EP0705143B1

EP0705143B1 - Spray nozzle and vaporizer provided with such nozzle

Info

Publication number: EP0705143B1
Application number: EP19940917053
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olivier De Pous; Claude Jouillat
Original assignee: Aptar France SAS
Current assignee: Aptar France SAS
Priority date: 1993-05-28
Filing date: 1994-05-25
Publication date: 1998-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-25
Also published as: FR2705589B1; JPH08511719A; FR2705589A1; EP0705143A1; WO1994027732A1; DE69409380T2; DE69409380D1; US5769325A; ES2115948T3

Abstract

A nozzle for spraying a fluid substance comprises an outlet tube (3, 4) opening into a swirl chamber (5) in the centre of an annular surface (10). The swirl chamber (5) is sealed by an end wall (5) which is provided with an outlet (7) and includes an inner face (6a) with swirl grooves (8) formed therein. The swirl chamber (5) is partially filled with a core (9), the core unblocking at least one lateral passage (11) which links the swirl grooves (8) with the outlet tube (3, 4). The spray nozzle also comprises a valve adapted to seal the outlet tube (3, 4). The invention is characterized in that the core (9) is a substantially straight cylindrical part made of elastomer and is elastically compressed axially between the end wall (6) of the swirl chamber and the annular surface (10), the core (9) forming the valve in conjunction with the annular surface. The core is pressed against the end wall (6), thereby closing the swirl grooves (8) so that the swirl grooves do not communicate with one another between the outlet (7) and the lateral passage (11) unblocked by the core (9).

Description

The present invention relates to a spray nozzle, and a sprayer having such a nozzle.

Miniature sprayers for fluids (liquids or semi-liquids) such as perfumes, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, generally include a device for controlling the emission of the fluid substance (pump or valve), connected by an outlet duct to a spray nozzle which breaks up the fluid substance in very fine droplets with a diameter of a few tens of microns.

A known problem in such sprayers is to avoid drying or oxidation of the fluid in the outlet between two uses, and also avoid fluid seepage from the spray nozzle between two uses. Document FR-A-2 635 084 teaches to solve this problem by using a valve which closes the outlet duct.

Furthermore, the spray nozzle, disclosed in document FR-A-2 635 084 like many spray nozzles, a swirl chamber closed by an end wall and partially filled by a core. Wall end has an outlet and non-radial internal grooves which converge towards the outlet. The nucleus placed in the swirl is generally substantially in contact with the end wall of so that the fluid substance emitted under pressure must follow the non-radial grooves before reaching the outlet. Due to the small cross section of the grooves, the substance fluid is strongly accelerated, and in addition the orientation of the grooves gives it a swirling motion, so that the fluid substance is very finely divided when it enters the outlet.

However, a slight gap may remain between the core and the end wall of the swirl chamber, so that all of the fluid does not pass into the grooves, which degrades the quality of the spray. This gap may be due to manufacturing tolerances, creep of plastic parts, etc.

EP-A-0 117 898 and US-A-4,273,290 are known, which show a nozzle according to the preamble of claim 1, to use insulating members of these grooves, comprising a valve disc which collaborates with a surface to form an outlet valve and a disc to isolate the grooves at the outlet nozzle. The two discs are connected by an S-shaped spring which allows the disc to valve to withdraw from its seat under the effect of fluid pressure. These organs therefore comprise three distinct elements, namely two discs and a spring, even if the member in document 02 is molded in one piece.

However, the nuclei disclosed in these documents have the disadvantage to be difficult to mold due to their geometric complexity. On the other hand, they leave a large dead volume in the chamber, which leads to a deterioration of the product which there stagnate.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback.

The present invention therefore relates to a substance spray nozzle fluid comprising an outlet conduit adapted to receive said fluid substance, and opening into a distribution chamber at the center of an annular surface, said chamber being closed by an end wall which is pierced with an outlet orifice and which has an internal face provided with grooves in communication with the outlet orifice, said chamber being partially filled by a core which extends axially between a front face close to the end wall and a rear face away from the wall end, the core leaving free at least one lateral passage which communicates the grooves with the outlet pipe, the spray nozzle further comprising a valve suitable for closing the outlet conduit outside the spraying periods of said fluid substance, and to open under the effect of an arrival of fluid substance in the outlet conduit, the core constituting said valve in combination with the surface annular, said rear face of the core being adapted to bear in sealed contact against said annular surface, characterized in that the core is a substantially cylindrical part of revolution in elastomer which is compressed elastically between the end wall of the distribution chamber and said annular surface.

Preferably, the grooves are oriented non-radially with respect to the orifice outlet, said front face of the core being applied against the end wall by insulating the swirl grooves, so that the swirl grooves do not not communicate with each other between the outlet orifice and said at least one lateral passage left free by the nucleus so as to impart to said fluid substance a swirling movement. Thus, the core is kept in contact against the wall end by its own elasticity, which removes the aforementioned gap, and it serves at the same time as a valve to close the outlet duct. When the fluid substance arrives under pressure in the outlet duct, the rear face of the core is detached from its annular bearing surface by axial elastic deformation under the effect of pressure, this which applies all the better the front face of the core against the end wall of the swirl chamber.

In addition, due to its simple shape, the core can be manufactured easily. In Indeed, from a simple cord of circular section in elastomer which is sectioned at the desired thickness, a core according to the invention is obtained. Adaptation to different sizes of swirl chamber is easy by taking a cord of appropriate section in which a slice is cut corresponding to the length of the bedroom.

Another advantage of the core of the invention comes from the fact that the core fulfills the swirl chamber leaving only a very small dead volume. So the volume of stagnant product in its swirl chamber is low, so that it will only be very slightly damaged by oxidation or drying. We can adapt the core so that only a very small cylindrical annular lateral passage remains section.

According to one embodiment, the front face of the core comprises a part protruding into the outlet. This limits the dead volume inside the spray orifice.

Advantageously, said annular surface is conical, with a turned concavity towards the nucleus, and the rear face of the nucleus is circular. The sealed contact area between the rear face of the core and the annular bearing surface is then an annular zone fairly fine external. The rear face of the core is elastically crushed in this area annular, hence an excellent seal. As a variant, said annular surface is a sealing bead arranged near the outside of the rear face of the core.

The core can be molded in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which facilitates its manufacturing and provides sufficient flexibility.

Centering means can be provided to position the core relative to to the outlet pipe and the outlet.

According to another embodiment, the core is a deformable disc elastically by bending, prestressed between the annular surface and the end wall, the annular contact of said disc with the annular surface having a diameter less than that of the contact of the disc with the end wall, so that the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the outlet duct deforms the disc by bending on its external peripheral part by breaking contact with the annular surface. The nucleus deformation is done by bending and no longer by axial compression. There is a rocking effect under the pressure of the fluid substance, while ensuring intimate contact on the swirl channels. This core shape will be more suitable for valves intended for gel or cream without spraying.

Advantageously, the core can have a narrowed section at a position intermediate over its axial length, which gives it axial flexibility plus strip.

The invention also has for a fluid substance sprayer comprising a spray nozzle according to any one of the preceding claims and a pump comprising:

a cylindrical pump chamber,
a piston which slides in the pump chamber,
an inlet orifice which communicates with the pump chamber via an inlet valve, and
a discharge duct which is in permanent communication with the outlet duct of the spray nozzle.

The spray pump is significantly simplified, since it does not include discharge valve: this is the core of the nozzle in collaboration with its surface annular support, which constitutes the discharge valve. Due to compression permanent elastic of the core, this discharge valve opens only when it prevails in the pump chamber a predetermined pressure sufficient to detach it from its annular bearing surface: the sprayer is therefore of the so-called "compression" type, and guarantees excellent spraying.

The document EP-A-0 378 935 describes a pump whose delivery valve is an axially deformable elastic piece, placed in the outlet duct in the vicinity of the outlet. But this pump does not have a spray nozzle, being intended to distribute an ophthalmological mediation in the form of a drop by actuation.

According to one embodiment, the piston is controlled by an actuating rod in which the delivery pipe is formed, the pump has a spring which exerts a restoring force on the piston, and a pusher is mounted on the rod actuation to move the piston against the force of the spring, the pusher comprising said spray nozzle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given as non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pusher comprising a spray nozzle according to the invention,
FIGS. 1a and 1b are detailed views of two variants of the pusher of FIG. 1,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the core of the spray nozzle of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a variant of the core of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a pump on which the plunger of FIG. 1 can be mounted, and
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a spray nozzle made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a pusher 1 adapted to be mounted on a rod actuation 2 of a pump or a valve, for dispensing a fluid substance, liquid or semi-liquid, such as a perfume, cosmetic or medication, or the like. Pusher 1 is part of a small spray assembly adapted to be held by hand, and allows the pump or valve to be actuated using a finger, although a automatic actuation is also possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

The pusher 1 is generally molded from plastic. It has a duct 3 in which is fitted the actuating rod 2. The actuating rod 2 comprises a central channel 2a which allows the emission of the fluid substance, and which communicates with the conduit 3. The pusher further comprises a swirl chamber 5 which opens laterally outside the pusher. The swirl chamber 5 has a cylindrical side wall 20 of revolution and a bottom 10 pierced with an orifice central 4 which communicates with the conduit 3. The bottom 10 has here a conical shape, of concavity turned towards room 5. It should be noted that room 5 could as well be arranged in the extension of the conduit 3, rather than laterally.

Chamber 5 receives a part 21, molded in plastic in the form of a socket, commonly called "sprinkler". The nozzle 21 has a bottom wall 6 and a wall lateral 22. To prevent the nozzle 21 from being expelled from the chamber 5 by pressure of the fluid substance, it is firmly fixed to the pusher 1. In the example shown, the side wall 22 of the nozzle has an external annular rib 23 in the form of a notch, which is snapped into a groove complementary to the side wall of the chamber 5. The bottom 6 of the nozzle 21 thus closes the open end of the swirl 5. The bottom 6 of the nozzle is however pierced with a central outlet orifice 7 of very small diameter, with an enlarged portion 7a towards the interior of the chamber 5. The bottom 6 of the nozzle further comprises an internal face 6a in which are formed non-radial swirling grooves 8 which extend between the widened part 7a of the outlet orifice and the outer periphery of the internal face 6a. As we can see in Figure 4, the grooves 8 are oriented so as to impart to the fluid substance a vortex movement upon arrival in the enlarged part of the orifice 7.

Referring again to Figure 1, an elastomeric core 9 is disposed in the swirl chamber 5, compressed elastically between the bottom 6 of the nozzle and the bottom 10 of the swirl chamber. The core 9 is advantageously in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), for example Kraton® (company Schell). This guy of elastomer has the advantage of admitting significant elastic deformations and of can be injection molded, which facilitates production.

As shown in FIG. 2, the core 9 is a cylindrical part of revolution, which extends axially between a rear face 9b and a flat front face 9a possibly with a central projection 9c which penetrates into the enlarged part 7a of the output organ. In the example shown, the core 9 small typically have a 2.5 to 5 mm in diameter and 3 to 10 mm in length. In special cases, the length small possibly down to 1 mm, or go up to 20 to 30 mm. These dimensions are however given only by way of nonlimiting example.

When the core 9 is mounted in the pusher 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear face 9b, initially planar, is deformed by elastic compression against the bottom 10 of chamber 5, in an external annular zone 9d, which guarantees a excellent sealing. A obturation of the conduit 3 between two is thus obtained. sprays. Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 1, the annular zone 9d does not extend radially to the central orifice 4, so that the fluid under pressure arriving from the conduit 3 exerts its pressure on a maximum surface of the rear face 9b of the core. As shown in FIG. 1a, the small core 9 has a collar 31 on its rear face 9b, to maximize the surface of the rear face 9b on which the pressure of the fluid coming from the conduit 3. In FIG. 1a, the collar 31 is housed between a rear end of the side wall 22 of the nozzle, and the bottom 10 of the chamber 5. In variant, as shown in Figure 1b, the bottom 10 of the chamber 5 may include an annular sealing bead 30, disposed around the orifice 4 in the vicinity of the outer diameter of the core 9, and on which the rear face 9b of the core rests: the fluid under pressure from line 3 small thus exerting pressure over the entire surface of the rear face 9b which is located in the center of the cord 30. In this variant, the bottom 10 of room 5 can be flat. In addition, the core 5 can also include an external collar 31, as in FIG. 1a: the cord 30 is then placed facing the collar 31, which further increases the surface of the rear face 9b of the core on which the pressure is exerted fluid from line 3.

The front face 9a of the core is applied in sealed contact with the internal face 6a from the bottom of the nozzle, and an annular space 11 is left free between the side wall 22 of the nozzle and the nucleus 9. Thus, when the fluid substance is emitted under pressure and arrives in the conduit 3, it pushes the rear face 9b of the core, by axial deformation elastic core. The fluid substance then flows towards the annular space 11, then in the swirl grooves 8 before being sprayed through the outlet 7.

The side wall 22 of the small nozzle 21 possibly have ribs internal axial 18 or other reliefs, to position the core 9. Alternatively, axial ribs or other reliefs could be formed on the core 9.

The small core 9 possibly include a central part 24 of narrowed section, to increase its axial flexibility, as shown in Figure 3.

FIG. 5 represents a pump 12 intended to operate with the pusher of the Figure 1. The pump 12 comprises a pump body 25 molded from plastic, which defines a cylindrical pump chamber 13. The pump body 25 extends between a open end 25a and one end 25b provided with an inlet port 15. The port 15 communicates with a reservoir of said fluid substance (not shown), directly or through a dip tube (not shown). A piston 14, molded in plastic, slides in the pump chamber 13. The piston 14 comprises an actuating rod 2, which projects out of the open end of the body of pump, and which is pierced with a central channel 2a opening into the pump chamber 13. The inlet 15 is provided with an intake valve composed of a valve seal 16 in elastomer, suitable for sealingly fitting on a valve seat 17, formed around of the inlet port 15. The inlet valve only allows the entry of substance fluid in the pump chamber 13. The valve seal 16 is held in the vicinity of the valve seat 17 by a valve holder 26.

A helical metal return spring 19 is mounted between the piston 14 and the valve holder 26, and biases the piston 14 towards the open end 25a of the pump body. The piston is held in the pump body 25 by a crimped metal cup 27 on the pump body, and can be crimped on the neck of said fluid reservoir.

The pusher 1 is mounted on the actuating rod 2. The core 9 and the bottom 10 of the swirl chamber 5 then constitute the outlet valve of the pump 12.

A second embodiment of a spray nozzle is illustrated on the figure 6. The characteristics common with the first embodiment will not be described and designated by the same reference numerals. The core 9 presents itself now in the form of an elastic disc made of TPE or closed-cell foam. The thickness of the disc is small, and can go up to a few tenths of a millimeter. he is wedged between the annular surface 10 and the inner face 10a of the end wall 6 which includes the swirl channels 8. The disc is thus arranged under prestressed so that the channels 8 are perfectly isolated from each other. This elastic prestress also makes it possible to have a good seal at the level of the annular surface 10. According to the invention, the annular surface 10 has a diameter inner less than the outer diameter of the inner face 6a. So when the product fluid is pressurized in the outlet duct B, the outer peripheral part 9a of the disc 9 flexes towards the swirl chamber 5, as shown in dotted line in FIG. 6. The contact of the disc with the annular surface is thus broken creating a passage for the pressurized fluid. Unlike the first mode of realization where the deformation of the core is done by axial compression, here the disc undergoes bending deformation. The core (disc) is thus limited to a single slice flexible elastomer.

This type of thin core is more particularly suitable for use in gel or cream dispensing nozzles, without spraying. It also allows ability to make very thin nozzles / valves, given its small footprint.

Claims

A nozzle for spraying a fluid, the nozzle comprising an outlet duct (3, 4) suitable for receiving said fluid and opening out into a distribution chamber (5) in the center of an annular surface (10), said chamber (5) being closed by an end wall (6) which is pierced by an outlet orifice (7) and which includes an inside face (6a) provided with grooves (8) in communication with the outlet orifice (7), said chamber (5) being partially filled by a core (9) which extends axially between a front face (9a) close to the end wall (6) and a rear face (9b) remote from the end wall (6), the core leaving empty at least one lateral passage (11) putting the grooves (8) into communication with the outlet duct (3, 4), the spray nozzle also comprising a valve adapted to close the outlet duct (3, 4) except during periods when said fluid is being sprayed, and to open under the effect of fluid arriving in the outlet duct, the core (9) co-operating with the annular surface to constitute said valve, said rear face (9b) of the core being adapted to bear with sealed contact against said annular surface (10).
the nozzle being characterized in that the core (9) is a substantially circularly cylindrical elastomer part which is resiliently compressed between the end wall (6) of the distribution chamber and said annular surface (10).
A spray nozzle according to claim 1, in which the grooves (8) are oriented in non-radial manner relative to the outlet orifice (7), said front face (9) of the core being pressed against the end wall (6), thereby isolating the swirling grooves (8) such that the swirling grooves do not communicate with one another between the outlet orifice (7) and said at least one lateral passage (11) left empty by the core (9), in order to impart swirling motion to said fluid.
A spray nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, in which the front face (9a) of the core includes a projecting portion (9c) which penetrates into the outlet orifice (7).
A spray nozzle according to either preceding claim, in which said annular surface (10) is conical, with its concave side facing the core (9), and the rear face (9b) of the core is circular.
A spray nozzle according to claim 1, 2, or 3, in which said annular surface (10) is a sealing ridge (30) disposed close to the outside of the rear face (9b) of the core.
A spray nozzle according to any preceding claim, in which the core is molded in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
A spray nozzle according to any preceding claim, in which centering means (18) are provided for positioning the core (9) relative to the outlet duct (3, 4) and to the outlet orifice (7).
A spray nozzle according to any preceding claim, in which the core is a disk (9) that is elastically deformable by bending, and that is prestressed between the annular surface (10) and the end wall (6), the annular contact of said disk with the annular surface (10) being of a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the contact of the disk with the end wall (6) such that the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the outlet duct (3, 4) deforms the disk by bending its peripherally outer portion, thereby breaking contact with the annular surface.
A spray nozzle according to claim 1, in which the core is of narrowed section at an intermediate position (24) along its axial length.
A fluid sprayer comprising a spray nozzle according to any preceding claim, and a pump (12) which comprises:

a cylindrical pump chamber (13);

a piston (14) which slides in the pump chamber;

an inlet orifice (15) which communicates with the pump chamber (13) via an inlet valve (16, 17); and

a delivery duct (2a) which is permanently in communication with the outlet duct (3, 4) of the spray nozzle.
A sprayer according to claim 10, in which the piston (14) is controlled by an actuator rod (2) in which the delivery duct (2a) is formed, the pump including a spring (19) exerting a return force on the piston (14), and a pushbutton (1) is mounted on the actuator rod (2) to move the piston against the force of the spring (19), the pushbutton (1) including said spray nozzle.