Patent ID: 6058966
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B65D,Y10T

Abstract:
A plastic safety valve for a container for the transport and storage of liquids, the valve being an automatic aerating and venting valve integrated into a cover or plug sealing a filling and/or emptying opening or an aerating and/or venting opening of the container, the safety valve comprising a valve housing comprised of a threaded plug and configured to be screwed into a matching threaded hole of the cover or plug, the valve housing comprising a central hub supported by ribs, the hub having a through-hole, the ribs extending outwardly in a star-like configuration from the hub toward a ring-shaped shoulder, air holes being formed between the ribs, an elastic valve membrane of an aerating unit for opening and closing the air holes being pushed from inside onto the hub up to a shoulder of the hub, the valve membrane having a hat-shaped profile being installed in the valve housing with an opening of the hat facing the ring-shaped shoulder of the valve housing, wherein, when the aerating unit is in a closed position, a ring-shaped edge of the membrane rests under pretension against an inside surface of the ring-shaped shoulder of the valve housing which forms a valve seat, a venting unit being inserted into an outer end of the through-hole in the hub, wherein the venting unit has a valve plate of elastic material having a bottom side resting against an inwardly bevelled outer edge of the hub forming a valve seat, the venting unit being held in the through-hole of the hub, a surge cover being pressed onto an inner end of the hub, wherein an outer edge of the surge cover forms together with an inner end of the valve housing a circumferential slot for air entering the container when the aerating unit is open or for the air or gas escaping from the container when the venting unit is open, the surge cover simultaneously being configured to fasten the valve membrane to the hub, a surge disk with at least one through-hole for air or gas being inserted into the valve housing between the valve membrane and the surge cover and extending coaxially to the membrane and the surge cover, wherein the surge disk forms together with the surge cover a labyrinth as a protection for the valve membrane against surges of liquid intruding into the valve housing, retaining segments for a sealing cap configured to be firmly clamped to the housing formed on an outer edge of the valve housing, wherein openings for the air entering the container through the aerating unit when the valve membrane is open and for the air or gas escaping from the container through the venting unit when the valve plate is open are formed between the retaining segments and the sealing cap protruding outwardly beyond the retaining segments.