Title of Invention	PLASTIC VENT VALVE FOR CONTAINERS
Abstract	The main components of plastic vent valve (1) for containers f )r transport and storage of liquids are cylindrical valve housing (2) which is made as threaded plug (3) and which is screwed into screw cover (8) of plastic for example for closing the fill opening of a plastic inner container of a palletized container, valve membrane (4), surge disk (5), surge cover (6) and sealing cap (7).

Full Text

The invention relates to a plastic vent valve for containers for transport and storage of liquids, which is integrated into a screw cap or a screw plug for closing the fill and/or drain opening and/or the vent and/or bleeder valve of a container and which has a valve housing made as a threaded plug which can be screwed into a corresponding threaded hole of the screw cap or threaded plug, and which has a valve opening which can be opened and closed by a valve membrane, as well as a splash guard for the valve membrane to protect against the liquid stored and transported in the container. DE 296 OS 342.9 Ul discloses a vent valve of this type in which the valve membrane is held by a clamp disk with air passage openings in the valve, housing which is designed to be used at the same time for protection of the valve membrane against penetration of liquid from the tank into the valve for surge vibrations which occur during transport. Practice shows that the clamp disk does not adequately perform this protective function, since during transport the liquid can enter the valve housing and due to the suction action exerted by the liquid the valve membrane opens and liquid emerges from the container via the vent valve. Another major disadvantage of the known vent valve is that the valve membrane does not have the pressure tightness prescribed for transport and storage containers for liquids at a container pressure of 1 bar. DE 25 01 228 AI describes a closing cap which is designed for liquid containers, which can be screwed onto a drum neck and into which a safety valve which acts as a ventilation and bleeder valve is integrated which responds to overpressure and underpressure in the container. In this safety valve a valve disk of elastic material which is highly prestressed during installation and thus assumes the shape of a spherical segment is used. In this valve there is the danger of loss of tightness as a result of fatigue phenomena of the valve disk material during prolonged use. The object of the invention is to develop a vent valve of the generic type which satisfies the highest safety requirements. Accordingly the present invention provides a plastic vent valve for containers for transport and storage of liquids, which is integrated into a screw cap or a screw plug for closing the fill and/or drain opening and/or the vent and/or bleeder opening of a container and which has a valve housing made as a threaded plug which can be screwed into a corresponding threaded hole of the screw cap or threaded plug and which has a valve opening which can be opened and closed by a valve membrane and a splash guard for the valve membrane to protect against the liquid stored and transported in the container, characterized in that cylindrical valve housing has central hub which is held by ribs, the ribs extending in a star shape from hub to the outside to annular collar and air passage openings being formed between ribs, furthermore elastic valve membrane for opening and closing air passage openings between ribs is pushed from the inside onto hub as far as shoulder thereof, valve membrane made as hat profile with hat profile opening pointing towards annular collar of valve housing is installed in the latter and in the closed position of valve abuts with annular edge under prestress inside of annular collar of valve housing, the collar forming a valve seat, that onto inner end of hub surge Cover is pressed with outside edge which forms with inner end of valve housing peripheral passage slot for the air entering the container with valve opened and which is used at the same time to attach valve membrane on hub, that between valve membrane and surge cover coaxially to the membrane and cover, surge disk with at least one passage opening for air is inserted into valve housing and together with surge cover forms a labyrinth seal as protection for valve membrane against the surge liquid penetrating into valve, and that retaining segments for sealing cap which can be clamped securely onto them are molded to outer edge of valve housing, the edge adjacent to annular collar, between the retaining segments and sealing cap which projects above them to the outside passage openings being formed for the air flowing into the container through vent valve with v"alve membrane opened. The subclaims contain advantageous developments of the invention. The safety valve as claimed in the invention is characterized by extremely high functional safety and satisfies the prescribed safety guidelines. The invention is explained below using drawings which represent the following: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a vent valve and Figure 2 shows an overhead view of the valve as shown in Figure 1 without the sealing cap. Plastic vent valve 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 for tanks, casks, palletized drums and similar containers for liquid storage and transport consists of cylindrical valve housing 2 made as threaded plug 3, valve membrane 4, surge-disk 5, surge cover 6 and sealing cap 7. Threaded plug 3 which is screwed into plastic screw cap 6 for example for closing the fill opening of the plastic inner container of a palletized drum and which is sealed in screw cap 8 by means of sealing ring 9, has central hub 10 which is held by ribs 11 which extend in a star shape from hub 10 to the outside to annular collar 12. Air passage openings 13 are formed between retaining ribs 11. Elastic valve membrane 4 for opening and closing air passage openings 13 which is made of a flexible material like plastic or rubber which is resistant to corrosive liquids, with the corresponding additives, is made as hat profile 14 and has central, reinforced attachment hub 15. Valve membrane 4 is pushed onto hub 10 as far as shoulder 17 of the latter, with hat profile opening 16 pointing towards annular collar 12 of valve housing 2. Valve membrane 4 is held by means of surge cover 6 pressed onto inner end 19 of hub 10 on the cover. Clamp sleeve 20 with axial clamp fins 21 is molded onto arched surge cover 6 and presses valve membrane 4 with attachment hub 15 against shoulder 17 of hub lo of valve housing 2, such that valve membrane 4 in the closed position of valve 1 rests with annular edge 22 under prestress against inside 23 of annular collar 12 of valve housing 2, the collar forming the valve seat. Valve membrane 4 is also supported by annular fin 25 molded onto one inner edge 24 of annular collar 12. Retaining ribs 11 of hub 10 have profile 26 matched to hat profile 14 of valve membrane 4 for supporting the latter at a container overpressure which may not exceed 1 bar according to approval guidelines. Outside edge 27 of surge cover € forms with inner end 28 of valve housing 2 peripheral passage slot 29 for the air entering the container with valve l opened. Between valve membrane 4 and surge cover 6 coaxially to the membrane and cover, surge disk 5 made as hat profile 19 with center passage 3 0 is inserted. Surge disk 5 together with surge cover 6 forma a labyrinth seal as protection for valve membrane 4 against the surge liquid penetrating into valve 1. Surge disk 5 which is installed in valve housing 2 with hat profile opening 31 pointing toward valve membrane 4 forms drain surface 32 for the surge liquid entering valve 1. In the same way arch 33 of surge cover 6 which is pointed towards valve membrane 4 forms drain surface 34 for the surge liquid entering vent valve 2. On outside 35 of surge cover 6 are molded axial "clamp projections 36 distributed over the periphery of the cover with clamp edges 37 matched to hat profile 19 of surge disk 5 for pressing the latter against shoulder 3 8 on inside 39 of valve housing 2. On outside 40 of annular collar 12 of valve housing 2 plastic lattice 41 is welded and covers air passage openings 13 between retaining ribs 11 of hub 10 as protection against penetration of insects. Hook-shaped retaining teeth 43 for sealing cap 7 which can be clamped securely onto them are molded to outer edge 42 of valve housing 2, the edge being adjacent to annular collar 12, between retaining teeth 43 and sealing cap 7 which projects above them to the outside, passage openings 44 being formed for the air flowing into the container through vent valve 1 with valve membrane 4 opened. Molded to inside 45 of sealing cap 7 at a radial distance" from its outer edge 46 is annular fin 47 with undercut 48 which, when sealing cap 7 is clamped onto valve housing 2, locks to retaining teeth 43 thereof. Four shaped segments 49 on outside 40 of annular collar 12 are used to mount a lug wrench when screwing vent valve 1 on and off screwed cap 8. When negative pressure occurs in the tank when liquid is being removed, valve membrane 4 of vent valve 1 opens so that air can flow into the tank via air passage openings 44, 13, 30 and 29 in the arrow direction shown in Figure 1. Reference numbers vent valve valve housing threaded plug valve membrane surge disk surge cover sealing cap screw cap sealing ring of 3 center hub of 2 retaining ribs of 10 annular collar of 2 air passage opaning between 11 hat profile of 4 attachment hub of 4 hat profile opening of 14 shoulder of 10 inner end of 10 hat profile of 5 clamp sleeve on 6 clamp fin of 2 0 annular edge of 4 inside of 12 inner edge of 12 annular fin on 24 hat profile of 11 outside edg« of 6 inner end of 2 through slot between 27 and 2S middle passage opening of 5 hat profile opening of 19 drain surface of 5 arch of 6 drain surface of 6 outside of 6 clamp projection of 35 clamp edge of 36 shoulder on 39 inside of 2 outside of 12 lattice, on 40 outer edge of 2 retaining tooth on 42 through openings between 43 and 7 inside of 7 outside" edge of 1 annular fin on 45 undercut of 47 shaped segment on 40 WE Claim : 1. Plastic vent valve for containers for transport and storage of liquids, which is integrated into a screw cap or a screw plug for closing the fill and/or drain opening and/or the vent and/or bleeder opening of a container and which has a valve housing made as a threaded plug which can be screwed into a corresponding threaded hole of the screw cap or threaded plug and which has a valve opening which can be opened and closed by a valve membrane and a splash guard for the valve membrane to protect against the liquid stored and transported in the container, characterized in that cylindrical valve housing (2) has central hub (10) which is held by ribs (11), the ribs (11) extending in a star shape from hub (10) to the outside to annular collar (12) and air, passage openings (13) being formed between ribs (11), furthermore elastic valve membrane (4) for opening and closing air passage openings (13) between ribs (11) is pushed from the inside onto hub (10) as far as shoulder (17) thereof, valve membrane (4) made as hat profile (14) with hat profile opening (16) pointing towards annular collar (12) of valve housing (2) is installed in the latter and in the closed position of valve (1) abuts with annular edge (22) under prestress inside (23) of annular collar (12) of valve housing (2), the collar forming a valve seat, that onto inner end (18) of hub (10) surge Cover (6) is pressed with outside edge (27) which forms with inner end (28) of valve housing (2) peripheral passage slot (29) for the air entering the container with valve (1) opened and which is used at the same time to attach valve membrane (4) on hub (10), that between valve membrane (4) and surge cover (6) coaxially to the membrane and cover, surge disk (5) with at least one passage opening (30) for air is inserted into valve housing (2) and together with surge cover (6) forms a labyrinth seal as protection for valve membrane (4) against the surge liquid penetrating into valve (1), and that retaining segments (retaining teeth 43) for sealing cap (7) which can be clamped securely onto them are molded to outer edge (42) of valve housing (2), the edge adjacent to annular collar (12), between the retaining segments (retaining teeth 43) and sealing cap (7) which projects above them to the outside passage openings (44) being formed for the air flowing into the container through vent valve (1) with valve membrane (4) opened. 2. Vent valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein retaining ribs (11) of hub (10) have profile (26) matched to hat profile (14) of valve membrane (4) for supporting the latter at a container overpressure. 3. Vent valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein valve membrane (4) is also supported by annular fin (25) molded onto inner edge (24) of annular collar (12) of valve housing (2). 4. Vent valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein valve membrane (4) which is made of a flexible material like plastic or rubber which is resistant to corrosive liquids, with the corresponding additives, has certral, reinforced attachment hub (15). 5. Vent valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein clamp sleeve (20) with axial clamp fins (21) is molded onto arched surge cover (19) and presses valve membrane (4) with attachment hub (15) against shoulder (17) of hub (10) of valve housing (2) and wherein arch (33) of surge cover (6), the arch being pointed towards valve membrane (4) forms drain surface (34) for the surge liquid which has entered vent valve (1). 6. Vent valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein surge disk (5) has hat profile (19) with center passage opening (30) for air. 7. Vent valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein axial clamp projections (36) molded on outside (35) of surge cover (6) and distributed over the periphery of the cover, with clamp edges (37) matched to hat profile (19) of surge disk (5) for pressing the latter against shoulder (36) on inside (39) of valve housing (2). 8. Vent valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, wherein surge disk (5) with hat profile opening (31) pointing toward valve membrane (4) is installed in valve housing (2) and forms drain surface (32) for the surge liquid entering valve (1). 9. Vent valve as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein lattice (41), preferably plastic, which is attached to outside (40) of annular collar (12) of valve housing (2), and which covers air passage openings (13) between retaining ribs (11) of hub (10) as protection against penetration of insects. 10. Vent valve as claimed in claim 9, wherein lattice (41) is welded to outside (40) ofannular collar (12). 11. Vent valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein hook-shaped retaining teeth (7) which are molded to outer edge (42) of valve housing (2), for securely clamping sealing cap (7), to their inside (45) with a radial distance from outside edge (46) annular fin (47) with undercut (46) is molded which, when sealing cap (7) is clamped on valve housing (2) locks to retaining teeth (43) thereof 12. Plastic vent valve for containers, substantially as hereinabove described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

311-mas-1998 abstract duplicate.pdf

311-mas-1998 abstract.pdf

311-mas-1998 claims duplicate.pdf

311-mas-1998 claims.pdf

311-mas-1998 correspondence-others.pdf

311-mas-1998 correspondence-po.pdf

311-mas-1998 description (complete) duplicate.pdf

311-mas-1998 description (complete).pdf

311-mas-1998 drawings.pdf

311-mas-1998 form-19.pdf

311-mas-1998 form-2.pdf

311-mas-1998 form-4.pdf

311-mas-1998 form-6.pdf

311-mas-1998 others.pdf

311-mas-1998 petition.pdf