Joint for two-way valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a two-way valve comprising a valve body containing a first-way joint (50) and a second-way joint (40). The valve body (20) comprises a first collecting chamber (22) and a second collecting chamber (23), which are separated by a receiving space (24). The first-way joint consists of a joint unit (50) received in the receiving space and comprising two distinct joints (51, 52) separated by a spacer (53) in the form of a rigid circular ring, the two joints and the spacer being three separate pieces. The inner diameter of the joints (51, 52) is smaller than the outer diameter of the stem, and their outer diameter is greater than the inner diameter of the receiving space (24) of the valve body (20). The inner diameter of the spacer is greater than or equal to the diameter of the stem, and its outer diameter is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the receiving space (24).

Description

Description Seal for two-way valve Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a two-way valve having two separate ways for withdrawing two products contained in two different spaces of a housing, the two-way valve comprising: - a cup, to which is attached - a valve body extending along a main axis and containing - at least one lower part of a two-way stem movable between an open position and a closed position, preferably in a movement parallel to the main axis, - a first-way seal to seal the first way of the valve in the closed position of the two-way stem, - a second-way seal to seal the second way of the valve in the closed position of the two-way stem, - immobilization means to immobilize the first-way joint, and - a spring tending to push the two-way stem into the closed position. The invention also relates to a seal unit. Prior art

[0002] Two-way valves allow the sampling of two different products stored in two separate spaces of a common housing and subjected to pressure acting on both spaces. They also allow the sampling, for example, of a liquid contained in the lower part of a housing and a gas located above the liquid. In order to maintain the separation between the two products until the valve outlet, two different sampling paths must be provided. This is achieved by using a valve body with two separate sampling chambers and a two-way stem. A concentric two-way stem is generally used, the inlet ports of which open onto the lateral face of the stem in two different transverse planes. The two sampling chambers of the valve body are then placed one above the other. The seal that normally serves to seal the lower inlet port of the first path also serves to separate the two sampling chambers.This first-way seal is made of elastomer. It tightly surrounds the stem in the annular area surrounding the first-way stem port. It is a flat seal of sufficient thickness to ensure a seal between the first-way stem port and the stem. each of the two sampling chambers. To limit as much as possible friction with the stem when it moves from the closed position to the open position and vice versa, the seal has an annular recess in its inner cylindrical face. The inlet orifice of the first channel of the stem opens into this recess when the stem is in the closed position. Thus, in this closed position, the inlet orifice of the first channel is isolated both from the first sampling chamber, which it reaches in the open position of the stem, and from the second sampling chamber, which it must not reach under any circumstances to ensure the separation of the two channels. This first channel seal, which is not a standard seal due to the presence of this recess, is relatively expensive. It must be injected and requires specific implementation. In addition, it may have edge defects.Another drawback is that this molded seal is made of a single material. It must therefore be compatible with the two products separated by the seal. However, it has been found that the seal swells upon contact with certain products, particularly oxidizing products. This contributes to increased friction and requires choosing a stronger spring to ensure the valve closes even when the seal is inflated.

[0003] The objective of the invention is to propose a more economical first-way seal. Another objective is to further reduce the friction caused by this first-way seal when moving the stem from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa, even if the seal swells upon contact with a product. Statement of the invention

[0004] This objective is achieved by the fact that - the first way joint consists of a joint unit comprising two separate joints separated by an annular spacer, the two joints and the annular spacer being three separate parts, - the valve body comprises a first sampling chamber forming part of the first path, a second sampling chamber forming part of the second path, and a receiving space separating the two sampling chambers and in which the seal unit is placed, - the two-way stem comprises a first stem path extending between one or more first path inlet ports and a first path outlet opening, - in the closed position of the two-way stem, the first-way inlet port(s) open opposite the spacer, between the first and second seals, - the inner diameter of the seals of the seal unit is less than the outer diameter of the stem in the annular area around the first-way inlet ports, and the outer diameter of the seals of the seal unit, at least when the seals surround the stem in the annular area around the first-way inlet ports, is greater than the inner diameter of the receiving space of the valve body, and - the spacer consists of a rigid ring, preferably circular, whose internal diameter is greater than or equal to the diameter of the stem in the annular zone around the first-way inlet orifices and whose external diameter is less than or equal to the diameter of the receiving space.

[0005] Seals can be O-rings or flat gaskets. It is possible to combine the two types, for example by placing an O-ring below the spacer and a flat gasket above the spacer. The advantage of O-rings is that they reduce the friction surface while ensuring a perfect seal.

[0006] In an alternative embodiment, the joints can be fixed to the spacer. This fixing can be done by gluing, welding or overmolding for example.

[0007] The first sampling chamber forming part of the first path may be provided with a first path port for fluidly contacting it with a first reservoir, and the second sampling chamber forming part of the second path may be provided with one or more second path inlet ports for fluidly contacting it with a second reservoir or with the housing.

[0008] The receiving space may be provided with a shoulder on which a lower face of the spacer rests. In this case, the outside diameter of the lower seal (51) may be less than the outside diameter of the upper seal (52).

[0009] The immobilizing means may include a lower stop and / or an upper stop.

[0010] The lower stop may be in the form of stop ribs extending parallel to the main axis and placed in the first way chamber. These stop ribs terminate at the junction with the receiving space, thus forming a stop for the first seal of the seal unit.

[0011] The upper stop may be in the form of an annular immobilizing spacer placed around the two-way stem between the seal unit and the second-way seal. This keeps the distance between the second-way seal and the seal unit constant while providing a stop for the second seal of the seal unit. The immobilizing spacer preferably comprises a main ring, the lower face of which serves as an upper stop for the seal unit. Radially outwardly directed serration ribs are formed on the outer face of the main ring. These serration ribs extend parallel to the main axis and project above the upper face of the main ring. Their upper edges bear against the second-way seal.

[0012] The two-way stem may include a second stem way that extends between one or more second way inlet ports and a second way outlet opening. In the closed position of the two-way stem, the one or more second way inlet ports open into the second way seal.

[0013] The seals of the seal unit are preferably made of elastomer or elastomer thermoplastic. The spacer of the seal unit is preferably made of polyolefin such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), polyester, polyamide (PA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). When the seals are overmolded or welded onto the spacer, it is necessary that their materials are compatible.

[0014] The valve body is preferably provided with fastening means for securing a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first sampling chamber. If the first reservoir is a flexible bag, these fastening means may be in the form of fins. Alternatively or in addition, the valve body may also be provided with a dip tube lug for securing a dip tube in fluid communication with the first sampling chamber.

[0015] If necessary, the valve body may also be provided with means for attaching a second reservoir in fluid communication with the second sampling chamber. If the second reservoir is a flexible bag, these attachment means may be in the form of fins. In addition to or instead of the second reservoir, means may also be envisaged for attaching one or more dip tubes in fluid communication with the second sampling chamber. The valve may also be used without a reservoir, the first port being used, for example, to sample a product located in the lower part of the housing, and the second port being used to sample the gas placed above the liquid. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] The invention is presented in more detail below with the help of the figures which show: [Figure 1] an exploded view of a two-way valve provided with a seal unit according to the invention; [Figure 2] (a) a longitudinal sectional view of the two-way valve of Figure 1 mounted on a housing and provided with a dip tube and a flexible bag as a first reservoir, and (b) an enlargement at the seal unit; [Figure 3] an exploded view of a joint unit according to the invention with an immobilizing spacer; [Figure 4] a view of the valve body of Figure 1, (a) in perspective and (b) in longitudinal section; [Figure 5] a view of the stem of Figure 1, (a) in perspective and (b) in longitudinal section; [Figure 6] the valve of Figure 1 in the open position; [Figure 7] the valve of Figure 1 in which the seal unit is provided with a first O-ring and a second flat seal; [Figure 8] a longitudinal section of the valve of Figure 1 fitted with a state-of-the-art seal; [Figure 9] a perspective and sectional view of a state-of-the-art joint. Detailed description

[0017] The invention relates to a seal unit for a two-way valve and to a two-way valve provided with such a seal unit.

[0018] Conventionally, the valve is represented with the stem at the top, without this being limiting. The references "top" / "bottom", "upper" / "lower", "above" / "below", etc. have only a relative value in relation to the representations in the attached figures. It goes without saying that, in certain cases, the valve can be used in other positions and that what is at the top in the position represented here will not necessarily be at the top during use. Furthermore, the valve in the assembled state extends along a main axis (A), vertical in the representations in the attached figures. The terms "radial", "axial" and "transverse" refer to this main axis (A).

[0019] There are two kinds of two-way valves: those using two-way stems concentric and those whose paths are parallel and side by side. The invention relates firstly to valves with concentric paths.

[0020] In the example presented here, the valve (1) is essentially made up - a cup (10), - a valve body (20), - a stem (30), - a first-way seal in the form of a seal unit (50) for closing the first way, - a second way seal (40) to close the second way, - an immobilizing spacer (60) separating the seal and the seal unit, and - a spring (70). The valve body (20) is fixed to the cup (10) by any suitable means, in particular by crimping, gluing, welding, snap-fastening. The cup is used to fix the valve on the neck of a housing (80).

[0021] The two-way valve (1) allows two different, generally incompatible, products to be sampled, contained in two separate spaces of the housing (80) to which the valve is attached. The two-way valve therefore has two separate ways, one part of which is located in the valve body (20) and another part in the stem (30). The valve body (20) and the stem (30) are designed to maintain this separation until the outlet of the stem. Usually, the first product is contained in an internal reservoir of the housing (80), for example a flexible bag (81), while the second product is contained either directly in the housing (80) or in a second reservoir, for example a second bag located next to the first (81) or surrounding it. The propellant gas is in the majority of cases in the housing (80) outside the single tank or the two tanks.

[0022] The valve body (20) comprises two sampling chambers (22, 23) separated from each other in a sealed manner. A first valve body path leads from the first reservoir (81) to the first sampling chamber (22) via a first chamber opening and, in this case, the lower part (25) of the valve body, while a second valve body path leads from the second reservoir or from the inside of the housing (80) to the second sampling chamber (23) via one or more second chamber inlet openings (231). In the embodiments presented here, the sealed separation of the two sampling chambers is ensured by the seal unit (50) placed in a receiving space (24) located between the first and second sampling chambers (22, 23). Thus, the first sampling chamber (22) is located below the second sampling chamber (23).

[0023] The stem also comprises two stem ways (313, 323) each having one or more inlet orifices (314, 324) and an outlet orifice at their upper end (311, 321). In the open position of the valve, the inlet orifices (314) of the first stem way (313) are in contact with the first sampling chamber (22) while the inlet orifices (324) of the second stem way (323) are in contact with the second sampling chamber (23). The outlet orifices of the stem ways are designed to be in contact with a diffuser which itself can be two-way to maintain the separation of the two products until the outlet of the diffuser, or single-way when it is preferable for the mixing of the two products to take place in the diffuser.

[0024] The first and second stem paths are concentric. In other words, the first path (313) is located in the center of the stem, while the second path (323), annular in shape, surrounds the first. As a result, the inlet ports (314, 324) of the stem paths are located in two axially offset transverse planes, the first path inlet ports (314) being located lower axially than the second path inlet ports (324). However, nothing would prevent the two paths from being parallel, or the two stem paths from joining into a single path in the stem shaft for mixing of the products before exiting the stem. In both cases, the inlet ports of the two paths are axially offset.

[0025] When the valve is closed, the seal unit (50) separates the first sampling chamber (22) from the first-way inlet ports (314), and the second-way seal (40), which is located at the top of the valve body against the cup, separates the second sampling chamber (23) from the second-way inlet ports (324) which it closes. Regardless of the position of the valve, the seal unit (50) also serves to separate the two sampling chambers (23, 22), and the second-way seal (40) serves to separate the interior of the housing from the exterior.

[0026] In the state of the art shown in Figure 8, the first-way seal consists of an annular seal of sufficient thickness to ensure sealing between, on the one hand, the two sampling chambers (23, 22) of the valve body and, on the other hand, between each sampling chamber (23, 22) of the valve body and the first-way inlet orifices (314) of the stem. To limit friction, a central annular recess has been provided with an axial extent corresponding substantially to half the total thickness of the seal.

[0027] To limit this friction and avoid molding a part having an annular groove open towards the inside of the seal, while maintaining perfect sealing, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention to replace this thick annular seal with a seal unit (50). This seal unit comprises two separate seals (51, 52) separated by a spacer (53). Immobilization means are provided to hold the two seals (51, 52) and the spacer (53) in place when the stem moves towards the open position, then returns to the closed position.

[0028] Each seal (51, 52) is sized to provide sealing between itself and the outer face of the stem in the annular area around the first-way inlet ports (314), and between itself and the inner face of the tubular wall defining the receiving space (24). The seals are preferably O-rings whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the stem in the annular area around the first-way inlet ports (314), and whose outer diameter, at least when surrounding the stem, is greater than the inner diameter of the receiving space (24) of the valve body (20). At least one of the two seals could also be a flat seal, as shown in Figure 7 where the second seal is a flat seal.

[0029] The spacer (53) is preferably made of a rigid circular ring. The spacer could also be made of a split ring. The spacer can be made for example of polyolefin, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The material chosen for the spacer must be sufficiently rigid to ensure the correct positioning of the two seals (51, 52) when moving the stem between the open and closed positions. For example, a material having a ball indentation hardness of between 50 MPa and 100 MPa, preferably between 55 MPa and 75 MPa, can be chosen. The internal dimensions of the ring are such that the stem, at least in the annular area around the first-way inlet ports (314), can easily slide therein without significant friction.In the case presented here, the inner diameter of the circular ring is greater than or equal to the diameter of the stem in the annular zone around the first-way inlet ports (314). The outer diameter of the circular ring is less than or equal to the diameter of the receiving space (24). The height of the spacer (53) is at least equal to the axial extension of the first-way inlet ports (314).

[0030] The seal unit (50) is held in place in the valve body by immobilizing means so that it does not move when the stem moves down to open the valve and then back up to the closed position.

[0031] The seal unit (50) is immobilized downwards by a lower stop against which the lower edge of the first seal (51) bears. This lower stop is constituted in the present example by a series of stop ribs (221) placed vertically in the first sampling chamber (22). These stop ribs extend radially towards the center of the valve body while providing a sufficient central space for the stem, and upwards to the junction with the receiving space (24) forming in the same transverse plane a discontinuous stop surface for the first seal. They also serve as a guide for the lower part of the stem. The product can easily circulate between the ribs to reach the first-way inlet orifices (314) when the stem is in the open position.

[0032] The receiving space (24) of the valve body may be provided with a support stop for the spacer (53). This stop may consist of an annular spacer shoulder (241) dividing the receiving space (24) into two sections, the diameter of the lower section (242) being smaller than the diameter of the upper section (243). The outside diameter of the ring is then greater than the diameter of the lower section (242) of the receiving space, but less than or equal to the diameter of the upper section (243), so that the ring can bear against the spacer shoulder (241). This support stop prevents the first seal from being crushed too much when moving the stem to the open position. It also prevents the seal from rising and ensures that the seal is positioned in the correct location. The lower seal (51) may have an outside diameter smaller than that of the upper seal (52).

[0033] The seal unit (50) is fixed upwards by an upper stop, which in this example is in the form of an annular fixing spacer (60). The fixing spacer is placed in the second sampling chamber (23) of the valve body. It comprises a main ring (61) provided with a plurality of vertically and radially outwardly directed crenellation ribs (62). These crenellation ribs extend above the upper edge of the main ring, thus forming crenellations for the passage of the product coming from the housing (80) or the second reservoir via the second chamber inlet ports (231) of the second sampling chamber (23) of the valve body. Thanks to this crenellation, the second product can pass through the second sampling chamber (23) by bypassing the immobilizing spacer to reach the second way inlet ports (324) of the stem when the valve is open.The inner diameter of the main ring (61) is large enough to place the stem there and allow it to slide without noticeable friction.

[0034] The immobilizing spacer (60) is dimensioned to fit into the second sampling chamber (23) with the underside of the main ring (61) bearing against the second seal (52) of the seal unit and the upper end of the crenellation ribs (62) bearing against the second way seal (40). The main ring (61) may have a diameter greater than the diameter of the receiving space (24) at its junction with the first sampling chamber, so that it is supported and cannot crush the seal unit. This is clearly visible in Figure 2b.

[0035] Rather than a lower stop and / or an upper stop, it would be possible to provide other means of immobilization. For example, the two joints (51, 52) could be welded or glued in the receiving space (24), or only one of the two joints and the spacer (53) while retaining the stop for the unfixed joint. The two joints (51, 52) could also be overmolded in the receiving space, in which case the spacer could be removed. Gluing, welding or overmolding then constitute the means of immobilization.

[0036] The two seals (51, 52) and the spacer (53) are three separate parts. They can be separated and placed one after the other around the stem. But it is also possible to combine the three separate parts into a single unit. For example, the two seals (51, 52) could be overmolded or glued onto the spacer (53). By three separate parts, we therefore mean three elements produced independently of each other and which can be made of different materials, in particular a rigid material for the spacer and flexible materials for the seals. For example, we can choose elastomers of the neoprene, butyl, nitrile or fluoroelastomer types, as well as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).

[0037] The advantage of the seal unit lies in the fact that it is no longer necessary to produce a thick flat seal with an internal annular groove. In addition, it is possible to reduce friction by reducing the contact surface between the seals (51, 52) and the annular zone of the stem located around the first-way inlet orifices. This reduction is made possible in particular by the rigid spacer which maintains the spacing between the two bearing surfaces, which was not necessarily the case when these two bearing surfaces were separated by the central part of the single-material seal of the prior art. This central zone, due to its flexibility, can in fact deform and allow the seal zones in contact with the stem to partly follow the movement of the latter. To guarantee proper operation of the single-material seal, it is therefore necessary for the seal zones to be sufficiently wide.This helps to increase the friction of the single-material seal on the stem.

[0038] Another advantage of the seal unit is the possibility of choosing different materials for the three parts (51, 52, 53). In particular, the first seal (51) and the spacer (53) may be chosen to have materials compatible with the product to be passed through the first channel, while the second seal (52) may be chosen for its compatibility with the product to be passed through the second channel and the product to be passed through the first channel. For example, if the first product is an oxidizing composition, compatible materials will have to be chosen, such as nitrile for the seal and polypropylene for the spacer. However, although compatible, some materials may swell, but this only affects one of the seals of the seal unit, and not the entire seal as in the prior art.

[0039] The valve body (20) may comprise fixing means for fixing the first reservoir. In particular, it may be provided with two fins (251) for fixing a flexible bag. It is also possible to provide snap-fastening systems for snapping a reservoir, such as a flexible bag, to an opening provided with a complementary snap-fastening system such as that disclosed for example in WO 2004 / 022452 A1. The fixing means, and in particular the fins (251), are placed lower axially than the second chamber inlet orifices (231).

[0040] The valve body may also be provided with a dip tube lug (252) for securing a dip tube (82). The dip tube lug (252) then provides the inlet to the first valve body port. Access ports may be provided at the top of the dip tube lug (252), in an area intended not to be covered by the dip tube (82), to allow product to be sampled that would be at the top of the reservoir and potentially isolated from the dip tube inlet by the formation of folds or pockets in the reservoir during sampling.

[0041] The valve body (20) essentially consists of a tubular wall crossed from one side to the other by a central channel (21). The central channel (21) has several portions (23, 24, 22, 25) of diameter reducing from one portion to the other from the upper end intended to be fixed to the cup to the lower end intended to be in contact with the first reservoir.

[0042] The first portion of larger diameter constitutes the second sampling chamber (23). The second portion constitutes the receiving space (24) for housing the seal unit (50). The third portion constitutes the first sampling chamber (22) and serves to house the spring (70). The fourth portion (25), or lower part, leads to the first reservoir (81). This fourth portion (25) can be provided with fins (251) to facilitate the attachment of a flexible bag serving as the first reservoir.

[0043] Between the first sampling chamber (22) and the fourth portion (25) there is preferably a spring shoulder (222) on which the spring rests. Guide ribs (223) may be provided in the bottom of the first sampling chamber (22) to guide the lower part of the spring (70).

[0044] In the example presented here, the two-way stem (30) comprises a first central tubular wall (31) partly surrounded by a second tubular wall (32). The first tubular wall (31) is open at its upper end (311) and closed at its lower end by a bottom wall (312). This first cylindrical wall (31) and the bottom wall (312) define a space in the form of a central channel. First-way inlet ports (314) are provided in the form of through holes in the stem (30), near the bottom wall (312) of the central channel. These first-way inlet ports (314) each connect the interior of the central channel and the outer cylindrical face of the stem (30). The central channel and the first-way inlet ports (314) constitute the first stem port.

[0045] A second cylindrical wall (32) concentrically surrounds the first cylindrical wall (31). It (32) is open at its upper end (321) and closed at its lower end by a second bottom wall (322). The second cylindrical wall (32) and the second bottom wall (322) define a space in the form of an annular channel. The second bottom wall (322) is located between the first-way inlet ports (314) and the upper end (321) of the second cylindrical wall (32) such that the first-way inlet ports (314) do not pass through the annular channel (323). Second-way inlet ports (324) are provided as through-holes in the second cylindrical wall (32), at a distance from the upper end (321) and the second bottom wall (322). These second-way inlet ports (324) each connect the interior of the annular channel and the cylindrical outer face of the stem (30).The part of the annular channel located between the second-way inlet orifices (324) and the upper end (321) constitutes with said inlet orifices the second way of the stem (30).

[0046] Below the second-way inlet ports (324), the stem has on its outer face an annular shoulder (33) serving to retain the stem in the valve body when it is mounted in a valve. The upper face of this shoulder is radial and comes to bear against the second-way seal (40).

[0047] The stem can be provided at its lower end with a guide pin (34) intended to cooperate with the upper end of the spring (70) either by penetrating into it or by covering it.

[0048] In the assembled state of the valve, the valve body (20) contains the spring (70) placed in the first sampling chamber (22) with its lower end resting against a spring stop (222), the seal unit (50) resting with the lower face of the lower seal (51) against the lower stop (221), the immobilizing spacer (60) resting with the lower face of the main ring (61) on the upper face of the second seal (52), the second-way seal (40) resting with its lower face on the upper face of the immobilizing spacer, and finally the cup (10) resting on the upper face of the second-way seal (40) and fixed (here crimped) on a fixing crown (232) of the valve body (20).The stem (30) is placed in the valve with its guide pin (34) placed in the upper end of the spring (70), its first-way inlet ports (314) opposite the spacer (53) of the seal unit (50), its shoulder (33) bearing on the lower face of the second-way seal (40) and its second-way inlet ports opposite the second-way seal (40), and its upper end passing through a central opening of the cup and projecting above it. The spring (70) tends to push the stem (30) towards the outside of the valve (upwards in the figures) in the closed position. The stem (30) is retained in the closed position by the shoulder (33) which abuts against the first seal (40).

[0049] The seal unit (50) is thus immobilized between the lower stop and the immobilizing spacer so that it cannot move when the stem moves from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

[0050] In the example presented here, the first product is contained in a first reservoir in the form of a flexible pouch (81) and the second product is contained directly in the housing (80). It would also be possible for the second product to be contained in a second reservoir which may be a second flexible pouch surrounding the first (81) as in WO 2007 / 132017 A1, or a second pouch placed next to the first as in WO 2019 / 063347 A1 and WO 2015 / 110657 A1. List of reference signs 1 Valve 10 Cup 20 Valve body 21 Central Canal 22 1 ère sampling chamber 221 Stop ribs 222 Spring shoulder 223 Spring guide ribs 23 2 ème Sampling chamber 231 Orifice of 2 ème bedroom 232 Setting crown 24 Receiving space for the seal of 1 ère way 241 Spacer shoulder 242 Lower section of smaller diameter 243 Larger diameter upper section 25 Fourth portion 251 Fins 252 Dip tube tenon Stem 31 First cylindrical wall 311 Upper end 312 Back wall 313 1 ère stem track 314 First track inlet ports 32 Second cylindrical wall 321 Upper end 322 Back wall 323 2 ème stem track 324 Second track inlet ports 33 Shoulder 34 Guide pin Second track joint Seal unit 51 Lower seal 52 Upper seal 53 Spacer Ring-shaped immobilizing spacer 61 Main ring 62 Crenellation ribs Spring Housing 81 Internal pocket 82 Dip tube Main axis of the valve body

Claims

Claims 1. Two-way valve (1) having two separate ways for withdrawing two products contained in two different spaces of a housing (80), the two-way valve comprising: - a cup (10), to which is fixed - a valve body (20) extending along a main axis (A) and containing - at least one lower part of a two-way stem (30) movable between an open position and a closed position, - a first-way seal to seal the first way of the valve in the closed position of the two-way stem, - a second-way seal (40) for closing the second way of the valve in the closed position of the two-way stem, - immobilization means to immobilize the first-way joint, and - a spring (70) tending to push the two-way stem into the closed position, characterized in that - the first way joint consists of a joint unit (50) comprising two separate joints (51, 52) separated by an annular spacer (53), the two joints and the annular spacer being three separate parts, - the valve body (20) comprises a first sampling chamber (22) forming part of the first path, a second sampling chamber (23) forming part of the second path, and a receiving space (24) separating the two sampling chambers (22, 23) and in which the seal unit is placed, - the two-way stem (30) comprises a first stem way (313) extending between one or more first way inlet ports (314) and a first way outlet opening, - in the closed position of the two-way stem, the first-way inlet orifice(s) open opposite the spacer (53), between the first and second seals (51, 52), - the inner diameter of the seals (51, 52) of the seal unit is smaller than the outer diameter of the stem in the annular area around the first-way inlet ports (314), and the outer diameter of the seals (51, 52) of the seal unit, at least when the seals surround the stem in the annular area around the first-way inlet ports (314), is larger than the inner diameter of the receiving space (24) of the valve body (20), and - the spacer consists of a rigid ring (53), preferably circular, whose internal diameter is greater than or equal to the diameter of the stem in the annular zone around the first-way inlet orifices (314) and whose external diameter is less than or equal to the diameter of the receiving space (24).

2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the seals (51, 52) are O-rings and / or flat seals.

3. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seals (51, 52) are fixed to the spacer (53), preferably by gluing, welding or overmolding.

4. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sampling chamber (22) is provided with a first-way orifice for putting it in fluid contact with a first reservoir (81), and the second sampling chamber (23) is provided with one or more second-way inlet orifices (231).

5. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving space (24) is provided with a shoulder (241) on which a lower face of the spacer (53) rests.

6. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the immobilization means comprise a lower stop and / or an upper stop.

7. Valve according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower stop is in the form of stop ribs (221) extending parallel to the main axis (A), placed in the first way chamber (22) and ending at the junction with the receiving space (24) forming a stop for the first seal (51) of the seal unit.

8. Valve according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the upper stop is in the form of an annular immobilizing spacer (60) placed between the seal unit (50) and the second-way seal (40) so as to keep the distance between the second-way seal (40) and the seal unit (50) constant and to form a stop for the second seal (52) of the seal unit (50), the immobilizing spacer (60) preferably comprising a main ring (61) whose lower face serves as an upper stop for the seal unit (50), and on the outer face of which are formed radially directed crenellation ribs (62) the outside extending parallel to the main axis (A), protruding above the upper face of the main ring (61), and the upper edges of which bear against the second-way seal (40).

9. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two-way stem (30) comprises a second stem way (323) extending between one or more second-way inlet orifices (324) and a second-way outlet opening, knowing that in the closed position of the two-way stem, the second-way inlet orifice(s) open onto the second-way seal (40).

10. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seals (51, 52) are made of elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer, and / or the spacer (53) is made of polyolefin, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyamide (PA), polyester, polyoxymethylene (POM), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT).

11. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve body is provided with fixing means (251) for fixing a first reservoir (81), preferably a flexible bag, in fluid communication with the first sampling chamber (22), and / or the valve body is provided with a dip tube tenon (252) for fixing a dip tube (82) in fluid communication with the first sampling chamber (22).

12. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve body is provided with means for fixing a second reservoir in fluid communication with the second sampling chamber (23), the second reservoir preferably being a flexible bag and the fixing means being in the form of fins, and / or the valve body is provided with means for fixing one or more dip tubes in fluid communication with the second sampling chamber (23).

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