EP4031288B1 - High-pressure precompression pump - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pump for dispensing metered quantities of fluid product. More particularly, the pump is a precompression pump in which the distribution of the fluid product is carried out at a high pressure of at least 15 bars.

The documents WO2014125216 , WO0102100 , WO8704373 And EP0265270 disclose pumps in which the distribution of the fluid product is independent of the speed and/or actuation force of the user. When the pump is actuated, a spring is compressed under the effect of the pressure created inside the pump chamber, said spring being released at the end of actuation after opening an outlet valve, so that the dose of product contained in the pump chamber is expelled by said spring, independently of the user's actuation speed. Typically, these pumps deliver a pressure of around 6-7 bars.

A disadvantage of pumps of this type is the possible presence of a residual drop of product which remains in the expulsion channel of the pump and/or near it after each actuation. This volume of liquid, even very small, is likely to alter a possible spray nozzle mounted on the pump, for example by partially blocking the hole(s) of said spray nozzle during the storage time between two actuations. This risk is increased when the spray nozzle has a plurality of micro holes.

The documents DE69205185 , FR2320788 , FR2260391 And FR2165571 describe pumps of the state of the art. None of these pumps distribute the fluid product at a high pressure of at least 15 bars.

The present invention aims to provide a pump which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

The present invention aims in particular to provide a pump in which no residual drop remains at the outlet of the pump after each actuation.

The present invention also aims to provide a pump which delivers the fluid product at a higher pressure compared to traditional pumps.

The present invention also aims to provide such a pump which is simple and easy to manufacture and assemble, and reliable in its use.

The present invention also aims to provide such a pump which ensures total and reproducible distribution of the contents of the pump chamber at each actuation, independently of the user's actuation speed.

The present invention therefore relates to a fluid product distribution pump, comprising a piston secured to an actuating rod and sliding in a pump body comprising a pump chamber defined between an inlet valve and an outlet valve , said outlet valve comprising an outlet valve element sliding during actuation in a sealed manner in the pump chamber, said pump chamber comprising passage means such that, at the end of actuation of the pump, said outlet valve element cooperates in a non-tight manner with said passage means to open said outlet valve to allow the expulsion of the product contained in the pump chamber, said inlet valve comprising a sliding inlet valve element after closing the inlet valve in a sleeve of the pump body, said sleeve having a reduced diameter and containing a spring resting on the one hand on said inlet valve element and on the other hand on a bottom of said sleeve , said spring, in addition to expelling the product, also returning the piston to its rest position, said outlet valve element being formed by a separate part which is inserted in a movable manner into said piston, with the interposition of a second spring, the force exerted by said second spring being greater than the force exerted by said spring in the rest position, and less than the force exerted by said spring in the actuated position.

Advantageously, a sleeve is inserted into said pump body to reinforce the side wall of said pump chamber.

Advantageously, said sleeve comprises a shoulder defining said means for passing said outlet valve.

Advantageously, when the piston has returned to its rest position after actuation, said second spring relaxes and moves said outlet valve element axially downwards relative to said piston, generating a depression which sucks up the residual liquid which remains in and /or near said actuation rod after each actuation.

Advantageously, said sleeve of the pump body in which said inlet valve element slides comprises external reinforcing ribs.

Advantageously, said fluid product is distributed at a pressure of at least 15 bars.

The present invention also relates to a fluid product distribution device comprising a pump as described above.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en section transversale d'une pompe selon un mode de réalisation avantageux, en position de repos,
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1, en position actionnée, et
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail agrandie d'une partie de la figure 2.

These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description, made with reference to the attached drawings given as non-limiting examples, in which:

• there figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a pump according to an advantageous embodiment, in the rest position,
• there figure 2 is a view similar to that of the figure 1 , in the activated position, and
• there Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of part of the figure 2 .

In the description below, the terms "up" and "down" refer to the upright position of the pump shown in the figures. The terms "axial", "lateral" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis of the pump.

The pump according to the invention comprises a pump body 3 in which slides a piston 1 secured to an actuating rod 2 on which the user presses to activate the pump. The piston 1 slides in a pump chamber 5 defined in the pump body 3 between a valve inlet 11 and an outlet valve 12. A fixing ring 4, for example crimpable, screwable or snap-on, allows the pump to be fixed on a tank.

The inlet valve 11, open in the pump rest position, as visible on the figure 1 , is formed by an inlet valve element 10 movable in the pump body 3 during actuation of the pump. Said inlet valve element 10 cooperates in a sealed manner from the start of actuation of the pump with a sleeve 9 of the pump body 3 to close the inlet valve 11. A spring 20 is supported on one hand on the inlet valve element 10 and on the other hand on the bottom of said sleeve 9.

The outlet valve 12 comprises an outlet valve element 39 made in such a way that, when the pump is actuated, it is only opened at the end of the pump actuation to allow the expulsion of the product contained in the pump chamber. This opening is made at the level of passage means 40 formed at the level of a radial internal shoulder of the pump chamber 5. The objective of said passage means 40 is to form at least one fluid passage when the element of outlet valve 39, which throughout the actuation stroke of the pump cooperates in a sealed manner with the pump chamber 5, comes to the end of the actuation stroke at the level of said passage means 40.

Thus, the expulsion of the product contained in the pump chamber 5 is carried out independently of the actuation speed exerted by the user. To do this, the inlet valve element 10 cooperates with the spring 20 which, during actuation of the pump, is compressed by the movement of the inlet valve element 10 under the effect of the pressure created in the pump chamber. At the end of the pump's actuation stroke, when the outlet valve 12 is open, said compressed spring 20 will be suddenly released, so that the product contained in the pump chamber is expelled via said spring. Advantageously, said spring 20 of the inlet valve 11 also acts as a return spring of the pump, thus returning the piston 1 to its rest position after expulsion of the product.

The side wall of the pump chamber 5 can be reinforced by inserting a sleeve 50 into the pump body 3. This sleeve 50 can be integral, for example in one piece, with the fixing ring 4. This sleeve 50 thus forms a double wall in the pump chamber 5, which makes it possible to avoid deformation of the internal side wall of the pump chamber 5 because of the high pressure created by the pump during actuation. This sleeve 50 advantageously comprises the radial shoulder forming passage means 40 which defines the outlet valve. Advantageously, to avoid any leaks between the sleeve 50 and the pump body 3, a waterproof weld 55 can be provided, for example by ultrasound, preferably between two radial flanges respectively of said pump body 3 and of said fixing ring 4 which incorporates sleeve 50.

Likewise, the sleeve 9, which cooperates with the inlet valve element 10, extends axially the pump body 3 downwards in the orientation of the figures and contains said inlet valve element 10 and said spring 20 The sleeve 9 has a reduced diameter compared to the pump body 3. It advantageously includes external reinforcing ribs 90. This implementation of the sleeve 9 makes it possible to reduce its radial dimensions. So for example, the sleeve 9 of the pump could have a diameter less than 4.2 mm, advantageously less than 4 mm, preferably 3.9 mm.

The pump therefore significantly improves the sealing capacities of the various sealed parts, namely the piston 1, the outlet valve element 39 and the inlet valve element 10.

Thus, it becomes possible to use a spring having a greater force, typically at least 20 N, advantageously 25 N.

With an internal diameter of the sleeve 9 of 3.9 mm, i.e. a surface area of 12 mm ² , and a spring of 20 N, we arrive at a pressure P of approximately 16.5 bars. With a 25 N spring, the pressure rises to approximately 21 bars.

Thus, the present invention makes it possible to provide a precompression pump capable of distributing the fluid product at a pressure of at least 15 bars, advantageously around 20 bars, which is much higher. than traditional pumps and even superior to valves operating with propellant gas.

The actuation force of such a pump with a 25 N spring and the surface S of 12 mm ² is less than 60 N, advantageously around 50 N, which remains acceptable.

Such a pump is particularly suitable for being associated with a spray nozzle comprising a plurality of micro-holes, in particular with a hole diameter of less than 5 µm, or even less than 2 µm.

According to the invention, the outlet valve element 39 is formed by a separate part which is movably inserted into the piston 1, with the interposition of a second spring 60.

This second spring 60 exerts, in the rest position shown on the figure 1 , a force greater than that of the spring 20, so that in this rest position, the second spring 60 biases the outlet valve element 39 axially downwards, away from said piston 1.

During actuation, spring 20 is compressed, so that in the actuated position, shown on the figures 2 and 3 , the second spring 60 is compressed and the outlet valve element 39 is axially inserted further into the piston 1.

After actuation, when the piston 1 has returned to its rest position, the second spring 60 can relax again, which moves the outlet valve element 39 axially downwards relative to said piston 1, generating a depression which sucks up the residual liquid which remains in and/or near the actuating rod 2 after each actuation.

The present invention therefore makes it possible to re-aspirate this small quantity of residual fluid after each actuation, thus preventing any risk of blockage, partial or total, of a spray nozzle placed downstream of the actuation rod 2.

The operation of the pump will be explained below.

The rest position is visible on the figure 1 , with the inlet valve 11 open and the outlet valve 12 closed.

The second spring 60 is relaxed, given that its force is greater in this rest position than that of spring 20.

In this rest position, the outlet valve element 39 is pushed axially downwards by the second spring 60 to come into contact with the inlet valve element 10 which rests on the spring 20.

At the start of actuation, the actuating rod 2 is pushed downwards, which moves the piston 1, the second spring 60, the outlet valve element 39 and the inlet valve element 10 also towards the bottom relative to the pump body 3. The inlet valve 11 closes, by sealed cooperation between the lips of the inlet valve element 10 and the internal cylindrical surface of the sleeve 9, while the outlet valve 12 remains closed. The spring 20 is then compressed under the effect of the inlet valve element 10 which slides in the sleeve 9. The sleeve 9 having a reduced diameter compared to the sleeve 50 disposed in the pump body 3, and the fluid contained in the pump chamber 5 being incompressible, this compression of the spring 20 occurs relatively easily, despite the high force of said spring 20.

When the force of the compressed spring 20 becomes greater than that of the second spring 60, the latter will compress and allow a slight movement of the outlet valve element 39 axially upwards relative to the piston 1.

When we approach the end of actuation, the outlet valve element 39 approaches the shoulder 40 of the outlet valve, to open the latter.

There figure 2 illustrates the actuated position, with the outlet valve open and therefore the contents of the pump chamber 5 which is expelled under the effect of the spring 20 which relaxes. The fluid product is then expelled with a pressure of at least 15 bars, advantageously at least 20 bars.

When the user releases the pressure on the actuating rod 2 of the pump, the spring 20 returns the piston 1 to its rest position.

When the force of the spring 20 during decompression once again becomes lower than that of the second spring 60, the latter will decompress and cause a slight movement of the outlet valve element 39 axially downwards relative to the piston 1. This will generate a depression in the actuating rod 2 and suck up the small volume of liquid or residual fluid which remains in and/or near said actuating rod after each actuation.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, and the scope of the invention is on the contrary defined by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A pump for dispensing a fluid product comprising a piston (1) secured to an actuating stem (2) and which slides in a pump body (3) having a pump chamber (5) defined between an inlet valve (11) and an outlet valve (12), said outlet valve (12) comprising an outlet valve element (398) sliding during actuation in a sealed manner in the pump chamber (5), said pump chamber (5) comprising passage means (40) such that, at the end of actuation of the pump, said outlet valve element (39) co-operates in a non-sealed manner with said passage means (40) in order to open said outlet valve (12) to allow the expulsion of the product contained in the pump chamber, said inlet valve (11) comprising an inlet valve element (10) which slides after closure of the inlet valve (11) in a sleeve (9) of the pump body (3), said sleeve (9) of the pump body having a reduced diameter and containing a spring (20) pressing firstly on said inlet valve element (10) and secondly on a bottom of said sleeve (9) of the pump body, said spring (20), in addition expelling the product, also returning the piston (1) into its rest position, said outlet valve element (39) is formed by a separate part which is inserted movably in said piston (1), with the interposition of a second spring (60), the force exerted by said second spring (60) being greater than the force exerted by said spring (20) in position at rest, and less than the force exerted by said spring (20) in the actuated position.
2. The pump according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing sleeve (50) is inserted into said pump body (3) to reinforce the side wall of said pump chamber (5).
3. The pump according to claim 2, wherein said reinforcing sleeve (50) includes a shoulder defining said passage means (40) of said outlet valve (12).
4. The pump according to any preceding claim, wherein, when the piston (1) is returned to its rest position after actuation, said second spring (60) expands and moves said outlet valve element (39) axially downwards relative to said piston (1), generating a vacuum that draws the residual liquid that remains in and/or near said actuating stem (2) after each actuation.
5. The pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said sleeve (9) of the pump body (3) in which said inlet valve element (10) slides includes external reinforcing ridges (90).
6. The pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said fluid is dispensed at a pressure of at least 15 bar.
7. A product fluid product dispensing device, characterized in that it includes a pump according to any one of preceding claims.

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