Dispenser

A dispenser for high viscosity fluid materials is disclosed which includes a container of predetermined inside diameter, a selectively operable valve means providing, in open condition, an outlet flow passage for a fluid material and propelling means for forcing the fluid material through the flow passage and out of the container. The propelling means comprises a follower plate disposed in contact with the fluid material and mounted for movement toward the valve means to force the fluid material out of the container. The configuration, the structure and dimensional relationships between various portions of the follower plate are carefully controlled to provide a unique, dependable and effective fluid material discharge from the container as the follower plate is moved toward the open valve means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a dispenser which is preferably utilized to 
dispense high viscosity fluid materials such as, for example, automobile 
body solder, automobile body filler, other filler compositions of various 
types, putty, and materials of similar type. 
Conventionally, materials of this class are relatively difficult to handle. 
These materials are normally supplied in various types of containers and, 
in use, are scooped out of the container with a spatula or similar device. 
This method of removing the material from the container is difficult. In 
the first place, the material will, of course, get on the hand of the user 
and sometimes it is difficult to remove the material from the container. 
If the material is somewhat corrosive, various types of dermatitis will be 
encountered. In addition, even aside from this, the use of a spatula or 
similar device to remove material from the container means that 
approximately five to ten percent of the material is not so removed 
because it cannot be conveniently handled. 
The dispenser of this invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior 
devices and produces a method of utilizing all of such material, permits 
the material to be conveniently removed from the container, and avoids the 
other disadvantages of the prior devices. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The dispenser of this invention comprises, in brief, outlet valve means and 
fluid pressure means which are in operative relationship with the material 
to be dispensed. 
In the preferred modification of this invention, the material to be 
dispensed is disposed within a container which includes a closed bottom 
and an open top. The closed bottom has valve means therewithin for 
selectively producing an outlet opening. The bottom of the container is 
disposed upon a base plate which has an outlet valve member therewithin, 
which outlet valve member is controlled by means of an operating handle. 
Above the container is disposed a top member which contains 
pressure-producing drive means therewithin. This pressure-producing means 
may optionally consist of a conduit which is connected to an external 
pressure source such as an air compressor may include a pressure pump 
member which will produce the necessary gas pressure. Where the pressure 
pump member is utilized, it is preferably electrically driven. Optionally, 
also, a relief or "safety" valve may also be employed. 
Situated within the container in contacting relationship to the fluid 
material is a specially constructed follower plate. The follower plate is 
moveable within the container toward the valve means. The follower plate 
is moved forcefully toward the valve means to discharge fluid material by 
a drive means which may consist of the source of compressed air mentioned 
above. In construction, the follower plate has a bottom wall contacting 
the fluid material and an upstanding side wall extending about the 
periphery of the bottom wall. 
The follower plate has an outside diameter equal to a dimension ranging 
between about 0.015 inch greater than the inside diameter of the container 
and 0.018 inch less than said inside diameter. The effective side wall 
height of the follower plate is equal to at least ten percent of its 
outside diameter; and the follower plate is made of a material 
sufficiently flexible and resilient to be flexed without permanent 
deformation into a configuration such that its outside diameter is reduced 
by an amount approximately equal to any negative clearance existing 
between the follower plate and the inner surface of the container. With 
this arrangement, the dispenser can be operated with less pressure 
inasmuch as relatively little friction exists between the follower plate 
and the container. This in turn, provides a safer operation with no danger 
of creating a high pressure condition within the container which may 
result in an explosion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
With reference to FIG. 1, the dispensing device 11 of this invention is 
utilized in connection with a container 12 and preferably container 12 is 
formed with an open top 13 and a closed bottom 14 (see FIG. 5). With 
continued reference to FIG. 5 it will be noted that an opening 15 is 
located within bottom 14 of a container 12, and a downwardly depending 
flange 60 surrounds opening 15. A removable plug (not shown) is disposed 
within the opening. Within container 12 is a plate member 16 which 
operates as a propelling member for material 17 within the container as 
will be subsequently explained. 
Plate member 16 is formed with a bottom portion 18 and upstanding side 
portion 19. Side portion 19 abuts the side wall 20 of the container 12. 
Within plate 16 is a threaded opening 21. Selectively disposable within 
threaded opening 21 is a holding member 22 which is also formed with a 
handle portion 23, a shaft portion 24, a threaded base portion 25 and a 
cap portion 26. 
Above container 12 is a top member 27 preferably in the form of a dome and 
containing an opening 28 therewithin. Opening 28 bears a threaded fitting 
29 to which is attached a fitting 30 which in turn is connected to a 
reducing valve 31 (See FIGS. 1 and 2). Reducing valve 31 is in turn 
connected to a source of compressed air through opening 32 which is in 
turn connected to a conduit (not shown) which in turn is connected to a 
source of compressed gas such as an air compressor, tank, or the like. A 
relief valve 62 is also provided and is connected to opening 63 (see FIG. 
5) to relieve excess pressure. 
Top member 27 also bears a downwardly depending side 33 which also abuts 
side wall 20 of container 12. Within side 33 an O-ring 34 for sealing 
purposes may be provided. A lip 35 is also provided overlying side wall 
20. 
A base 36 is provided which bears a recess 37 which is adapted to support 
the bottom 14 of container 12. Base 36 bears an opening 38 which is 
adapted to be placed in registration with opening 15. Opening 38 
communicates with barrel-shaped opening 39 located within downwardly 
projecting portion 40 of base 36. Within barrel-shaped opening 39 is 
outlet valve cylinder 41 which is rotatably movable within barrel-shaped 
opening 39 by means of handle 42 connected thereto. Valve cylinder 41 also 
has an opening 43 therewithin which is selectably registerable with outlet 
opening 44 located within lower base extension 40. A pin 45 (see FIG. 1) 
is also connected to outlet valve cylinder 41 and is disposed within limit 
recess 46 disposed within lower base extension 40. 
A bottom support plate 47 bears a recess 49 which accommodates lower base 
extension 40. An upwardly extending rear portion 50 is also provided. A 
pair of outwardly extending ear portions 51 are provided within bottom 
support plate 47 and a pair of pins 52 are disposed with these recesses. A 
pair of supports 53 are pivotally connected to pins 52 and in turn are 
disposed within slots 54 which are located on opposite sides of top member 
27. Supports 53 are selectively retained within recesses 54 by means of 
knobs 55 which are threadably connected to supports 53. 
The specific form of invention shown in FIG. 8 will now be described. Most 
of the parts of this form of invention are similar to that of the 
principal form of invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 and bear the same 
reference characters. The top member, however, of this variation 27a is 
formed with an opening 28a through which extends a pair of conductors 56 
which terminate in a plug member 57. Conductors 56 are sealingly connected 
within opening 28a so that there is no gas leakage therethrough. 
Within the top member 27a is disposed an electric motor pump combination 58 
which produces compressed air. 
FIG. 6 shows a further variation of structure. In this figure base member 
36b has a rubber gasket 59 disposed between the base member and the bottom 
of container 12. In addition, the bottom 14b of the container is formed 
with an upwardly disposed flange 59a. 
With the foregoing specific description, the operation of this invention 
will now be explained. 
Considering the situation involved in the principal form of this invention 
as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 and 7, the container 12 is obtained which is 
partially filled with material 17 therewithin. The plug (not shown) is 
removed from bottom 14 of container 12 thereby exposing opening 15 and 
container 12 is laid upon base 36 with recesses 15 and 38 in alignment. 
The outlet valve is closed. 
Plate 16 is then dropped into the top of container 12 with member 22 
removed from opening 21. As plate member 16 is released it tends to drop 
within container 12 and any air between plate 16 and the top of material 
17 is expelled through hole 21. After plate 16 comes to rest on top of the 
material, member 22 is then screwed into position thereby covering hole 
21. 
Top member 27 is then placed in position overlying container 12 and base 36 
placed in position upon bottom support plate 47. Members 53 are then 
disposed within recesses 54 and knobs 55 tightened. Reducing valve 31 is 
then placed in position and element 32 placed in impinging relationship 
with a source of compressed air such as an air compressor, air tank, etc. 
At this point pressure will be built up within container 12 in the 
direction of the arrows 61 shown in FIG. 5. The material cannot be 
released because the outlet valve is closed. In order to obtain dispensing 
of material, handle 42 is moved thereby turning outlet valve cylinder 41 
so as to open the valve and permit material to flow out through outlet 
opening 44. Closure of the valve will, of course, stop the flow. Excess 
air pressure will be relieved by the opening of relief valve 62. 
The operation of the form of invention shown in FIG. 8 is similar except, 
in this variation, the top member 27a is secured in position and plug 57 
connected to a source of electrical power. As a result pump 58 compresses 
the air beneath member 27a and produces a downward pressure which causes 
dispensing in the same way as in the principal form of this invention. 
As previously mentioned, a dispensing device constructed according to this 
invention is intended for dispensing fluids having a high viscosity. By 
"high viscosity" it is meant fluids ranging in viscosity from about 
100,000 cps to 800,000 cps. As mentioned previously a movable follower or 
pressure plate member 16 to which a pressurized gas (e.g. air) is applied 
acts to force the fluid out of the flow passage formed when valve cylinder 
41 is in the open position; the flow passage being defined by outlet 
openings 43 and 44 previously described. Thus, valve cylinder 41 and 
outlet openings 43, 44 define a selectively operable valve means 
providing, when cylinder 41 is in open position, a fluid material flow 
passage out of the container. And, the follower plate 16 together with the 
source of compressed air for moving or driving the follower plate, 
therefore, broadly define a propelling means for forcing fluid out of the 
container 12; the compressed gas source being more broadly defined as a 
drive means for forcefully moving the plate member 16 toward the open 
valve means. 
We have found that the construction of the follower plate is of critical 
importance in achieving effective dispensing of high viscosity materials 
from pressurized dispensers of the type to which this invention is 
directed. In this connection for example, the nature of the material of 
which the pressure plate is made, the clearance between the follower plate 
and container and the height of the side portion or wall 19 in relation to 
the diameter of the bottom portion or wall 18 are factors which materially 
affect proper operation of such dispensing devices. 
One part of the follower plate which critically affects dispenser operation 
is the surface of the plate which faces the inside surface of the 
container 12. This surface is defined by the outer surface of side wall 
19. In the construction shown in FIG. 5 this surface includes two sections 
of differing diameters. The lower of the two sections is considered as the 
wiping portion inasmuch as it has an outside diameter larger than section 
19b and thus, in essence, acts to wipe the fluid material from the inner 
surface of the container as the follower plate is moved toward the outlet 
flow passage 43, 44 in the bottom of the container during dispensing. The 
upper of the two sections is considered as the guide portion inasmuch as 
it acts essentially to guide the follower plate so that it does not cock 
or tilt to a wedged-in or jammed attitude within the container during 
movement toward the outlet flow passage. In the construction shown in FIG. 
9, the outer surface of side wall 19 has a concave shape defining a wiping 
portion at the upper of the two sections, section 19a, and a guiding 
portion at the lower of the two sections, on section 19b. The wiping 
portion has a diameter of greater than that of the largest outside 
diameter of the guiding portion. Of course it will be recognized that the 
wiping and guiding portions of the construction shown in FIG. 9 could be 
reversed in position so that the wiping portion is located along the 
leading edge of the concave outer surface of side wall 19 with the guiding 
portion trailing the wiping portion. 
Another follower plate construction is shown in FIG. 10. In this 
construction there is no distinction between the wiping and guiding 
portions. Both are defined by the straight outer surface of side wall 19. 
With a follower plate constructed according to any one of the constructions 
shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, the outside diameter of the wiping portion, 
according to this invention, is equal to 0.01 inch less than the inside 
diameter of container 12. This dimension may vary between a tolerance 
range of 0.025 inch on the plus side and 0.008 inch on the minus side. 
Thus, the overall clearance between the wiping portion of the follower 
plate and the inner surface of the container may vary between about 0.018 
inch and zero. In other words, the outside diameter of the wiping portion 
of the follower plate may range between about 0.015 inch greater than the 
container's inside diameter (zero or negative clearance) and 0.018 inch 
less than the inside diameter of the container (positive clearance). 
In the event a negative clearance exists between the follower plate and the 
container, the outside diameter of the wiping portion must be reduced by 
an amount approximately equal to the negative clearance. For this purpose 
the follower plate including the bottom and side walls 18 and 19, 
respectively, is made of material which is sufficiently flexible and 
resilient to be capable of being flexed without permanent deformation into 
a configuration such that the outside diameter of the wiping portion of 
the follower plate is reduced by the proper amount. Such flexure 
non-permanently deforms the bottom wall into a dish-like shape without 
materially changing the peripheral contour of the follower plate. With the 
circular follower plate as depicted in the drawings, the outside contour 
would remain substantially circular upon being flexed as aforesaid. As 
presently preferred, both the follower plate's bottom and side walls are 
made of a cold rolled steel alloy in sheet form having a thickness of 
about 0.032 inch commercially available under the designation AlSi 1010. 
To prevent cocking or tilting of the follower plate, the height "h" (see 
FIGS. 9 and 10) of the side wall 19 is equal to at least 10% of the 
outside diameter of the wiping portion of the follower plate. With this 
arrangement, the danger that the follower plate will become jammed or 
wedged on an inoperative position within the container during use is 
effectively and advantageously eliminated. 
In the presently preferred construction, the undersurface of the wall 18 of 
the follower plate is substantially flat (in an unflexed condition) and 
has a relatively smooth surface finish with substantially no surface 
irregularities greater than about 0.030 inch in depth. Also, in the 
presently preferred construction, the radius "r" (see FIGS. 9 and 10) 
between the side wall 19 and bottom wall 18 is advantageously controlled 
to be no greater than about 3/16 inch; and the side wall extends 
substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall within a permissable 
variance of plus or minus 1/2 degree. 
Dispensers having a follower plate constructed according to this invention 
are extremely effective for dispensing high viscosity fluid material. With 
such a construction, virtually all of the fluid material can be 
discharged. Thus the waste occasioned by leaving fluid material in the 
container commonly occurring with previously known dispensing devices has 
now been eliminated. Also, as mentioned previously, the dispenser of this 
invention can be operated at significantly lower pressures thus increasing 
safety in operation. This is especially important in cases where the high 
viscosity fluid materials are packed in disposable containers made of less 
sturdy but more economical paperboard of fiberboard construction. 
Moreover, the improved follower plate construction of this invention 
permits easy removal of the follower plate from a spent container and easy 
insertion in a fresh container for subsequent use.