Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant
  • B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted for the discharge of contents; Regulating devices
  • B65D83/52—Metering valves; Metering devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant
  • B65D83/141—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant specially adapted for specific contents or propellants

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a metering valve for a fluid dispenser device.
• metering valves in which each time the valve is actuated, a precise dose of fluid product is dispensed, are well known in the state of the art, and are generally assembled on a reservoir containing the fluid product and a propellant gas used to carry out the expulsion of the dose.
• So-called retention valves comprise a valve which, in the rest position, partially closes off the metering chamber. More precisely, the outside of the valve cooperates in a sealed manner with the chamber seal of the metering chamber, so that the metering chamber is only connected to the tank, in this rest position, via the internal channel of the valve.
• So-called non-priming valves have a metering chamber which, at rest, is open to the reservoir and which fills at the moment of actuation, when the user returns the device to the inverted position of use.
• the dose dispensed on each actuation may vary, for example from 25 to 75 pl.
• One solution is to use a more or less wide insert in the metering chamber, depending on the desired volume. Nevertheless, it is difficult to increase the volume above a certain value, typically 75 pl, without modifying the dimensions of the valve body, which implies the modification of the manufacturing and assembly machines, and therefore involves a significant cost.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a metering valve which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.
• the object of the present invention is thus to provide a metering valve which makes it possible to increase the volume of the metering chamber without modifying the valve body.
• the present invention also aims to provide a metering valve which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and to assemble, and which operates reliably.
• the present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispensing metering valve, comprising a valve body containing a metering chamber, said metering chamber being defined by a chamber insert and two annular gaskets, a valve gasket and a gasket chamber, said chamber insert comprising a cylindrical wall, an upper edge cooperating with said valve seal and a lower edge cooperating with said chamber seal, a valve sliding axially in said valve body between a rest position and a position of dispensing, to selectively dispense the contents of said metering chamber, said valve being biased towards its rest position by a spring cooperating on the one hand with said valve body and on the other hand with said valve, said cylindrical wall of said insert of chamber comprising at least one opening connecting said metering chamber to an external volume disposed outside said chamber insert, between said valve body and said cylindrical wall.
• said upper edge of said chamber insert extends radially inwards by an upper flange which increases the contact surface with said valve seal, said contact surface always being the same, whatever the width of said cylindrical wall.
• said lower edge of said chamber insert is extended radially inwards by a lower flange which increases the contact surface with said chamber seal, said contact surface always being the same, whatever the width of said cylindrical wall.
• the volume of said metering chamber can be modified between 25 and 100 pl, without modifying said valve body, by adapting the thickness of said cylindrical wall and/or the number, shape and/or dimensions of said openings.
• said cylindrical wall of said chamber insert comprises a single opening.
• said cylindrical wall of said chamber insert comprises two diametrically opposed openings.
• said cylindrical wall of said chamber insert comprises a plurality of openings distributed over the periphery of said cylindrical wall.
• the present invention also relates to a fluid dispenser device comprising a metering valve as defined above, said valve being mounted on a reservoir containing fluid and a propellant gas.
• said propellant gas comprises one or more HFA gases, such as HFA-134a and/or HFA-227 and/or HFA-152a.
• said propellant gas comprises HFO1234ze.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a metering valve according to the prior art, in the rest position of the valve, in the upright storage position of the valve
• Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, showing a metering valve according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, during actuation of the valve
• FIG. 3 is a perspective detail view of a metering chamber insert according to the prior art
• FIGS. 4 to 8 are perspective detail views of different embodiments of the metering chamber insert according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 represents a metering valve of the prior art at rest, in the upright storage position, that is to say the position in which the valve is arranged above the reservoir.
• FIG. 2 represents a metering valve according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, during actuation. It should be noted that the valve of FIG. 2 is also represented in the straight position, whereas the normal position of use of such a valve is an inverted position, with the valve arranged under the reservoir.
• This valve is intended to be assembled on a reservoir (not shown) containing fluid and a propellant gas, preferably by means of a fixing element 5, which can be a cap to be crimped, screwed or snapped on, and advantageously with the interposition of a neck seal 6.
• a fixing element 5 can be a cap to be crimped, screwed or snapped on, and advantageously with the interposition of a neck seal 6.
• a ring 4 can be assembled around the valve body 10, in particular to reduce the dead volume in the inverted position and to limit the contact of the fluid product with the neck seal 6.
• This ring 4 can be of any shape, and the example of Figures 1 and 2 is not limiting.
• the reservoir contains the fluid product and the propellant gas, in particular a formulation consisting of one or more active ingredient(s) in suspension and/or in solution in a liquefied propellant gas, as well as optionally excipients.
• the propellant gas preferably comprises one or more HFA gases, such as HFA-134a and/or HFA-227 and/or HFA-152a, with or without ethanol.
• HFA gases such as HFA-134a and/or HFA-227 and/or HFA-152a
• HFO1234ze non-harmful gases
• the metering valve shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a valve body 10 extending along a central longitudinal axis and containing a metering chamber 20.
• This metering chamber 20 is defined between two annular seals, a valve 21 and a chamber seal 22, in a well known manner.
• This metering chamber 20 is filled before or after each actuation with a dose of fluid product from the reservoir.
• valve 30 slides between a rest position, which is that shown in Figure 1, and a dispensing position, in which the valve 30 is pushed inside the valve body 10.
• the valve 30 is biased towards its rest position by a spring 8, which is arranged in the valve body 10 and which cooperates on the one hand with this valve body 10, and on the other hand with the valve 30, preferably with a radial flange 320 of the valve 30.
• the valve 30 slides inside the metering chamber 20 to allow the contents of the latter to be dispensed when the valve is actuated.
• the valve body 10 comprises a cylindrical part 15 in which the spring 8 is arranged and in which the collar 320 slides between its rest and dispensing positions.
• this cylindrical part 15 is the lower part of the valve body.
• This cylindrical part 15 comprises one or more openings, such as slots, extending laterally in said cylindrical part 15 of the valve body, over part of the axial height of the valve body in the direction of the central longitudinal axis. These openings allow the metering chamber 20 to be filled after each actuation, when in the inverted position of use (with the valve placed under the reservoir), the valve 30 returns from its dispensing position to its rest position.
• valve 30 can be made in two parts, namely an upper part 31 (also called the valve top) and a lower part 32 (also called the valve bottom).
• the upper part 31 comprises a central axial channel 35 provided with an axial outlet orifice 301 and a radial inlet channel 302 which is arranged in the metering chamber 20 when the valve 30 is in the dispensing position.
• the upper part 31 also includes a radial shoulder 310 which, in the rest position shown in Figure 1, rests under the valve seal 21, in a known manner.
• the lower part 32 is in this embodiment assembled inside the upper part 31 .
• An internal channel 33 is provided in the valve 30, in particular in the lower part 32, which makes it possible to connect the metering chamber 20 to the reservoir, to fill said metering chamber 20 when, after each actuation of the valve, the valve 30 returns to its resting position under the effect of the spring 8. This filling is done when the device is still in the inverted position of use, with the valve arranged below the reservoir.
• valve 30 when the valve 30 is in the rest position, the metering chamber 20, outside the valve 30, is substantially isolated from the tank 1 by the cooperation between the lower part 32 of the valve 30 and the chamber seal 22. In this rest position, the metering chamber 20 therefore remains connected to the reservoir only via said internal channel 33.
• the valve represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is therefore a retention valve.
• the invention is however also applicable to other types of valves, in particular valves of the non-priming type.
• the volume of the metering chamber 20 is defined by means of a chamber insert 40, of substantially cylindrical shape.
• Figure 3 illustrates the chamber insert of the prior art valve of Figure 1
• Figures 4 to 8 show several different variations of a chamber insert according to the invention.
• the chamber insert 40 comprises a cylindrical wall 49 whose radial thickness is greater or lesser depending on the volume of metering chamber desired. Thus, it is mainly by acting on the thickness of this cylindrical wall 49 that the volume of the metering chamber 20 can be modified. In the valve of the prior art, this volume can vary between 25 and 75 pl.
• the valve seal 21 rests on the upper edge 41 of the chamber insert 40, and the chamber seal 22 is in contact with the lower edge 43 of the chamber insert 40.
• the upper edge 41 advantageously comprises a projecting profile 42 which penetrates into the valve seal 21, and the lower edge 43 advantageously comprises a projecting profile 44 which penetrates into the chamber seal 22.
• the lower edge 43 is extended radially inwards by a lower flange 46 which increases the contact surface with the chamber seal 22.
• the lower edge 43 and said lower flange 46 together form a surface of contact with the chamber seal 22 which is always identical, whatever the width of the cylindrical wall 49.
• the positioning of the chamber seal 22 on the insert of chamber 40 is therefore always identical, whatever the width of the cylindrical wall 49 and therefore the volume of the metering chamber 20.
• the behavior of the chamber seal 22 will always be the same, whatever the volume of the metering chamber 20.
• the upper edge 41 is extended radially inwards by an upper flange 47 which increases the contact surface with the valve seal 21 .
• the upper edge 41 and said upper flange 47 together form a contact surface with the valve seal 21 which is always identical, whatever the width of the cylindrical wall 49.
• the positioning of the valve seal 21 on the chamber insert 40 is therefore always identical, whatever the width of the cylindrical wall 49 and therefore the volume of the metering chamber 20.
• the behavior of the valve seal 21 will always be the same, whatever i.e. the volume of the metering chamber 20.
• the volume of the metering chamber 20 is defined exclusively inside said chamber insert 40. Indeed, by the cylindrical wall 49 closed and the two seals 21 and 22, the outer volume located outside the chamber insert 40, between the valve body 10 and the cylindrical wall 49, is completely isolated from the metering chamber. With a standard valve body as represented in FIG. 1, this external volume can represent up to approximately 5 pl, which for a metering chamber volume of 25 to 75 pl is not negligible. Even if it is not visible in FIG. 1, this external volume still exists between the valve body 10 and the cylindrical wall 49 of the chamber insert 40, due to the clearance necessary between these two parts to allow the inserting the chamber insert 40 into the valve body 10.
• the cylindrical wall 49 of the chamber insert 40 comprises at least one opening 48 connecting said metering chamber 20 to said external volume.
• the volume of the metering chamber 20 is increased on the one hand by the addition of said external volume and on the other hand by the volume represented by each opening 48 in the cylindrical wall 49.
• the metering chamber 20 with an insert chamber 40 according to the invention may have a volume greater than 75 pl, for example 85 pl. Volumes up to about 100 ⁇ l are possible, depending on the number and size of the openings 48 in the cylindrical wall 49.
• Another advantage of the invention is that by including the external volume in the metering chamber, there is no longer any pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the cylindrical wall 49 of the chamber insert. 40.
• a pressure difference could reach approximately 3 to 6 bars, depending on the nature of the propellant gas used, with a pressure in the external volume of 1 bar and a pressure in the dosing chamber from 4 to 7 bar.
• This pressure difference can in some cases cause a deformation of the cylindrical wall 49 and therefore an undesirable modification of the volume of the metering chamber 20.
• Figures 4 to 8 show several different variants of a chamber insert 40 according to the invention.
• each opening 48 there are a plurality of openings 48 formed by windows distributed around the periphery and extending over part of the height of the cylindrical wall 49 from the lower edge 43.
• the number, shape and dimensions of each opening 48 can be arbitrary.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=80786943

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2022
  • 2022-01-07 FR FR2200114A patent/FR3131738B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-01-04 US US18/726,939 patent/US20250074692A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-01-04 EP EP23703260.2A patent/EP4460469B1/de active Active
  • 2023-01-04 WO PCT/FR2023/050008 patent/WO2023131758A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-01-04 CN CN202380023370.4A patent/CN118891201A/zh active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events