EP1474023B1 - Dosing pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The dosing pump, and especially for a liquid or foam soap dispenser, is a cylindrical plunger pump (18) with a round seal (22) at its end side (St) in an oversized ring groove (21) to allow an axial sliding movement. A trailing radial seal (20) is in a ring groove (19) A sole non-return valve (24-26) is at the outflow channel (16). A fluid link groove to the dosing zone (17) is between the lateral laying surface of the leading seal and the end side of the plunger, for pressure compensation when the plunger moves in the reverse direction.

Description

The present invention relates to a metering pump for liquid or creamy soaps according to the preamble of claim 1

Known soap dispensers (inter alia FR-A-2 206 493) are based on a dosage of the soap solution, by a pump, which having a spool-like piston and the soap of a arranged overhead storage container, via an intermediate container, dosed portionwise and wash hands free.

The slider having a cylindrical cross section is on a long side with a circumferential groove and a provided in inserted sealing ring and in a on one end side completed cylinder out. A Coil spring pushes the slide of the actuating direction against, until a stop, whereby the thereby formed cylinder space via a connecting hole to Between tank with soap solution fills. Will now the Slider over his knob by hand against the Spring force moves, flows the soap solution in the slide via a longitudinal bore, via a downwardly open groove and an outflow channel in the cylinder on a soap receiving Palm (the presented hand).

If you release the control button, the spring presses the Slider back to the starting position, what first an undesirable flow of air over the outflow channel and only then a desired Nachfliessen of soap solution causes in the cylinder chamber. The cylinder space is thus filled with soap solution and air; the following next operation results due to foaming and dependent on the actuation speed Foam compaction to non-reproducible dosages; Also, the dispenser tends to dribble.

This adverse behavior was improved by constructive Changes, such as the integration of check valves in the soap flow and in the slide, which both the manufacture of the donor more expensive and this for longer interruptions due to sticking the valve body at their valve seats out of service sat.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a reliable To provide metering pump, which the aforementioned disadvantages does not have and a reproducing dosage of soap solution and creamy soaps, with minimal technical and economic effort, guaranteed.

It should also especially with strong foaming media no foam padding in the dosing chamber and / or reservoir form. Also to the dosing pump resp. at the Dispenser applied operating forces, despite existing Sealing elements, be minimal.

The dosing pump should also without major design changes be equipped with an electric drive and yourself Also suitable for a contactless battery operation.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

In the claims is between a rear and a distinguished between front radial sealing element, wherein itself, of course, the front, second sealing element in the ejection area of the slider is located.

It has been shown that even strong foaming soaps by the inventive arrangement of the front sealing element do not tend to foam in the dosing pump. During the return stroke and at rest, takes place between the interior the pump and the intermediate tank pressure equalization instead of. The front sealing element acts as a pressure equalizing valve, because it is in the return stroke in the annular groove on the Front shoulder rests, soap can be in the dosing Part of the interior nachfliessen.- This is in contrast to usual slide or piston pumps, which are not or only have minimal displaceable sealing elements and at least between the piston body and the cylinder bore air and / or liquid during the return stroke in displace the intermediate or storage container.

The output of the medium takes place as in any other slide pump; the sealing element is located during the working stroke on the rear shoulder of the annular groove and seals in Conventionally, the slide against the cylinder chamber. The first sealing element is during the entire dosing process, i.e. during the return stroke (filling) and of the working stroke (ejection) tight.

An existing in the outflow channel, acting on the check valve Spring only needs the static pressure of the liquid and the mass of the valve body (plastic ball) overcome. Due to the hardly existing negative pressure during the Filling the valve body is only slightly loaded what its service life and thus the reliability considerably elevated.

A realized according to the teaching of claim 1 dispenser shows a higher compared to conventional metering pumps Metering accuracy, as in the cylinder space no foaming he follows. Due to lower fluid-dynamic friction needed it also uses less energy to operate.- This works especially positive for battery powered, contactless working donors out.

In subsequent dependent claims are advantageous Further developments of the subject invention described:

By inserted in the front of the slider peripheral Grooves, which with the annular second groove a Make connection to the dosing, can be the pressure compensation additionally improve on the slider.

Be at the annular second groove in the vertical direction each two upper and two lower peripheral grooves embedded, so the flow is improved and thus the Frictional resistance reduced again.- Alternative leave also other compounds to achieve a flow realize, such as a cone-shaped or stepped second groove.

Through a concave recess on the front side of the slider its attacks are prevented at the bottom of the cylinder chamber; the displaced in this recess medium acts as a hydraulic spring and reduces the return stroke applied force.

It is especially after very long business interruptions beneficial if the check valve at the end of the discharge channel is detachably arranged and its valve cap at the same time contains the outlet nozzle of the outflow channel. This allows easy cleaning and, if necessary, flushing through of the whole device with water.

The slider preferably includes a blind hole-like rear Center hole with a clutch spring (leaf spring). Thus, coupling pins are easily connected, what u.a. a use of same slide in different Dispensers with differently designed drives possible.

To solve the problem is particularly economical Use of a round seal, also called O-ring, there This is commercially available and also an excellent Rolling behavior for the shift within the width of the having annular groove.

This rolling with the slider movement O-ring dissolves - in contrast to a conventional valve - even after prolonged service interruptions of the donor axially from his Seat, so that eliminates the notoriously known bonding and soap solution can be dosed again at any time.

Proved have for the front groove, groove widths larger are about 1.5 times the diameter of the O-ring.

A streamlined optimized dispenser, with minimal Power requirement, leads the soap solution at rest of the Slider over one of its front superior hole and in the area of the second annular groove, too.- This causes an automatic venting of the dosing pump.

Fig. 1

einen manuell betätigbaren Seifenspender, wobei von dessen Dosierpumpe lediglich der Seifenaustritt sichtbar ist,

Fig. 2

eine Schnittdarstellung durch einen Seifen-Vorratsbehälter, einen Zwischenbehälter und eine damit verbundene Dosierpumpe,

Fig. 3

eine Perspektivdarstellung des Schiebers der Dosierpumpe mit eingesetztem Kupplungszapfen,

Fig. 4

eine frontale Draufsicht auf den Schieber Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

einen Längsschnitt durch die Anordnung Fig. 3, durch das Zentrum geführt und

Fig. 6

einen weiteren Längsschnitt durch die Anordnung Fig. 3 , jedoch in einem zu Fig. 5 vorgelagerten Schnitt.

Hereinafter, a practical embodiment of a built-in a soap dispenser metering pump will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a manually operated soap dispenser, of which the metering pump only the soap outlet is visible,

Fig. 2

a sectional view through a soap storage container, an intermediate container and an associated metering pump,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the slide of the metering pump with inserted coupling pin,

Fig. 4

a frontal plan view of the slider Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

a longitudinal section through the arrangement Fig. 3, guided by the center and

Fig. 6

a further longitudinal section through the arrangement Fig. 3, but in a pre-Fig. 5 section.

In Figure 1, 1 denotes a soap dispenser, which in the usual way has a housing 2 and from the Bottom an annular actuating lever 3 protrudes. the Actuator 3 is preceded by a soap outlet. 4 Front side in the housing 2 is a transparent window 5 is inserted, behind which a color marked Level indicator 6 is located. By an arrow is the Direction of actuation PH drawn.

The sectional view Fig. 2 shows a soap storage container 7 with an attached intermediate container 8, which cover-shaped cover surfaces 8 'has. In the intermediate container 8 protrudes a clip-on and Ansteckteil 9, which in the usual way an overhead soap bottle V takes up. In the lower part of the part 9 is a soap solution passage 10, resulting in filled Soap bottle V The soap level marked N level S in the container 7 sets. The necessary connection to the outside air is through a compensation hole 40th created in the cover 8 '.

On the side shown in Fig. 2 is a channel 11, which is the lateral guide for a not shown here Level indicator 6 forms. Furthermore, in this Channel 11, a centering 12 visible, which upward protrudes and the central guide for the level indicator 6, Fig. 1, forms. In the front lower portion of the container. 7 a cylindrical soap solution supply 13 is provided, which with a central bore 14 in the cylinder Metering pump 15 opens. The interior of the pump 15 has a cylindrical metering chamber 17, which in turn with a soap outlet 16 is connected and by a in a valve seat 26 mounted valve ball 25 completed is. The valve ball 25 is acted upon by a spring 27, which centered in a pressed-on valve cap 24 is and has a central outlet nozzle 28.- A vertically disposed reinforcing rib 37 is located in the symmetry axis of the arrangement Figure 2; as well as a cylindrical support 39 for longitudinal guidance of Drive and coupling agent.

In the dosing 17 is an axially displaceable Piston 18, which acts as a known slide.

In the rear part of this cylindrical slide 18 is a notoriously known annular groove 19 with a just such Round seal 20, a commercially available O-ring, embedded and seals the metering 17 of the metering pump 15 opposite their outdoor area.

In the front region of the slider 18 is another annular groove 21 admitted, but which compared to the usual ring groove 19 is widened. The circular seal located in the annular groove 21 22 is identical to the round seal 20.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the slider 18 has a bore 36 contains and on its front side St a central, concave Recess 23 has.

In the bore 36 is a tubular coupling pin 29th inserted, in the opposite longitudinal grooves 30 'each a slider 18 at the end arranged clutch spring 30th intervenes. This spring 30 serves as an end stop for the return stroke RH and prevents an unwanted Extending from the cylinder chamber 17.

At the rear end of the coupling pin 29 is in the bore 41 an actuating piece 31 is inserted, which a lateral recesses 32 and 33 and a coupling nose 38th having; the coupling nose 38 is in the recess 33rd engaged. This coupling pin 29 is for a manual Operating lever - not shown - provided and is designed according to the respective drive means and adapted to this; the same goes for the Coupling 29.- This allows a single slider 18th to use for any kind of mechanical drive.

According to FIG. 3, St of the slide 18 are in the end face peripheral grooves 34 and 35 are inserted, all the way to the rear Wall of the annular groove 21 are guided. In addition, recognizes on the slide 18 different recesses 18 ', which are production-related and also to material savings to lead.

The sectional view Fig. 4 shows the symmetrical to Center arranged upper grooves 34 and the like lower grooves 35; also drawn are cutting lines A - A and B - B.

The two sectional views Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the corresponding longitudinal sections A - A and B - B, wherein the Section B - B, Fig. 5, through the longitudinal axis of Slider 18 and coupling pin 29 formed arrangement out is.- The functional annular gap in the widened Ring groove 21 is designated by RS.

The metering pump according to FIG. 2 shows surprising effects:

If one starts from the starting position shown in FIG. 2, so you can see that the dosing 17 and the connected Soap outlet 16 (static) with soap solution S to fill. Now, the piston 18 in the direction of actuation PH moves, then rolls the O-ring 22 against the rear shoulder the annular groove 21 and seals the piston 18 with respect to the dosing 17 off. It is doing a pumping stroke PH, the Valve ball 25 lifts from its seat 26; the soap solution Exits via the bore 28 in the form of a jet and can lather the offered hand.

When return stroke RH, which takes place, for example, spring-loaded, The O-ring 22 rolls on the front shoulder of the annular groove 21st The soap solution can over the thus formed annular gap RS and the peripheral grooves 34 and 35 (FIG. 3), which is due to the self-adjusting negative pressure Valve ball 25 sealingly located in its valve seat 26. The adjusting itself via the annular groove 21 and the grooves 34 and 35 Pressure compensation prevents those in other slide pumps usual foaming and reduced compared this the necessary operating force quite considerably.

This is done in contrast to conventional slide pumps without an additional check valve, with a minimum Hysteresis and gives a more precise compared to these and at the same time reproducible dosing volume.

Favorable also affects the front of the slider 18 recessed recess 23, but this acts as a kind of hydraulic spring, because on the one hand in the pumping stroke PH the slide 18 at the stop to the bottom of the dosing 17 steams and on the other hand - with a minimum of trapped Soap solution - the breakaway torque of the slider 18 reduced on the return stroke RH.

As a result, not only a valve is saved; the pump housing can at the same time in one piece with the container part be formed, as the sectional view Fig. 2 impressively shows.

In practice, it has been shown that even at an intense Use of the dispenser no unwanted soap foam is formed and that even after long interruptions the Dispensers are ready to use immediately, as they are not only on the negative pressure adjusting check valves necessary are.

The subject invention is of course not on Soap dispenser limited; he lets himself, for example also for dosing pumps in foam dispensers.

The reduced by the subject invention actuation force offers this for installation in battery-powered devices at. The interruption-free service life of contactless working Soap and foam dispensers can be with the Use of weaker drives significantly extend what especially in irregularly used public washrooms the operational readiness of foams installed there and soap dispensers while increasing their upkeep costs reduced.

The entire arrangement can be very economical known die casting process with inexpensive polymer materials produce.

Claims (10)

1. A dosing pump, particularly for foaming media, such as soap solutions and free-flowing soaps, having a pump containing a cylindrical slide, this pump being fed with soap via an intermediate container and a supply container placed thereon and the slide, which is guided in a cylindrical chamber, being radially sealed, characterized in that a check valve (24-26) is provided solely in the outlet channel (16, 28), the slide (18) has a rear radial sealing element (20) guided in a first annular groove (19) and an axially displaceable sealing element (22), guided in a second forward annular groove (21), which is wider than the first groove, and, between the rear, lateral contact surface of this sealing element (22) and the face (St) of the slide (18), a liquid connection (34; 35) to the dosing chamber (17) is provided, which is active in the return stroke (RH) of the slide (18) and is used for pressure equalization.
2. The dispenser according claim 1, characterized in that peripheral grooves (34, 35), which form a connection to the dosing chamber (17) with the annular second groove (21), are incorporated into the face (St) of the slide (18).
3. The dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that two upper and two lower peripheral grooves (34, 35) are provided in the vertical direction.
4. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the face (St) of the slide (18) has a concave recess (23).
5. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the check valve (24-26) is positioned removably on the end of the outlet channel (16) and its cap (24) contains the outlet nozzle (28) of the outlet channel (16).
6. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide (18) contains a centering hole (36), like a pocket hole, and a coupling spring (30), via which a coupling pin (29) may be connected.
7. The dispenser according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that the supply container (7), its connection line (13) having the feed for the free-flowing soap, the housing of the dosing pump (15) having the piston guide, and the guide for the coupling pin (29) and the soap outlet (16) are implemented in one piece.
8. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the second, forward seal (22) is a round seal.
9. The dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that the groove (21) of the round seal (22) has a width which corresponds to at least 1.5 times the diameter of the round seal (22).
10. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply of the free-flowing soap solution occurs via a hole (14) projecting past the face (St) of the slide (18) and in the region of the second annular groove (21).

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