EP1274646B1 - Selbstschliessendes ventil für flüssigkeitsabgabe - Google Patents

Selbstschliessendes ventil für flüssigkeitsabgabe Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1274646B1
EP1274646B1 EP01933717A EP01933717A EP1274646B1 EP 1274646 B1 EP1274646 B1 EP 1274646B1 EP 01933717 A EP01933717 A EP 01933717A EP 01933717 A EP01933717 A EP 01933717A EP 1274646 B1 EP1274646 B1 EP 1274646B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
piston
valve
liquid
pneumatic
duct
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01933717A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1274646A1 (de
Inventor
Giorgio Bacchio
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Universita degli Studi di Pavia
Original Assignee
Universita degli Studi di Pavia
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universita degli Studi di Pavia filed Critical Universita degli Studi di Pavia
Publication of EP1274646A1 publication Critical patent/EP1274646A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1274646B1 publication Critical patent/EP1274646B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/42—Filling nozzles
    • B67D7/44—Filling nozzles automatically closing
    • B67D7/46—Filling nozzles automatically closing when liquid in container to be filled reaches a predetermined level
    • B67D7/48—Filling nozzles automatically closing when liquid in container to be filled reaches a predetermined level by making use of air suction through an opening closed by the rising liquid

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to an automatically closing control valve for the delivery of liquids, in particular for low pressure delivery circuits in which the liquid is delivered due to gravity.
  • Circuits for the low pressure distribution of liquids are used in applications where large liquid flows are unnecessary.
  • relatively small containers are filled with different liquids, e.g. water or other.
  • the ducts of the hydraulic distribution system of the liquid have interception taps or valves, that may be opened manually or automatically and are equipped with safety devices to automatically close the tap or valve upon reaching the desired level in the container or vessel, thus avoiding liquid spilling over the edge resulting in damage to the surrounding area, especially when using corrosive liquids.
  • WO-A-9911566 shows a pistol grip of this kind for fuel distribution.
  • valve type because of its complexity, is unsuitable for use in distributing circuits of liquids in laboratory installations where economic considerations are important.
  • the present invention aims to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks of the known valves which automatically close liquid distribution circuits upon reaching a predetermined liquid level, especially in the case of circuits operating at low pressure.
  • One of the main aims of the present invention is to produce a valve with high operating reliability and structural simplicity including a minimum number of component parts.
  • a further aim of the present invention is to produce a valve that is also cheap to produce.
  • valve interrupts the delivery of the liquid upon reaching the desired level in the container in an automatic and reliable way, though presenting a simple configuration.
  • a duct having a section shaped as a Venturi tube is connected to said exit aperture to generate, upon passage of the liquid, a vacuum in said pneumatic actuation means.
  • This arrangement creates the vacuum necessary to operate the pneumatic control means of the valve in a simple and reliable way.
  • a valve denoted as a whole, by 1 includes a main casing 2, basically of elongated form and set in a basically horizontal position during operation.
  • a duct 3 of liquid entry connected to a hydraulic circuit of known type and not shown in the figures, is connected to an entry aperture or port 3' made in the upper part of the valve casing.
  • an exit duct or nozzle 4 set in a basically vertical position, that supplies a container B with liquid, flowing due to gravity in the direction of arrow S.
  • valve casing The interior of the valve casing bears, for most of its length, a cylindrical chamber 5 in which is set a piston 6 which may move inside said chamber 5.
  • the piston has rubber rings 7 which ensure a goods seal with the internal walls of the chamber 5.
  • the piston 6 is secured to a control rod 8 which bears a knob 9 or similar, at its end external to the valve, which can be operated by pressure exerted manually or with an actuator used by the operator.
  • the rod 8 is kept in an extracted position by a spring 10, which in figure 1 is positioned to the left of the valve. In this position, the piston 6 totally blocks both apertures 3', 4' of ducts 3, 4 completely closing the passage of the liquid.
  • the knob 9 of rod 8 sliding the piston towards the right-hand part of figure 1, the ducts 3 and 4 communicate with each other and the liquid starts to flow through valve 1.
  • the end section 4" of the duct 4 is shaped as a Venturi tube. In flowing inside the nozzle 4", the liquid creates a Bernoulli effect which transmits a vacuum through duct 11 to the right-hand part of the chamber 5. The force exerted by the vacuum acts on the piston 6 and counterbalances the returning action of the spring 10, keeping the rod 8 in a recessed position in the casting 2 and the piston 6, shifted towards the right-hand part in relation to the figure, keeps the entry duct 3 in communication with the exit duct 4.
  • a duct 12 which is considerably narrower that duct 11, is set in a basically vertical position in relation to the liquid level in container B. Its upper aperture leads into duct 11.
  • the duct 12 serves as a probe through which a flow of air is generated, directed upwards in the direction of the arrow 14, by the vacuum created in the nozzle 4".
  • This valve 17 is kept in a closing position by a spring 18 which closes a duct 19 which puts the chamber 5 in communication with the outside, where atmospheric pressure is generally present, through apertures not shown in the figure.
  • the probe 12 As long as the probe 12 does not come into contact with the liquid, its lower aperture stays free and a large amount of the force generated by the vacuum acts through duct 11 on the piston 6.
  • the distribution of the passage of the vacuum through the various ducts is obtained through appropriate choice of the dimension of the sections of ducts 11, 12 and 13.
  • the probe 12 thus acts as a by-pass duct and the amount of vacuum transmitted instead through the duct 13 in the second chamber 15 is insufficient to compress the spring 18, allowing the valve 17 to open.
  • the vacuum present in duct 12 tends to suck the liquid in it upwards, but a priority action is caused in duct 13 since the liquid density is greater than that of the air and therefore the vacuum is diverted into the second chamber 15 through tube 13.
  • the vacuum builds up due to the passage of the liquid inside nozzle 4" and this increase of the vacuum in the chamber 15 is sufficient to produce a force acting on the membrane 16 which, becoming deformed, is able to compress the spring 18.
  • valve 17 is moved by the membrane 16 and opens the duct 19 allowing the external air to flow into chamber 5 since the pressure inside it rises to that of atmospheric level.
  • the piston 6 is pushed towards the left part, due to the concurrence of the returning action of spring 10 and of the pressure acting in the right-hand part of chamber 5, and simultaneously closes the entry and exit apertures (3', 4').
  • valve 1 is thus automatically brought back to its closing position in which the piston 6 is towards the left part of the figure. As long as the probe 12 stays closed by contact with the liquid surface in container B, the valve 1 cannot be opened again, unless knob 9 is kept pressed by an operator, since the vacuum which should prevail in ducts 11 and 13 is insufficient to keep the piston 6 in a moved position towards the right-hand part of the chamber 5.
  • a nonreturn valve may be inserted in the probe (12) to improve the closure of the passage and avoid the liquid from being sucked back up the same probe upon reaching the maximum level.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanically-Actuated Valves (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Feeding And Controlling Fuel (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
  • Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)

Claims (3)

  1. Selbstschließendes Regelventil (1) für die Abgabe von Flüssigkeiten, insbesondere für Abgabesysteme mit niedrigem Druck, umfassend ein Hauptgehäuse (2), eine Flüssigkeitseintrittsöffnung (3') und eine Flüssigkeitsaustrittsöffnung (4'),.die mit einem Rohr (4) verbunden ist, von dem ein Abschnitt (4") als Venturi-Düse geformt ist, um beim Durchgang der Flüssigkeit in einer pneumatischen Abtriebsvorrichtung (15, 16) ein Vakuum zu erzeugen, eine innere Hauptkammer (5) zylindrischer Form, in der ein Kolben (6) entlang der axialen Richtung der Hauptkammer (5) gleitet, wobei der Kolben durch seine Gleitbewegung jeweils an einer Flüssigkeitseintritt- und Austrittsöffnung liegt mit entsprechender Öffnungs- und Schließposition. Dabei umfasst das Ventil (1) weiter ein elastisches Rückstellelement (10), das den Kolben (6) in die genannte geschlossene Position zurückschiebt, ein pneumatisches Halteelement (11), das den Kolben (6) in der genannten offenen Position hält, ein offenes Rohr (12) zur Überwachung des Erreichens einer vorbestimmten maximalen Füllhöhe der in einen Behälter (B) abgegebenen Flüssigkeit, von welchem Rohr ein Ende von der genannten Flüssigkeit geschlossen werden kann. Dieses Rohr ist stets mit der Antriebsvorrichtung (15, 16) in einer wirksamen Verbindung und kann mit dem pneumatischen Halteelement (11) so zusammenwirken, dass es die Aktivierung des elastischen Elements (10) steuert, um den Kolben (6) in die geschlossene Position zurückzubewegen, wenn der genannte vorbestimmte Füllstand der abgegebenen Flüssigkeit erreicht ist,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das pneumatische Halteelement (11) in der inneren Hauptkammer (5) ein Vakuum erzeugt, um den Kolben (6) in einer offenen Position zu halten und dass die pneumatische Antriebsvorrichtung (15, 16) ein Ventilelement (17) betätigt, das einen Durchgang zwischen der inneren Hauptkammer (5) und der Einfassung des Ventils in einer Position öffnen kann und die Verbindung zwischen der inneren Hauptkammer (5) und der äußeren Einfassung des Ventils selbst in einer zweiten Position unterbrechen kann.
  2. Ventil gemäß Anspruch 1,
    bei dem das Ventilelement (17) mittels eines Federelements zum Unterbrechen der genannten Verbindung und mittels einer zweiten Membran (16) zum Öffnen der genannten Verbindung betrieben wird, wobei die Membran (16) durch das in einer zweiten, mit der genannten Venturi-Düse verbundenen pneumatischen Kammer (15) erzeugte Vakuum verformt werden kann.
  3. Ventil gemäß Anspruch 2, bei dem das genannte elastische Rückstellelement des Kolbens (6) zur Rückführung in die geschlossene Position durch mechanische Federn (10) gegeben ist.
EP01933717A 2000-03-16 2001-03-16 Selbstschliessendes ventil für flüssigkeitsabgabe Expired - Lifetime EP1274646B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2000MI000539A IT1317629B1 (it) 2000-03-16 2000-03-16 Valvola di controllo dell'erogazione di liquidi a chiusura automatica
ITMI000539 2000-03-16
PCT/EP2001/003044 WO2001068508A1 (en) 2000-03-16 2001-03-16 An automatically closing control valve for the delivery of liquids

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1274646A1 EP1274646A1 (de) 2003-01-15
EP1274646B1 true EP1274646B1 (de) 2003-10-01

Family

ID=11444476

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01933717A Expired - Lifetime EP1274646B1 (de) 2000-03-16 2001-03-16 Selbstschliessendes ventil für flüssigkeitsabgabe

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20030089422A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1274646B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE251084T1 (de)
AU (1) AU2001260131A1 (de)
DE (1) DE60100902D1 (de)
IT (1) IT1317629B1 (de)
WO (1) WO2001068508A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107532415B (zh) * 2015-03-12 2020-06-02 芙洛玛斯特公司 抗虹吸引流器

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1398295A1 (de) * 2002-09-10 2004-03-17 Elaflex Tankstellentechnik GmbH & Co. Zapfventil für Kraftstoffe
US9090157B2 (en) * 2010-02-04 2015-07-28 Myers Industries, Inc. Spill avoidance system for storage tank

Family Cites Families (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US487531A (en) * 1892-12-06 Barrel-filler
BE498076A (de) *
US2787294A (en) * 1952-04-19 1957-04-02 S A T A M Sa Appareillages Mec Combined valve and shut-off means therefor
US2822830A (en) * 1954-01-26 1958-02-11 F Wenger Ets Bottle filling devices
CH355045A (de) * 1956-05-03 1961-06-15 Liquid Controls Corp Abfüll-Ventil
US2870800A (en) * 1957-12-06 1959-01-27 Toby B Harper Automatic liquid delivery shut-off device
US3085600A (en) * 1961-02-14 1963-04-16 Dover Corp Automatic dispensing nozzles
US3646974A (en) * 1970-03-23 1972-03-07 Dover Corp Automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle venturi
GB1493805A (en) * 1974-12-17 1977-11-30 Exxon Research Engineering Co Apparatus for automatic control of liquid flow
US4343337A (en) * 1980-07-09 1982-08-10 Healy James W Fuel dispensing nozzle
DE3528612C1 (de) * 1985-08-09 1986-12-11 Karlheinz 2000 Hamburg Ehlers Zapfpistole fuer Kraftstoff mit fuellhoehenabhaengiger Abschaltautomatik und pumpendruckabhaengiger Sicherheitsvorrichtung
FR2592869B1 (fr) * 1986-01-15 1988-03-11 Seva Dispositif de remplissage de recipients a contre-pression
FR2606008B1 (fr) * 1986-11-05 1989-07-28 Mapco Tete de remplissage pour machine de remplissage de bouteilles et machine de remplissage equipee de telles tetes de remplissage
DE3825093C2 (de) * 1988-07-23 1994-01-13 Kronseder Maschf Krones Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Füllen von Flaschen oder dgl. in Gegendruckfüllmaschinen
US4913200A (en) * 1989-01-19 1990-04-03 Richards Industries, Inc. Liquid dispensing nozzle with a pump pressure responsive automatic shut-off mechanism
US5178197A (en) * 1992-01-02 1993-01-12 Healy Systems, Inc. Fuel dispensing nozzle

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107532415B (zh) * 2015-03-12 2020-06-02 芙洛玛斯特公司 抗虹吸引流器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001260131A1 (en) 2001-09-24
ATE251084T1 (de) 2003-10-15
IT1317629B1 (it) 2003-07-15
US20030089422A1 (en) 2003-05-15
WO2001068508A1 (en) 2001-09-20
ITMI20000539A1 (it) 2001-09-16
EP1274646A1 (de) 2003-01-15
DE60100902D1 (de) 2003-11-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4292996A (en) Stop valve
US4527593A (en) Apparatus and system for filling one or more containers with a liquid to a predetermined level
US5938408A (en) Magnetically controlled liquid transfer system
CN102859194A (zh) 装有模块化附加调节器的空气马达
CA2925459C (en) Fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly for top-filled fuel tanks
JP2018119676A (ja) 独立して挙動可能なパイロットプランジャーヘッドを含むソレノイドバルブ
EP1274646B1 (de) Selbstschliessendes ventil für flüssigkeitsabgabe
US2849019A (en) Apparatus for controlling the filling and emptying of tanks
GB955163A (en) Automatic dispensing nozzles
JP2002508289A (ja) 液体貯蔵タンク用充填制御装置
US3946773A (en) Automatic dispensing nozzle adapted for vapor recovery
KR880005353A (ko) 차량 연료 탱크용 밸브 조립체
US3996977A (en) Automatic dispensing nozzle adapted for vapor recovery
JPH0771633A (ja) 自動バイパス・バルブ
EP0021172B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Kontrolle des Wasserstandes, insbesondere für Spültoiletten
US2786493A (en) Hose nozzle of the automatic shut-off type
ES455656A1 (es) Un dispositivo distribuidor de liquido operado manualmente.
EP0854310A1 (de) Automatisch und manuell bedienbare Entlüftungsvorrichtung
US10962130B2 (en) Lubricant reservoir system
KR101761748B1 (ko) 슬라이드형 수동밸브를 적용한 전자밸브
KR101761750B1 (ko) 유체의 흐름이 개선된 전자밸브
US3312257A (en) Automatic dispensing nozzle
US3845508A (en) Water closet control system
US2582105A (en) Device for shutting off gases from pipe lines
US4015647A (en) Automatic nozzle assembly

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20021014

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031001

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60100902

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20031106

Kind code of ref document: P

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20040101

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20040101

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20040101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20040103

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040316

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040316

LTIE Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension

Effective date: 20031001

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040331

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20040702

EN Fr: translation not filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050316

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20050316

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040301