve stem 16 is introduced into the housing dome 21 from above in the installation direction 32.

[0023] Both the dome protrusion 26 and the stem protrusion 27 have an inclined shape. When viewed in the installation direction 32, the dome protrusion 26 first has a locking inclined surface 28 that rises relatively short and steeply. The locking inclined surface 28 guides the stem protrusion 27 during installation. Once the locking inclined surface 29 formed on the stem protrusion 27 and descending in the installation direction slides past the dome protrusion 26, the locking inclined surface 28 locks the stem protrusion 27 behind the dome protrusion 26.

[0024] In contrast to the relatively low pushing force required during installation to reach the configuration shown in FIG. 2, where the stem projection 27 is locked behind the dome projection 26, a pulling force significantly greater than the pushing force is required to break the locked connection between the stem 16 of the armature housing 11 and the housing dome 21 due to the latching ramp 30 of the dome projection 26 rising in the removal direction 33 and the locking shoulder 31 formed on the stem projection 27.

[0025] This ensures that separation of the valve stem 16 from the armature housing 11 can only be the result of an intentional removal process, and cannot occur during the normal opening process of the valve. In contrast, due to the opposite upward direction of the locking ramps 28 of the dome projection 26 and the locking ramps 29 of the valve stem projection 27, only a relatively low pressing or mating force is required, which allows the locking ramps 28, 29 to slide against each other when establishing a connection between the valve stem 16 and the dome projection 26.

[0026] As further shown in FIG. 2 , adjacent to the dome projection 26, the valve stem portion 23 has a support collar 34 for resting in a supporting manner on the locking inclined surface 28 of the dome projection 26, the support collar 34 locking the inclined surface 28 and having corresponding cross-sectional contours 35, 36.

[0027] In another embodiment, FIG. 3 shows a valve stem part 37, which differs from the valve stem part 23 in that it does not have a support collar formed on the groove side 38 of a receiving groove 39 designed to receive a radial sealing element 43 and having a cross-sectional profile 36 matching the cross-sectional profile 35 of the dome projection 26, but has a chamfer 40 arranged on the groove side 38 facing the dome projection 26. This ensures that the valve stem 16 is supported in the axial direction as shown in FIG. 4 by a handle 41 connected to the valve stem 16 and contacts the upper edge 42 of the housing dome 21 only, preventing physical contact between the groove side 38 and the dome projection 26. This ensures that the groove side 38 does not cause undesirable damage to the dome projection 26. If the valve stem 16 is pushed too far into the housing dome 21 during installation, the desired large pulling force will not be obtained.

Claims

1. An open armature (10) for a liquid container for connection to an outlet port or outlet opening of a transport and storage container for liquids, comprising: The opening armature (10) an armature housing (11) in which a valve body (17) is arranged, which is pivotable by a valve stem (16) and serves to open and close the flow cross section of an outlet pipe (19); a connection end (22) of the valve stem (16) for connection to the valve body (17) disposed in the outlet pipe (19) of the armature housing (11); an actuation end (20) of the valve stem (16) protruding from the armature housing (11) through a housing dome (21) formed in the armature housing (11); a mating engagement is established between the housing dome (21) and a valve stem portion (23) of a valve stem (16) housed within the housing dome (21) to axially secure the valve stem (16) within the armature housing (11); Engagement means (24) are provided for establishing said mating engagement; The engagement means (24) is formed in a passage opening (25) of the housing dome (21) and has a radially extending annular dome protrusion (26) which also serves as a passage for the valve stem portion (23), The radially extending dome projection (26) forms an axial locking mechanism together with an annular stem projection (27) of the valve stem portion (23); A region of the valve body (17) has a smaller diameter than a valve stem portion (23) of the valve stem (16), and the valve stem projection (27) extends radially outward from the region of the smaller diameter.

1. An opening armature for a liquid container, comprising:

2. The dome protrusion (26) is formed at the axially lower end of the passage opening (25) in the housing dome (21).

2. The opener armature according to claim 1 .

3. The dome projection (26) It has a sloping shape, a relatively short locking ramp (28) that rises sharply in the installation direction (32) of the valve stem (16); and a relatively long, flat latch ramp (30) that slopes downward in the installation direction (32) of the valve stem (16).

3. An opening armature according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The valve stem projection (27) It has a sloping shape, a locking inclined surface (29) that descends in an installation direction (32); and a lock shoulder (31) formed at the end of the lock inclined surface (29).

4. The opener armature according to claim 3.

5. The valve stem portion (23) is realized as a sealing portion receiving a radial sealing element (43) for sealing the valve stem (16) against the housing dome (21). An opening armature according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The outer diameter of the valve stem projection (27) corresponds to the outer diameter of the valve stem portion (23).

6. The opener armature according to claim 5.

7. Adjacent to the dome projection (26), the valve stem portion (23) has a support collar (34) for resting in a supporting manner on the locking ramp (28) of the dome projection (26). An opening armature according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An open armature (10) for a liquid container for connection to an outlet port or outlet opening of a transport and storage container for liquids, comprising: The opening armature (10) an armature housing (11) in which a valve body (17) is arranged, which is pivotable by a valve stem (16) and serves to open and close the flow cross section of an outlet pipe (19); a connection end (22) of the valve stem (16) for connection to the valve body (17) disposed in the outlet pipe (19) of the armature housing (11); an actuation end (20) of the valve stem (16) protruding from the armature housing (11) through a housing dome (21) formed in the armature housing (11); a mating engagement is established between the housing dome (21) and a valve stem portion (23) of a valve stem (16) housed within the housing dome (21) to axially secure the valve stem (16) within the armature housing (11); Engagement means (24) are provided for establishing said mating engagement; The engagement means (24) is formed in a passage opening (25) of the housing dome (21) and has a radially extending dome protrusion (26) which also serves as a passage for the valve stem portion (23), The radially extending dome projection (26) forms an axial locking mechanism together with a stem projection (27) of the valve stem portion (23); adjacent to the dome projection (26), the valve stem portion (23) has a support collar (34) for resting in a supporting manner on the locking ramp (28) of the dome projection (26); the support collar (34) and the locking ramp (28) have corresponding cross-sectional profiles (35, 36); A region of the valve body (17) has a smaller diameter than a valve stem portion (23) of the valve stem (16), and the valve stem projection (27) extends radially outward from the region of the smaller diameter. An opening armature characterized by:

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