EP0111089B1 - Pressurised container for gases, liquids, pasty products or the like - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pressure vessel for gases, liquids, pasty products or the like. According to the preamble of claim 1 or 2, as described in US-A-3 992 003.

In particular, the invention relates to so-called aerosol cans which contain a pressurized medium which automatically emerges from the container when the outlet valve is actuated.

Such pressure vessels are generally known and are used in many areas of daily life, e.g. B. for cosmetics, paints and the like. An increasingly important area of application of such pressure vessels, which are easy and convenient to use, is the metered delivery of a plurality of chemically reactive products which may only come into contact with one another immediately before use. Most of these are so-called “two-component products”, which comprise two different components, which on their own do not result in the desired product, but which react chemically with one another as soon as they are brought into contact with one another to form the desired end product to deliver. An example here is a polyurethane foam that u. a. used in the construction industry to foam cave rooms. This foam consists of a basic component, the actual foam material, which is in liquid or pasty form, and a mostly liquid catalyst. The addition of this catalyst to the foam material means that the polyurethane foam cures much faster and soon gets the desired physical properties. It is desirable per se that the chemical reaction starts immediately after use in order to obtain the desired end product in the shortest possible time. On the other hand, it must also be possible to ensure a metered delivery in small quantities, the remaining stock of the two product components which have not yet undergone chemical reaction being able to continue to be used.

Long-standing application methods for these «two-component products have a number of disadvantages. On the one hand, the so-called mixing technique was used, in which a predetermined amount of each of the two products was taken from separate containers, taking into account the prescribed mixing ratio, and mixed with one another. The disadvantage here is that the total amount ultimately required must be estimated as accurately as possible in order to consume the supply made available within the time available before the reaction between the two components begins or has expired. One can influence the reaction speed between the two components in the sense of a slowdown, but this again brings with it the disadvantage of a slower operation; long waiting times, e.g. B. the applied foam has hardened, can not be avoided. On the other hand, if you set a short reaction time, there is a risk that the prepared supply of the mixture will harden before it can be used up and therefore become unusable.

On the other hand, applicators are known which bring the two components together from separate containers during use and thus deliver a ready-to-use product. However, these devices have the disadvantage that on the one hand they have a complicated structure and are therefore expensive to buy; on the other hand, they require extensive and careful maintenance or cumbersome cleaning, preferably immediately after use. These disadvantages make the use of these applicators particularly unattractive for the occasional consumer and especially for the handyman.

To avoid these shortcomings, z. B. proposed in US-A-3 045 925 and US-A-3 992 003 pressure vessels, which contain two or more separate, mutually sealed chambers, with the product components such. B. are filled in liquid or pasty form. The arrangement is such that there is an outer main chamber and a secondary or secondary chamber arranged within it. Each of these chambers is assigned an outlet valve for dispensing the contents of the chamber. By means of a common trigger element, the two valves can be actuated in the sense of an opening in order to dispense the product components. These finally exit through assigned outlet channels in the release element.

A disadvantage of this arrangement can be seen in the fact that the simultaneous, uniform triggering of the two valves is difficult to achieve; If three or more valves are to be operated at the same time, these constructions fail completely. If the trigger element, usually in the form of a spray head placed on the valve arrangement, is not actuated exactly in the center, the result is that one or the other valve is opened earlier or more. As a result, the predetermined mixing ratio between the individual components from the product chambers is disturbed, with the result that the end product emerging from the outlet opening is unusable. Particularly in the case of products consisting of two components, one component of which is a catalyst, care must be taken to ensure that the mixing ratio is meticulously precise, since even a slight mismatch z. B. either too fast or no off at all causes hardening of the end product.

It is the object of the present invention to improve a pressure vessel of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 or 2 in such a way that the disadvantages described above can be avoided, and in particular to provide a way in which these «two-component products can be used in an economical and pleasant as well as cost-saving manner. In particular, a convenient means for the reliable use of these products is to be created, which allows a targeted, well-dosed and consumer-friendly application of “two-component products, even for occasional use in small quantities. Ultimately, the aim is also to ensure that the product emerges from the pressure vessel in ready-to-use form, ready mixed with a precise mixing ratio, and is immediately available to the user.

The invention is based on a pressure vessel for gases, liquids, pasty products or the like. The type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 or 2 and is characterized by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1 or 2 for solving the invention tasks described above .

The pivotally mounted or axially guided and displaceable trigger element enables a locally defined, evenly distributed trigger pressure to be exerted on a trigger element to open the valves, so that the product components emerge from the individual chambers exactly according to the specified mixing ratio. A significant part of this is the use of one-piece valve bodies that can be opened evenly in a precisely predictable and reproducible manner. It should also be emphasized that, compared to known valve arrangements for multi-chamber containers, this arrangement can be manufactured extremely inexpensively and at the same time very reliably.

Advantageously, the further chamber or, if several so-called secondary chambers are provided, these further chambers are connected directly to the valve plate. For this purpose, the valve plate can be provided with one or more connecting pieces projecting against the interior of the container for the pressure-tight reception of these secondary chambers.

So that the product contained in the secondary chamber can be removed, the nozzle, preferably with a cylindrical shape, is provided with a central through-hole into which a valve is inserted.

• Der Stutzen kann, im Bereich seines Endes mit einer umlaufenden Ringnut versehen sein, in welche ein verdickter Randbereich des Sekundärbehälters eingreift. Somit kann der Sekundärbehälter auf den Stutzen dichtend aufgesteckt werden.

There are several options for attaching the secondary chamber:

• In the area of its end, the connection piece can be provided with a circumferential annular groove, in which a thickened edge area of the secondary container engages. The secondary container can thus be plugged onto the nozzle in a sealing manner.

The nozzle can be provided with an external thread in the region of its end, onto which the secondary container can be screwed with a correspondingly designed internal thread.

In the area of its end, the connection piece can be provided with an annular bead protruding towards the outside, around which an edge area of the secondary container is flanged.

It goes without saying that sealing members may have to be inserted between the nozzle and the secondary container in order to ensure that the interior of the secondary container is properly sealed from the nozzle.

The release member advantageously comprises a lever member pivotally mounted on the pressure container, which has a release area that can be acted upon by a pressure and / or tensile force and an actuation area that is operatively connected to the valves.

In a preferred embodiment, the trigger member may further comprise a spray head which is exposed on the valve plate and which is provided with a plurality of actuators assigned to the valves. The pivotably mounted lever member then expediently acts on a central surface area of this spray head for actuating the valves.

An inexpensive solution is to attach the lever member of the release member to the pressure container in a removable manner. This measure offers the advantage of being able to use an unchanged pressure vessel manufactured in large series, which merely has to be additionally provided with a pivot bearing member for the pivotable support of the lever member. This pivot bearing member can be attached in the region of the valve plate and can be formed by a plastic collar which projects over the edge of the pressure container and which can have two opposite support straps. In this case, the lever member expediently has pivot bearing brackets attached in the triggering area thereof, which can be connected to the support tabs of the pivot bearing member.

Another possibility in which the use of a separate spray head can be dispensed with is to provide actuators for the valves directly on the lever member. In this case, the outlet opening of the pressure vessel can be provided directly in the lever member, outlet channels leading from the actuating members to a common outlet opening.

Preferably, turbulence-forming mixing elements are provided in the area of the common outlet opening, be it that it is formed in a spray head or be it that it is integrated in the lever member, which support the mixing of the product components emerging from the valves. For a targeted ap plication of the ready-to-use product mixture, it can be advantageous if the common outlet opening is provided with an outlet pipe, in which additional, turbulence-forming mixing elements can optionally be provided.

There are basically different options for the formation of the valves. It has proven to be expedient and particularly advantageous if the valves have integrally formed valve bodies which are inserted sealingly into an associated bore in the valve plate and which are elastically deformable in the sense of an opening by the application of axial pressure. The valve bodies can be provided with a central blind bore which is open to the outside and which, in the region of their closed end, is connected to the outside of the valve body via at least one outlet bore.

The outlet bore or the outlet bores can be different in terms of number and / or size in the individual valve bodies. A different dosage of the components contained in the individual chambers of the pressure vessel can thus be realized in a precise, reproducible and at the same time inexpensive manner. If, in addition, a throttle element is provided, which is arranged, for example, in the area of the outlet of the secondary container or within the connecting piece that receives the secondary container, even inherently unfavorable mixing ratios (e.g. 1:98) can be achieved without problems.

Further features of preferred embodiments emerge in particular from the dependent claims and also from the following description.

• Figur 1 einen schematischen Querschnitt durch ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Mehrkammer-Druckbehälters,
• Figur 2 einen detaillierten Querschnitt durch den oberen Teil des Druckbehälters gemäss Fig. 1, aus dem insbesondere der in die Behälteröffnung eingesetzte Ventilteller samt Ventilkörpern ersichtlich ist,
• Figur 3a einen vergrösserten Querschnitt durch eine erste Variante eines Ventiltellers ohne eingesetzte Ventilkörper, aber mit angesetztem Sekundärbehälter,
• Figur 3b einen vergrösserten Querschnitt durch eine zweite Variante eines Ventiltellers ohne eingesetzte Ventilkörper, aber mit angesetztem Sekundärbehälter,
• Figur 3c einen vergrösserten Querschnitt durch eine dritte Variante eines Ventiltellers ohne eingesetzte Ventilkörper, aber mit angesetztem Sekundärbehälter,
• Figur 4 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäss ausgebildeten Druckbehälters in einer ersten Ausführungsform,
• Figur 5 eine schematische Ansicht des Druckbehälters gemäss Fig. 4 von oben,
• Figur 6 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Schwenklagergliedes, wie es beim Ausführungsbeispiel gemäss Fig. 4 verwendet werden kann,
• Figur 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Hebelgliedes, wie es beim Ausführungsbeispiel gemäss Fig. 4 verwendet werden kann,
• Figur 8 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäss ausgebildeten Druckbehälters in einer zweiten Ausführungsform, und
• Figur 9 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Hebelgliedes mit integriertem Sprühkopf, wie es in der Ausführung gemäss Fig. 8 verwendet werden kann.

Exemplary embodiments of the pressure container according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In detail show:

• FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section through an exemplary embodiment of a multi-chamber pressure vessel,
• FIG. 2 shows a detailed cross section through the upper part of the pressure container according to FIG. 1, from which in particular the valve plate and valve bodies inserted into the container opening can be seen,
• FIG. 3a shows an enlarged cross section through a first variant of a valve plate without an inserted valve body, but with an attached secondary container,
• FIG. 3b shows an enlarged cross section through a second variant of a valve disk without an inserted valve body, but with an attached secondary container,
• FIG. 3c shows an enlarged cross section through a third variant of a valve plate without an inserted valve body, but with an attached secondary container,
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a pressure container designed according to the invention in a first embodiment,
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the pressure vessel according to FIG. 4 from above,
• FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a swivel bearing element, as can be used in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4,
• FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a lever member, as can be used in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4,
• FIG. 8 shows a schematic side view of a pressure container designed according to the invention in a second embodiment, and
• FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a lever member with an integrated spray head, as can be used in the embodiment according to FIG. 8.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the pressure vessel, generally designated 1, has an upper edge region 2, which delimits a removal opening 3. In this edge region, the wall 4 of the container 1 is flanged, and the edge 5 delimiting the opening 3 receives an insert 6. A seal 7 is inserted between the edge 5 and an edge region 6a of the insert 6. The connection between the insert 6 and the wall 4 of the container 1 is made in a known manner by flanging.

The insert 6 has a central, circular opening, into which a valve plate, designated as a whole by 8, is inserted. A base plate 9 of the valve plate 8 is provided with an upper shoulder 10, which rests against a sealing surface 11 on the insert 6. Between the paragraph 10 and the sealing surface 11, a seal 12, for. B. inserted a rubber ring. Along the inner periphery of the shoulder 10 extends a shoulder 13 projecting upwards, which has a widened edge region 14. The edges 14a of the edge region 14 are expediently beveled. The outer diameter of the extension 13 corresponds essentially to the inner diameter of the central opening in the insert 6 and the edge region 14 protrudes beyond it by a small amount. Since the valve plate 8 made of elastically deformable material, e.g. B is made of a suitable plastic, the entire valve plate 8 can be inserted into the insert 6 from below until the edge region 14 can overlap the edge delimiting the central opening in the insert 6 and thus locks the valve plate 8 in the insert 6. The seal 12 ensures a pressure-tight connection between the insert 6 and the valve plate 8.

In the example shown, the valve plate 8 is provided with a nozzle 15 which, when the valve plate is inserted, extends towards the inside of the pressure vessel 1 and has an essentially cylindrical shape. A central through-bore 16 leads through the connector 15 and the base plate 9, the diameter of this bore 16 in the area of the connector 15 being larger than in the area of the base plate 9 of the valve plate 8.

At the end of the nozzle 15 directed against the inside of the pressure vessel 1 is a Se secondary container 17 attached. There are various options for this attachment, which will be discussed in more detail below.

A one-piece valve body 18 is inserted into that area of the through bore 16 which extends through the base plate 9 of the valve plate 8. In the idle state, this seals the passage through the bore 16 and thus the inside of the secondary container 17 from the outside. The structure and mode of operation of the valve thus formed will be discussed in more detail below.

In the base plate 9 of the valve plate 8, a further through hole 19 is provided, in addition to the socket 15. This creates a passage from the inside of the pressure vessel 1 to the outside. A valve body 20 corresponding to the valve body 18 is also inserted into this bore 19 and seals the inside of the container 1 against the outside in the idle state.

FIGS. 3a to 3c show various possibilities for fastening the secondary container 17 to the nozzle 15 of the valve plate 8. In a first embodiment variant according to FIG. 3a, the connector 15 has a cylindrical shape and is provided with a circumferential annular groove 31 on its outer surface. The front edge of the nozzle 15 is chamfered at 32 so that an upper end region 33 of the container 17 can be pushed onto the nozzle 15. This end region 33 has a flanged edge 34 which dips into the interior of the annular groove 31. A seal 35, which is inserted into the annular groove 31, together with a corresponding shaping of the edge 34, ensures a pressure-tight connection between the connector 15 and the container 17. If necessary, the lower end of the connector 15 can be slotted to push the container open 17 to facilitate.

A second possibility of connecting the container 17 and the nozzle 15 is shown in Figure 3b. In this variant, the connector 15 has an external thread 36, while an upper end region 37 of the container 17 is provided with an internal thread 38, which corresponds to the external thread 36. A seal 39, which rests against a shoulder 40 on the nozzle 15, ensures a seal of the container 17 with respect to the nozzle 15 when the former is screwed onto the latter.

A third possibility of the connection between the container 17 and the nozzle 15 is shown in FIG. 3c. In this embodiment, an annular bead 41 protruding from the outside is present at the end of the connecting piece 15 on the container side and is encompassed by an end region 42 of the container 17. A fold 43 projecting against the inside of the container 17 carries a seal 44 which rests against the end face 45 of the annular bead 41. The front edge 46 of the container 17 is flanged around the edge of the annular bead 41 facing away from the interior of the container and thus holds the container 17 firmly on the nozzle 15. The edge 46 can be flanged in a known manner, it being understood that during this operation an axial prestress must be exerted on the container 17 in the direction of the nozzle 15 in order to achieve a perfect seal.

As can be seen from FIG. 3a, a throttle element 16a, which has a central throttle bore 50, can be inserted into the bore of the connector 15, preferably in the region of its end directed against the secondary container 17. This throttle member 16a is replaceable, for. B. screwed by means of an edge thread, inserted into the bore 16 of the nozzle 15, the central throttle bore 50 causing a throttling of the amount of product coming from the secondary container 17 to the valve. Depending on the product present in the secondary container 17, a suitable throttle element 16a is inserted into the nozzle 15 in order to control the exit of the product from the secondary container 17 and thus the mixing ratio.

Another possibility for the arrangement of the throttle element 16a is shown in FIG. 3c. This comprises a disk 51, which is formed in the area of the protruding fold 43 of the container 17 and is provided with a central throttle bore 50a. This disk 51 has the same effect as the throttle element 16a described above, so that the comments made in this connection apply.

A release element, generally designated 21, is placed on the insert 6, which is provided with outlet channels 22 and 23, which end at one end in the area of the valve bodies 18 or 20 in pipe pieces 22 'or 23'. These pipe sections extend into the interior of the valve body 18 or 20, as will be explained in more detail below. At the other end, the outlet channels 22 and 23 open into a common outlet opening 24 provided in the trigger element 21. The product contained in the interior of the secondary container 17 passes through the outlet channel 22, possibly after passing through the bore 50 or 50a in the throttle element 16a, through the valve 18 to the outlet opening 24, while the product contained in the interior of the pressure vessel 1 flows via the valve 20 through the outlet channel 23 to the outlet opening 24. With regard to the coupling and actuation of the trigger element 21 with the valve body 18 and 20, reference is made to the following explanations.

The structure of the valve plate 8 and that of the valve bodies 18 and 20 inserted into it can be seen in more detail from FIG. 2. As already mentioned, the valve plate 8 is inserted into the insert 6 of the pressure vessel 1 in a clamping manner. The interaction of paragraph 10 with seal 12 resting thereon and sealing surface 11 of insert 6 on the one hand, and of edge region 14 of extension 13 with the upper edge of the opening delimiting the opening in pressure vessel 1 Set 6 on the other hand ensures a pressure-tight connection of the valve plate 8 with the container insert 6. In the bore 16 of the base plate 9, the valve body 18 is inserted. This comprises a head region 25 with an enlarged diameter with a flange 26 adjoining it, the latter being inserted sealingly into the upper end of the bore 16. On the other hand, the valve body 18 comprises an end region 27 with a larger diameter, which lies sealingly against the inner, container-side edge of the bore 16. Between the head. 25 or the adjoining flange 26 and the end region 27 there is a shaft 28 of the valve body 18 which is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction and into which a blind bore 29 leads which is open in the head region 25 but closed in the end region 27. A radially extending through bore 30 in the region of the shaft 28 connects the blind bore 29 to the outside of the valve body 18.

If, by suitable means, an axial pressurization of the valve body 18 is exerted on the bottom of the blind bore 29 and the stem 28 is thus stretched, the widened end region 27 lifts off from the edge of the through bore 16, so that a passage from the inside of the secondary container 17 via the Through bore 30 and the blind bore 29 in the valve body 18 is created towards the outside. As a result of the internal elasticity of the valve body 18, which is preferably made of plastic, the widened end region 27 of the same rests on the container-side end of the through-bore 16 again after the axial pressurization is eliminated, and thus seals the inside of the secondary container 17 from the outside again.

The diameter of the radial passage bore 30 in the valve body 18 is of course dependent on the nature, in particular on the viscosity, of the product contained in the secondary container 17 as well as on the pressure prevailing therein. If necessary, a plurality of radial passage bores 30 can also be provided in the valve body 18, in particular if the secondary container 17 contains a relatively viscous product.

The valve body 20, which is inserted into the through bore 19 of the base plate 9, is essentially of exactly the same design as the valve body 18 described above. The corresponding parts of the valve body 20 are designated by the same reference numerals, but with. Since the product located inside the pressure vessel 1, which is to be dispensed through the through-bore 19 and the valve body 20, is generally more viscous or has to be dispensed from the vessel 1 in a comparatively large amount per unit of time in order to maintain the correct mixing ratio, the valve body 20 can also a plurality of through bores 30 '.

These can also have a different, generally larger diameter than the through bores 30 in the valve body 18. In any case, the choice of the number and / or the diameter of the through bores 30 or 30 'and also by a suitable choice of the throttle bore 15 of the in the Nozzle 15 or throttle member 16a inserted in the secondary container 17 is given the possibility of influencing the amount of product emerging from the secondary container 17 or from the pressure container 1 and thus determining the mixing ratio between the two product components.

The two outlet channels 22 and 23 end in the area of a common outlet opening 24, which is surrounded by a short pipe socket 31. The inner wall of this pipe socket can be provided with turbulence-forming internals 32 in order to promote thorough mixing of the two product components emerging simultaneously from the channels 22 and 23. There is also the possibility (not shown) of providing the pipe socket 31 with a hose or a pipe extension. This makes it easier to apply the mixed, ready-to-use product components, particularly in places that are difficult to access. When using such an extension hose or tube, further turbulence-forming internals can be provided within the pipe or hose piece, which bring about an even further improved mixing of the two product components in the interior of the hose or pipe.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a pressure vessel 1 according to the invention in a first embodiment variant. A lever member, which is generally designated 34, serves to actuate the trigger element 21, which is designed as a spray head with an outlet nozzle 33. This comprises an actuation area 35, which extends essentially over the surface of the spray head 21 and is provided with an actuation bead 36, which protrudes from the plane of the actuation area 35 and rests on the spray head 21. At the front end of the actuation area 35 there is a pair of pivot bearing brackets 38 which are connected to the lever member 34 by means of a pair of support arms 37. At the other end of the lever member there is a release area in the form of a release arm 39 projecting perpendicularly from the actuation area 35. The arrangement of the lever member 34 on the pressure vessel 1 is particularly evident from the view from above shown in FIG. 5.

A plastic collar 40, which is attached in the region of the upper end of the container 1, serves to anchor the lever member 34 to the pressure container 1, ie for the removable, pivotable reception of the swivel bearing brackets 38 arranged on the front part of the actuation area. This is expediently already attached during the manufacture of the container and can then be used in the connection between the upper edge 5 Container wall 4 and edge area 6a of the insert 6 are clamped with. Of course, other solutions are also conceivable, e.g. B. a one-piece formation of the collar 40 with the insert 6. In any case, the plastic collar 40 has two approximately diametrically opposite, laterally projecting support tabs 41 which have an opening 42 for receiving the pivot bearing tabs 38. An example embodiment of such a plastic collar is shown individually in FIG. 6 as a perspective illustration.

7 shows a single lever member 38 in a perspective view. It can clearly be seen how the two angled support arms 37 extend from the actuation area 35 towards the front and below and how the pivot bearing brackets 38 are attached to the ends of the arms 37. The split design with the two arms 37 ensures that the dispensing area of the spray head 21 is not obstructed and that a hose or a tube can optionally be placed on the outlet nozzle 33. 6 shows the arrangement of the actuating bead; this rests on the surface of the spray head 21 and ensures that when the entire arrangement is triggered, a uniform pressure and thus a uniform valve actuation is ensured by the spray head 21. Finally, the arrangement of the trigger arm 39 is also shown in FIG. 6.

The lever member 38 can expediently consist of plastic, but a design made of metal, in particular if it is intended for repeated use, is also conceivable. The embodiment described with a separate, removable lever member 38 is advantageous because the pressure vessel 1 itself can be used in a completely normal, standardized embodiment. This naturally brings with it a considerable reduction in the cost of manufacture, since such pressure vessels in the form of aerosol cans are manufactured in millions of pieces worldwide. In the case of the can according to the invention, the plastic collar 40 is only to be attached as an additional operation. On the other hand, however, it can also make sense for certain applications to form the lever member 38 and the collar 40 together in one piece and to design them to be attachable to the pressure vessel 1 in a suitable manner.

FIG. 8 shows a variant of the pressure container according to the invention in a side view. In this variant, the spray head 21 and the lever member 38 are combined to form a common trigger element 43. In other words, this means that the spray head 21 is integrally formed on the lever member 38. Otherwise, the structural design is similar to that in the variant shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, with support arms 37, swivel bearing brackets 38, a release arm 39 running straight here and with a plastic collar 40 attached to the container 1 in the upper end region, which has support brackets on both sides 41 is provided, in which the pivot bearing plates 38 engage.

Such a trigger element 43 is shown schematically in a perspective view in FIG. 9. As described at the beginning in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, the trigger member 43 has two tubular projections 44 which project downwards and are intended to penetrate into the blind bores of the valve bodies 18 and 20. The extensions 44 are connected to outlet channels (not shown in detail) which are formed in the interior of the release member 43 and which jointly open into an outlet opening 24 in the region of an outlet nozzle 33. Of course, it is also possible with this embodiment to design the outlet opening 24 in such a way that an application hose can be attached.

In both of the embodiments described, for example in the case of FIGS. 4 to 7 and in the case of FIGS. 8 and 9, it is essential that the pivot axis of the lever member runs parallel to a straight line through the centers of the two valves. This ensures that both valves are operated simultaneously and to the same extent in the sense of an opening. If three or more valves are used, they must either be arranged along the straight line mentioned or, if this is not possible, constructive measures must be taken to ensure that the valves are actuated at the same time. If e.g. B. three valves are provided, two of which are arranged along this straight line and the third is at a distance from this straight line closer to the pivot axis of the lever member, two actuating beads 36 (see FIG. 4) can be provided, one of which is slightly more protrudes beyond the level of the actuation area 35.

With the present invention, a pressure vessel is created which is particularly suitable for the problem-free application of products consisting of two components which must be mixed together immediately before use. The proposed use of a pivotably mounted lever member for triggering the two outlet valves ensures in a simple, problem-free manner that both valves are actuated exactly at the same time and to the same extent, so that the mixing ratio of the two product components predetermined by design measures is exactly maintained. The pressure vessel according to the invention can be produced simply and inexpensively, since a standardized container which is available in large quantities with only minor modifications or additional elements can be used.

Claims (31)

1. Pressurized container for gases, liquids, pasty products or the like, the interior thereof being subdivided into at least two chambers (1, 17) sealed one against the other one and comprising a valve plate (8) common to the chambers, in which one outlet valve (18, 20) for each chamber is inserted communicating with the interior of the associated chamber, said outlet valves being commonly operatable by an operating member (21, 43) displaceable in axial direction in order to open all valves, characterized in that the valves comprise one-piece valve bodies (18, 20) and that the operating member (21) for the uniform opening of several valves is guided with respect to the valve plate (8) axially displaceable, but radially immoveable and secured against axial pivoting.

2. Pressurized container for gases, liquids, pasty products or the like, the interior thereof being subdivided into at least two chambers (1, 17) sealed one against the other one and comprising a valve plate (8) common to the chambers, in which one outlet valve (18, 20) for each chamber is inserted communicating with the interior of the associated chamber, said outlet valves being commonly operatable by an operating member (21, 43) displaceable in axial direction in order to open all valves, characterized in that the valves comprise one-piece valve bodies (18, 20) arranged along a straight line and that the operating member (43) for the uniform opening of several valves is constituted by a pivotally mounted lever member (34, 43), the pivot axis thereof extending parallel to the straight line running through the center of the valve bodies (18, 20).

3. Pressurized container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve plate (8) comprises at least one connection piece (15) protruding towards the interior of the container (1) on which an additional container (17), constituting one of the sealed chambers, is sealingly mounted.

4. Pressurized container according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection piece (15) is of cylindric shape and comprises a central continuous bore (16), a valve body (18) being inserted into that end of said bore (16) which is remote from the additional container (17).

5. Pressurized container according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the valve plate (8) is of essentially circular shape and that the connection piece (15) or the connection pieces is or are, respectively, eccentrically mounted on the valve plate (8).

6. Pressurized container according to one of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the connection piece (15) is provided with a circumferential groove (31) located in the region of its end which is engaged by a thickened edge portion (33, 34) of the additional container (17).

7. Pressurized container according to one of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the connection piece (15) is provided with an outside thread (36) located in the region of its end onto which the additional container (17) is screwed by means of a corresponding inside thread (38).

8. Pressurized container according to one of. the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the connection piece (15) is provided with an annular web (41) protruding outwardly in the region of its end, around which an edge portion (46) of the additional container (17) is crimped.

9. Pressurized container according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever member (34) comprises a releasing portion (39) adapted to be imparted by a pushing and/or pulling force as well as an operating portion (35) operatively coupled to the valve bodies (18, 20).

10. Pressurized container according to claim 9, characterized in that the release member further comprises a spraying or outlet head (21) attached to the valve plate (8) which is equipped with a plurality of operating members (22', 23') related to the valves.

11. Pressurized container according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the lever member (34) of the releasing member is releasably connected to the pressurized container (1).

12. Pressurized container according to claim 11, characterized in that a pivotal bearing member (40) is connected to the pressurized container (1) in the region of its crimped edge (7), and that the lever member (34) comprises pivotal bearing brackets (37, 38) connected to its operating portion (35) and projecting therefrom.

13. Pressurized container according to claim 12, characterized in that the pivotal bearing member (40) is constituted by a plastic collar protruding over the edge of the pressurized container (1) and having two diametrally opposite supporting brackets (41).

14. Pressurized container according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the pivotal bearing brackets (38) on the lever member (34) are constituted by two elements situated opposite to each other and projecting from the surface of the lever member (34), said brackets (38) engaging the supporting brackets (41) provided on the container (1) from downwards upon mounting of the lever member (34) on the container (1).

15. Pressurized container according to one of the claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the releasing portion (39) of the lever member (34) is bent with respect to the operating portion (35).

16. Pressurized container according to one of the claims 9 to 15, characterized in that operating portion (35) of the lever member (34) is shaped as an essentially flat plane which is adapted to be put on the surface of the spraying head (21).

17. Pressurized container according to one of the claims 9 to 15, characterized in that operating portion (35) of the lever member (34) is provided with operating elements (36) projecting from the surface thereof which are operatively coupled to the spraying head (21).

18. Pressurized container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one-piece valve bodies (18, 20) are sealingly inserted into a related bore (16, 19) in the valve plate (8) and are elastically deformable by an axially imparting force in order to be opened.

19. Pressurized container according to claim 18, characterized in that the valve bodies (18, 20) are plug-like shaped and sealingly inserted into the end of the bore (16, 19) of the valve plate (8) opening into the outside, and that the other end of these valve bodies (18, 20) comprise an enlarged end portion (27, 27') which sealingly abuts against that end of the bore (16, 19) in the valve plate (8) which opens into the interior of the container.

20. Pressurized container according to claim 19, characterized in that the valve bodies (18, 20) are provided with a central blind bore (29, 29') opening into the outside and communicating in the region of its closed end via at least one outlet bore (30, 30') with the outside of the valve bodies (18, 20).

21. Pressurized container according to claim 20, characterized in that the outlet bore and the outlet bores (30, 30'), respectively, are different with regard to their number and/or size in the individual valve bodies (18, 20).

22. Pressurized container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a throttle member (16a) for reducing the rate of flow is insertable between the interior of the additional container (17) and the related outlet valve (18).

23. Pressurized container according to claim 22, characterized in that the throttle member (16a) is constituted by a disc (51) equipped with a throttle opening (50a) which is arranged in the region of the outlet opening of the additional container (17).

24. Pressurized container according to claim 22, characterized in that the throttle member (16a) for reducing the rate of flow is inserted into the bore (16) of the connection piece (15).

25. Pressurized container according to claim 24, characterized in that the throttle member (16a) is constituted by a disc replaceably received in the connection piece and provided with a central throttle opening (50).

26. Pressurized container according to claims 9 and 20, characterized in that operating members of the spraying head (21) are tubes (22', 23') projecting therefrom which penetrate into the blind bores (29, 29') of the valve bodies (18, 20).

27. Pressurized container according to claim 26, characterized in that the tubes (22', 23') communicate with outlet channels (22, 23) provided in the spraying head which open into a common outlet (24) of the spraying head (21).

28. Pressurized container according to claims 8 and 20, characterized in that the operating elements in the operating portion of the lever member (43) are constituted by tube pieces (44) projecting from the surface thereof and penetrating into the blind bores (29, 29') of the valve bodies (18, 20).

29. Pressurized container according to claim 28, characterized in that the tube pieces (44) communicate with outlet channels provided in the interior of the lever member which open into a common outlet (24) at the free end of the lever member.

30. Pressurized container according to one of the claims 27 and 29, characterized in that turbulence generating mixing means (32) are provided in the region of the common outlet (24) in the spraying head (21) or in the lever member (32).

31. Pressurized container according to one of the claims 27 and 29, characterized in that an outlet tube is connected to the common outlet (24) in the spraying head (21) or in the lever member (43), said outlet tube being provided, if appropriate, with turbulence generating mixing means.

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