EP3056791B1 - Gas cartridge for an inhalation device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a gas cartridge for an inhalation device, with a cylindrical pressure vessel made of metal and / or plastic.

Gas cartridges of the type mentioned are well known from the prior art, which is why it does not require a separate documentary evidence at this point.

The pressure vessel of a previously known gas cartridge is typically cylindrical. He takes in the intended use, a pressurized gas or a pressurized gas mixture, which can escape or if necessary via a typically formed on the front side of the pressure vessel opening.

Many uses of gas cartridges are known in the art. A distinction should be made in this context between disposable gas cartridges on the one hand and reusable gas cartridges on the other. This reusable gas cartridges are refillable and thus reusable, in contrast to disposable gas cartridges.

For a demand-based gas sampling, the gas cartridge is connected to a withdrawal device in the case of use. This removal device provides a user side to be operated handle ready. In this case, a gas removal from the gas cartridge in response to the preferably manually operated handle.

By means of the handle, a valve is typically controlled, that is brought into its open or closed position. When the valve position is open, a gas removal from the gas cartridge is permitted. In the closed position of the valve, however, the gas cartridge is sealed fluid-tight and there is no gas leakage. The valve may be formed as part of the gas cartridge and arranged on the pressure vessel. Alternatively, the valve is formed as part of the removal device, wherein the gas cartridge in the intended use case is in fluid communication with the valve, so that in the manner described above can take place opening or closing of the pressure vessel by means of the valve.

The US 2003/0021920 A1 discloses a method of manufacturing a container. In this case, a lid is placed on a bent edge so that both layers of material flanged together and thus the lid can be fixed to the container.

The EP 0 434 110 A2 discloses a gas cartridge, comprising a cylindrical pressure vessel made of metal, which has a head portion and a foot portion, which are each open on one side and with their open sides facing each other to form a cover area interlock.

Although gas cartridges of the type described above are known from the prior art, there is room for improvement. It is desirable in particular for the application of inhalation devices a simplified production. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a gas cartridge of the type mentioned above, which allows a simplified construction due to design while improving handling.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a gas cartridge with the features of claim 1. Further advantages and features emerge from the dependent claims.

The invention comprises a gas cartridge for an inhalation device, with a cylindrical pressure vessel made of metal and / or plastic, which is formed in two parts and has a head portion and a foot portion, which are each open on one side and with their open sides facing each other interlocking to form a coverage area , wherein the inside of the one section abutting edge of the other portion is flanged to the outside and wherein the head portion and the foot portion are welded together.

The pressure vessel of the gas cartridge according to the invention is designed in two parts. There are provided a head portion on the one hand and a foot portion on the other. In the final assembled state, these sections are welded together and form the cylindrical pressure vessel of the gas cartridge.

The inventively provided two-part design of the pressure vessel makes it possible to produce according to the modular principle in size differently shaped pressure vessel in a simple manner. It is preferably a standard in its size dimensions head section used. This can vary depending on desired volume space of the subsequent pressure vessel are combined with a plurality of differently shaped in their respective size dimension in the longitudinal direction foot sections. Thus, for example, three different foot sections can be provided in their size, which can be optionally combined with a head section and welded together to form the pressure vessel. In this way, the production of different sized pressure vessels is possible in a simple manner. It can also be provided in diameter differently shaped foot sections. Further, the foot sections may differ both in their respective longitudinal dimension size and in diameter. This makes it possible to combine in their longitudinal design and / or in their diameter configuration differently shaped foot sections optionally with a standardized head section. Very different applications can thus be taken into account by the optional geometric design of the gas cartridge.

The two-part design provides another advantage. The gas cartridge can be equipped with a gas cartridge side valve, whereby also such valves can be used, which require a pressure vessel inside access for mounting. Such a pressure container inside access to a valve to be mounted is possible thanks to the inventively provided two-part design of the pressure vessel. In that regard, the inventive design allows to use such valves that build in the interior of the subsequent pressure vessel, so that can be largely dispensed with pressure vessel outside projecting valve parts. This provides an overall compact and simplified handling in construction. In addition, the valve is protected against later unintentional dismantling access, since after welding of the head and foot section, a pressure vessel inside access to the valve is no longer possible. Furthermore, the constructively provided with the invention possibility to be able to build parts of the valve in the pressure vessel provided by the gas cylinder can be advantageous insofar as that the valve is protected in this respect, which is advantageous for safety reasons, as an unwanted damage and / or the possibility of using the gas cartridge as a reusable gas cartridge can also be excluded as far as possible.

The head portion and the foot portion are each open at the front and engage in the mounted state with their open sides facing each other to form a coverage area into each other. The head portion and the foot portion are therefore formed as unilaterally open sleeves, which are telescoped into each other in the final assembled state and thus define a total volume space. The overlap region of the head section and foot section is dimensioned such that a head section with its associated foot section can be preassembled in position by nesting into one another and then finally assembled by welding.

The head section and the foot section of the gas cartridge are welded together according to the invention. Different welding methods can be used for welding, also in combination. Further, it is possible to form a weld with not only a preferably circumferential weld, but with multiple welds and / or welds. A preferred welding method is laser welding. This can be combined with other welding processes, for example a fusion welding process with or without melting additive.

According to the invention, the inside edge of the one edge abutting edge of the other portion is flanged to the outside. In this way, a connection arrangement which shields the welding area inwardly at the end side of the inner section in the final assembled state is produced. In this way, it is achieved that welding residues arising during the welding operation, for example welding beads, burned air and / or the like, can not flow into the volume space provided by the pressure vessel, or such penetration is largely prevented. This is particularly advantageous for the later use of the gas cartridge for an inhalation device, since it is ensured constructively by the flanged edge that contamination of the volume space enclosed by the pressure container is reliably prevented by welding residues. By beading a quasi-captured space is thus created, which serves the formation of the welded joint between the head section on the one hand and foot section on the other hand, but also ensures that any weld residue can not leave this room in the direction of the space provided by the pressure vessel volume space.

With the embodiment according to the invention a gas cartridge is provided in total, which provides a manufacturer-side simplification. Thus, according to the modular principle differently configured foot sections can be combined with a head section, so that different later application areas can be taken into account. The two-part design also provides the advantage that inside valves to be mounted valves are used, so that even those valves can be mounted on the gas cartridge side, which protrude inwards, that is, in the volume space enclosed by the pressure vessel. The beaded peripheral edge of the engaged in the final state in the other section section advantageously ensures that any welding residue released during the welding process can not penetrate into the volume space enclosed by the pressure vessel. Thus, the gas cartridge according to the invention is particularly suitable for the field of inhalation devices, which requires a clean and pollution-free volume space design.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the weld extends along the flanged edge of the one edge opposite edge of the other portion. It is therefore provided to connect the first section engaging in the assembled state in the other section with the other section over the edge thereof, wherein the weld extends along this peripheral edge. In this connection, however, it is preferred that the two sections, that is to say the head section on the one hand, and the foot section on the other hand are of identical design with respect to their outer diameter. Although it is preferred to make the head portion and the foot portion identical in their respective outer diameters, it is also within the scope of the invention to select differently shaped outer diameters. In this case, it is preferred that a standardized head section is used, which can be combined with foot sections of different diameter.

The section engaging in the other section has a reduced diameter in the overlapping area, so that a nesting of the two sections is made possible. For pre-assembly, the sections are plugged together to stop. To form a stop, it can be provided to equip the section, into which the other section is led, with an inner and peripheral shoulder at the edge. It is almost a one Receiving space provided for the other section, in which engages this other section in the final assembled state edge. Alternatively or in combination with an abutment design, provision can also be made to delimit an interdigitation of the two sections with regard to control technology. In this case, a nesting of the two sections over a predetermined Einstegweg accomplished by means of the device used for mounting.

It remains due to the reduced diameter in the overlap region embodiment of a section an outer circumferential gap between the peripheral edge of the outer portion on the one hand and the shell of the inner portion, against which abuts the edge of the plugged-on stop other section. This circumferential gap serves to receive the weld, so that in the final assembled state, a total outer surface flush pressure vessel can be formed. The gap may alternatively remain unfilled.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a welding of the two sections takes place by means of laser welding. In this preferred case, the circumferential gap between the peripheral edge of the outer portion on the one hand and the shell of the inner portion, against which abuts the peripheral edge of the other portion, remains unfilled. Additional welding material is not used here, which also minimizes the risk that welding residues may enter the interior of the gas cartridge. For safety reasons in particular, two spaced welds can be set by means of laser welding.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the section with the flanged marginal edge has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the other section. In this way, a dense and therefore gap-free concern of the two sections is secured together. On the one hand, this ensures a coaxial exact alignment of the two sections to one another. On the other hand, tilting of the two sections relative to one another is prevented. The most gap-free design also supports the advantage achieved with the flanged edge, to prevent any welding residues released during the welding process from entering the volume space enclosed by the pressure vessel.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the portion with the flanged edge is frontally double-walled, for which purpose the flanging is 180 °. The 180 ° wrap has the advantage that it can be accurately formed in its geometric dimensions. There is also provided a longitudinally extending contact surface for the other section, which allows an exact guidance and thus also a precise concern of the two sections in the preassembled position. In addition, the double-walled design achieves improved protection against undesired entry of heat arising in a welding operation into the pressure vessel interior. The protection against heat input is particularly important during laser welding. Thus, there is a welded connection between the jacket material of the outer portion on the one hand and the flanged edge of the inner portion on the other hand, so that the inner peripheral edge of the inner portion acts quasi as a heat shield, thus counteracting unwanted heat radiation.

Although a 180 ° wrap is preferred for the foregoing reasons, other edge edge configurations may of course be provided, such as 90 ° wrap.

The head portion and / or the foot portion are preferably made of stainless steel. This choice of material is particularly preferred for later use in an inhalation device. Unwanted chemical reactions with any substances taken up by the gas cartridge in the later case of use and / or gas ingredients are thus avoided.

The head portion and / or the foot portion are preferably deep-drawn. This makes it possible to mass-produce pre-assembled sections in a cost-effective manner by the manufacturer. If necessary, the deep-drawn sections are to be cleaned after their preparation, in particular to free foreign substances adhering to the inner wall, but can then be inserted into one another and welded together in the manner already described. If the gas cartridge is equipped with its own valve, which is a preferred embodiment, the valve is to be arranged on one of the two sections before a pre-assembly. Preferably, the head portion is used for this purpose, wherein the head portion is designed as a standard component, which optionally combines with a foot portion can be.

With the invention, a system for forming a gas cartridge, in particular for inhalation device, which system comprises a cylindrical pressure vessel made of metal, which is formed in two parts and has a head portion and a foot portion, each open on the front side to solve the above task independently are and with their open sides associated with each other under formation of a coverage area are plugged into each other, wherein a standardized head portion on the one hand and a plurality of longitudinal dimensions differently shaped in their respective size foot sections are provided on the other hand, with the modular principle either one of the foot sections with the head section can be combined.

According to the invention, a system for forming a gas cartridge is proposed. This system provides a standardized head section on the one hand and differently shaped foot sections on the other. Depending on the desired design of the later gas cartridge, a standardized head section is combined with a foot section selected from the group of possible foot sections. Depending on the later application, different foot sections can be combined with a head section according to the modular principle. "According to the modular principle" in the sense of the invention means that a plurality of possible foot sections is available from which a foot section for combination with a head section can be selected. The head section is designed as a standard part, so it can be combined with all foot sections. The foot sections are formed differently in their longitudinal direction in their geometric dimension, so that depending on the selected foot section, a pressure vessel with a correspondingly large volume space is created. It is true that the smaller the selected foot section, the smaller the volume space of the pressure vessel. The production of different sized trained pressure vessel is simplified thanks to the system according to the invention and not least also cheaper. The connection of head section and foot section is carried out by welding, regardless of the selected foot section, so that the manufacturing process of the welding can be carried out size-independently in an identical manner.

The head portion and / or the foot portion may already be explained above Features and advantages have, so that they are also part of the system according to the invention.

Fig. 1

in perspektiver Ansicht eine Gaspatrone nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

in geschnittener Ausschnittsdarstellung eine Gaspatrone nach der Erfindung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3

in einer Detailansicht den Ausschnitt III nach Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

in einer Detailansicht den Ausschnitt III nach Fig. 2 gemäß einer alternativen Ausgestaltungsform;

Fig. 5

in geschnittener Aussschnittsdarstellung eine Gaspatrone nach der Erfindung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 6

in einer Detailansicht den Ausschnitt VI nach Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 7

in schematischer Ansicht ein Inhalationsgerät mit einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Gaspatrone;

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to FIGS. Showing:

Fig. 1

in perspective view, a gas cartridge according to the invention;

Fig. 2

in a sectional cutaway view of a gas cartridge according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 3

in a detailed view of the section III after Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

in a detailed view of the section III after Fig. 2 according to an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 5

in a sectional cutaway view of a gas cartridge according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 6

in a detailed view the section VI after Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 7

a schematic view of an inhalation device with an inventively designed gas cartridge;

Fig. 1 can be seen in a perspective view of a gas cartridge 1 according to the invention.

The gas cartridge 1 provides a pressure vessel 7 ready. This consists of metal, preferably stainless steel and is formed in two parts, wherein it has a head section 8 on the one hand and a foot section 9 on the other.

The head portion 8 and the foot portion 9 are welded together. According to a preferred embodiment, arising from the FIGS. 2 to 4 results, a welding of the two sections 8 and 9 by means of laser welding. In this case, a connection point 19 is formed between the two sections 8 and 9, as can be seen in particular from the illustration according to FIG Fig. 3 results. Instead of just one Junction 19 can also be several welding operations and therefore also provided several connection points 19.

According to an alternative embodiment, arising from the FIGS. 5 and 6 results, the head portion 8 and the foot portion 9 are welded together to form a weld 10.

As can be seen from the presentation Fig. 1 results, go the head section 8 and the foot section 9 on the outside surface flush with each other. The gas cartridge 1 so far has a pressure vessel 7 with a flat lateral surface. As an alternative to the embodiment shown, sections 8 and 9 with different outer diameters may also be provided.

The structural design of the connection of the head section 8 and foot section 9 is in detail the FIGS. 2, 3 , and 4 or 5 and 6 respectively.

The gas cartridge 1 is, as in particular the illustration after Fig. 2 can recognize, formed in two parts. The pressure vessel 7 provided by the gas cartridge 1 consists of a head section 8 on the one hand and a foot section 9 on the other hand. In this case, the head portion 8 preferably carries a valve not shown in more detail in the figures and is preferably designed as a standard component that can be optionally combined according to the modular principle with differently shaped foot sections 9. The arrangement of the valve on the head section 8 and not on the foot section 9 is advantageous for assembly reasons. As will be explained in more detail below, carries the foot portion 9 head portion side a beaded edge. However, the head section 8 does not have such a flanged edge, so that there is an undercut-free inner wall. This inner wall can be used in a valve assembly as a guide surface, which makes it easier assembly technology, to install a valve on the head section 8 and not on the foot section 9.

The head section 8 and the foot section 9 each provide a sleeve open on one side. As Fig. 2 can be seen, the head portion 8 and the foot portion 9 with their open sides facing each other with the formation of a covering area 11 are inserted into one another. Here, the foot portion 9 is formed head diameter reduced side, so that after a stop nested arrangement of the two sections 8 and 9 creates a total flush outer surface.

The two sections 8 and 9 are connected to each other by welding. Preferably, the welding of the two sections 8 and 9 by means of laser. Alternatively, welding can also be carried out by means of additive, as described on the basis of FIGS. 5 and 6 is shown, wherein it can be seen that the weld 10 extends along the front edge along the peripheral edge 14 of the foot section 9. Consequently, the gap formed between the head section 8 and the foot section 9 due to the reduced-diameter configuration of the foot section 9 is closed by the weld seam 10. As a result, a smooth outer surface of the pressure vessel 7 over the weld seam 10 also results.

The peripheral edge 12 of the foot portion 9, that is, the inside of the one edge 8 fitting edge 12 of the other portion 9 is flanged to the outside. In the embodiment shown, the bead is 180 °, as can be seen in particular from the representation Fig. 3 results. Due to this flanged configuration, a double-walled configuration of the foot section 9 results in the edge region, which leads to two advantages in particular. On the one hand, in the final assembled state, the weld 10 receiving circumferential gap is closed to the interior of the pressure vessel 7. This prevents that during a welding process possibly resulting welding residues can flow into the pressure vessel 7. The welding area is therefore formed by design as a trapped space, which is delimited by the double-walled peripheral edge 12 to the space enclosed by the pressure vessel 7 volume space. On the other hand, the double-walled design ensures that the entry of heat generated during the welding process into the pressure vessel interior is reduced to a minimum. In particular, during laser welding, this flanged edge edge design is advantageous because the inner part of the flanged edge edge serves as quasi heat protection, as can be seen in particular from the illustration Fig. 3 results. The flanged embodiment also has the advantage that a lying in the container interior cutting edge of the foot portion 9 is avoided. Any burr can therefore not accidentally get into the pressure vessel 7 of the gas cartridge 1.

The foot section 9 has a main body 15 at the longitudinal direction 18 head portion side of the flanged portion 16 connects to the peripheral edge 12. The transition region between the base body 15 and flanged portion 16 is formed as a tapered portion 17, resulting in the already described above-reduced diameter configuration of the flanged portion 16. Here, the outer diameter of the flanged portion 16 is formed corresponding to the inner diameter of the head portion 8, so that a preferably gap-free abutment of the foot portion 9 is secured to the head portion 8.

The head or foot sections 8 and 9 shown in the figures are part of a system according to the invention. Preferably come as system components a standardized head section 8 on the one hand and in their geometric dimensions in the longitudinal direction 8 differently shaped foot sections 9 on the other hand for use. In this case, a head section 8 can be combined according to the modular principle with one of the available foot sections 9 to form the pressure vessel 7 of the gas cartridge 1.

One too FIG. 3 alternative embodiment leaves FIG. 4 detect. According to the construction shown here, the head section 8 foot section side has an inside circumferential shoulder 20. This paragraph 20 serves as a receiving space for the flanged edge 12 of the foot section 9. By means of paragraph 20 is also a stop provided, whereby too far nesting of the two sections 8 and 9 is prevented in the case of installation. The circumferential shoulder 20 can be achieved, for example, by reducing the wall thickness of the head section 8 in the covering area 11.

The provided according to the invention gas cartridge 1 can be used in a variety of applications. Conceivable, in particular, use cases in which the gas cartridge 1 is filled with health-promoting substances that can be applied by the user in the use case. But also an application as a disinfection aid is possible in an advantageous manner, in which case the gas cartridge 1 is filled with a disinfectant. Furthermore, applications are conceivable in which the gas cartridge 1 is equipped with a propellant, for example in use with a Sprühsahnespender.

Another possible application is that in an inhalation device, which in pure schematic representation FIG. 7 lets recognize.

The inhalation device 2 shown has, in a manner known per se, a housing 3 into which a gas cartridge 1 according to the invention is inserted. The gas cartridge 1 contains a health-promoting substance that can be dispensed if necessary. For this purpose, the inhalation device 2 in a conventional manner via a handle 4. By means of the handle 4, the gas cartridge side valve 5 can be opened and closed, whereby the stockpiled by the gas cartridge 1 substance can optionally be dispensed user side and, for example, inhaled.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the valve 5 is coupled to a connection 6, to which connection the user can connect application aids, for example a nozzle, a hose and / or the like.

The valve 5 is preferably a 2-way valve which allows the gas cartridge 1 to be replenished after being emptied, allowing it to be reused. Both emptying and filling takes place via the valve 5.

As soon as the gas cartridge 1 has been emptied after intended use, it can be removed from the housing 3 for refilling. For positionally secure fixation of the gas cartridge 1 within the housing 3 corresponding and not shown in the figures latching devices are provided. After refilling the gas cartridge 1 through the valve 5, it can be re-inserted into the housing 3 and the inhalation device 2 can be used as intended.

The construction of the gas cartridge 1 according to the invention proves to be advantageous, particularly with regard to the use of the gas cartridge in an inhalation device 2, as it is ensured by design that during production possibly released welding residues can not penetrate into the volume space enclosed by the gas cartridge 1. The gas cartridge 1 is thus kept free of contamination during manufacture, so that unwanted contamination and / or contamination of later filled into the gas cartridge fluids is reliably prevented.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

gas cartridge

2

inhaler

3

casing

4

handle

5

Valve

6

connection

7

pressure vessel

8th

header

9

foot section

10

Weld

11

Coverage area

12

edge

13

beading

14

edge

15

body

16

flattened section

17

tapered section

18

longitudinal direction

19

junction

20

paragraph

Claims (6)

1. A gas cartridge for an inhalation device (2), comprising a cylindrical pressure tank (7) made of metal and/or plastic which is made of two pieces and comprises a head section (8) as well as a bottom section (9), which are respectively open on one side and are facing each other with their open sides while being arranged such that they engage into each other and form an overlapping area and are welded to each other, characterized in that the rim edge (12) of the one section (8, 9) that rests against the inner side of the other section (8, 9) is folded over outward, such that the section (8, 9) having the folded over rim edge (12) is designed with a double wall on the front face, for which purpose the beading is 180° and wherein the head section (8) and the bottom section (9) are flush on the outer surface.
2. A gas cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the welding seam (10) extends along the rim edge (14) of the one section (8, 9), which rim edge (14) is located opposite the folded over rim edge (12) of the other section (8, 9).
3. A gas cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the section (8, 9) having the folded over rim edge (12) comprises an outer diameter on the front face which corresponds to the inner diameter of the other section (8, 9).
4. A gas cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head section (8) and/or the bottom section (9) are made of stainless steel.
5. A gas cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head section (8) and/or the bottom section (9) are deep-drawn.
6. A gas cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head section (8) is equipped with a valve, preferably with a two way valve, on the front face.

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