EP0052161A1 - Device for dispensing gaseous, liquid or powdered substances - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Device for dispensing gaseous liquid or powdered substances, comprising a hermetically sealable pressure vessel (5) at one end of which a dispensing aperture is located which is preferably controlled by a valve (3) and the other end of which is closed by a closure cap (13), a piston (15, 16) displaceable in the pressure vessel (5) and dividing the latter into two space portions of which the first space portion, which is connected to the dispensing aperture, serves for accommodating the material to be dispensed, and the second space portion accommodates a pressurised propellant container (11) seated on a support mounting fitted to the piston (15, 16) and pierceable by a piercing unit (6, 8) attached to the closure cap (13), characterised in that the pressure vessel (5) is releasably sealable and that the piston (15, 16) forms the bottom of a deformable receptacle (9) holding the substance (10) to be dispensed and arranged in the first space portion ; the receptacle being pierceable through by a piercing tube (4) opening into the dispensing aperture.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for dispensing gaseous, liquid or powdery substances. In the following description, the liquid substances also include such soft, cream-shaped and foamy or foamable substances of corresponding viscosity that can be dispensed using the proposed device. According to the method according to the invention, an overpressure is generated in a pressure vessel and the substance to be dispensed contained in the pressure vessel is dispensed by means of the overpressure, possibly via an ejection opening. The device according to the invention has an airtight lockable pressure vessel, an outlet opening connected to the pressure vessel, preferably forming a valve, and a lancing unit for opening a propellant container under excess pressure. According to the invention, the dispensing of the substance can be carried out by means of a blowing agent which does not pollute the surroundings, so that the use of the propellant gases which are customary at the time is avoided. Interchangeable components can be used in the device, and consequently it can be used multiple times and has a longer service life in comparison with the known devices.

Various methods and devices are known for spraying and dispensing various substances, which generally resemble either siphon bottles or spray cans in terms of their working principle. The common characteristic of the known solutions consists in the presence of a pressure vessel which is suitable for holding the substance to be dispensed, an overpressure being generated in the pressure vessel by means of a corresponding propellant, namely a propellant gas. The excess pressure serves to squeeze the substance out of the pressure vessel and the substance leaves its interior under the influence of the excess pressure via a valve or via another suitable opening.

The siphon bottles are fed with the propellant gas from outside the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel can be refilled several times with the substance to be dispensed and used several times with the aid of new propellant gas to spray out the substance. This solution is particularly advantageous in the event that a relatively large amount of the substance is to be prepared for spraying and / or that a chemical reaction of the substance to be sprayed out with the propellant gas is to take place in the bottle forming the pressure vessel.

The characteristic feature of the spray cans is that the spray material is filled under an excess pressure: the pressure vessel is filled with both the substance to be sprayed and the propellant gas at the same time. Since refilling spray cans is very difficult, the spray cans can generally only be used once and should be discarded after use.

In spray cans, fluorocarbons are used as propellants, which are on the market under various brand names such as Freon, Frigon, Kaltron, etc. The fluorocarbons are chemically inert and, as inert gases, they would be very advantageous as propellants. According to the results of science However, research into fluorocarbons is very dangerous for the atmospheric ozone layer and therefore for the whole world and for humanity. Although these results continue to be the subject of in-depth research, the presumably negative impact of fluorocarbons appears to be so dangerous that their use has been banned in several countries. This trend is expected to intensify all over the world.

Possibilities for replacing the fluorohydrocarbons are the subject of many other attempts, which, however, are currently unsuccessful, since no substance is known which is comparable to the fluorohydrocarbons, is inert, cheap and inexpensive to use. The other tested propellants are either relatively expensive or they react with the substance to be dispensed. Neither the increase in manufacturing costs nor the chemical reactions are usually desirable.

Irrespective of the disadvantages of fluorocarbons due to environmental protection requirements, the spray cans are relatively expensive: the packaging represents a disproportionately high value compared to that of the substance to be dispensed, because the uniqueness of the application - if the safety requirements are met - means that the Manufacturing costs leads. Another problem is to destroy a large amount of the emptied bottles. Destruction can be very difficult, especially if the spray cans have been filled with an explosive or highly flammable propellant, as the remaining unavoidable propellants in the cans can lead to accidents if the cans are not opened sufficiently carefully.

The methods developed for refilling the spray cans require devices of complicated construction which do not always meet the hygienic requirements for refilling and which can also ensure the prevention of pollution. Another disadvantage of refilling is that the refilled spray cans have to be sealed again because the reliable resealing of the cans requires the use of relatively expensive devices and technological means.

The invention has for its object to provide such a method and such a device, which is also suitable for realizing the method, by means of which the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided and the possibility of producing cheap spray cans is ensured. The object can also be formulated in such a way that a method and a device are to be created which can be used in connection with inexpensive propellants which do not pollute or pollute the environment and which, like other known solutions, are simple to carry out and require no special preparation required.

The invention is based on the knowledge that the propellant (the propellant gas) and the substance to be dispensed can be arranged in independent, cheap and disposable packaging after use, and that the excess pressure of the propellant is nevertheless suitable for opening the substance container within the pressure vessel .

The object is achieved in a method for dispensing gaseous, liquid and powdery substances, in which an overpressure is generated in a pressure vessel and by means of the overpressure in the pressure vessel contained substance to be dispensed, possibly via a spray opening, is achieved according to the invention in that the substance to be dispensed is placed in a substance container in a first sub-space of the pressure vessel, the overpressure in a second sub-space of the pressure vessel which is further away from the dispensing opening is formed, the volume of the first subspace is reduced by means of the excess pressure and the dispensing opening is connected to the first subspace to dispense the substance.

In a device for dispensing the substances mentioned, in particular for carrying out the method according to the invention, with an airtight lockable pressure vessel, a dispensing opening connected to the pressure vessel, preferably forming a valve, and a lancing unit for opening a propellant container filled under excess pressure is characterized according to the invention that in the interior of the pressure vessel there is a first sub-space connected to the dispensing opening and a sub-space communicating with the lancing unit and separable from the first sub-space, and that in the second sub-space the fuel tank and in the first sub-space a fabric container containing the substance to be dispensed are arranged, the containers can be assembled.

An advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is that the fabric container is adapted to the inner wall of the pressure vessel and the first and the second partial space are thereby separated from each other in an airtight manner.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the pressure vessel has a vent valve connected to the first partial space.

A very advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is provided with an element for piercing the fabric container, the piercing element being arranged in the first partial space and expediently forming an inlet pipe connected to the dispensing opening.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the dispensing opening is equipped with an atomizer.

The device according to the invention can also expediently be constructed in such a way that the fabric container is designed as a piston which is adapted to the inner wall of the pressure vessel.

A very favorable embodiment of the device according to the invention is that the fabric container is provided with an elastic jacket which presses against the inner wall of the pressure vessel under the influence of excess pressure.

In practical applications, such an embodiment of the device according to the invention is very advantageous, in which the pressure vessel is closed on the side forming the second partial space with a closure cap which is provided with a screw thread, a bayonet closure or with another suitable closure, and in which the Vent valve as well as the lancing unit, preferably having a needle, are arranged in the closure cap.

By means of the method according to the invention and by means of the device according to the invention, the various substances mentioned can be sprayed, atomized or squeezed very cheaply without environmental pollution. For example, compressed air or another correspondingly cheap gas can be used as the blowing agent. The selection of the blowing agent is facilitated in that it does not come into contact with the substance to be dispensed. Under certain conditions it can also be advantageous if a chemical two-component system which becomes effective in the first subspace of the pressure vessel under pressure development is used as the blowing agent. The pressure vessel should not be thrown away or destroyed after the emptying of the fabric container, because the device can be put back into operation and used very easily after removing the emptied fabric container and the used propellant container and after inserting the new container. Since the containers can be produced from cheap materials with an aesthetically pleasing exterior, the application of the invention creates the simple and inexpensive possibility of realizing a new family of interchangeable commercial products containing elements (containers). The containers pose the same environmental problems as the other well known plastic packaging.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing and with the aid of exemplary embodiments. In the drawing, the only FIG. Shows an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention in longitudinal section.

The method according to the invention can be implemented in different ways. Basically, a pressure vessel is proposed which has an outlet opening in the form of a valve and a lower closure cap as well as a lancing unit arranged in the closure cap. After removing the cap, the propellant and the substance to be dispensed should be arranged in appropriate containers in the pressure vessel such that the substance container is closer to the valve and the propellant container ver remaining space of the pressure vessel at least partially filled. The substance container or the fuel container should be designed on their contact surface in such a way that the airtight separation of the two subspaces is ensured on this surface. The pressure vessel is sealed airtight using the cap. Then the propellant container is opened with the aid of the lancing unit, so that the excess pressure is released. The excess pressure causes the fabric container to move in the direction of the valve.

The valve can, for example, be provided with an inlet tube which can be pushed through the wall of the fabric container and can be immersed in the fabric container. Under the influence of excess pressure, the substance to be dispensed is sprayed out through the opening of the valve.

Another convenient solution is that in the pressure vessel closed in the above manner, after the propellant container has been pierced and, if appropriate, after the valve has been opened, a needle or other sharp element causes the fabric container to be torn open. In this embodiment, the pressure vessel can also be provided without the valve, but only with an open dispensing opening, so that the substance is dispensed through the opening immediately after the propellant container is pierced.

Another possibility is to assemble the pressure vessel from two vessel parts and, on the one hand, to achieve the airtight closure of the pressure vessel and, on the other hand, to puncture the propellant container by assembling the vessel parts. Here, the common contact surface of the container can be formed by a movable partition of the container and the dispensing opening must be covered with an easily tearable layer. The device assembled in this way can be used once: the dispensing opening is opened under the influence of excess pressure and the material can be sprayed out in a continuous flow in the desired direction.

However, the possible embodiments for carrying out the method according to the invention are by no means exhausted by the design options described above. The person skilled in the art can create further constructions and embodiments based on his specialist knowledge, by means of which the basic principle according to the invention is realized.

The device which is also suitable for realizing the method according to the invention and which is shown in the drawing has a pressure vessel 5 which is provided on the one hand with a dispensing opening and on the other hand is closed with a closure cap 13. The dispensing opening is formed in the device shown by means of an inlet pipe 4, a valve 3 and an atomizer 1 supported on a spring 2. The elements 1 to 4 shown together form a valve device. The cap 13 is tightly connected to the pressure vessel by means of a sealing washer 7. For this purpose, a screw lock, as shown in the drawing, or a bayonet lock, not shown in the drawing, or another suitable locking unit can be used. In the cap 13, a vent valve 14 communicating with the interior of the pressure vessel 5 and a lancing unit consisting of a needle 6 and a pressure actuating plunger 8 are arranged in the manner shown.

• In dem an die Ausgabeöffnung angrenzenden Teilraum des Druckgefäßes 5 wird ein den auszugebenden Stoff 10 enthaltender Stoffbehälter 9 angeordnet. Der Stoffbehälter 9 ist bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform derart ausgebildet, daß er an seiner der Verschlußkappe 13 zugewendeten Stirnseite eine dem Überdruck widerstehende Wand, und auf seiner dem Ventil 3 bzw. der Ausgabeöffnung zugewendeten Stirnseite eine leicht durchstoßbare oder aufreißbare Wand aufweist. An der der Verschlußkappe 13 zugewendeten Stirnseite kann der Stoffbehälter 9 in der aus der Zeichnung ersichtlichen Weise mit einer steifen Wand 15 und/oder mit einem elastischen Gleitmantel 16 versehen sein. Sowohl die steife Wand 15 als auch wenigstens die am freien Rand des Gleitmantels 16 ausgebildete Ringlippe sind an den Durchmesser der Innenwand des Druckgefäßes 5 derart angepaßt, daß sie unter Druck luftdicht, jedoch gleitend verschiebbar an der Innenwand anliegen. Der Gleitmantel 16 bildet gleichzeitig eine Halterung für den Treibmittelbehälter 11. Nach dem Einsetzen des Stoffbehälters 9 in das Druckgefäß 5 wird der einen Treibstoff 12, beispielsweise Druckluft, enthaltende Treibstoffbehälter 11 eingesetzt. Der Treibmittelbehälter 11 weist an seiner der Verschlußkappe 13 zugewendeten Stirnseite eine mittels des Nadelrohrs 6 durchstechbare Wand auf. Nach dem Verschließen des Druckgefäßes 5 wird mittels des Druckbetätigungsstößels 8 die Nadel 6 in die Wand des Treibmittelbehälters 11 eingestochen. Unter dem Druck des ausströmenden Treibmittels 12 werden die steife Wand 15 oder der Gleitmantel 16 dicht an die Innenwand des Druckgefäßes 5 angelegt, so daß das Treibmittel nicht zur Ausgabeöffnung hin entweichen kann. Unter der Einwirkung des Überdruckes beginnt der Stoffbehälter 9 sich in Richtung auf die Ausgabeöffnung zuzubewegen. Während dieser Verschiebebewegung wird ggf. mittels des Eintrittsrohres 4 die benachbarte Stirnwand des Stoffbehälters 9 aufgestochen, so daß dadurch der Innenraum des Stoffbehälters 9 mit der Ausgabeöffnung verbunden wird. Nach dem öffnen der Ausgabeöffnung bewirkt der Uberdurck das Ausströmen des auszugebenden Stoffes 10 aus dem Stoffbehälter 9 durch die Ausgabeöffnung und ggf. den Zerstäuber 1. Das den Innenraum des Druckgefäßes 5 in zwei Teilräume trennende Wandelement wird bei der Entleerung des Stoffbehälters 9 langsam in Richtung auf die Ausgabeöffnung zu bewegt. Nach dem Ausspritzen des Stoffes kann der Überdruck durch entsprechende Betätigung des Entlüftungsventils 14 zur Abgabe des verbliebenen Treibmittels 12 ausgeglichen werden. Nach dem öffnen der Verschlußkappe 13 können die leeren Behälter aus dem Druckgefäß 5 herausgenommen und gegen neue Behälter ausgetauscht werden.

The device according to the invention works in the following Wise:

• A substance container 9 containing the substance 10 to be dispensed is arranged in the partial space of the pressure vessel 5 adjoining the dispensing opening. The fabric container 9 is formed in the embodiment shown such that it has on its front side facing the closure cap 13 a wall that withstands the excess pressure, and on its front side facing the valve 3 or the dispensing opening has an easily pierceable or tearable wall. On the front side facing the closure cap 13, the fabric container 9 can be provided with a rigid wall 15 and / or with an elastic sliding jacket 16 in the manner shown in the drawing. Both the rigid wall 15 and at least the annular lip formed on the free edge of the sliding jacket 16 are adapted to the diameter of the inner wall of the pressure vessel 5 in such a way that they bear airtight but slidably against the inner wall under pressure. The sliding jacket 16 simultaneously forms a holder for the propellant container 11. After inserting the substance container 9 into the pressure vessel 5, the fuel container 11 containing a fuel 12, for example compressed air, is inserted. The propellant container 11 has on its end facing the closure cap 13 a wall which can be pierced by means of the needle tube 6. After the pressure vessel 5 has been closed, the needle 6 is inserted into the wall of the propellant container 11 by means of the pressure actuating plunger 8. Under the pressure of the outflowing propellant 12, the rigid wall 15 or the sliding jacket 16 are placed close to the inner wall of the pressure vessel 5, so that the propellant cannot escape to the dispensing opening. Under the influence of the excess pressure, the fabric container 9 begins to move towards the dispensing opening. During this displacement movement, the adj Beard end wall of the fabric container 9 pierced, so that the interior of the fabric container 9 is thereby connected to the dispensing opening. After opening the dispensing opening, the excess pressure causes the substance 10 to be dispensed to flow out of the substance container 9 through the dispensing opening and possibly the atomizer 1. The wall element separating the interior of the pressure vessel 5 into two subspaces slowly moves in the direction of the emptying of the substance container 9 the dispensing opening is moved too. After the substance has been sprayed out, the excess pressure can be compensated for by corresponding actuation of the vent valve 14 in order to release the remaining propellant 12. After opening the cap 13, the empty container can be removed from the pressure vessel 5 and exchanged for new containers.

It can be seen that in the embodiment shown, the two composite containers 9, 11 act as pistons, with which the pressure vessel 5 cooperates as a cylinder. The fabric container 9 is possibly deformable, with the exception of the rigid wall 15, in such a way that it is increasingly compressed on the end wall of the pressure vessel 5 having the valve 3 with increasing release of the fabric 10 and its volume is thereby reduced.

The method according to the invention enables effective devices to be constructed with simple, inexpensive, easily manufactured components. The containers can be thrown away after use. The blowing agent used is selected from cheap, non-polluting substances, in particular from appropriate gases. Therefore, the device does not pose a risk of explosion and fire if it is subsequently opened violently. Containers with different substances can be used.

In the method and the device according to the invention, prefabricated substance and propellant containers can be used in different aesthetic designs and simple measures can be taken to be able to reliably check the content at any time (the content of the spray cans cannot be checked). The fabric container can also contain the propellant container as an attached component. The design of the fabric container and the propellant container as a structural unit leads to further simplifications in the distribution, transport and use of the device. In comparison with the known solutions, the device according to the invention can be manufactured 50 to 80% cheaper. The disposable packaging of the fabric container and the propellant container mean a relatively low risk of pollution for the environment in comparison with the spray cans; in addition, the blowing agent can be selected from gases that are biologically and ecologically reliable and safe.

Claims (11)

1. A method for dispensing gaseous, liquid or powdery substances, in which an overpressure is generated in a pressure vessel and the substance to be dispensed contained in the pressure vessel, possibly via an ejection opening, is dispensed by means of the overpressure, characterized in that the substance to be dispensed in a fabric container is inserted into a first subspace of the pressure vessel, the excess pressure is released in a second subspace of the pressure vessel which is further away from the dispensing opening, the volume of the first subspace is reduced by means of the overpressure and the dispensing opening is connected to the first subspace to dispense the substance becomes. 2. Device for dispensing gaseous, liquid or powdery substances, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1, with an airtight lockable pressure vessel (5), with the pressure vessel (5) connected, preferably forming a valve (3) and an output opening Lancing unit (6, 8) for opening a propellant container (11) which is under overpressure, characterized in that in the interior of the pressure vessel (5) there is a first partial space connected to the discharge opening and a first part communicating with the lancing unit (6, 8) Subspace divisible second subspace are present and that in the first Partial space contains a substance container (9) containing the substance to be dispensed, and the fuel container (11) are arranged in the second partial space. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the fabric container (9) is adapted to the inner wall of the pressure vessel (5) in such a way that the first and the second sub-space are separated airtight. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the pressure vessel (5) has a vent valve (14) connected to the second subspace. 5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first sub-space is provided with an element (4) for piercing the fabric container (9). 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the element for piercing the fabric container (9) forms an inlet pipe (4) connected to the discharge opening. 7. Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the dispensing opening is equipped with an atomizer (1). 8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the fabric container (9) is designed as a on the inner wall of the pressure vessel (5) adapted piston. 9. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the fabric container (9) with a under the overpressure on the inner wall of the Pressure vessel (5) sealingly fitted elastic sliding jacket (16) is provided. 10. Device according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the pressure vessel (5) is closed on its side containing the second partial space with a closure cap (13) which is detachably with a screw thread, a bayonet lock or another closure unit with the Pressure vessel (5) is connected, and that the vent valve (14) and the lancing unit (6, 8) preferably provided with a needle (6) are arranged in the closure cap (13). 11. Device according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the cloth container (9) and the fuel tank (11) are assembled.

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