摘要 |
A self-sealing bag valve for use with a quick-disconnect coupling in a bag-in-box (BIB) syrup dispensing assembly for a post-mix beverage dispenser includes a plastic spring assembly for normally biasing a poppet of a self-sealing valve into sealing engagement with a valve seat thereof. The spring assembly includes a petaloid-shaped disc having evenly spaced petaloid segments defining flow passages therebetween, a retaining ring for securing peripheral portions of the petaloid-shaped disc in fixed positions in the bore of the self-sealing valve and a petaloid stem protruding from the disc into engagement with the valve poppet. The petaloid-shaped disc includes a first frusto-conical portion extending from the retaining ring to a circular termination line concentric with the ring and a second frusto-conical portion extending from the circular termination line to the petaloid stem. The first and second frusto-conical portions, when in an installed, normal biasing position (the closed position of the self-sealing valve), have opposite slopes with respect to an axis orthogonal to the petaloid disc providing a bend about the circular termination lines forming knees in each petaloid segment for accommodating flexing of the elements about the knees. A groove is provided in the central bore of the valve housing for accommodating a snap-fit of the retaining ring therein.
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