WO2013033798A2

WO2013033798A2 - Closure system for hermetic reservoir

Info

Publication number: WO2013033798A2
Application number: PCT/BR2012/000332
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lucas de Almeida MAGALHÃES; Adelcio Braz; Carlos Eduardo Buratto De Toledo
Original assignee: Whirlpool SA
Current assignee: Whirlpool SA
Priority date: 2011-09-05
Filing date: 2012-09-03
Publication date: 2013-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-05
Also published as: BRPI1103936A2; WO2013033798A3; BRPI1103936B1; WO2013033798A4

Abstract

The present invention, which aims to solve the problem of the elevation of internal pressure during the closure of hermetic reservoirs, belongs to the field of parts and accessories for domestic appliances, and it refers to a lid arrangement 1 comprising at least one cam 11 located in the interior of a housing 13, said cam 1 1 being cooperative with a sealing element 2; and a reservoir 5 including at least one nozzle 4 containing at least one pressure relief channel 3 composed by a passing hole that interconnects the internal region of the reservoir 5 to the external environment that surrounds said reservoir, the cited pressure relief channel 3 being cooperative with the cam 11 of the lid arrangement 1 by the time the complete attachment of the lid to the nozzle occurs.

Description

"CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR HERMETIC RESERVOIR"

Field of the Invention

The present invention refers to a closure system for hermetic reservoir - in special, those utilized in washing machines for the storage of bulk products - more specifically based on one nozzle and a lid arrangement comprising a group of geometries which enable that, during the closure, no compression pressure is generated on the interior of the reservoir. The present invention is comprised in the field of parts and accessories for general domestic appliances.

Background of the Invention

As commonly known, several types of reservoirs - including reservoirs for the storage of bulk products, such as, for example, those utilized in washing machines for storing detergent and softener, and the like - must be hermetic to avoid the entrance or the exit of air after closing and, therefore, guaranteeing the maintenance of the suitable properties of the stored products, besides avoiding leakages.

However, hermetic reservoirs such as those utilized in washing machine dispensers

- which are totally or partially filled with a non-compressible fluid - are under high internal pressure during the closure of their lids, which acts on the stored fluid, with the risk of occurring small leakages, drips, or turbulences in the flow, during the first drainage operation, effectuated by means of a conventional valve after closure.

There are several closure systems for reservoirs that utilize a rounded lid with o'ring sealing rings and the closure by lid guides that slides down the rails of the reservoir, which enable the axial movement of the lid. However, either said systems are not hermetically closed - in other words, there is an entrance / exit of air that remains constantly open - or, during the closure of the reservoir, they cause a certain increase in pressure in the internal compartment due to the impossibility of the air flowing outwards. This may not present any undesirable effect in some applications; however, when someone effectuates the drainage of the liquid, for example, in dispensers of washing products such as those mentioned previously, this pressurization may result in the undesirable release of the stored fluid - that, in the specific case, may cause the spill of the products on fabrics located in the interior of the equipment, which may result in a irreversible stain, causing several troubles.

In the ambit of patent databases, some documents related to the instant theme were encountered, as described below.

Document US 20100037661 reveals a reusable lid, adapted for the hermetic closure of domestic reservoirs, such as canned bottles. Said lid comprises a threaded body in a sin- gle part, with a foam rubber seal that is positioned to seal the nozzle of the reservoir. Said lid also includes a pressure relief system to limit the pressure in the reservoir, wherein such mechanism comprises an elastic sealing member covering an orifice of the central portion of the lid. As the content of the reservoir is heated, the pressure of the gas in the reservoir forces the elastic sealing member to leave the orifice, resulting in the relief of pressure. It is noted, however, that such system requires heating the product so as to cause the relief of the internal pressure, different from the result in dispensers of washing machines.

Document WO/1999/008580 reveals a pressure container comprising a reservoir with a base, at least one wall extending from one peripheral edge of the base and openings for the passage of gases. On the top of the same, it is included a removable lid. The excess of pressure inside the reservoir is relieved by moving or deforming the lid or the reservoir in relation to the openings thereof. Such method, however, is not totally effective, since it re- quires a voluntary procedure of the user for its reproduction.

Document CN2207779 describes a device for heating drinks, comprising one reservoir, an induction pipe of the temperature controller, one evaporator, and a support plate having a hole on which the cited device is assembled. Therefore, it deals with a complex system that could not be evidently applied to the use discussed herein, since it does not act during the closure of the lid.

Consequently, it is noted that there is a problem in the current prior art regarding the inexistence of a lid for hermetic reservoirs comprising a mechanism of pressure relief capable of acting automatically during the movement of threading the same.

Objectives of the Invention

Thus, one of the objectives of the present invention is the provision of a pressure relief system for hermetic reservoirs so as to avoid the increase in internal pressure in the reservoir during the attachment of the lid for closing the reservoir.

Another objective of the present invention is the disclosure of a pressure relief sys- tern for hermetic reservoirs that acts automatically during the procedure of closing the lid.

It is also another objective of the present invention the disclosure of a lid arrangement for hermetic reservoirs which enables the hermetic closure thereof without elevating the internal pressure.

Still another objective of the present invention is the disclosure of hermetic reser- voirs comprising a sealing mechanism containing a pressure relief system that acts up to the immediately preceding moment of the effective hermetic closure of the same.

Summary of the Invention

The above-mentioned objectives are achieved by means of a closure system for hermetic reservoirs comprising pressure relief means, more specifically for a reservoir for the storage of bulk products composed by a nozzle for the feed and rotary attachment of a lid arrangement including a housing cooperating with a sealing element which, in turn, cooperates when in use together with the perimeter of the nozzle. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cited system comprises: a lid arrangement composed by at least one cam located in the interior of a housing, the cited cam being cooperative with the sealing element; a reservoir composed by at least one nozzle containing at least one pressure relief channel including a passing hole on the side wall whi- ch interconnects the internal region of the reservoir to the external environment that surrounds the reservoir, said pressure relief channel being cooperative, in an hermetically manner, with the cam of the lid arrangement by the time the complete attachment of the lid to the nozzle occurs.

Additionally, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lid arrangement comprises a substantially cylindrical body composed by at least one handling medium and at least one housing comprising a perimetral cavity for the attachment, in a removable manner, of at least one sealing element, wherein said perimetral cavity is composed by at least one projection cooperating with the sealing element. Optionally, the housing of the lid arrangement may comprise a recess for settling the sealing element.

The lid arrangement of the cited system may also comprise, in a preferably way, and on its lower side, a prominent central region that is substantially circular and provided with at least two protrusions that extend radially from the perimetral end of the central region of the lid along a perimetral platform that interconnects the protrusions by means of at least one inclined-type structure.

One preferred embodiment of the invention refers to the fact that the nozzle of the reservoir comprises at least two symmetrical perimetral surfaces, each of the cited surfaces presenting one inclined-type platform end and the opposed end containing, under its lower surface, at least one stop cooperating with the protrusions of the lid arrangement.

Another feasible embodiment for the present invention refers to a closure system for hermetic reservoirs comprising pressure relief means, more specifically for a reservoir for the storage of bulk products composed by a nozzle for the feed and rotary attachment of a lid arrangement including a housing cooperating with a sealing element which, in turn, cooperates when in use together with the perimeter of the nozzle, CHARACTERIZED in that said system comprises: a lid arrangement composed by at least one pressure relief channel in- eluding a passing hole which interconnects the upper region of the lid to the lower region, said passing hole being located in a section of the perimeter of the edge of the lid arrangement; a reservoir nozzle composed by at least one cam located in a section of the surface of attachment of the lid arrangement, which is hermetically cooperative when in use together with the pressure relief channel of the lid arrangement.

Still another feasible embodiment considers the system comprising: a lid arrangement whose housing comprises a J-shaped cavity, with a lower perimetral projection of smaller extension than the upper perimetral projection; a reservoir composed by at least one noz- zle containing at least one angular wall comprising at least one pressure relief channel defined by a passing hole in said angular wall, which interconnects the internal region of the reservoir to the external environment that surrounds the cited reservoir, wherein the lower surface of the nozzle end comprises at least one projection that cooperates, together with the stop, with the protrusion of the lid arrangement to limit the attaching movement of the lid arrangement, wherein this embodiment may optionally foresee that the lower surface of the lid end comprises at least one cam located between the projection and the stop.

It shall be emphasized that the present invention comprises, therefore, means to enable the pressure relief of the internal part of the reservoir up to the immediately preceding moment of the effective attachment of its lid of hermetic closure, so as to avoid the stored fluid being subjected to the compression pressure that results in small leakages, drips, or turbulences in the flow during the drainage.

Short Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 - only illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the lid arrangement of the present invention, in which one of its closure guides can be seen;

Figure 2 - illustrates a front elevation view of the lid arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 - illustrates a lower view of the lid arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 - illustrates a side elevation view of the lid arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 - illustrates an extended detail view of the projection of the lid which acts on the sealing element and the pressure relief channel during the closure of the reservoir;

Figure 6 - illustrates the filling side and the closure of a bulk product dispenser of a reservoir, with no lid;

Figure 7 - illustrates an extended detail of the attaching nozzle of the reservoir that is illustrated in Figure 6, for attaching the lid arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 8 - illustrates the drawing of Figure 6 considering the closure lid properly attached;

Figure 9 - illustrates an schematic cross section showing the way of attaching the guides of the lid arrangement, as presented in Figures 1 to 5, to the attachment nozzle illustrated in Figure 7, as well as the positioning of the pressure relief valve;

Figure 10 - illustrates an extended detail of an alternative embodiment for the attachment nozzle of the reservoir;

Figure 11 - illustrates a side elevation view of a constructive variation for the lid arrangement, for being use with the reservoir nozzle illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 12 - illustrates a schematic section of the nozzle of Figure 10, to which the lid arrangement of Figure 11 is properly attached;

Figure 13 - illustrates a schematic cross section showing the attachment gap of the guides of the lid arrangement, as presented in Figure 11 , in the attachment nozzle of Figure 10; and

Figure 14 - illustrates a schematic cross section of Figure 13 provided with a cam between the projection and the stop of the nozzle.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention will be detailed below with basis on the appended drawings.

The closure system of the present invention basically comprises a lid arrangement 1 composed by a cam 11 that is cooperative with a sealing element 2, which, in turn, cooperates with a pressure relief channel 3 that is placed in the nozzle 4 of the reservoir 5.

As can be noted in Figures 1 and 2, a lid arrangement 1 assembled in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a substantially cylindrical body composed by at least one handling medium 12 and one housing 13 for attachment, in a removable manner, of at least one sealing element 2 - which may be, for example, an o'ring - wherein said housing 13 further comprises at least one cam 11.

Figure 3 enables to observe that, on the lower side of the lid arrangement 1 , there is a prominent central region 14 composed, in symmetrical positions, by two protrusions 15 that extend radially from the perimetral end of the central region 14 of the lid 1 , wherein said protrusions 5 function as guides for the attachment of the lid arrangement 1 to the reservoir 5.

It shall be clarified that the lid arrangement 1 may be composed by other quantities of protrusions 15 arranged either symmetrically or not, without escaping from the scope of the claimed protection.

The prominent central region 14 of the lid arrangement 1 originates, in the perimetral region of the lid 1 , a perimetral platform that interconnects the protrusions 15 by means of at least one inclined-type structure 17 that is intended for helping in the appropriate positioning of the lid arrangement 1 during its attachment to the reservoir 5.

In figure 6, it is possible to note the reservoir 5 for the storage of bulk material and the nozzle 4 to which the lid arrangement 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be attached. Moreover, in the extended detail of the nozzle 4 of Figure 7, it is possible to better observe the pressure relief channel 3 - a small orifice preferably located on the perimetral wall of the nozzle 4, which will enable the exit of air during the procedure of closing the lid arrangement 1.

Such nozzle 4 is further composed by two symmetrical perimetral surfaces 41 , each of them presenting one right end 42 as an inclined-type platform and one left end 43 narrower that the medial region of the perimetral surface 41. Said perimetral surfaces 41 are intended for settling the perimetral platforms 16 of the lid arrangement 1 and the protrusions 15, which, when the lid arrangement 1 is rotated clockwise, are transported, by the inclined platform 42, to the lower region of the left end 43 of the opposed surface 41 , until the protrusions 15 achieve the lower stop 44 of the nozzle (shown in Figure 9) - as the same time as the cam 11 of the lid arrangement 1 gets in coincident position with the pressure relief channel 3, pressing the sealing element 2 against the same, resulting, then, in its total obstruction.

The pressure relief system for the hermetic reservoir, as above-mentioned, acts as follows: the sealing element 2 is settled in the housing 13 of the lid arrangement 1 , covering, therefore, the cam 11 of the same. When the lid arrangement 1 is settled on the perimetral surface 41 of the nozzle 4 and rotated clockwise, the additional air introduced by the attachment of the lid arrangement 1 to the interior of the reservoir 5 - resulting in the elevation of the internal pressure - flows through the pressure relief channel 3, so that, when the sealing element part 2, which covers the cam 11 of the lid 1 , achieves the pressure relief channel 3, the total obstruction occurs, when all the excess pressure has been removed from the pressure relief channel 3, so as that in the instant when the obstruction occurs, the internal pressure of the reservoir 5 is in balance with the atmospheric pressure. Thus, when the product dispensing valve is actuated, the liquid will flow in an appropriate way, without small leak- ages, drips or any turbulence.

It is important to detach that the lid arrangement 1 is maintained in an appropriate position to operate due to the joint action of the perimetral surfaces 41 of the nozzle, the protrusions 15 of the lid, and the pressure of the sealing element 2 against the perimeter of the nozzle 4, guaranteeing the hermetic closure of the reservoir 5.

It is also important to mention that the closure system of the present invention may be assembled by alternative ways, such as, for example, having a pressure relief channel placed on the lid arrangement and the cited cam 11 in the nozzle 4.

In this specific embodiment, the lid arrangement 1 is provided with at least one pressure relief channel 3 containing a passing hole that interconnects the upper region of the lid to the lower one, wherein the hole is located in one part of the nozzle perimeter of the lid arrangement 1 , arranged in such a way that it runs through its surface or adjacently to its end.

Similarly, the reservoir 5 nozzle for the present embodiment would be composed by at least one cam 1 1 located in a part of the attaching surface of the lid arrangement 1 , hermetically cooperating when in use together with the pressure relief channel 2 of the lid ar- rangement 1.

A third feasible embodiment of the present invention is described below and it is illustrated in Figures 10 to 14.

In this embodiment, as can be better observed in Figure 11 , the lid arrangement 1 has a housing 13 - cooperating with a sealing element 2 which, in turn, cooperates when in use together with the perimeter of the nozzle 4 - defined by a J-shaped cavity, with a lower perimetral projection 131 of smaller extension than the upper perimetral projection 132. Such embodiment enables the easy attachment of the lid arrangement to the nozzle, without any mechanical interference between the elements thereof - in special, the sealing element against the nozzle 4.

Such embodiment utilized a reservoir 5 composed by a nozzle, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 12, containing at least one angular wall 31 containing at least one pressure relief channel 30 - which is defined by a passing hole on said angular wall 31 , preferably adjacent to its lower end (see Figure 10).

Moreover, this embodiment foresees that the lower surface of the end 43 of the nozzle 4 comprises at least one projection 45 (Figure 13) that cooperates, together with the stop 44, with the protrusion 15 of the lid arrangement 1 to limit the attaching movement of the lid arrangement 1.

Another feasible embodiment for the position-limiting device of the lid arrangement is properly illustrated in Figure 14, in which the lower surface of the end 43 of the nozzle 4 comprises at least one cam 46 located between the projection 45 and the stop 44. Thus, the attachment of the protrusion 15 of the lid arrangement on the cam 46 will cause the com- pression of the sealing element 2 against the platform 43 of the nozzle, resulting in the completely obstruction of the pressure relief channel by the sealing element.

It shall be emphasized that, although a preferred embodiment of the present invention was disclosed, it is understood that the drawings has the mere purpose of illustrate without limiting the scope, since other aesthetical assemblages may be utilized without escaping from the scope of desired protection. Moreover, eventual omissions, substitutions and constructive changes can be effectuated by a skilled in the art, without escaping from the spirit and scope of the claimed protection. It is also clearly foreseen that all combinations of elements that have the same function and achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements of a described embodiment by others are also totally considered and intended.

Claims

1. A closure system for hermetic reservoir comprising pressure relief means, more specifically for a bulk product storing reservoir 5 composed by a nozzle 4 for the feed and rotary attachment of a lid arrangement 1 comprising a housing 13 cooperating with a sealing element 2 which, in turn, cooperates when in use with the nozzle perimeter, CHARACTERIZED in that said system comprises:

a lid arrangement 1 composed by at least one cam 11 located in the interior of a housing 13, the cited cam 1 1 being cooperative with the sealing element 2;

a reservoir 5 composed'by at least one nozzle 4 containing at least one pressure re- lief channel 3 including a passing hole on the side wall which interconnects the internal region of the reservoir 5 to the external environment that surrounds the reservoir 5, said pressure relief channel 3 being cooperative, in an hermetically manner, with the cam 11 of the lid arrangement 1 by the time the complete attachment of the lid 1 to the nozzle 4 occurs.

2. The closure system of Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that the cited lid arrange- ment 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical body composed by at least one handling medium

12 and at least one housing 13 comprising a perimetral cavity for the attachment, in a removable manner, of at least one sealing element 2, wherein said perimetral cavity 13 is composed by at least one cam 1 1 cooperating with the sealing element 2.

3. The closure system of Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that the lid arrangement 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical body composed by at least one handling medium 12 and at least one housing 13 comprising a recess for settling a sealing element 2.

4. The closure system of Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that the lid arrangement comprises, in its lower side, a prominent central region 14 that is substantially circular and provided with at least two protrusions 15 that extend radially from the perimetral end of the central region 14 of the lid 1 along a perimetral platform 16 that interconnects the protrusions 15 by means of at least one inclined-type structure 17.

5. The closure system of Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that the nozzle of the reservoir comprises at least two symmetrical perimetral surfaces 41 , each of the cited surfaces presenting one inclined-type platform end 42 and the opposed end 43 containing, under its lower surface, at least one stop 44 cooperating with the protrusions 15 of the lid arrangement 1.

6. A closure system for hermetic reservoirs comprising pressure relief means, more specifically for a reservoir 5 for the storage of bulk products composed by a nozzle 4 for the feed and rotary attachment of a lid arrangement 1 including a housing 13 cooperating with a sealing element 2 which, in turn, cooperates when in use together with the perimeter of the nozzle 4, CHARACTERIZED in that said system comprises:

a lid arrangement 1 provided with at least one pressure relief channel 3 containing a passing hole that interconnects the upper region of the lid to the lower one, wherein the hole is located in one part of the nozzle perimeter of the lid arrangement ;

a reservoir 5 nozzle composed by at least one cam 11 located in one part of the attaching surface of the lid arrangement 1 , hermetically cooperating when in use together with the pressure relief channel 2 of the lid arrangement 1.

7. A closure system for hermetic reservoir comprising pressure relief means, more specifically for a bulk product storing reservoir 5 composed by a nozzle 4 for the feed and rotary attachment of a lid arrangement 1 , as defined in any of Claims 3 and 4, which, in turn, cooperates when in use with the perimeter of the nozzle 4, as defined in Claim 5, CHARACTERIZED in that said system comprises:

a lid arrangement 1 whose housing 13, cooperative with a sealing element 2 which, in turn, cooperates when in use together with the perimeter of the nozzle 4, comprises a J- shaped cavity, with a lower perimetral projection 131 of smaller extension than the upper perimetral projection 32;

a reservoir 5 composed by at least one nozzle 4 containing at least one angular wall

31 comprising at least one pressure relief channel 30 defined by a passing hole on said angular wall 31 , which interconnects the internal region of the reservoir 5 to the external environment that surrounds the cited reservoir 5;

wherein the lower surface of the end 43 of the nozzle 4 comprises at least one pro- jection 45 that cooperates, together with the stop 44, with the protrusion 15 of the lid arrangement 1 to limit the attaching movement of the lid arrangement.

8. The closure system of Claim 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the lower surface of the end 43 of the nozzle 4 comprises at least one cam 46 located between the projection 45 and the stop 44.