Shutoff valve means for two pressurized sources responsive to failure of one source

Claim 2

In an automatic shutoff valve for use with an aerosol product container, the combination of a container adapted to separately contain a plurality of fluid sources, under pressure therein; a valve housing; a manually operable nozzle; first valve means in said valve housing and operable by said nozzle and adapted to dispense a mixture of said fluids from said source to a location outwardly from said container; first resilient means tending to hold said first valve means closed; and second valve means in said housing responsive to a reduction of pressure of fluids from a first one of said sources relative to remaining fluid pressure in a second one of said sources; said second valve means automatically responsive to said reduction in pressure to move from an open Position to a closed position, and to shut off flow of fluid from said second one of said sources, and to prevent flow of fluid therefrom outwardly through said first valve means; and second resilient means tending to hold said second valve means in open position.

Claim 3

The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein third valve means is disposed in said housing and is operable in response to a substantial depletion of fluid at said first one of said sources; said third valve means disposed to shut off fluid flow from said first one of said sources to said first valve means when said third valve means operates in response to substantial depletion of said fluid at said first one of said sources.

Claim 4

The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein said second valve means is provided with opposed fluid pressure-sensing surfaces, one of said surfaces communicating with said first valve means, and said first one of said sources, the other of said opposed surfaces communicating with said second one of said sources.

Claim 5

The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein said second valve means is provided with opposed fluid pressure-sensing surfaces, one of said surfaces communicating with said first valve means, and said first one of said sources, and the other of said opposed surfaces communicating with said second one of said sources.

Claim 6

The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein said third valve means comprises a flexible container for said first one of said sources, said flexible container adapted to collapse under pressure, and thereby exhaust fluid therefrom, and to substantially deplete said first source of fluid, under pressure.

Claim 7

The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein said third valve means comprises a cylindrical container in said first container, said cylindrical container adapted to contain said first source of fluid under pressure; a piston movably mounted in said cylindrical container to force fluid therefrom and toward said first valve means; and a shutoff seat engageable by said piston near one end of said cylindrical container for causing shut off of fluid flow from said cylindrical container toward said first valve means.

Claim 8

The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein said third valve means comprises a collapsible container for said first one of said sources; a ball check valve adjacent said housing and adapted, when in shutoff position, to shut off flow of fluid from said first one of said sources to said first valve means, said collapsible container disposed to collapse around said ball check valve and to move it to said shutoff position, when fluid in said collapsible container is substantially depleted.

Claim 9

The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein said third valve means comprises a valve seat communicating with said first one of said sources and said first valve means; a diaphragm valve element normally spaced from said seat; a collapsible container in said first container for containing fluid of said first one of said sources, said collapsible container adapted to collapse in response to external pressure, and when collapsed, to force said diaphragm to engage said seat and to shut off fluid flow from said first one of said sources to said first valve means.

Claim 10

The invention, as defined in claim 3, wherein said second valve means comprises a piston movably mounted in said housing, said piston having a first passage extending therethrough and intercommunicating with said first one of said sources and said first valve means; a seal through which said piston is slidably and sealingly disposed; a second passage in said piston, said second passage having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet, when in open position, being disposed at an opposite side of said seal from said outlet, said inlet communicating with said second one of said sources, said outlet communicating with said first valve means, whereby, when said piston moves against force of said second resilient means in response to a pressure differential acting on said opposed surfaces, said outlet is retracted toward and beyond said seal to thereby shut off communication of said outlet with said first valve means, and thereby moving said second valve means to said closed position.

Claim 11

The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first valve means is a poppet valve carried by said manually operable nozzle.

Claim 12

In an automatic shutoff valve for use with aerosol product containers, the combination of a first container means adapted to contain a plurality of fluid sources, under pressure therein; a valve housing; a manually operable nozzle carried thereby; first valve means in said valve housing and operable by said nozzle, said first valve means adapted to dispense a mixture of said fluids from said sources to a location outwardly from said container; said first container means comprising inner and outer compartments; said inner compartment having a movable wall adapted to respond to pressure of the fluid in said outer compartment to pressurize fluid in said inner compartment; and a second valve means operable in response to movement of said movable wall to a position corresponding with depletion of a fluid source from the interior of said inner compartment, whereby said second valve is closed by said movable wall when the fluid source in said inner container is substantially exhausted; and passage means disposed to conduct fluid, under pressure, from said outer compartment to said first valve means for dispensation therethrough.

Claim 13

In an automatic shutoff valve for use with aerosol product containers, the combination of a first container means adapted to contain a plurality of fluid sources, under pressure therein; a valve housing; a manually operable nozzle carried thereby; first valve means in said valve housing and operable by said nozzle, said first valve means adapted to dispense a mixture of said fluids from said sources to a location outwardly from said container; said first container means comprising inner and outer compartments; said inner compartment having a movable wall adapted to respond to pressure of the fluid in said outer compartment to pressurize fluid in said inner compartment; and a second valve means operable in response to movement of said movable wall to a position corresponding with depletion of a fluid source from the interior of said inner compartment, whereby said second valve is closed by said movable wall when the fluid source in said inner container is substantially exhausted; and passage means disposed to conduct fluid, under pressure, from said outer compartment to said first valve means for dispensation therethrough.