EP0521060B1 - Pressurized gas packaging, in particular mechanical atomizer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes a pressurized gas packaging, in particular a mechanical atomizer (1). An opening (4) of a pressurized container (2) is closed by means of a valve device (5). Inside the pressurized container (2), an ascending pipe (6) extends from the valve device (5) into the region of a base of the pressurized container (2). Part of the interior (8) of the pressurized container (2) is filled with an active substance (9) and possibly with a solvent (10) and the rest with a propellant (12). The interior (8) of the pressurized container (2) contains, for one part by weight of propellant (12), at least four parts by weight of the active substance (9), which may be mixed with a solvent (10). The mixture is enriched with energy, in particular kinetic energy, which is independent of the environmentally safe propellant (12).

Description

The invention relates to a compressed gas pack, as described in the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, this invention relates to a method and a filling device for filling pressurized gas packages, as described in the preamble of claims 7 and 21.

From DE-A-18 07 556 it is known to introduce carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and nitrogen oxide (N ₂ O) in a low to highly viscous liquid active substance, which is located in an aerosol pressure vessel provided with a valve and solve. In order to enable a uniform discharge as far as possible until the active substance is completely discharged, as high a part of the blowing agent as possible should be dissolved in the low to highly viscous liquid active substance. In order to achieve this high proportion of solution of these propellants in the active ingredient, as large a surface of the active ingredient as possible is exposed to the propellant and the aerosol pressure vessel has to be placed in the necessary position, in which it must also be subjected to vibrations in order to make contact with the surface to allow a sufficient transition between the propellant and the active ingredient. The disadvantage of this method is that only propellants soluble in the active ingredient can be used and the aerosol pressure containers have to be rotated from their usual filling position into a separate position and have to be shaken in this position, so that the enrichment of the active ingredient with the propellant does not occur simultaneously with the introduction of the Active ingredient or the blowing agent can take place. This increases the filling time of such aerosol pressure containers and makes the filling process more expensive.

Furthermore, it is known from FR-A-2 308 549 to expose the pressure container to an ultrasound during the introduction of an active substance and a propellant gas into a compressed gas pack. The disadvantage here is that only by irradiating the pressurized gas pack to be filled can a sufficient amount of propellant gas be introduced into the active substance, which ensures that the entire active substance can be discharged with the propellant gas under sufficient pressure until it is completely emptied.

Known compressed gas packs consist of a so-called spray can, the opening of which is closed by a valve device. A propellant and any active ingredient mixed with a solvent are arranged in this spray can. In most cases, the blowing agent used is a liquefied gas under pressure or a liquid that has cooled below its boiling point. For that, above all, are now halogenated hydrocarbons (fluorine-, chlorine- and / or bromine-containing hydrocarbons) recognized as environmentally harmful. The destruction of the ozone layer in the stratosphere destabilizes the vertical temperature gradient of the atmosphere, which contributes significantly to the greenhouse effect of the earth. Above all, the halogenated hydrocarbons absorb just that infrared radiation and convert it into heat for which the atmosphere is otherwise almost transparent.

With the ban on halogenated hydrocarbons, so-called partially halogenated hydrocarbons are currently also used in compressed gas packs. These partially halogenated hydrocarbons are more expensive than the already prohibited halogenated hydrocarbons, and ozone pollution and an unknown environmental risk remain. As a result, it is not possible to replace the halogenated hydrocarbons with the partially halogenated hydrocarbons.

If, instead of the halogenated hydrocarbons, other hydrocarbons such as propane, butane or isobutane or other organic compounds, such as dimethyl ether, are used as blowing agents, highly explosive compounds are produced, particularly in a mixture with air, and these are also considered to be pollutants. In addition, the hairspray, for example, also becomes more watery.

In another known compressed gas pack, the active ingredient, optionally mixed with a solvent, is arranged in its own, elastically deformable plastic container, which is fastened in the interior of the pressure container. The rest of the interior of the pressure vessel is filled with compressed air at a pressure of 8 bar. Thus, the compressed air is between the wall of the pressure container and the plastic container and exerts a corresponding pressure on the latter. However, the compressed air does not come into contact with the liquid product. The pressure vessel is filled with compressed air from below through a valve. If an active ingredient is required, the valve device is opened and the active ingredient is discharged alone without the propellant gas due to the pressure exerted on the elastically deformable plastic container by the compressed air. The disadvantage is that the introduction of its own plastic container and the separate introduction of the compressed air via a further external input is difficult.

In another known pressurized gas pack, a separate pressurized gas container is provided in the interior of the pressurized container, which presses the pressurized gas from the pressurized container simultaneously with the actuation of the valve device for removing the active substance can flow into the interior of the pressure vessel filled with filling material. The disadvantage is that two pressure vessels are required with this compressed gas pack, whereby the weight, the manufacturing costs and ultimately the transport costs are considerably higher.

Finally, attempts have also been made to remove the active ingredient and distribute it by spraying, using spray cans with a hand pump attached. Apart from the fact that these hand pumps are not accepted by many consumers and lead to occupational diseases such as bursitis and tendonitis in occupations that require constant use of such spray cans, such as hairdressers. In addition, with these hand pumps placed on the spray cans, use in different areas of application is not possible, since, for example in the case of painting, the spraying process is too irregular.

The present invention has for its object to provide a pressurized gas pack that can be filled with environmentally friendly propellant gases and enables the active ingredient stored therein to be discharged economically. In addition, a method for the rapid filling of the pressure vessels with active substance and propellant gas for a long storage period and a filling device for the rapid filling of the pressure vessels are also to be created.

This object of the invention is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of patent claim 1. It is advantageous with this solution that all, especially environmentally friendly, gases can now be used as propellants for spray cans. It is now advantageously possible to use propellant gases obtained from the air, such as compressed air, nitrogen, noble gases or CO ₂ . This enables a constant cycle between the propellant and the atmosphere. The substances obtained from the air, such as nitrogen, are poured into the cans and returned to the atmosphere or the air when the active ingredient is discharged. Due to the enrichment of the mixture with kinetic energy in particular, a higher energy is available for spraying the mixture than that caused by the propellant gas introduced under pressure. Another surprising advantage of this solution is, however, that the higher vapor pressure which arises during the removal of the active substance from the interior of the pressure vessel has a similar effect to that of the propellants introduced into the interior of the pressure vessel in liquid form, and thereby a longer removal time, a higher pressure of the propellant gas in the interior of the pressurized gas pack is maintained, since fine spraying is supported by the decreasing vapor pressure and therefore almost all of the active ingredient can be applied or sprayed perfectly. In a surprising manner, the effect produced in the previously known spray cans by the sudden evaporation of the propellants liquefied under pressure when they escape into the atmosphere can also be achieved with the solution according to the invention. In addition, the total weight of a pressurized gas pack according to the invention is thereby kept low and a sufficient amount of propellant gas for discharging the entire active ingredient, which may be associated with the solvent, is ensured.

The surprising, unforeseeable effect with this solution according to the invention is based on the fact that the high adhesive force of the water molecules always forms molecule conglomerates which consist of several individual molecules. Due to the fact that these molecular conglomerates are brought into a resonance oscillation, the molecules of a molecular conglomerate are divided into smaller molecular conglomerates, for example molecular conglomerates of five molecules into molecular conglomerates with only two or three, due to the high energy input during the resonance oscillation Molecules, on. As a result, however, the surface energy at the individual smaller molecule conglomerates is increased and a larger surface is available for the enrichment or connection of gas molecules via the adhesive forces on the liquid molecules. This leads to the accumulation of gas molecules, known as supersaturation, on the surface of the water molecules or the smaller molecule conglomerates. It is also advantageous that the reduction of the molecular conglomerates is automatically limited by the predefined natural frequency, by means of which the larger molecular conglomerates are set into a resonance oscillation and thereby divided, due to the frequency band of the oscillations. This division into smaller molecular conglomerates ends even when, owing to the decreasing mass of the divided large molecular conglomerates, the remaining smaller molecular conglomerates, due to their smaller mass, can no longer be made to resonate. This automatically prevents the molecular conglomerates from being too finely divided or crushed.

In the embodiment variant according to claim 2 it is achieved that at such pressures currently standard compressed gas packs can be used commercially.

Another embodiment variant describes claim 3. This makes it possible to introduce more propellant gas in the interior of the pressure vessel than that in the respective Filling pressure would be possible due to the remaining volume of the interior of the pressure container after the active ingredient or mixture has been introduced.

Another further development of the invention is described in claim 4, whereby a sufficient amount of propellant gas is present until the active ingredient has been completely applied. The additional independent energy can always be applied when it is needed, so that a reliable function of the compressed gas pack can be achieved even with a long storage period.

A further embodiment is described in claim 5, whereby the increase in surface energy can always be applied in a targeted manner before the compressed gas pack is used again.

Another embodiment according to claim 6 is also advantageous, whereby an intimate energy transfer and thus a low power loss when introducing the energy into the mixture can be achieved.

The invention also includes a method as described in the preamble of claim 7.

This method is characterized by the measures specified in the characterizing part of claim 7. It is advantageous that this reduces the total weight of the compressed gas packs and that it can be found without halogenated hydrocarbons for the expulsion of the active ingredient.

However, the measures according to the characterizing part of patent claim 8 are also advantageous, since as a result the surface energy, the surface density and the surface tension increase and the adhesive forces between liquid particles and gaseous propellant become more effective. This means a higher gas concentration on the surface of the liquid particles, so that the gaseous propellant or the propellant gas is dissolved more quickly. The filling times for the compressed gas packs according to the invention can thus be kept short.

However, the measures according to the characterizing part of claim 9 are also advantageous, since this allows the additional energy to be introduced into the mixture in a simple form and, on the other hand, a better yielding result is achieved due to the expansion of the propellant gas due to the temperature increase.

Further advantageous measures are described in claim 10. Through the Supply of the kinetic energy, the internal pressure in the pressure vessel can advantageously be reduced, so that there is sufficient security against the maximum permissible filling pressure during storage and use, but the stored energy inside the pressure vessel is greater than with normal filling.

A variant according to claim 11 is advantageous, since the introduction of the kinetic energy can be generated by corresponding control of the propellant gas pressure or the propellant gas velocity when entering the active substance.

In the embodiment variant according to claim 12, however, it is possible to transfer the kinetic energy via the pressure vessel to the active ingredient.

Finally, a procedure according to claim 13 is also advantageous since the throughput at the filling station can thereby be increased.

Furthermore, an embodiment according to claim 14 is also advantageous, since intensive energy input is thereby achieved.

Another advantageous embodiment describes claim 15, whereby a good mixing and thereby an intensive introduction of gas into the mixture is achieved.

With the measures according to claim 16, it is possible to bring about the application of the kinetic energy to the active ingredient by the propellant gas itself, so that complex additional devices for applying the kinetic energy can be saved.

A further procedure according to claim 17 is also advantageous, since overstressing of the pressure container when filling in the active substance or the propellant gas, in particular overexpansion, can thereby be prevented.

Claims 18 and 19 describe further advantageous embodiments because the filling process shortens the energy supplied and good mixing is achieved. This subsequently leads to a cost-saving and economical filling process.

A further development according to claim 20 is advantageous because a desired pressure change during filling can thereby be achieved quickly.

The invention also includes a filling device as described in the preamble of claim 21.

This filling device is characterized by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 21. It is advantageous that now for a preferred embodiment variant, in which compressed air is used as the propellant gas or propellant gases obtained from the air, such as nitrogen, to expel active substances from a water / alcohol mixture, a supersaturation of the liquid molecule conglomerates with the propellant gas, namely the compressed air or nitrogen. Furthermore, a high residual pressure when discharging the water / alcohol mixture and a fine spraying of the same on the one hand and on the other hand an almost complete emptying as well as an extremely short filling time of the compressed gas pack is achieved. With this filling device and when using this specified mixture and propellant gas, it is now possible for the first time to economically fill compressed gas packs with environmentally friendly propellant gases.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Druckgaspackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten;

Fig. 2

eine andere Ausführungsvariante der Ventilvorrichtung für eine erfindungsgemäße Druckgasverpackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten;

Fig. 3

den Ventilsitz mit dem an diesen angeformten Einströmkanälen gemäß Fig. 2 in vereinfachter, schaubildlicher Darstellung;

Fig. 4

an Hand eines Diagrammes die Austragdauer für den Wirkstoff und den in der Druckgaspackung verbleibenden Restdruck nach dem Ausbringen des Wirkstoffes bei einem in Fig. 1 schematisch durch Punkte dargestellten starken Sprühstrahl;

Fig. 5

ein Diagramm gemäß Fig. 4, jedoch beim Ausbringen des Wirkstoffes mit einem schwachen Sprühstrahl, wie dieser in Fig. 1 in strichlierten Linien dargestellt ist; strichlierten Linien dargestellt ist;

Fig. 6

eine andere Ausführungsvariante einer Ventilvorrichtung für eine erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Druckgaspackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten;

Fig. 7

eine erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Füllvorrichtung für eine erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Druckgaspackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten und vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung;

Fig. 8

eine andere Ausführungsvariante einer erfindungsgemäßen Druckgaspackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten;

Fig. 9

eine Füllvorrichtung für eine erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Druckgaspackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten und vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung;

Fig. 10

ein Entleerungsdiagramm mit der Austragmenge für den durch Wasser gebildeten Wirkstoff und den in der Druckgaspackung verbleibenden Restdruck nach dem Ausbringen des Wirkstoffes;

Fig. 11

ein weiteres Entleerungsdiagramm gemäß Fig.10, jedoch beim Ausbringen eines Deodorants als Wirkstoff;

Fig. 12

eine andere Ausführungsvariante einer erfindungsgemäßen Druckgaspackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten und vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung;

Fig. 13

eine Ventilvorrichtung für eine erfindungsgemäße Druckgaspackung in Seitenansicht, geschnitten;

Fig. 14

die Ventilvorrichtung in Draufsicht, geschnitten gemäß den Linien XIV-XIV in Fig.13;

Fig. 15

die Ventilvorrichtung in Draufsicht, geschnitten gemäß den Linien XV-XV in Fig.13;

Fig. 16

ein Entleerungsdiagramm, in dem der Druckverlauf im Innenraum der Druckgaspackung im Verhältnis zur erzielten Aussprührate gezeigt ist.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a compressed gas pack designed according to the invention in side view, cut;

Fig. 2

another embodiment of the valve device for a compressed gas packaging according to the invention in side view, cut;

Fig. 3

the valve seat with the molded-in inflow channels according to FIG 2 in a simplified, diagrammatic representation.

Fig. 4

on the basis of a diagram, the discharge time for the active ingredient and the residual pressure remaining in the pressurized gas pack after the active ingredient has been applied in the case of a strong spray jet, shown schematically by dots in FIG. 1;

Fig. 5

a diagram of Figure 4, but when applying the active ingredient with a weak spray, as shown in Fig. 1 in dashed lines. dashed lines are shown;

Fig. 6

another embodiment variant of a valve device for a pressurized gas pack designed according to the invention in side view, cut;

Fig. 7

a filling device designed according to the invention for a compressed gas pack designed according to the invention in side view, sectioned and simplified schematic representation;

Fig. 8

another embodiment of a compressed gas pack according to the invention in side view, cut;

Fig. 9

a filling device for a pressurized gas pack designed according to the invention in side view, sectioned and simplified schematic representation;

Fig. 10

a discharge diagram with the discharge amount for the active ingredient formed by water and the residual pressure remaining in the pressurized gas pack after the active ingredient has been applied;

Fig. 11

another emptying diagram according to Figure 10, but when applying a deodorant as an active ingredient;

Fig. 12

another embodiment variant of a pressurized gas pack according to the invention in side view, sectioned and simplified schematic representation;

Fig. 13

a valve device for a compressed gas pack according to the invention in side view, cut;

Fig. 14

the valve device in plan view, cut along the lines XIV-XIV in Fig.13;

Fig. 15

the valve device in plan view, cut along the lines XV-XV in Fig.13;

Fig. 16

a discharge diagram, in which the pressure curve in the interior of the compressed gas pack is shown in relation to the spray rate achieved.

In Fig. 1, a pressurized gas pack, which is designed as a pressure atomizer 1, is shown. This consists of a pressure vessel 2, which is provided with an opening 4 at its end facing away from a base 3. The opening 4 is closed by a valve device 5. A riser pipe 6 coupled to the valve device 5 ends, if possible, in a lower region 7 of the base 3.

In the interior 8 of the pressure vessel 2, an active ingredient 9 is filled, which is optionally mixed with a solvent 10 schematically indicated by circles. A volume 11 of the interior 8 located above the active ingredient 9 is filled with a propellant gas 12 which is indicated schematically by dots and which, for example, is compressed to a pressure of 8 bar.

A weight of the active ingredient 9 optionally mixed with the solvent 10 is at least four times as high as the weight of the propellant gas compressed to about 8 bar, which fills the volume 11.

The valve device 5 comprises a blocking plate 14 which interrupts the connection between the riser pipe 6 and a nozzle 13, which is connected to an actuating button 15 and to a valve carrier 16 which is connected to this in movement and which is under the action of a closing spring 17 which tries to block the blocking plate 14 to press a valve seat 18.

The further the actuation button 15 is pressed in the direction of an arrow in the direction of the pressure vessel 2, the greater the flow cross section of openings 19 arranged in the valve carrier 16, through which the active substance 9 can enter the interior of the valve device 5 and pass through to the nozzle 13. Depending on how far the actuation button 15 is pushed in, a weak spray jet 20, as indicated in dashed lines, and a strong spray jet 21, as is shown schematically with dots, can be achieved. The quantity of active substance 9 delivered in the unit of time can thus also be changed.

By applying a kinetic energy to the liquid particles of the active ingredient 9, the adhesive forces between these liquid particles and the gaseous propellant can be increased. This means that a higher gas concentration on the surfaces of the liquid particles can be achieved.

For a satisfactory spray characteristic of the active substance 9 discharged with the propellant gas 12, which is optionally mixed with the solvent 10, in addition to the type of nozzle, the internal geometry of the nozzle and the ratio of gas and liquid throughput or the pressure in front of the nozzle according to the invention Knowledge, the vapor pressure of the liquid by the gaseous propellant is also effective. The more inert the gaseous propellant is to the liquid, the greater the increase in the vapor pressure of the liquid.

The thermal equation of state for ideal gases is: p * V _fl = R * T. In this equation, p * V _{fl is assigned to} the work or energy of the gas in question. When one mole of the liquid evaporates under the gas pressure of the inert propellant, the work of evaporation of the liquid is: R * T -p * V _fl . The work p * V _{fl of} the inert propellant gas pressure is lower than in the normal case where the evaporation work is R * T. In these equations, R = gas constant, T = temperature in Kelvin, p = inert gas pressure of the blowing agent and V _fl = volume of the liquid.

The vapor pressure of the liquid therefore rises with the lowering of the evaporation work. This causes the liquid to show good spray characteristics. This makes it possible with the propellant gas 12 compressed according to the invention to achieve a spray effect which is approximately similar to that with the liquefied propellant gases, that is to say admixed with the active substance 9 in liquid form, e.g. the chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Furthermore, this change in the vapor pressure of the inert propellant gas 12, despite the drop in the propellant gas pressure with the emptying after the spraying of the entire amount of active substance 9, that is to say the emptying of the interior 8, means that, depending on the nozzle used, a residual pressure of 0.5 to 3 bar is present in the pressure vessel 2. This also ensures that the entire active ingredient 9 and any solvent 10 mixed with it can be discharged from the interior 8 of the pressure vessel 2.

These advantages described above can now be achieved with environmentally compatible propellant gases 12, such as compressed air, compressed nitrogen gas, compressed noble gas, but also carbon dioxide gas and the like will. This avoids both the unpleasant smell and in many cases the high risk of explosion that occurs with the propellant gas 12 currently used instead of the halogenated hydrocarbons, such as propane, butane, isobutane and the like.

2 and 3, a possible valve device 5 is shown on a larger scale. This valve device 5 consists of a valve carrier 16, in which a sleeve 22 is pressed, which has a valve seat 18.

As can be seen more clearly from FIG. 3, this sleeve 22 has, following the valve seat, a plurality of inflow channels 24 formed by slots 23. These slots 23 are open in the end facing away from the valve seat 18 and extend approximately up to a distance 25 in the direction of the valve seat 18. The valve seat is preferably conical and interacts with a blocking part 27 having outflow openings 26, in particular a valve cone.

The slots 23, on the other hand, are arranged in a cylindrical jacket 28 which directly adjoins the valve seat 18 and is preferably formed in one piece with the latter. An outer circumferential surface of this cylindrical jacket 28 bears sealingly against an inner wall 29 of a bore in the valve carrier 16, while a cylindrical control piston 31 is guided in a bore 30 of the jacket 28. The control piston 31, which forms a common component with the locking part 27, is pressed together with the latter by a closing spring 17, which generates a pretensioning force 32, on the valve seat 18. Against the action of this biasing force 32, the control piston 31 or the locking part 27 can be moved via an actuating button 15 in the direction of a support surface 33 for the closing spring 17 in the valve carrier 16.

Both the sleeve 22 and the locking part 27 or the control piston 31 and the bore 30 are arranged concentrically to a longitudinal axis 34 of the valve device 5. The valve carrier 16 is equipped with a hose holder 35 for fastening the riser pipe 6. In the area of the closing spring 17, an opening 36 is further arranged in the valve carrier 16, which connects the interior of the valve carrier with the surrounding interior of the pressure container 2.

This now causes that each time the operating button 15 is actuated to remove an active ingredient 9, in addition to the propellant gas 12 entrained with the active ingredient 9, which is supplied to the slots 23 via the riser pipe 6, additional propellant gas 12 is admixed directly in the valve device 5 via the opening 36. This admixing of the propellant gas 12 achieves approximately the same spray behavior when it emerges from the nozzle 13, even with different removal amounts of the active ingredient 9, which may be mixed with a solvent 10. If, on the other hand, the actuation button 15 is released, the closing spring 17 presses the control piston 31 with its blocking part 27, which has the outflow openings 26, against the conical valve seat 18, as a result of which further entry of the active substance 9 or of the propellant gas into the control piston 31 is prevented. Due to the labyrinth effect that is created between the cylinder jacket 28 of the cylindrical control piston 31 and the conical locking part 27 or valve seat 18, a high level of tightness of the valve device 5 is achieved.

4 and 5 it is shown on the basis of the diagrams that, depending on the type of removal of the active ingredient 9 from the interior 8 of the pressure container 2, the residual pressure in the pressure container 2 then occurs in the valve device 5 due to the amount of directly supplied propellant gas 12 is higher if the active ingredient 9 is continuously discharged with the solvent 10 optionally added to it by means of a strong spray jet 21, as is shown schematically by dots in FIG. 1.

The comparison shows that if only a weak spray jet 20 is used to discharge the active substance 9, the spraying time becomes longer and the residual pressure can drop to up to 0.5 bar compared to 3 bar when the active substance 9 is discharged with a strong spray jet 21.

In the case of both diagrams in FIGS. 4 and 5, a filling pressure of the pressure container 2 of 8 bar is assumed. A time unit was therefore not specified because the total discharge time is heavily dependent on the nozzle design and the filling quantity. The duration was therefore empirically determined and compared in the present case.

In the embodiment variant shown in FIG. 6, a connection is made between the riser pipe 6 and the nozzle 13 via passages 37 which are arranged in the blocking plate 14. The locking plate 14 is exerted by the action of the closing spring 17 in the direction of the valve seat 18 Biasing force 32 pressed against the valve seat 18. The fact that the passages 37 are in the area in which the blocking plate 14 rests on the valve seat 18 means that in this state - which is shown in full lines in FIG. 6 - the active substance 9 passes from the riser pipe 6 to the nozzle 13 prevented.

However, if the locking plate 14 is lifted from the valve seat 18 by pressing the actuating button 15, the active substance 9 can pass through passages 37 into a tube which is fixedly connected to the actuating button 15 and which is guided in the valve seat 18 in the longitudinal direction and in the direction pass through the nozzle 13.

For metering the amount of active ingredient 9 to be discharged, a metering piston 38 is arranged on the side of the blocking plate 14 facing away from the valve seat 18 and is designed with a cone tapering in the direction of the hose holder 35.

A metering surface 39 is assigned to this metering piston 38, the amount of active substance 9 discharged decreasing as the movement of the locking plate 14 increases in the direction of the hose holder 35 for the riser pipe 6. Openings 36 are arranged in the metering surface 39, which open directly into the interior 8 of the pressure vessel 2, in which only the propellant gas 12 is arranged. It is thereby achieved that at the same time as the active substance 9, which may be mixed with the solvent 10, emerges, an amount of propellant gas 12 which can be preset by the cross-sectional area of the opening 36 can be admixed. The distribution or the discharge rate of the active ingredient 9 can thus be additionally influenced.

The amount of propellant gas 12 additionally admixed can be determined in a simple manner by the cross-sectional area, that is to say essentially by the diameter of the opening 36. It is advantageous here if the diameter of the opening 36 is between 0.05 to 0.3 mm, preferably between 0.08 to 0.15 mm. Such a resulting cross-sectional area of the opening 36 allows a good mixture and a correspondingly fine distribution of the active substance 9 in the currently known and used valve devices 5 and the diameters of the individual lines used here. Of course, it is possible instead of one single opening 36 with the cross-sectional area resulting from the diameter to provide a plurality of bores or openings, the total cross-sectional area of which corresponds to the cross-sectional area at the given diameter.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the openings 36 in the area of the metering surface 39 ensures that when the actuating button 15 is pressed in by an extent to which the metering piston 38 lies closely against the metering surface 39 and accordingly no active ingredient 9 can pass through in the direction of the nozzle 13 , at the same time the supply or the passage of propellant gas 12 through the opening or openings 36 is prevented. This prevents that if the actuation button 15 is pressed in too deeply, only the supply of active ingredient 9 is possibly prevented and under certain circumstances the entire propellant gas 12 is blown off. In such a case, only the no longer dispensable active ingredient 9 would then remain in the pressure container 2.

The amount of active substance 9 mixed with the propellant gas 12 also changes in accordance with the lifting height by which the actuating button 15 is adjusted more or less in the direction of the pressure vessel 2.

However, after the full cross section of the opening 36 is also released when the delivery of active substance 9 between the metering piston 38 and the metering surface 39 is released, a uniform amount of propellant gas 12 is also discharged in this embodiment variant, regardless of the amount of active substance 9 discharged .

The amount of propellant gas 12 which is fed to the nozzle 13 in the actuating button 15 through the opening 36 in the valve carrier 16 is thus independent of the preset discharge amount of the active substance 9.

FIG. 7 shows a pressure atomizer can 1, as described for example with reference to FIG. 1. The active ingredient 9, optionally mixed with the solvent 10, and the propellant gas 12 are introduced in such a way that, before the valve device 5 is introduced into the opening 4 of the pressure vessel 2, the active ingredient 9 mixed with the solvent 10 is filled in. The opening is then closed gas-tight with a cover 40 in which the valve carrier 16 is installed. In this condition the pressure vessel 2 is brought into the area of a filling device 41.

In the area of this filling device 41, the pressure vessel 2 is placed on a base plate 42 which is resiliently mounted via spring elements 43. Furthermore, the filling device 41 is assigned a vibration drive 44, for example an electrical oscillating magnet 45. The filling device 41 has a filling head 46 which can be pressed along guides 47 by means of cylinder piston drives 48 which can be actuated by pressure medium, against the end face of the pressure container 2 which is closed by the cover 40. Furthermore, the filling head 46 has a control pin 49 which, when the filling head 46 is placed on the pressure vessel 2, penetrates into the interior of the valve device 5 and lifts the schematically illustrated locking plate 14 against the resistance of the closing spring 17 from the valve seat 18. This creates a direct line connection between the filling head 46 and the riser pipe 6 inside the pressure vessel 2.

If the filling head 46 is moved further downward, a check valve and a control valve 50, 51 are opened by the resistance which the blocking plate 14 opposes to the control pin 49, as is shown in full lines in FIG. 7, so that over a optionally flexible supply line 52 and a pressure reducing valve 53, the propellant gas 12 can be blown into the interior of the pressure vessel 2 via a compressor 54 or from a pressure accumulator 55. A control valve 56 can also be arranged between the pressure reducing valve 53 and the pressure vessel 2, with which, for example, a sinusoidal control of the filling quantity during the filling process for the propellant gas 12 can also take place.

This sinusoidal quantity control of the propellant gas 12 to be introduced can take place in that the valve wing of the rotary valve rotates at different rotational speeds in accordance with the arrow shown, whereby the filling quantity can increase or decrease, for example, according to an exponential function at the beginning and at the end of the filling process.

Simultaneously with the introduction of the propellant gas 12 into the interior of the pressure vessel 2, the vibration drive 44 is activated in the area of the filling head 46 and moves the filling head 46 or the pressure vessel 2 in Vibrations. This results in turbulence and the application of kinetic energy to the liquid particles of the active substance 9 and, if appropriate, the solvent 10. The application of the vibration energy or the kinetic energy to the liquid particles of the active substance 9 or the solvent 10 can now be carried out in a wide variety of ways and Way. For example, it is possible for the filling head to be set into oscillating movements directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel 2, indicated by double arrows 57, the pressure vessel 2 being carried along by elastic supports 58 in a sealing plate 59 of the filling head 46.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the pressure vessel 2 to be subjected to vibratory movements in a direction running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel 2 - as indicated by arrows 60. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the spring elements 43 have an oscillation characteristic oriented in the direction perpendicular to the base plate 42. The spring elements 43, for example shown as leaf springs, can then also be made of plastic and / or rubber as helical compression springs or elastic spring elements, which enable the vibrations to be transmitted from the vibration drive 44 to the propellant gas 12.

Of course, it is also possible, in a modification of the previously described embodiment variant, to arrange the base plate 42 rigidly. In this case, the filling head 46 is moved, for example in the vertical direction according to the arrows 60, relative to the pressure vessel 2 by the oscillatory movement of the vibration drive 44, so that the introduction of the propellant gas 12 by the constant closing and opening of the check and control valve 50, 51 in a pulsed manner he follows. This has the effect that the active ingredient 9 or the solvent 10 is whirled through well during the injection of the propellant gas 12 and a kinetic energy is applied to it, which enables a higher adhesive force between liquid particles and propellant gas 12.

Last but not least, this pulse-shaped introduction of the propellant gas 12 can also be achieved in that a vibratory movement can take place due to the pulsed counter-acting action on the cylinder piston drives 48. For this purpose, however, it is advantageous if they are operated via a pressure fluid, for example hydraulic oil. A corresponding control valve can then be used to introduce pressure pulses into the cylinder piston drives 48. which cause the filling head 46 to vibrate with respect to the pressure vessel 2 and cause the propellant gas 12 to flow in pulsed manner via the check and control valve 50, 51.

Last but not least, of course, it is also possible, on the other hand, to trigger this impulsive inflow of the propellant gas 12 via the control valve 56. A corresponding swirling of the active substance 9 or of the solvent 10 can also be achieved in this way, which leads to swirling and the application of kinetic energy.

However, according to another embodiment variant, as is also indicated schematically in FIG. 7, it is possible to set the pressure vessel 2 in vibration via the base plate 42. This can be done in that, for example, the spring elements 43 shown in FIG. 7, for example leaf springs, are set into vibrations according to the double arrows 57 or arrows 60 by means of a vibration drive 61, for example an electrical oscillating magnet. As a result, the kinetic energy can be transferred from the pressure vessel 2 directly to the active substance 9 or the solvent 10 and this can be set into an intensive vibration.

The application of "mechanical" energy in the form of kinetic energy to the liquid particles increases the surface energy and thus the surface energy density and the surface tension. This reduces the tendency for the liquid particles to unite and increases the adhesive force between liquid particles and gaseous propellants. This means that a higher concentration of propellant gas 12 can be achieved on the surfaces of the liquid particles of the active substance 9 or of the solvent 10. The propellant gas 12 is thereby dissolved more and more quickly in the active substance 9. Thus, with a propellant gas which dissolves to a higher percentage in the active ingredient 9, the weight ratio between propellant gas 12 and active ingredient 9 is 1:11, while this ratio is 1:21 for compressed air, for example. Such a propellant gas 12 which dissolves strongly in the active ingredient 9 is, for example, CO ₂ .

This apparently simple measure of supplying the active substance 9 with kinetic energy means that the filling time when using propellant gases obtained from the air, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or other noble gases, for example, is no longer or even shorter than the filling time is the pressure vessel 2 with the halogenated hydrocarbons, and filling times of approximately 1 second can be achieved for a pressure vessel 2.

8 shows a further embodiment for a pressure atomizer can 1. This differs from the previously described pressure atomizer cans 1 only in that between the active substance 9 and the propellant gas 12 there is a sliding piston 62 arranged in the interior 8 of the pressure vessel 2, which separates the propellant gas 12 from the active substance 9 or the solvent 10. This sliding piston 62 is guided on a guide column, for example formed by the riser pipe 6, in the direction of the longitudinal axis 34 of the pressure vessel 2.

A check valve 63 is arranged between the riser pipe 6 and the valve device 5 and prevents the propellant gas 12 from flowing out of a cylinder chamber 64 into the riser pipe 6. This check valve 63 is arranged between the sliding piston 62 and the cover 40 of the pressure vessel 2. This makes it possible to introduce the propellant gas 12 via the valve device 5 after the active substance 9 has been introduced.

The arrangement of the sliding piston 62 prevents mixing of the propellant gas 12 with the active ingredient 9 or the solvent 10. As a result, active ingredients 9 or solvents 10 can also be used which do not allow direct mixing with the propellant gas 12 over a longer storage period. It must also be accepted that in certain cases a certain amount of active ingredient 9 or solvent 10 remains in the pressure vessel 2. In addition, in this embodiment of the pressure container using the sliding piston 62, the application of kinetic energy to the pressure container 2 or the propellant gas 12 during the filling of the propellant gas 12 can be dispensed with.

FIG. 9 shows a filling device for the pressure atomizer can 1 according to FIG. 1.

The active ingredient 9, optionally mixed with the solvent 10, and the propellant gas 12 are introduced in such a way that, before the valve device 5 is introduced into the opening 4 of the pressure vessel 2, the active ingredient 9, which may be mixed with the solvent 10, is introduced. After that the opening 4 is closed gas-tight with a cover 122 in which the valve carrier 16 is installed. In this state, the pressure vessel 2 is brought into the area of a filling device 123.

In the area of this filling device 123, the pressure vessel 2 is placed on a base plate 124 which is resiliently supported by spring elements 125. Furthermore, the filling device 123 is assigned a vibration drive 126, for example an electrical oscillating magnet.

The filling device 123 has a filling head 127 which can be pressed along guides 128 by means of cylinder piston drives 129 which can be actuated by pressure medium against the end face of the pressure vessel 2 which is closed by the cover 122. Furthermore, the filling head 127 has a control pin 130 which, when the filling head 127 is placed on the pressure vessel 2, penetrates into the interior of the valve device 5 and lifts the schematically illustrated locking plate 14 against the resistance of the closing spring 17 from the valve seat 18. This creates a direct line connection between the filling head 127 and the riser pipe 6 inside the pressure vessel 2.

If the filling head 127 is moved further downward, a check valve and a control valve 131, 132 are opened by the resistance which the blocking plate 14 opposes to the control pin 130, as shown in full lines in FIG Lead 133 and a pressure reducing valve 134, the propellant gas 12 can be blown into the interior of the pressure vessel 2 via a compressor 135 or from a pressure accumulator 136. A control valve 137 can also be arranged between the pressure reducing valve 134 and the pressure vessel 2, with which e.g. a sinusoidal control of the filling quantity during the filling process for the propellant gas 12 can also take place.

This sinusoidal quantity control of the propellant gas 12 to be introduced can take place in that the valve wing of the rotary valve rotates at different rotational speeds, corresponding to the arrow shown, whereby the filling quantity can increase or decrease, for example, according to an exponential function at the beginning and at the end of the filling process.

Simultaneously with the introduction of the propellant gas 12 into the interior of the pressure vessel 2 and / or following it, the vibration drive 126, which can also be arranged in the area of the filling head 127, is activated and sets this or the pressure vessel 2 in vibration. This results in swirling and the application of kinetic energy to the liquid particles of the active substance 9 and, if appropriate, the solvent 10. The application of the vibration energy or the kinetic energy to the liquid particles of the active substance 9 or the solvent 10 can be carried out in a wide variety of ways respectively. For example, it is also possible for the filling head to be set into oscillating movements directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pressure container 2, indicated by double arrows 138, the pressure container 2 being carried along by elastic supports 139 in a sealing plate 140 of the filling head 127.

Furthermore, it is also possible that the pressure vessel 2 is subjected to vibratory movements in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel 2 - as indicated by double arrows 141. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the spring elements 125 have an oscillation characteristic aligned in the direction perpendicular to the base plate 124. The spring elements 125, for example shown as leaf springs, can then consist of helical compression springs or elastic spring elements made of plastic and / or rubber, which enable the vibrations to be transmitted from the vibration drive 126 to the propellant gas 12.

Of course, it is also possible, in a modification of the previously described embodiment variant, to arrange the base plate 124 rigidly, as a result of which the oscillating movement of the vibration drive 126 of the filling head 127 is moved relative to the pressure container 2, for example in the vertical direction according to the arrows 138, so that the propellant gas is introduced 12 by the constant closing and opening of the check and control valve 131,132 in a pulsed manner. This has the effect that the active ingredient or solvent 10 is whirled through well during the injection of the propellant gas 12 and a kinetic energy is applied to it, which enables a higher adhesive force between liquid particles and propellant gas 12.

In the practical application of the method according to the invention for filling the compressed gas packs or pressure atomizer cans 1, it has been shown that that an optimal mixing between the propellant gas and the active ingredient or the mixture can be achieved if a frequency of the vibrations acting on the pressure vessel is between 20 and 100 Hz. An amplitude should be in the range between 1.3 and 2.2 mm. A vibration application with a frequency of 50 Hz has proven to be particularly advantageous if the amplitude is between 1.6 and 1.8 mm. This mechanical oscillation or the kinetic energy supply causes the liquid surface to tear open and fountains of the active substance or mixture to reach centimeters high, which results in a disproportionate increase in the surface area between the propellant gas and the active substance or mixture. This high surface area favors the absorption of the gas into the active ingredient or the mixture, as a result of which a high proportion of the propellant gas can be stored in the active ingredient or mixture. In addition, in the case of propellant gases which enter into a chemical reaction with the active substance or the mixture, the chemical reaction is considerably accelerated, as a result of which the active substance or the mixture with propellant gas can be completely saturated without prior enrichment of the active substance or mixture .

By supplying the kinetic energy, it is now also possible for a volume of the propellant gas in the compressed gas pack to be greater than the gas volume which, at the respective filling pressure, fills that volume of the interior 8 which is not filled with the active substance 9 or mixture. This effect arises from the fact that part of the gas oversaturates the active ingredient 9 or the mixture and gas molecules are therefore held in a monomolecular or less monomolecular layer of liquid droplets by adhesive forces, regardless of a possible chemical bond in the active ingredient 9 or mixture. Furthermore, the application of "mechanical" energy in the form of kinetic energy to the liquid particles increases the surface energy and thus the surface energy density and the surface tension. This reduces the tendency for the liquid particles to unite and increases the adhesive force between liquid particles and gaseous propellants. This means that a higher concentration of propellant gas 12 can be achieved on the surfaces of the liquid particles of the active substance 9 or of the solvent 10. The propellant gas 12 is thereby dissolved more and more quickly in the active substance 9. This results in a propellant gas, which is a higher percentage in the active ingredient 9 dissolves, a weight ratio between propellant gas 12 and active ingredient 9 of 1:11, while for example in compressed air this ratio is 1:21. Such a propellant gas 12 which dissolves strongly in the active ingredient 9 is, for example, CO ₂ . This effect can be observed in a glass spray can in such a way that the liquid surface tears open and forms fountains that are centimeter high. The kinetic energy supply has to take place during the filling process in such a way that the fountain formation becomes maximal. This completes the filling process, ie the two-phase mixture is stabilized for a long time. (Storage time of several years without changing the spray pattern)

Furthermore, in the case of gases which enter into a chemical reaction with the filling material or are highly soluble in it, for example CO ₂ , it is no longer necessary to enrich the active substance or the liquid with the same gas before filling into the spray can.

This seemingly simple measure, to supply the active ingredient 9 with kinetic energy, ensures that the filling time when using propellant gases obtained from the air, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or other noble gases, for example, is no longer or even shorter than the filling time of the pressure vessel 2 with the is halogenated hydrocarbons, and filling times of approximately 1 second, preferably 0.8 seconds, can be achieved for a pressure vessel 2.

However, it is also advantageous to demonstrate the adhesive forces between these liquid particles and the gaseous propellant by subjecting the pressure container 2 to vibration following the filling process.

As a result of the energy additionally introduced into the propellant gas 12 or the active substance 9 and the solvent 10 which may be present, a higher energy is available for expelling the active substance 9 from the pressure vessel 2. While in the halogenated hydrocarbons or in liquefied gases this additional energy for the finer atomization of the active ingredients 9 is obtained by removing heat from the environment and the associated evaporation, this can be done in the solution according to the invention by the additional supply of energy in the form of kinetic or thermal energy.

Thus, the energy required to discharge the active ingredient 9 through the nozzle 13 is available, the sum of the energy introduced by the compression of the propellant gas and the additional kinetic or thermal energy introduced to the active substance.

Since, according to the entropy, every system that is not forced into a certain state strives for a lower energy state, the energy introduced via the propellant gas and the additional energy introduced into the mixture act together when the active substance is discharged and are released together. As a result, the discharge result and the spray result are improved and an almost complete discharge of the active substance 9 is achieved, as will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

Furthermore, it must be taken into account that in addition to the type of nozzle, the internal geometry of the nozzles and the ratio of gas and liquid throughput or the pressure in front of the nozzle, the vapor pressure of the liquid through the gaseous propellant is advantageously carried out and distributed the active ingredient 9 favors.

This is because the more inert the gaseous propellant is to the liquid, the greater the increase in the vapor pressure of the liquid.

Various emptying diagrams 142 and 143 are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The degree of emptying is given in percent on the abscissa of the emptying diagrams 142 and 143 and the overpressure in the interior of the pressure vessel 2 in bar on the ordinate.

In the emptying diagram 142, air is used as the propellant gas and water as the active substance in the diagram line 144 drawn in full lines, while nitrogen is used as the propellant gas and water as the active substance in the diagram line 145 shown in broken lines.

In the case of the emptying diagram 143, the diagram line 146 shown as a full line shows the conditions for air as a propellant gas and a deodorant as an active substance, while the diagram line 147 drawn in broken lines shows the conditions for nitrogen as a propellant gas and a deodorant as an active substance 9.

Apart from minor deviations, these drainage diagrams result 142 and 143 that up to a degree of emptying of approximately 99% there is approximately an overpressure of 2 bar in the interior of the pressure vessel 2. This means that, for example, with a filling weight of approx. 50 grams for discharging approx. 0.4 to 0.5 grams of the active ingredient, there is still approximately 2 bar excess pressure in the interior of the pressure container 2. After the overpressure in the interior of the pressure vessel 2 has dropped to 0, a residual amount of active ingredient of approximately 0.05 grams remains. This means that practically the compressed gas pack has been completely emptied.

The experiments on which these diagram lines are based were carried out in such a way that the internal pressure and the total mass of one pressure vessel each were determined gravimetrically at room temperature (23 degrees Celsius). The active ingredient was then emptied through frequent spraying via the nozzle 13, and the internal pressure and the total mass were determined. This process was carried out until complete emptying, i.e. until no overpressure was found in pressure vessel 2, continued. The pressure vessels were then opened mechanically and the remaining amount of active ingredient was determined.

This confirms the considerations made above regarding the energy supplied to the active substance from outside or when the active substance is discharged.

12 shows, using an embodiment variant of the pressure vessel 2, how this additional energy can be introduced into the active substance 9, which may be mixed with a solvent 10 or into the propellant gas 12. For this purpose, it is possible that a vibrator 149 can be arranged on the bottom 3 of the pressure vessel 2 as the energy source 148. A power supply 150 and a control device 151 can be assigned to this.

To switch the energy source 148 or the vibrator 149 on and off, the control device 151 can be provided with a button or switch 152 attached to the outside thereof. Such a design of the pressure vessel 2 has the advantage that the additional energy for discharging the active substance 9 can also be introduced again and again during the use of the pressure container 2 and thereby fully utilize the positive effect of this additionally introduced energy for the discharge and finer spraying of the active substance 9 to be able to.

As further indicated by dashed lines, however, it is also possible to supply the pressure vessel 2 with this additional energy for discharging the active substance 9 via an energy source 148 designed as a heating device 153. This supply of thermal energy in the pressure vessel 2 or also in its active ingredient 9 and propellant gas 12 can be carried out via radiant heat or, as also indicated, by a heating element 154 arranged in the interior 8 in the active ingredient 9, e.g. a heating element, done by conduction. Of course, however, it is also possible for the vibrator 149 or another electrical, inductive or electrochemical energy source to be used in order to supply the active substance 9 and the propellant gas 12 with this additional energy for complete discharge with good spray characteristics.

However, it can also prove to be advantageous if the pressure vessel 2 is provided with an additional fill opening 155 with a filler neck 156 in which a check valve 157 is arranged. It would be an advantage with such a training that especially large users, such as hairdressing companies, paint shops, car workshops and the like., The pressure vessel 2 again and again, with an active ingredient 9 delivered in large containers and the propellant gas 12, for example compressed air from a normal one Compressed air network, can fill. Since these pressure vessels 2 are then directly provided with corresponding energy sources 148 or are connected to such energy sources, it is then easily possible, even with such self-fillers, to increase the total energy in the pressure vessel 2 in such a way that a complete discharge of the active ingredient and a corresponding fine one Atomization of the active ingredient 9 can be achieved.

This could save a number of the pressure atomizer cans used and an additional environmental impact could be avoided by a reduced transport quantity and a smaller transport volume.

FIGS. 13 to 15 also show a valve device 5 for use with a filled pressure vessel 2 according to the invention. This valve device 5 is arranged, for example, in a cover 122 which closes the pressure vessel 2. A valve seat 158 has at its end a circumferential flange 159 which, with the interposition of a sealing washer 160, is pressed firmly against a contact surface 162 by a groove 161 pressed into the cover 122. In the cylindrical valve seat, a valve tappet 164 is guided in a longitudinal bore 163, which is operated by means of a compression spring 165 is pressed against the sealing washer 160. Therefore, if the actuating button 15 does not exert any pressure force in the direction of the pressure container 2, then, as indicated by dashed lines, the valve tappet 164 bears against the sealing disc 160, and propellant gas 12 or active substance 9 escapes from the interior 8 of the pressure container 2 Nozzle 13 is prevented.

If, on the other hand, the actuation button 15 is moved in the direction of an arrow 166, that is to say toward the pressure vessel 2, the valve tappet 164 is pushed inwards against the action of the compression spring 165, and it is now possible via the recess 167 having a larger diameter than the longitudinal bore 163 and in the longitudinal bore 163 arranged longitudinal slots 168 through openings 169 of the active ingredient 9 mixed with the propellant gas 12 enter a channel 170 of the actuating button 15 leading to the nozzle 13. If the valve tappet 164 is now moved even further against the interior of the pressure vessel 2, a larger amount of active substance 9 and propellant gas 12 can escape, since further longitudinal slots 171 are arranged in this area in addition to the longitudinal slots 168 and thus the passage cross section for the active substance 9 and the propellant gas 12 is increased, in the present case even doubled. Of course, it is also possible, depending on the insertion path of the valve tappet 164, to increase the cross-section to a greater or lesser extent, so that, for example, a continuously increasing discharge volume of active substance 9 or propellant gas 12 can also be achieved.

In order to be able to ensure uniform spraying of the discharged active substance 9, the recess 167 is additionally connected to the interior 8 of the pressure container 2 via an opening 172. As a result, with each discharge of an active substance 9, a certain amount of propellant gas 12 is also discharged, which causes the active substance 9 to be evenly discharged.

The amount of the propellant gas 12 which is released at any time with the active ingredient 9 is preset by the cross-sectional area of the opening 172 or a plurality of openings 172. By selecting the size of the diameter of the opening or openings 172 between 0.05 and 3 mm, the application rate of the liquid or the active substance, the spray pattern and the emptying quantity can be controlled. The smaller the diameter, the greater the spray rate per unit of time, the lower the amount of active ingredient remaining in the can and the "wetter" (larger droplet formation) the spray pattern becomes. The small diameter is particularly advantageous, in particular less than 0.1 mm, the opening 172 for the remaining gas pressure in the spray can just before 100% emptying. For example, with a deodorant / air spray can smaller than an outlet pressure of 8 bar and with a small diameter of the opening 172, a residual pressure of 2.5 to 3 bar remains in the interior after 99% emptying. The distribution or discharge rate of the active substance 9 can also be influenced by the amount of the additional gas gas 12 flowing out.

The amount of propellant gas 12 additionally admixed can be determined in a simple manner by the cross-sectional area, that is to say essentially by the diameter of the opening 172. It is advantageous here if the diameter of the opening 172 is between 0.05 to 0.3 mm, preferably between 0.08 to 0.15. Such a resulting cross-sectional area of the opening 172 allows a good mixture and a correspondingly fine distribution of the active substance 9 in the currently known and used valve devices 5 and the diameters of the individual lines used here. Of course, instead of the single opening 172, with the cross-sectional area resulting from the diameter, to provide a plurality of bores or openings, the total cross-sectional area of which corresponds to the cross-sectional area at the given diameter.

However, a method for filling the pressure containers 2 described above has also proven to be particularly advantageous, in which, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the active ingredient 9 is introduced into the pressure container, optionally mixed with a solvent 10, whereupon the latter is closed with the valve device 5 becomes. The propellant gas, for example nitrogen, CO ₂ or compressed air or any other inert gas, is then introduced at a higher filling pressure than the operating pressure, which should be, for example, 8 bar. This pressure increase is, for example, 1 bar for nitrogen or other inert gases, 4 bar for CO ₂ and 2 bar for compressed air.

The pressure vessel 2 thus filled with higher pressure is now removed from the filling device 127. Thereafter, energy, in particular kinetic energy, is supplied to the pressure container from outside by vibration, so that the structure of the propellant gas 12 and the active ingredient 9, which may be mixed with solvent 10, is compressed. This supply of energy in particular kinetic energy is carried out until the desired delivery pressure of, for example, 8 bar has been reached in the interior of the pressure vessel 2. As a result of the energy additionally stored in the propellant gas 12 or in the active substance 9, the advantages and advantageous effects already described can be achieved.

Of course, the specified pressure values are only exemplary and it is also possible to work with higher or lower pressures, in accordance with the various regulations in the individual countries. It is only essential that the filling pressure is above the normal consumption pressure and that the filling pressure is then reduced to the consumption pressure by supplying energy or structural compression.

16 shows an emptying diagram 173, in which the relationship between the internal pressure in the interior of the compressed gas pack, which is plotted on the abscissa in bar, and the spray rate, which is plotted on the ordinate in g / sec, is shown.

Basically, the spray rate is determined by the design of the valve device 5 in connection with the design of the opening 172.

By a suitable choice of the passage cross-sections in the area of the valve device 5 and the cross-sectional area of the opening 172, for example, the spray rate can be set to 2 g / sec or 1 g / sec when the compressed gas pack is full.

The discharge rate as a function of the internal pressure in the compressed gas pack is now shown in the present emptying diagram 173. A diagram line 174 shows the spraying quantity over the constantly decreasing internal pressure in the compressed gas pack starting from a spraying rate of 2 g / sec, while the diagram line 175 shows the course of the spraying rate starting from a spraying rate before g / sec at a maximum filling pressure of 8 bar .

It is characteristic of both diagram lines 174 and 175 that the spray rate drops almost linearly to half until the pressure in the interior is reduced to half the original filling pressure. If the spray rate is 2 g / sec at the beginning, then it drops to almost 1 g / sec, while at an initial spray rate of 1 g / sec this drops to 0.5 g / sec.

It is interesting, however, that when the internal pressure falls below approx. 4 bar with an increasing decrease in internal pressure, the spray rate increases again to approx. 70% of the original value, before abruptly reaching 0 when approximately 99% of the active ingredient or mixture is emptied falls off.

In the course of the knowledge gained in connection with the practical tests, it was found that the spraying effect in spray cans comes about because the propellant gas, which is largely liquefied in the spray can, evaporates after flowing out of the spray can and through the sudden evaporation with a solvent mixed active ingredient atomized. The environmentally harmful CFCs, KWs or even dimethyl ether are easy to liquefy.

In order to obtain a comparably good spray characteristic with this previously known and environmentally harmful technology, the invention is based on the principle that the "total energy" (internal energy or enthalpy) of the filling material is increased already in the spray can. The energy introduced must essentially be retained in the spray can for longer periods.

According to the invention, it is introduced into kinetic energy in the form of defined vibration vibrations. The previously compact liquid is divided into a droplet-like or mist-like "floating state" inside the can. The energy increase of the liquid increases the surface energy, the surface energy density and thus the surface tension. The increased surface area reduces the tendency for the individual liquid particles to reunite. The adhesive forces between the liquid particles and gaseous blowing agents become more effective due to the enlarged surface, the layered, monomolecular (multimolecular) concentration of the blowing gas increases on the surface of the liquid particles. As a result, the propellant gas is "dissolved" more quickly.

Because the present method works with filling pressures up to a maximum of 10 bar, the deviations of the real propellant gases in the calculations with ideal gases can be neglected.

The thermal equation of state for ideal gases is: $$\text{px V = R x T.}$$

In this equation px V is assigned to the work or energy of the gas in question. When a mole of liquid is evaporated under the gas pressure of the inert propellant, the evaporation work of the liquid is: R x T - px V. It is lower by the work px V of the inert propellant gas pressure than in the normal case where the evaporation work is R x T. In these equations, R = gas constant, T = temperature in Kelvin, p = inert gas pressure of the blowing agent and V _fl = volume of the liquid.

p =

Dampfdruck der Füllflüssigkeit

p =

Dampfdruck des inerten Treibgases, z.B. Stickstoffgas, auch Luft

With the lowering of the vapor pressure work, the vapor pressure of the liquid increases. The ideal gas equation applies:

p =

Vapor pressure of the filling liquid

p =

Vapor pressure of the inert propellant, e.g. nitrogen gas, also air

An increase in the vapor pressure of the filling liquid in the spray can and ultimately at the moment of spraying is achieved by pressurizing the filling liquid with an inert gas.

σ=

Oberflächenspannung

V_fl =

Volumen der Füllflüssigkeit

r =

Tröpfchendurchmesser

R =

Gaskonstante

T =

absolute Temperatur

eine Dampfdruckerhöhung der Flüssigkeit mit abnehmenden Tröpfchendurchmesser ein.The set of the constancy of the vapor pressure in a closed system (W. Thomson) could be applied to the system according to the invention. In any case, this sentence is subject to a certain restriction, namely if the liquid phase is divided extremely strongly, for example if it is in the form of small and very small droplets. In this case, the equation still occurs

σ =

Surface tension

V _fl =

Volume of the filling liquid

r =

Droplet diameter

R =

Gas constant

T =

absolute temperature

a vapor pressure increase of the liquid with decreasing droplet diameter.

To what extent the second law of thermal theory has a practical meaning in the invention, namely that when an ideal gas expands, the previous one supplied heat (kinetic energy) in the form of work done for the evaporation process is available outside the spray can and thus the question of the temperature conditions in the can during the filling process has not yet been completely clarified.

Studies in completely different research areas such as these have shown that the water, but also water / alcohol mixture as they are very often used in spray cans, have liquid / vapor molecules with higher energy at their phase interfaces and that they are bound more intermolecularly, than in the individual phase itself. There is a special state of tension at each phase interface, which can be demonstrated, for example, in a significantly changed surface tension or a changed specific heat capacity.

The molecular system organization in liquid water is extremely diverse. The dipole-like water can act as a strong electron donor via its oxygen atom and as a strong electron acceptor via its hydrogen atoms. This donor-acceptor interaction between the individual water molecules and thus also the interaction with other foreign molecules, e.g. to the propellant gas molecules present in the gaseous phase requires characteristic and extraordinarily variable attractive or holding forces.

According to the GUTMANN rules, the bond lengths between the individual atoms of a molecule (intramolecular bond, on the other hand, are determined by the number of individual molecules forming a conglomerate. It was thus possible to quantum mechanically calculate that the partial charges in "bound" water molecule, ie three molecules form one unit, for example , are more pronounced than with an "unbound" water molecule, ie a single water molecule.

In order to obtain water molecule conglomerates ("polymer water") or solution molecule conglomerates of the aerosol filling material that are defined in terms of their size and thus characteristic holding forces for the propellant gases that are in the gas phase, it is necessary to completely resonate the liquid by means of kinetic vibrations To transfer energy input.

T =

Schwingungszeit

f =

Eigenfrequenz des Schwingers

D =

Federkonstante (Materialkonstante)

m =

Masse des Schwingers

The vibration equation for a spring pendulum serves as a model (harmonic vibration):

T =

Oscillation time

f =

Natural frequency of the vibrator

D =

Spring constant (material constant)

m =

Mass of the transducer

In the model view, the mass of the water molecule conglomerate, i.e. understand the number of individual water molecules in a conglomerate. The spring constant D is to be interpreted as the holding force (adhesive force, hydrogen bond, intermolecular binding force, etc.) between the individual molecules.

Since the greatest possible energy can be introduced into an oscillating system by the resonance oscillation, and the natural frequency of the oscillator sings with increasing mass of the oscillator (water molecule conglomerate), the effectiveness of the oscillation oscillation according to the invention is not only a question of the energy quantity, but also a dominant question of the Vibration frequency become.

The extent to which the type and size of possible frequency bands are efficient for the spray can problem has initially been limited only by practical tests, since the specific frequency introduction of kinetic energy undoubtedly affects the phase interface between liquid and propellant gas in terms of energy and the electrical interactions.

Finally, it should be noted that individual details of the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings can also form independent inventive solutions and that individual parts are disproportionately enlarged and schematically simplified in the drawings of the exemplary embodiment for a better understanding of the invention. This applies in particular to the different design variants of the valve device 5 and the arrangement and configuration of the openings 136, 172, the use of the sliding piston 162 and the process sequence when filling the pressure container 2 with the active substance 9 or solvent 10 and propellant gas 12.

List of reference symbols

1

Pressure atomizer can

2nd

pressure vessel

3rd

ground

4th

Opening

5

Valve device

6

Riser pipe

7

Area

8th

inner space

9

Active ingredient

10th

Solvents

11

volume

12th

Propellant

13

jet

14

Locking plate

15

Control button

16

Valve carrier

17th

Closing spring

18th

Valve seat

19th

Opening

20th

Spray jet

21

Spray jet

22

Sleeve

23

slot

24th

Inflow channel

25th

distance

26

Outflow opening

27

Blocking part

28

coat

29

Interior wall

30th

drilling

31

Control piston

32

Preload

33

Contact surface

34

Longitudinal axis

35

Hose holder

36

opening

37

Passage

38

Dosing piston

39

Dosing area

40

cover

41

Filling device

42

Base plate

43

Spring element

44

Vibration drive

45

Vibrating magnet

46

Filling head

47

guide

48

Cylinder piston drive

49

Control pin

50

check valve

51

Control valve

52

Supply

53

Pressure reducing valve

54

compressor

55

Pressure accumulator

56

Control valve

57

Double arrow

58

Edition

59

Sealing plate

60

arrow

61

Vibration drive

62

Sliding piston

63

check valve

64

Cylinder chamber

122

cover

123

Filling device

124

Base plate

125

Spring element

126

Vibration drive

127

Filling head

128

guide

129

Cylinder piston drive

130

Control pin

131

check valve

132

Control valve

133

Supply

134

Pressure reducing valve

135

compressor

136

Pressure accumulator

137

Control valve

138

Double arrow

139

Edition

140

Sealing plate

141

Double arrow

142

Drainage diagram

143

Drainage diagram

144

Chart line

145

Chart line

146

Chart line

147

Chart line

148

Energy source

149

vibrator

150

Power supply

151

Control device

152

counter

153

Heater

154

Heating element

155

Filling opening

156

Filler neck

157

check valve

158

Valve seat

158

flange

160

Sealing washer

161

Groove

162

Contact surface

163

Longitudinal bore

164

Valve lifter

165

Compression spring

166

arrow

167

Recess

168

Longitudinal slot

169

Opening

170

channel

171

Longitudinal slot

172

Opening

173

Drainage diagram

174

Chart line

175

Chart line

Claims (21)

1. Pressurized gas packaging, in particular mechanical atomizer (1) comprising a pressurized tank (2), with an opening (4), which is closed by a valve arrangement (5), and a riser (6) extending from the valve arrangement (5) into the region of a base (3) of the pressurized tank (2) and wherein a part of an interior (8) of the pressurized tank (2) is filled with an active substance (9) and, if necessary a solvent (10) as well as with a propellant gas (12), and wherein part of the propellant gas (12) is dissolved in the active substance (9) or respectively in the solvent (10), and wherein also the residual propellant gas (12) occupies the volume of the interior (8) not filled with active substance which is mixed, if necessary, with solvent (10), and said residual propellant gas is under a pressure of approximately 6 to 20 bar, preferably 5 to 9,5 bar, characterized in that in the interior (8) of the pressurized tank (2) for every one part by weight of propellant gas (12) there are between 10 to 22 parts by weight of active substance (9), which is mixed with solvent (10), if necessary, and that molecule conglomerates of the active substance (9) or respectively of the solvent (10) are supersaturated with propellant gas molecules which are held firmly on these by adhesive forces.
2. Pressurized gas packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that the quantity of solvent and, if necessary, the quantity of active substance and the quantity of propellant gas are adjusted so that at a temperature of the pressurized tank of + 50 degrees C the propellant gas pressure does not exceed 10 to 14 bar, preferably 12 bar.
3. Pressurized gas packaging according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that through the power of adhesion gas molecules are held firmly on liquid droplets in a monomolecular or less monomolecular layer.
4. Pressurized gas packaging according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a source of energy (148) is assigned to the pressurized tank (2) for dissipation of energy by means of heat conduction or heat radiation.
5. Pressurized gas packaging according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pressurized tank (2) can be coupled or respectively equipped with a vibrator (149) forming the energy source (148).
6. Pressurized gas packaging according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the source of energy (148) is arranged in the interior (8) of the pressurized tank (2).
7. Process for filling pressurized gas packagings, in particular mechanical atomizers (1), wherein a pressurized tank (2) provided with an opening (4) is produced and is partly filled with an active substance (9) which may be mixed with a solvent (10), if necessary, and whereupon the opening (4) is closed by means of a valve arrangement (5) and then a propellant gas (12) is led in via the valve arrangement (5) into the interior (8) of the pressurized tank (2) at a pressure of between 6 and 12 bar, preferably 8 bar, and the propellant gas (12) is intimately shaken up with the active substance (9) or respectively the solvent (10) by supplying kinetic energy, until the propellant gas (12) is dissolved in the active substance (9) or respectively its solvent (10), characterized in that for every one part by weight of propellant gas (12) introduced into the mixture, between 10 to 22 parts by weight of active substance (9) which, if necessary, is mixed with solvents (10), is filled into the pressurized tank (2), whereupon the active substance (9) which, if necessary, is mixed with solvents (10), is subjected to its resonant vibration and through the kinetic energy thus supplied, molecule conglomerates are dissolved out of the active substance (9) or respectively the solvent (10) and by the latter, through adhesive forces, propellant gas molecules are taken up, so that the active substance (9) or respectively the solvent (10) is supersaturated with propellant gas (12).
8. Process according to Claim 7, characterized in that when the propellant gas is led in, a kinetic energy is applied to the liquid particles of the active substance which is provided with the solvent, if necessary.
9. Process according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the energy is a thermal energy applied via heat conduction or heat radiation.
10. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the propellant gas is led in at a pressure exceeding the working pressure into the interior of the pressurized tank and subsequently the pressure in the interior of the pressurized tank is reduced to the working pressure by the supply of, in particular, kinetic energy.
11. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the active substance and, if necessary, the solvent is set in motion, in particular with a vibratory motion is subjected to a resonant vibration.
12. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the pressurized tank is subjected to vibration at least during the filling with the propellant gas.
13. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the pressurized tank is subjected to vibration after filling with the mixture.
14. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 13, characterized in that a frequency of the vibrations acting on the mixture and/or propellant gas is between 20 c.p.s. and 100 c.p.s, preferably 50 c.p.s.
15. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 14, characterized in that an amplitude of the vibrations acting on the mixture and/or propellant gas is between 1,2 mm and 2,5 mm, preferably 1,6 to 1,8 mm.
16. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the propellant gas is blown intermittently into the interior of the pressurized tank.
17. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the shape of the filling curve is sinusoidal.
18. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 17, characterized in that the filling operation lasts 0,8 sec.
19. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 18, characterized in that the energy input is to strong that the surface of the liquid tears up during the filling operation, causing it to issue in a jet.
20. Process according to one or more of Claims 7 to 19, characterized in that the propellant gas is led in via a piston pump and the valve arrangement into the pressurized tank.
21. Filling apparatus for filling propellant gas into pressure gas packagings, in particular mechanical atomizers (1), comprising a compressor (54) for the propellant gas (12) formed by compressed air or obtained from the air, such as nitrogen, a filling apparatus (41, 123), with which the propellant gas is filled into the pressurized gas packaging, wherein said filling apparatus (41, 123) can be coupled sealingly with a valve arrangement (5) of the pressurized gas packaging, if required, and a holding device for the pressurized packaging can be connected to a vibration drive (44, 126) which during the filling of the pressurized gas packaging with the propellant gas vibrates with an amplitude of between 1,2 mm and 2,5 mm, preferably 1,6 mm to 1,8 mm and with such a frequency that the molecule conglomerates of a water/alcohol mixture in the pressurized gas packaging are subjected to their resonant vibration and are supersaturated with the propellant gas (12).

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