EP3130878B1 - Irritant spray device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an irritant spray device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such irritant sprayers are used to spray irritants, for example irritant in the form of tear gas or natural or synthetic pepper, and are used by a user to defend themselves against an attacker by rendering them incapacitated for a short time. The known irritant sprayers are in different sizes on the market, very small in the form of a spray can, but also relatively large, for example in such a way that a storage container in which the irritant is stored is carried like a backpack on the back and the user in it Hand only has a dispensing lance or a dispensing gun that has a flexible hose is connected to the reservoir. This is an example DE 20 2006 000 889 U1 , The DE 37 06 963 A1 discloses a spray can for dispensing an irritant, in which incrustations that have formed on the outside of a nozzle can be pushed away by means of a cleaning needle. The DE 20 2008 011 570 U1 describes a universal pressure sprayer for police and special forces. The DE 38 36 051 A1 discloses a spray device for glue or paint with a compressed air supply for blowing the nozzle clean. The EP 1 284 162 A1 describes a method and a device for cleaning a paint delivery line in a painting device.

The present invention has for its object to provide an irritant spray device which can be operated particularly reliably.

This object is achieved by an irritant spray device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. In addition, important features for the invention can also be found in the following description and in the drawing. These features can be important for the invention both on their own and in very different combinations, without being explicitly mentioned again.

The invention proposes an irritant spray device with a dispensing device for dispensing an irritant, which has a cleaning device in the form of a rinsing device which, after the dispensing of the irritant has ended, cleans the dispensing device automatically, i.e. by itself and without the user having to do anything, by gas through for a period of time directs the dispensing device, it also being conceivable in principle that the cleaning process can also be triggered manually at the request of a user. According to the invention, after the end of the delivery of the irritant, the delivery device, for example a delivery nozzle, is blown through with a gas, whereby any residues of the irritant that may still be present are removed.

This prevents residues of irritant in the dispenser and, for example, the Reduce the cross-section of a delivery nozzle, which could hinder the delivery of the irritant in a subsequent actuation. In addition, it is prevented that residues of irritant still present in the dispensing device, for example after the termination of the dispensing of irritant, drip out of the dispensing device or fall off it and, for example, lead to soiling on articles of clothing or to unintended irritation in a person.

These advantages are achieved both when a liquid is used as the irritant, for example a liquid carrier with an irritant in the form of an irritant, for example in the form of natural or synthetic capsaicin (PAVA), and when a powder is used as the irritant , A color or an odorant, or simply water, can also be used as an irritant. Both air and nitrogen, for example, are suitable as gases.

A first development of the irritant spray device according to the invention is characterized in that the period during which only the gas is passed through the dispensing device can be set. An essential property of the rinsing device can thus be adapted to the specific requirements of an irritant spray device. For example, a different period of time should be selected when using a liquid irritant than when using a powdery irritant. The period to be selected can also depend on the pressure of the gas which is passed through the dispensing device. At a high Pressure will suffice for a shorter period of time than at a relatively low pressure.

It is also proposed that the period begin immediately with the end of the delivery of the irritant. There is therefore no time gap between the end of the delivery of the irritant and the start of the passage of gas through the delivery device. In this way, the passage of gas through the delivery device can also be terminated earlier, so that the irritant spray device is also available earlier for the next delivery of irritant.

It is also advantageous if the rinsing device comprises a pressure source for providing the gas, the pressure source being connected to the dispensing device via a first fluid line, a first shut-off valve being arranged in the first fluid line. This is structurally particularly simple and therefore inexpensive.

In a further development, it is proposed that the irritant spray device comprises an irritant storage container which has an outlet which is connected via a second fluid line to the first fluid line at a point upstream from the first shut-off valve, a second shut-off valve being arranged in the second fluid line and wherein the post-rinsing device comprises a delay device that is configured such that when the delivery of the irritant ends, the first shut-off valve closes after the second shut-off valve. It is advantageous if the irritant storage container itself is under pressure and thus the irritant present in the second fluid line is also under pressure.

This further training is particularly simple and reliable in terms of circuitry. To release irritant, the two shut-off valves are opened, preferably simultaneously, so that the irritant is introduced via the second fluid line into the first fluid line, in which only gas flows up to this point. It is possible, for example, that a mixing chamber is present at this point of the merging of the irritant stream with the gas stream, which causes the irritant to be atomized in the gas stream.

From this point, a mixture of gas and irritant then flows via the first shut-off valve to the delivery device, where it emerges. The delivery of irritant is ended by initially only closing the second shut-off valve due to the provided delay device. From this point in time, only gas then flows via the first shut-off valve to the dispensing device, where it carries along any residues of irritant that may still be present and escapes together with them. The first shut-off valve is then closed, which also stops the gas from escaping.

In a specific further development, it is proposed that the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve are controlled by a same control element via a respective control input by means of a same control signal, and that the delay device is configured such that a control signal causing the two shut-off valves to close - relative to the second shut-off valve - is delayed to the first shut-off valve.

This can be easily achieved with both pneumatic and electronic control.

In the case of a pneumatic control, it can be realized in concrete terms in that the control element comprises a control valve which connects the two control inputs to a pressure source in a first switching position and to a low-pressure area in a second switching position, and that the delay device comprises a flow restrictor which fluidly intervenes the switching valve and the control input of the first shut-off valve is arranged. This is a very inexpensive and robust circuit.

It is advantageous if a check valve is arranged parallel to the flow restrictor, which blocks towards the control valve. The effect of this is that the opening of the first shut-off valve takes place immediately when irritant is released and is not delayed.

For manual actuation, it is advantageous if the irritant spray device has a manual trigger by means of which release of the irritant can be triggered and ended by the dispensing device.

It is particularly advantageous if the irritant spray device has a switch-off device which stops the release of irritant after a time from actuation of the trigger, even if the trigger is still actuated. This prevents the panicked user from spraying an unnecessarily large amount of irritant without it having an effect. This in turn prevents the supply of irritant from being used up prematurely. The time that is available to the user to spray the irritant to use is extended by this training. It goes without saying that the spraying process does not necessarily have to last until the time has elapsed, but can also be ended “manually” before the end of the time by the user releasing the trigger. The “rinsing” provided according to the invention can always take place automatically, that is to say both when the spraying process is ended automatically and manually, and also when the spraying process is ended automatically or only when the spraying process is ended manually. For example, a valve which is connected manually to a trigger can be present in the dispensing device and closes the dispensing device in a gas-tight manner as soon as the user releases the trigger.

• Figur 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Reizstoff-Sprühgeräts; und
• Figur 2 ein Blockschaltbild eines pneumatischen Systems des Reizstoff-Sprühgeräts von Figur 1.

An embodiment of the present invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

• Figure 1 a schematic representation of an irritant spray device according to the invention; and
• Figure 2 a block diagram of a pneumatic system of the irritant sprayer from Figure 1 ,

In the figures, functionally equivalent elements and areas have the same reference symbols.

An irritant sprayer wears in Figure 1 the reference numeral 10 in total. The irritant spray device 10 comprises a dispensing device in the form of a dispensing gun 12 and a storage and control section 14. The dispensing gun 12 is connected to the storage and control section 14 via a plurality connected by pneumatic lines 16. In operation, the storage and control section 14 is designed as a backpack-like knapsack which is carried on the back by the user. The dispensing gun 12 includes a user-actuated trigger 15 for triggering the delivery of an irritant.

The storage and control section 14 essentially comprises the following components: first of all, a pressure source 18 should be mentioned, which can be, for example, a compressed air container. The pressure source 18 is shown in the figure surrounded by a storage container 20 for storing an irritant. In fact, however, it is arranged on the outside of the irritant spray device 10, so that it can be exchanged as a whole in the manner of a cartridge. A suitable irritant is, for example, a mixture which comprises, for example, a liquid carrier and contains the actual irritant, for example an irritant in the form of natural or synthetic capsaicin. Synthetic capsaicin is also known as "PAVA". An atomized irritant jet emerging from the dispensing gun 12 carries in Figure 1 overall reference number 22.

In the lower area of the storage and control section 14, a switch-off device 24 is indicated, which stops the dispensing of irritant from the storage container 20 by the dispensing gun 12 after a time from the start of the dispensing even when the trigger 15 is actuated. The irritant sprayer 10 also includes various valves, the function of which is described in more detail with reference to FIG Figure 2 will be explained. A first control valve, which is accommodated in the storage and control section 14, carries the reference numeral 26, a second control valve also present there, the reference numeral 28. A first shut-off valve is accommodated in the area of the dispensing gun 12 and bears the reference number 30. A second shut-off valve is in turn arranged in the storage and control section 14 and is designated by 32.

A pressure reducer 34 is arranged on the output side of the pressure source 18, and a mixing chamber 36 is integrated into the dispensing gun 12. A pneumatic line 16 A leads from the pressure reducer 34 via a first additional pressure reducer 37 A to the mixing chamber 36. From the second shut-off valve 32, an irritant line 16 B leads to the mixing chamber 36. The second control valve 28 and the first shut-off valve 30 are connected to one another by a pneumatic line 16 C. , An output of a switching valve 38, which is mechanically coupled to the trigger 15, is connected by a pneumatic line 16 F to an input of the first control valve 26. There is also a pressure gauge 39 on the dispensing gun 12, which indicates the pressure prevailing in the pressure source 18. For this purpose, the manometer 39 is connected to the pressure source 18 via a pneumatic line 16 E. A pneumatic line 16 D also leads to an inlet of the first control valve 26.

The structure of the pneumatic system of the irritant sprayer 10 will now be discussed in more detail with reference to FIG Figure 2 explained. It can be seen from this that the trigger 15 is mechanically coupled to the switching valve 38. This has two inputs, one of which is connected to the pressure reducer 34 via the second additional pressure reducer 37 B and the pneumatic line 16 H and the other to a low pressure region 40. The low pressure area 40 can, for example, the outside environment his. In its spring-loaded rest position, an outlet of the switching valve 38 is connected to the low pressure region 40. By actuating the trigger 15, the output of the switching valve 38 is connected to the pressure reducer 34.

The output of the switching valve 38 leads to the shutdown device 24, namely there on the one hand via the pneumatic line 16 F to a first input of the first control valve 26, and on the other hand via the pneumatic line 16 D and an adjustable first flow throttle 42 to a pressure accumulator 44, which again is connected to a control input of the first control valve 26. In the spring-loaded first position, the output of the first control valve 26 is connected to the switching valve 38. If the pressure at the control input exceeds a limit value, the first control valve 26 is controlled into its second position. In this, the output of the first control valve 26 is connected to a second input, which also leads to the low pressure region 40. A non-return valve 46 is connected in parallel to the first flow restrictor 42 and blocks towards the pressure accumulator 44.

An output of the first control valve 26 leads to a first input of an OR gate 47, the output of which is connected to a control input of the second control valve 28. A first input of the second control valve 28 is connected to the pressure reducer 34, a second input to the low pressure region 40. In the spring-loaded rest position of the second control valve 28, its output is connected to the unpressurized second input. If there is an increased pressure at the control input, the first input connected to the pressure reducer 34 is connected to the output.

The output of the second control valve 28 leads to an adjustable second flow throttle 48 and from there to a control input of the first shut-off valve 30. This is closed in the spring-loaded rest position and is opened when an increased pressure is present at its control input. The outlet of the first shut-off valve 30 is connected to the dispensing gun 12. A check valve 50 is arranged parallel to the second flow restrictor 48 and blocks towards the outlet of the second control valve 28.

The output of the second shut-off valve 28 also leads to a control input of the second shut-off valve 32. The second shut-off valve 32 is closed in its spring-loaded rest position and is opened when an increased pressure is present at its control input. The outlet of the second shut-off valve 32 also leads via the irritant line 16 B to the mixing chamber 36. The inlet of the second shut-off valve 32 is connected to the storage container 20 in which the irritant is stored. This is in turn permanently connected to the pressure reducer 34 via the pneumatic line 16G.

It should also be mentioned that a second input of the pneumatic OR element is also connected to the pressure reducer 34 via a manual valve 52.

The irritant sprayer 10 operates as follows: in the Figure 2 shown rest position, the trigger 15 is not actuated. The output of the switching valve 38 is thus connected to the low pressure region 40 and is therefore depressurized. The first control valve 26 is in its rest position. In this is the output of the first control valve 26 with the Low pressure area 40 connected and thus depressurized, and thus the control input of the second control valve 28 is depressurized. As a result, its outlet is connected to the unpressurized inlet (leading to the low-pressure region 40), so that the two control inlets of the first and second shut-off valves 30 and 32 are also depressurized. These are therefore closed. As a result, the connection from the storage container 20 to the mixing chamber 36 is blocked, and the connection from the mixing chamber 36 to the dispensing gun 12 is blocked. So no irritant 22 is released.

If the trigger 15 is actuated, the output of the switching valve 38 is connected to the second input, which is connected to the pressure source 18 via the pressure reducer 34 and the second additional pressure reducer 37 B. The increased pressure set by the pressure reducer 34 is now present at the outlet of the switching valve 38. Via the first control valve 26 and the OR gate 47, this increased pressure is now also present at the control input of the second control valve 28, whereby its output is connected to its first input, that is to say also to the output of the pressure reducer 34.

The high pressure at the outlet of the second control valve 28 is now transmitted via the check valve 50 directly to the control inlet of the first shut-off valve 30 and - if necessary via a flow restrictor which is present but not shown there to compensate for differences in length of the pneumatic lines - also to the control inlet of the second shut-off valve 32 , By opening the second shut-off valve 32, the storage container 20 is fluidly connected to the mixing chamber 36. By opening the first shut-off valve 30, the irritant 22 in the mixing chamber 36 can flow through the pneumatic line 16 A supplied compressed air is mixed, for example atomized and dispensed via the dispensing gun 12.

As mentioned above, the outlet of the switching valve 38 is not only connected to the first inlet of the first control valve 26, but also to the pressure accumulator 44 of the shutdown device 24 via the flow restrictor 42. As soon as an increased pressure is present at the outlet of the switching valve 38, the pressure accumulator 44 begins to fill, specifically with a filling speed predetermined by the first flow restrictor 42. The pressure in the pressure accumulator 44 thus gradually increases. If the pressure in the pressure accumulator 44 and thus the pressure at the control input of the first control valve 26 reaches a limit value, the first control valve 26 switches and the output of the first control valve 26 is connected to the depressurized second input.

The pressure at the outlet of the first control valve 26 thus drops suddenly, and consequently also the pressure at the control inlet of the second control valve 28. This therefore switches to its spring-loaded rest position, in which its outlet is depressurized. The two control inputs of the first and second shut-off valves 30 and 32 are also depressurized, as a result of which they close.

Due to the second flow restrictor 48, however, the control input of the second shut-off valve 32 is first depressurized, and the control input of the first shut-off valve 30 is only depressurized in time thereafter. The second shut-off valve 32 thus closes in time before the first shut-off valve 30. The second flow restrictor 48 can also be referred to as a "delay device".

Consequently, the introduction of irritant into the mixing chamber 36 is stopped first, whereas gas continues to flow from the pneumatic line 16 A into the mixing chamber 36 and from there through the still open first shut-off valve 30 to the dispensing gun 12. Remains of irritant that are still present between the mixing chamber 36 and a nozzle of the dispensing gun 12 are thus entrained by the gas stream and conveyed to the outside, ie this area is “rinsed” or cleaned. Only when the first shut-off valve 30 also closes does the gas flow end. In the normal case, the second flow restrictor 48 is dimensioned or set such that the period during which only gas but no irritant flows through the dispensing device 12 is only very short, that is to say it is essentially a sudden flow pulse. It can also be seen that the period during which only gas flows through the delivery device 12 begins immediately with the end of the delivery of the irritant - namely the closing of the second shut-off valve 32.

In this respect, the pressure source 18, the first shut-off valve 30, the second shut-off valve 32 and the second flow restrictor 48 belong to or form a rinsing device. In Figure 2 the rinsing device is generally designated by reference numeral 54.

All in all, dispensing of irritant by the dispensing gun 12 is ended, specifically because of the switch-off device 24 even if the user continues to hold the trigger 15. The time from the start of delivery to the end is determined by the filling speed of the pressure accumulator 44, and thus ultimately by the setting of the first flow restrictor 42. The pressure accumulator 44 and the first Flow restrictor 42 thus form a pneumatic timing element.

If the user releases the trigger 15, the output of the switching valve 38 is connected to the unpressurized low-pressure region 40. The pressure accumulator 44 is now suddenly emptied via the check valve 46, as a result of which the control input of the first control valve 26 is depressurized. This therefore switches back to its rest position, in which its first input, which is connected to the switching valve 38, is connected to the output. If the user actuates the trigger 15 again, the delivery of irritant is started again immediately.

It is similar if the user releases the trigger 15 before the first control valve 26 has been switched by the increasing pressure in the pressure accumulator 44. In this case, not only is the pressure accumulator 44 emptied immediately, but the first input of the control valve 26 is immediately connected to the first input of the switching valve 38 connected to the low-pressure region 40, as a result of which the pressure at the control input of the second switching valve 28 drops and both shut-off valves 30 and close 32 in sequence. The release of irritant 42 can therefore also be ended “manually” at any time by releasing the trigger 15 and the rinse pulse can thereby be effected.

In the above with reference to the Figures 1 and 2 Irritant spray device 10 shown is one with a pneumatic control. However, it is also possible that, in particular, the shutdown device and / or the delay device work or work electronically. It is conceivable, for example, in the case of the shutdown device, that by the trigger electrical contact is actuated, which leads to an electromagnetically operated valve opening and the irritant being released via the dispensing gun. An electronic counter counts the time from when the trigger is actuated and closes the electromagnetically actuated valve after a preset time. When the user releases the trigger, the counter is reset.

Similarly, it is also possible that in the case of the rinsing device when the trigger is actuated in such a way that the delivery of irritant is terminated, an electrical switching signal is emitted directly to the second shut-off valve, whereby this closes immediately, whereas a corresponding switching signal to the first shut-off valve is only released with a time delay.

It should also be pointed out at this point that both the basic principle of the shutdown device described above and the basic principle of the rinsing device described above are not limited to use with an irritant sprayer which has a storage and control section which is designed as a separate knapsack-like backpack is. Rather, such a switch-off device and / or rinsing device is conceivable even with a relatively small mobile spray can as a system integrated into this.

Furthermore, the mixing chamber and the first shut-off valve can also be accommodated in the storage and control section. Finally, it should also be pointed out that the rinsing device described above can also be present in an irritant spray device which does not have a switch-off device.

Claims (10)

1. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) comprising a dispensing device (12), for dispensing an irritant (22), and a cleaning device, characterised in that the cleaning device is in the form of a rinsing device (54) which automatically cleans the dispensing device after a process of dispensing the irritant has ended, by conducting a gas through the dispensing device (12) for a period of time.
2. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the period of time can be adjusted.
3. Irritant spraying apparatus according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that the period of time begins immediately at the end of a process of dispensing the irritant.
4. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rinsing device (54) comprises a pressure source (18) for providing the gas, the pressure source (18) being connected to the dispensing device (12) via a first fluid line (16 A), a first stop valve (30) being arranged in the first fluid line (16 A).
5. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to claim 4, characterised in that said apparatus comprises an irritant storage container (20) which has an outlet which is connected to the first fluid line (16 A) via a second fluid line (16 B) at a point (36) upstream of the first stop valve (30), a second stop valve (32) being arranged in the second fluid line (16 B), and the rinsing device (54) comprising a delay device (48) which is configured such that, when a process of dispensing the irritant has ended, the first stop valve (30) closes after the second stop valve (32).
6. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that the first stop valve (30) and the second stop valve (32) are activated by a relevant control input of the same control element (28) by means of the same control signal, and in that the delay device (48) is configured such that a control signal which causes the two stop valves (30, 32) to close is transmitted in a time-delayed manner to the first stop valve (30).
7. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to claim 6, characterised in that the control element comprises a control valve (28) which connects the two control inputs to a pressure source (18) in a first switching position and to a low pressure region (40) in a second switching position, and in that the delay device comprises a flow throttle (48) which is fluidically arranged between the switching valve (28) and the control input of the first stop valve (30).
8. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to claim 7, characterised in that a non-return valve (50) is arranged so as to be fluidically parallel to the flow throttle (48) and closes in the direction of the control valve.
9. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said apparatus comprises a triggering means (15), by means of which a process of dispensing the irritant through the dispensing device (12) can be triggered and ended.
10. Irritant spraying apparatus (10) according to claim 9, characterised in that said apparatus comprises a shut-off device (24) which ends a process of dispensing the irritant after a time from the actuation of the triggering means (15), even if the triggering means (15) is actuated further.

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