Vapor tap valve for aerosol containers used with flammable propellants

Abstract

A vapor tap valve for aerosol containers is provided, for use with aerosol compositions containing liquefied flammable propellants, inhibiting delivery of flammable liquid propellant when the valve is opened in any orientation of the aerosol container, comprising, in combination, a delivery valve movable manually between open and closed positions and including a valve poppet, a valve stem, a valve stem passage, and a delivery port; bias means biasing the delivery valve towards a closed position; a blending space for mixing propellant and aerosol composition in fluid flow communication with the valve stem passage via the valve, the valve in the open position communicating the blending space with the valve stem passage, and in the closed position preventing such communication; a liquid tap orifice in the blending space; a gas tap orifice in the blending space; and a shut-off valve disposed in the valve poppet and responsive to orientation of the valve to move automatically between positions opening and closing off flow of propellant to the delivery port via the valve stem passage, the shut-off valve moving into an open position in an orientation of the valve between a horizontal and an upright position, and moving into a closed position in an orientation of the valve between the horizontal and an inverted position.