GB2365947A

GB2365947A - Vacuum valve assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2365947A
Application number: GB0015386A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Keith Todd
Original assignee: TEKGENUITY Ltd
Current assignee: TEKGENUITY Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-24
Filing date: 2000-06-24
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-24
Also published as: GB0015386D0; GB2365947B

Abstract

A vacuum valve assembly comprises a valve body 2 slidably movable in a container lid 1 between a rest position and an active, sealing position and incorporating a non-return valve including a sealing ball 4. Withdrawal of air past the sealing ball 4 by means of a manual or electric pump creates a vacuum in the container and causes, at a predetermined pressure differential, the valve body 2 to snap into its sealing position against the force of a snap washer 14. In this position snap flange 11 is pushed into recess 12 - indicating the required vacuum - and shoulders 8, 9 sealingly engage. The movement of the valve body 2 into its sealing position switches off the electric pump (Fig.5b). Lifting the flange 3 allows air to enter via vacuum release channels 13. The container top can then be removed. This assembly allows long term storage of items which otherwise would deteriorate due to oxidation and contamination from moisture and foreign materials. In an alternative embodiment, the flange 11 is held in recess 12 by a magnet (15. Fig. 4), and the required vacuum is indicated by coloured light at top of valve body 2.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> UK PATENT APPLICATION FOR A TRIPLE ACTION VACUUM VALVE 1.0 Background of the invention This invention relates to the storage of items, which require the removal of oxygen to prevent oxidation of the stored item and to prevent the ingress of moisture and air borne materials. The basic idea stems from the need to preserve the flavour of small quantities of cooking spices once the packaging had been opened.

The design can also be used for storage of any material which will oxidise when stored in air or needs to be sealed to the outside atmosphere and hence is not limited to food stuffs. 2.0 Summary of the invention The invention is a low cost reusable vacuum sealing valve that can be used to remove the air from a variety of containers or enclosures. In its simplest form it enables a user in the home to repackage materials for storage with the knowledge that they can be stored for long periods without deterioration due to oxidation or absorbing moisture.

Food stuffs are frequently supplied in vacuum packaging which once opened allows the contents to deteriorate due to oxidation and contamination by airborne materials. The dual action vacuum valve (Vacufresh) enables foodstuffs to be resealed in a container and the air removed to prevent oxidation and possible contamination.

The containers can be of various sizes, the upper limit being determined only by the ability of the container to withstand the external air pressure and the ability of the vacuum pump to remove the required amount of air from the container.

If plastic bags are used as the container the removal of the air will also reduce the bulk of the stored material and allow denser packing of containers.

The valve top also acts as an indicator that the container is still at the required vacuum. If the vacuum fails the valve top snaps up to its resting position thus indication the loss of vacuum. 3.0 The Vacufresh Valve Operation (Figure 1) 3.1 Valve construction The valve consists of 5 basic parts. The container lid moulding (1), the moving valve body (2), the air withdrawal sealing ball (4), an internal pressure spring (5) and external

pressure spring (6). The container lid (1) can be made of any suitably dense and ridged material that can take the external air pressure of approximately 1 BAR. It can be either moulded as a lid, made as an item, which is inserted into a lid or attached to a flexible container such as a plastic bag. For the domestic market coloured or transparent plastics could be used and the complete container and lid moulded from the same material. The moving valve body (2) can be made from a material similar to that used for the Container lid (1). It is made from three parts. The centre body is split below the snap flange (11) to enable the air withdrawal sealing ball (4) and its retaining spring (20) to be inserted. To enable the body (2) to be attached to the lid (1) and the internal (5) and external (6) pressure springs to be fitted. The stop flange (7) is fitted into place last. The air withdrawal sealing ball (4) can be made from suitably treated metal (chromed steel), hard plastic or a dense rubber. It is important that the ball seals the neck of the air exhaust tube (58). The ball (4) can be held in place by a suitable spring (20) if the valve has to work in other than a vertical position. The two compression springs (5) and (6) can be identical and constructed from suitably treated metal (E.g. chromed steel) or a plastic variant.

The moving central body (3) serves two main function: # Indicates when the container internal pressure has been reduced to a predetermined number of millibars E.g. 100mB by snapping down to a preset position.

# Conversely if the valve body returns to its resting (no vacuum or vacuum not at required level) it indicates loss of the vacuum.

# Acts as a vacuum release when the moving body (2) is lifted with the flange (3) which enables air to re-enter the container via the vacuum release channels (13) 3.2 Valve positions The valve vas three positions. The rest position, when it is not maintaining a vacuum or is indicating loss of vacuum. The active position, when a vacuum is being maintained and the vacuum release position when the container is being opened. 3.3 Valve in the resting position (Figure 1) In this position the valve would have been opened to fill the vacuum in the container and the container contents are in use prior to the vacuum being reapplied to the container. The external pressure spring (6) is holding the moving valve body (2) down so that vacuum relief channel (13) is closed. This will seal the valve so that it acts as a normal airtight lid for the container. 3.4 Valve introducing and maintaining a vacuum (Figure 2) The lid is fitted to the container and a vacuum pump is attached to the top of the valve moving body (2). The air is withdrawn (10) through the bottom of the lifting valve body

(2) and past the sealing ball (4) which is held in place by gravity and/or by external air pressure as the internal pressure is reduced and, if fitted, retaining spring (20). As the air is removed from the container the pressure exerted on the moving valve body (2) is proportional to the cross-sectional area (BB). The snap flange (11) is pushed down on to the snap washer (14). The snap- washer (14) is designed to withstand the downward force from the snap flange (11) until the required vacuum has been created in the container. The washer can be manufactured with different `operation' points so that a range of valves, with different pre-set vacuum levels, can be manufactured. Typically these could range across any level of vacuum attainable with a vacuum pump. The external pressure (19) causes the snap flange (11) to press down on the snap washer (14) with increasing pressure. At the point where the snap washer (14) changes from a conical shaped washer to a flat washer two things happen. The snap flange beds down on to the snap flange recess (12), flattening the snap washer in the process and the moving valve body bottom shoulder (9) mates against the container sealing shoulder:. (8). The container is now sealed by the two shoulders (9) and (8) pressing against eachother forming a gas tight seal and the sealing ball (4) closing the bottom neck of the moving valve body (2). 3.5 Releasing the vacuum (Figure 3) To fill the vacuum in the container the flange (3) is pulled in direction (18). This lifts the moving valve body bottom seating (9) clear of the seating (8) so that the vacuum release channels (13) are opened and air (17) can freely enter the container. Clearance is allowed (16) between the lid moulding (1) and the bottom of the moving valve body (2) so that the air (17) can freely enter the container. When the vacuum has been relieved the flange (3) is released and the valve returns to the resting position as shown in figure 1, aided by spring (6).

3.6 Options (Figure 4) A number of options are possible to enhance the look and/or operation of the basic valve unit. 3.6.1 Using a magnetic snap-shut Alternative to the snap washer (14) is a magnetic device which utilises a washer shaped magnet (15) and soft iron washer (58). The strength of the spring (5) is adjusted so that the magnet (15) and the iron washer (58) will be pushed apart when little or no vacuum is present in the container. As air is removed from the container the resistance of the spring (5) is gradually over come until the magnetic attraction between the magnet (15) and the soft iron washer (58) causes the valve body to snap shut with the magnet (15) in contact with the iron washer (58). Apart from the use of a different snapping device the operation of the valve is the same as described above.

3.6.2 Passive Visual indicator If the container lid (1) is made from a transparent plastic or similar material, light (23) will be free to pass through the edge of the lid (22) to the centre of the lid. Placing a transparent coloured ring (24) round the lid will filter the light entering (23) to a colour (27) determined by the filter (24). The moving valve top (25) is made from the same material as the lid (1), The bottom of the moving valve (26) is made from a dense plastic with no light transmitting properties. When the valve is in its resting position the moving valve top (25) will appear to be transparent or translucent plastic. When the valve snaps shut the coloured light (27) is able to travel through into the moving valve top (25) so that to an observer the top changes colours. The intensity of the change will be dependent on the ambient light. To increase the intensity of light change an electric lamp can be incorporated into the system housing which illuminates when power is applied to the system. 4.0 Vacuum Pumps 4.1 Pump to Valve Interface (Figure 5) 4.1.1 General To enable a vacuum pump to interface to the valve an interface unit is required. The Vacuum pump, either mechanically or electrically operated, would use the same basic interface unit. 4.1.2 Construction The interface unit body (40) fits over the valve unit where lugs on the body fit into guide recesses (33) in the valve body lid (1), as the container and valve are offered up to the interface unit. As the mating takes place the interface valve connector (28) slips over the valve top (2) and as the valve is extended, in its rest position, pushes the connector (28) upwards against the spring (39). If an electrical vacuum pump is employed this action will operate a micro switch (31) leaf (32) and switch on the pump. With a hand operated vacuum pump this item is not fitted. The flexible pipe (29) connects the valve connector (28) to the vacuum pump connector (34). It allows the valve connector (28) to move freely between the two positions as shown in figures 5a and 5b.

Removal of the air (35) will result in the valve snapping shut as previously described. The snap shut action (Figure 5b) will switch off the micro switch (31) if fitted. An audible click will otherwise indicate that the required vacuum has been achieved as the valve snaps to the closed position. Optionally, by adjusting the length of the valve connector (28) and the valve throw, the closing action can be made to disconnect the valve connector (28) from the valve top (2).

The valve connector (28) is held in place by the washer (36) which is in turn held in place by a `C' clip (not shown). The washer (36) is allowed to travel only in the circular groove (37) and prevented from coming detached by the lip (38).

4.2 Hand Operated (Figure 6a) The manual vacuum pump fits to the top of the Interface unit (40). It consist of a piston (42) moving in a cylinder (41) by means of a pivoted pump handle (49). The vacuum is generated by manually pushing the handle (49) in direction (55). The piston (42) is raised upwards (53). The air in the container is pulled through the valve (2) past the sealing ball (4) and into the lower part of the pump (35). The piston (42) is sealed against the cylinder wall (41) by a seal (44). As the piston (42) is pulled to the top of the cylinder (41) the connecting rod (47) is allowed to pivot at pivots (45) and (48) as the top end of the pump handle (49) moves through an arc due to the handle being fixed to a third pivot (50). The connecting rod moves in direction (53) as it is pulled upwards and also in direction (54) due to the action of the pumping handle. The slot (51) allows the connecting rod (47) to move backwards and forwards as the pump handle (49) is operated.

On the downwards stroke, the piston (42) is pushed in direction (57) by the handle (49) being moved in direction (56). The air (35), removed from the container, is forced past the piston seal (44) and escapes through the slot (51). Air does not enter the container as the sealing ball (4) now acts as a non-return valve.

The handle (49) is pumped up and down to evacuate the container to the point where the valve snaps shut and seals the container.

The support (52) is fitted to the side of the cylinder (41) where it supports the handle pivot (50) and hence the handle. 4.3 Electrically operated (Figure 6) A propriety electrically operated vacuum pump is attached to the top of the interface unit (40). It can connect in the same manner as the manual pump or connect by a tube fitted to the pipe stub (34). Wires (58) from the micro switch (31) are use to switch the unit on and off as described above. The vacuum pump can be any suitable type available commercially and powered from alternating or direct current.

Claims

5.0 CLAIMS 1. A two part valve system that allows the removal of air or gas from a container via a central non return valve, that indicates, by its movement that a set level of vacuum has been reached and via a second path allows the input of air or gas to fill the vacuum. 2. A device as described in Claim 1. which when the air or gas has been removed from a container, via the valve, snaps shut at a predetermined vacuum and seals the container. 3. A device as described in Claim 2. which can have a number of pre-set snap shut points which range from just under normal atmospheric of 1 OOOmBar to OmBar 4. A device as described in Claim 3. which will enable a vacuum to be established in any common container made from any material, whether rigid or flexible, provide the container is suitable for such use. 5. A device as described in Claim 4. which will allow the vacuum to be established with the valve using a lid that does not have to be screwed, clipped or other wise secured to the container but is held in place by the established vacuum. 6. A unit as described in Claim 3. which allows air or gas to enter the evacuated container by the lifting of a vacuum release tab so that air or gas is allowed to enter the container by a route different to that used to evacuate the container. 7. A unit as described in Claim 3. that will enable air or gas to be removed from a container where the container is used to hold food stuffs or other materials that benefit from reduced exposure to atmospheric oxygen and/or other gasses and/or bacteria and/or other foreign materials. 8. A unit as described in Claim 3. that will enable the use of coloured light to indicate when the valve is opened or closed. 9. A unit that interfaces to the unit described in Claim 3 enabling an interface to a vacuum pump. 10.A unit as described in Claim 9 that enables an electrically driven vacuum pump to be automatically switched on, to create a vacuum, and off when the required vacuum is achieved. 11.A manual vacuum pump that interfaces to the device described in Claim 9.

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12.A unit as described in Claim 3. that can maintain the contents of a container in a partial vacuum for indefinite periods, where the vacuum can be relative external to the container or absolute to atmosphere. 13.A unit as described in Claim 3. that will automatically disconnect from the vacuum source upon reaching the desired level of vacuum.