FR2869305A1 - RETENTION VALVE AND DECOMPRESSION DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Liquid dispensers are provided that include a pressure relief mechanism (12) with a pressure relief device (12) and a check valve (76) in series with the pressure relief device (12) to prevent flow within and outside the tank (18) when a vacuum is present in the tank. The decompression device comprises a chamber (33) closed with an air inlet (40) open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet (44) in communication with the liquid in the reservoir and in which the liquid inlet ( 44) opens to the chamber (33) at a height less than the height at which the air inlet (40) opens to the chamber (33). The check valve (76) is susceptible to failures, in which case the decompression device (12) provides decompression alone. The decompression valve (12) decompresses the tank (18) without moving parts or valves.

Description

RETENTION VALVE AND DECOMPRESSION DEVICE

  Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a decompression device, and more particularly to a decompression mechanism for decompressing the vacuum generated within a reservoir containing a fluid.

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The devices are well known in which a fluid is fed from reservoirs that contain fluids. For example, known hand soap dispensing systems include tanks that contain liquid soap from which soap is dispensed. When the tank is closed and rigid so as not to be compressible, when dispensing the liquid soap from the tank, a vacuum is generated in the tank. It is known to provide holding valves that allow ambient air to enter the tank and allow the vacuum in the tank to be reduced. The check valves generally operate such that the check valve prevents air from entering the tank unless a vacuum is generated at a certain level below atmospheric pressure. As the vacuum increases beyond this specific level, the valve opens, allowing air to enter the reservoir and thus prevent the vacuum from increasing further.

  The implementation of pressure relief valves is advantageous not only in closed tanks that are rigid but also in tanks that can not be compressed so easily that they prevent the development of a vacuum inside the tank at the moment of distribution.

  The present inventor has appreciated that reducing the capacity of the vacuum conditions in any tank can be advantageous so as to facilitate distribution of the fluid from the tank, in particular so as to allow dispensing with minimal effort and with pump with a minimum capacity to overcome any differential between vacuum pressure and atmospheric pressure.

  U.S. Patent No. 5,676,277 to Ophardt, issued Oct. 14, 1997, shows in Figure 10 a retainer valve structure in which a flexible flexible seal member is compressed to close an air passage so that in case of development In the case of a vacuum inside a tank, the seal element is deflected out of position to close the air passage and allow the ambient air to enter the tank, decompressing the vacuum. These flexible seal elements have the disadvantage of experiencing failures, not to permanently offer a suitable seal, and to be flexible, they must frequently be made of different materials from the rest of the structure in question. Also, since a flexible seal member must be kept in contact with the reservoir fluid, difficulties may arise regarding the degradation of the flexible seal member over time. Likewise, the flexible seal member should generally undergo a certain minimum vacuum level so as to operate and this minimum vacuum level may, in itself, sometimes present difficulties in dispensing fluid from the reservoir.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To overcome at least in part these disadvantages of prior known devices, the present invention provides a pressure relief valve which comprises a closed chamber comprising an air inlet open to ambient air and a communicating liquid inlet. with the liquid in the tank and in which the liquid inlet opens into the chamber at a height lower than that at which the air inlet opens into the chamber.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified pressure relief device, preferably for use with a closed reservoir in a fluid dispensing application.

  Another object is to provide a decompression device without moving parts.

  Another object is to provide a decompression device contained in a disposable plastic liquid pump.

  Another object is to provide a liquid dispenser that is substantially leak tight.

  Another object is to provide a simple dispenser in which a decompression device for decompressing the vacuum in a reservoir also allows the liquid to be dispensed through when the reservoir is pressurized.

  Another object is to provide in combination with a retaining valve comprising a flexible seal member a decompression device that operates to decompress the vacuum if the check valve should fail.

  Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a decompression mechanism adapted to allow ambient air to enter a reservoir containing a liquid to reduce the vacuum generated in the reservoir, the mechanism comprising a decompression device and a valve retaining device, the decompression device comprising: a closed chamber comprising an air inlet and a liquid inlet, the air inlet in communication with the air at atmospheric pressure, the liquid inlet in communication with the liquid in the reservoir, the liquid inlet open to the chamber at a height less than the height at which the air inlet opens to the chamber, the retaining valve disposed between the liquid inlet and the movable reservoir between a closed position preventing flow between the reservoir and the liquid inlet and an open position allowing flow through the valve, the thrust valve to take the closed position.

  In another aspect, the present invention provides in combination, a closed reservoir containing a liquid, a pump and a decompression mechanism, the decompression mechanism comprising a pressure relief device and a check valve, the reservoir comprising a liquid outlet connected to the pump which operates to extract the liquid from the tank through the liquid outlet, a vacuum below atmospheric pressure is generated inside the tank at the time of the extraction of the liquid from the tank via the pump, the pressure relief device is adapted to allow the ambient air to enter the tank through the liquid outlet to reduce any vacuum generated in the tank, the decompression device comprising a closed chamber with an inlet of air and a liquid inlet, the liquid inlet open to the chamber at a height below the high ur to which the air inlet opens to the chamber, the air inlet in communication with the air at atmospheric pressure so that the chamber is at atmospheric pressure, the liquid inlet connected by a liquid passage to the liquid outlet, the retaining valve disposed between the liquid inlet and the movable reservoir between a closed position which prevents flow between the reservoir and the liquid inlet and an open position which allows the flow through the valve, the valve pushed into the closed position, the liquid inlet at a height less than the height of the liquid in the tank.

  A decompression mechanism according to the present invention is suitable for use in a number of different embodiments of fluid reservoirs and dispensers. It can be formed to be compact so as to be a removable plastic compartment such as, for example, adapted to fit inside the neck of a bottle such as an incoming portion from a pump assembly forming a plug for a bottle.

  The decompression mechanism may be used not only to release the vacuum pressure in a tank, but also to dispense the liquid therethrough, such as by a pump that draws liquid from a chamber into the decompression valve.

  The decompression mechanism can be used to provide a dispenser that does not drip by having not only a check valve to reduce seepage but also a decompression valve device with an air pocket above the level of the liquid in the chamber in the decompression device.

  The pressure relief valve may be configured to be closed to prevent liquid flow from a reservoir and to be open for operation.

  The liquid dispensers include a pressure relief mechanism with a pressure relief device and a check valve in series with the pressure relief device to prevent flow into and out of the tank when a vacuum is present in the tank . The decompression device comprises a closed chamber with an air inlet open to the atmosphere and a liquid inlet in communication with the liquid in the tank and in which the liquid inlet opens to the chamber at a lower height. at the height at which the air inlet opens into the chamber. The check valve may fail, in which case the decompression device alone provides decompression. The decompression valve allows you to decompress the tank vacuum without moving a part or valve.

Brief descriptions of the drawings

  Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description associated with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the soap dispenser which incorporates a decompression device according to a first embodiment of the invention; embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a state in which ambient air passes into the reservoir; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1, but illustrates a state in which the liquid is in a position to flow from the decompression device; - Figure 3 is a sectional view through the decompression device of Figure 1 along the section lines 3-3 '; FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a fluid dispenser comprising a decompression device according to a second embodiment of the invention under conditions in which the ambient air passes into a reservoir; Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the decompression device of Fig. 4 along section lines 5-5 '; FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic diagrammatic view in partial section of a third embodiment of a decompression valve according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of a liquid dispenser comprising a pump assembly attached to a reservoir and incorporating a decompression device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a side sectional view through Figure 7 normal in section through Figure 7; Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a fluid dispenser including a decompression device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a figurative view of a fluid dispenser according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the components of the dispenser of FIG. 10; - Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view through the dispenser of Figure 10; Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view through a dispenser according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention similar to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 12 and in an open position; Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser of Figure 13 in a closed position; Fig. 15 is an exploded side view of a liquid dispenser according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is an end view of the bottle illustrated in FIG. 15; Fig. 17 is a sectional end view of the lid shown in Fig. 15 along section line A-A '; Fig. 18 is a side view of the liquid dispenser of Fig. 15 in a closed position; Fig. 19 is a side view of the liquid dispenser of Fig. 15 in an open position; FIG. 20 is a schematic sectional view of a fluid dispenser substantially identical to that illustrated in FIG. 4; and - Figure 21 is a sectional view through Figure 4 along section line B-B '; Figure 22 is a schematic sectional view similar to Figure 7, but of another embodiment of the present invention with a check valve in a closed position; Figure 23 is identical to Figure 22 but with the check valve in an open position; and - Figures 24 and 25 are schematic sectional views similar to Figure 22, but with two different holding valves.

Detailed description of the drawings

  Reference is first made to Figures 1, 2 and 3 which schematically show, without regard to scale, a soap dispensing apparatus 10 which incorporates a decompression device 12 according to the present invention. A reservoir 18 is schematically illustrated and comprises an incompressible closed reservoir comprising an outlet 22 in communication with a pump 24. The pump 24 operates to dispense fluid 26 from the reservoir. The reservoir is shown as containing the fluid 26 in the lower portion of the reservoir with an upper surface 27 which separates the fluid 26 from an air pocket 28 within an upper portion of the reservoir above the fluid 26 .

  The decompression device 12 is illustrated as comprising a container which comprises a base 30 and a cover 32 which form a closed chamber 33. As is best seen in FIG. 3, the base 30 is cylindrical, comprising a bottom wall 34 and a cylindrical vertical side wall 36. The cover 32 is illustrated as including a cylindrical lip portion 31 adapted to secure the cover 32 to the upper rim of the cylindrical side wall 36 of the base, together forming a fluid tight seal. A cylindrical air pipe 38 extends vertically from the base 30 to an air inlet 40. A liquid pipe 42 extends vertically from the cover 32 to a liquid inlet 44. As illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 and 2, the decompression device 12 is designed to be used in a vertical direction as is illustrated in the figures with the cover 32 in an upper position and the cylindrical side wall 36 oriented to extend vertically upwards . As illustrated, the air inlet 40 opens into the chamber 33 at a height which is greater than the height at which the liquid inlet 44 opens into the chamber 33. The vertical distance between the air inlet 40 and the liquid inlet 44 is illustrated by the letter "h".

  The decompression device 12 must be coupled to the reservoir 18 so that the liquid inlet 44 is in communication through a liquid passage that passes through the liquid pipe 42 with the fluid 26 in the reservoir. In order to simplify the illustration, the tank 18 is illustrated as having an open bottom portion which is at the scale of the lid 32. The air inlet 40 is in communication via the air pipe 38 with ambient air at atmospheric pressure.

  Referring to Fig. 1, in the illustrated condition, the pump 24 has dispensed the liquid from the reservoir so that the pressure in the reservoir 18 is brought below atmospheric pressure, thereby generating a vacuum in the reservoir. As a result of this vacuum, the liquid 26 inside the chamber 33 is sucked upwardly from the chamber 33 through the liquid pipe 42 into the reservoir 18. Figure 1 illustrates a state in which the vacuum exists. in the reservoir 18 is sufficient such that the level of the liquid 26 in the chamber 33 is lowered to the height of the liquid inlet 44 and therefore the air inside the chamber 33 above the liquid 26 in the chamber 33 is at the level of the liquid inlet 44 and below and thus enters the liquid pipe 42 via the liquid inlet 44 and the air moves as well as this is illustrated by the air bubbles 29 through gravity up through the fluid 26 in the liquid pipe 44 and the reservoir 18 to be part of the air 28 at the top of the reservoir 18.

  Since the air pipe 38 is open to the ambient air, the ambient air is free to enter the chamber 33 via the air pipe 38 and thus to be able to penetrate into the liquid pipe 42 .

  Referring to FIG. 2, which is identical to FIG. 1, but having a state in which the level of liquid 26 in chamber 33 is just marginally above the height of air inlet 40 and the liquid 26 flows from the chamber 33 outside the air pipe 38 as illustrated by the liquid droplets 27.

  Fig. 2 illustrates a state which is generally undesirable in the normal operation of the fluid delivery system of Figs. 1-3. That is, the decompression device 12 is preferably used as in the 1 to 3 in a manner that allows air to pass into the reservoir 18 as shown in FIG. 3 and it is desirable to avoid a state illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the fluid 26 flows out of the air pipe 38.

  In the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the air inlet 40 should if possible be higher than the height at which the liquid level can, under normal conditions, rise in the chamber 33. Therefore, it is simple to determine this height and ensure the height for the air inlet 40 which, under reasonable operating conditions, prevents the liquid from flowing from the chamber 33 outside the pipe. air 38.

  Provided that the fluid 26 fills the chamber 33 at least at the liquid inlet 44, the air in the chamber 33 is then prevented from accessing the liquid inlet 44 and can not pass through the liquid 42 into the tank. The capacity of the liquid 26 to be dispensed outside the tank 18 by the pump 26 may possibly be limited to a certain extent depending on the presence of a vacuum in the tank. In order for a vacuum to be present in the reservoir, there must be an expandable fluid in the reservoir such as air 28 or other gases above the liquid 26. At all times, the level of the liquid in the chamber 33 is the factor which determines the amount of additional vacuum that must be generated inside the tank 18 so that the liquid level in the chamber 33 drops sufficiently so that the liquid level in the chamber 33 is lower than the liquid inlet 44 and that the air can rise from the chamber 33 through the liquid pipe 42 in the reservoir 18 to reduce the vacuum.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid 26 forms a continuous column of liquid through the liquid in the chamber 33, through the liquid in the liquid pipe 42 and through the liquid in the reservoir 18. The air that can enter the liquid inlet 44 flows upward to the top of the tank 18 without being trapped as in a trap-like portion of the liquid passage. Similarly, the liquid 26 flows downwardly from the reservoir 18 through the liquid pipe 42 to the chamber 33 to effectively self-prime the system, unless the vacuum in the reservoir 18 is too large.

  Reference is made to Figures 4 and 5 which show a second embodiment of a decompression device 10 according to the present invention illustrated in a schematic arrangement similar to that of the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. The second embodiment comprises an equivalent to each element in the first embodiment, but is arranged such that the liquid pipe 42 is coaxial with the cover 32 and a cylindrical support pipe 46 extends upwardly from the base 30 concentrically around the liquid pipe 42. An air opening 41 is provided in the base 30 to open in an annular air passage 43 between the cylindrical side wall 36 and the support pipe 46. Conceptually, in comparison with the FIG. 1, the actual location and height of the air inlet 40 are at the open top end of the support pipe 46 which is, of course, at a height above the entrance 44. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the vacuum in the tank 18 is sufficient for the liquid in the support pipe 46 to be sucked down to the level of the liquid inlet 44 and the air , as in the air bubbles 29, flows upwardly through the liquid pipe 42 into the tank 18 to decompress the vacuum.

  In the two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5, the decompression device consists of two parts, preferably made of plastic, by injection molding with a cover 32 adapted to be fixed in a glued manner to represent the base 30. The decompression device 12 is adapted to be accommodated within an opening in the reservoir 18 or otherwise comprise on the one hand, a communication with the liquid in the reservoir, and on the other hand, communication with the ambient air.

  Figure 6 illustrates another simple embodiment of a decompression device 12 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the device 12 comprises a cylindrical container with closed flat end walls 50 and 52 and a cylindrical side wall 54 which is adapted to be accommodated in a cylindrical opening 56 in the side wall 57 of a reservoir 18 as illustrated 2869305, preferably with a central axis 58 passing through the cylindrical container disposed generally horizontally. An inner end wall 50 of the container comprises the liquid inlet 44 and the outer end wall 52 of the container comprises the air inlet 40. The container must be attached to the reservoir 18 so that the inlet air 40 is disposed at a height above the liquid inlet 44. It should be appreciated that this height relation can be satisfied by orienting the device 10 in other orientations than those of the horizontal axis 58 as it is presented. Figure 6 illustrates a section along the vertical plane including the central axis 58, in which plane, for convenience, the centers of each of the air inlet 40 and the liquid inlet 44 lie.

  Reference is made to Figures 7 and 8 which show a liquid dispenser comprising a pump assembly attached to a reservoir and incorporating the decompression device according to the present invention. The pump assembly of Figs. 7 and 8 has a substantially identical configuration to that illustrated in Fig. 10 of Ophardt Applicant's US Pat. No. 5,676,277, issued Oct. 14, 1997, but including a pressure relief valve device 12 according to the present invention. invention coaxially mounted with the pump assembly to the inside of the pump assembly.

  The reservoir 18 is a rigid bottle with a threaded neck 62. The pump assembly includes a chamber forming body in the piston 66 which defines therein a chamber 68 in which a piston forming member or piston 70 is placed so that sliding for reciprocating movement to dispense the fluid from the reservoir. Apertures 72 in the end wall 67 of the chamber 68 are in communication with the fluid in the reservoir 18 through a radially extending passage 74 as can be seen in FIG. 8. A check valve 76 in the opening 72 allows fluid flow outwardly from the passage 74 into the chamber 68 but prevents the flow of incoming fluid.

  The chamber forming body in the piston 66 comprises a cylindrical inner pipe 78 which defines therein the chamber 68. An outer tubular member 80 is disposed radially outwardly of the associated inner pipe 78 by a radially extending shoulder 82 towards the Inner pipe 78. The outer tubular member 80 extends outwardly to define an annular air gap 84 between the outer tubular member 80 and the inner pipe 78. The outer tubular member 80 includes a flange Threaded 86 which extends upwardly and outwardly to define an intermediate annular threaded space 87. The threaded flange 86 is inserted into the threaded neck 62 of the reservoir 18 to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

  The decompression device 12 in Figs. 7 and 8 has a substantially identical configuration to that in Figs. 4 and 5 with a coaxial vertical side wall 36 and a vertical support pipe 46. A cover 32 sealingly attached to the end upper side wall 36 supports the liquid pipe 42 coaxially inside the support pipe 46. The upper end of the liquid pipe 42 is in communication with the fluid in the reservoir. An annular air chamber 43 is defined between the wall 36 and the support pipe 46. Air openings 41 provide communication between the annular air chamber 43 and the annular air space 84 which is open to the air. ambiant air. The openings 41 extend through the shoulder 82 which joins the inner pipe 78 to the outer tubular element 80. The shoulder 82 may also be considered as joining the support pipe 46 to the cylindrical wall 36. The cylindrical wall 36 may be considered as an incoming extension of the outer tubular element 80. The support pipe 46 may be considered as an incoming extension of the inner pipe 78.

  As best seen in FIG. 8, the passage 74 extends radially outward through the support pipe 46 and the cylindrical wall 36 so that the passage 74 is in open communication with the fluid in the reservoir at positions diametrically opposed to a first end through one side of the wall 36 and at a second end through the other side of the wall 36. The fluid from the reservoir is in communication with the intermediate passage 74 to the opening 72 to the chamber in the piston 68. The passage 74 is defined between an upper wall 90 and the side walls 91 and 92 with a lower portion formed by the shoulder 82 and the end 67 of the chamber 68. The upper wall 90 forms the floor of the chamber 33 defined inside the support pipe 46.

  The chamber forming body in the piston 66 is preferably injection molded as a unitary member comprising the decompression device outside of its lid 32 which is preferably formed as a separate injection molded member. The check valve 76 and the piston forming member 70 are also separate elements.

  The check valve 76 includes a shoulder button 75 which is snap fit within a central opening in the end wall 67 of the chamber 68, a flexible annular flange 77 is supported by the knob and extends radially outwardly to the side wall of the inner pipe 78. When the pressure in the passage 74 is greater than that in the chamber 68, the flange 77 is deflected from the walls of the inner pipe 78 and the fluid can flowing from the passage 74 through the outlet openings 72 into the end wall 76 and beyond the rim 77 into the chamber 68. The fluid flow in the opposite direction is blocked by the rim 77.

  The piston forming member or piston 70 is preferably a unitary element formed of plastic. The piston 70 comprises a hollow axle 90. Two circular disks 91 and 92 are placed on the axis spaced apart from each other. An inner disk 91 flexibly couples to the inner wall of the chamber 68 to allow outgoing fluid flow beyond but to limit the flow of incoming fluid. An outer disc 92 mates with the side walls of the chamber 68 to prevent fluid flow past.

  The axis of the piston 90 comprises a hollow passage 93 which extends along the axis of the piston 70 from a blind inner end to an outlet 94 at an outer end. The inlets 95 to the passage 93 are placed between the inner disc 91 and the outer disc 92. By reciprocating the piston 70 in the chamber 68, the fluid is sucked from the passage 74 through the openings outlet 72 beyond the check valve 76 and through the inlets 95 through the passage 93 to exit through the outlet 94.

  While the fluid is being pumped from the reservoir 18, a vacuum can be generated in the reservoir and the decompression valve 12 can allow air to enter the reservoir 18 in the same manner as that described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

  The two air openings 41 shown in Figure 7 are designed to be relatively small circular openings. Figure 7 shows a removable cover 88 adapted to be attached to the outer tubular member 80 in a snap fit relationship and removable for operating the pump. Removable cover 88 is illustrated to include an arm 96 that is attached to the right side of the cover and extends inwardly to provide an inner cap end 97 for sealingly engaging within the housing. an air opening 41 to seal it tightly. Upon removal of the cover 88, the inner cap end 97 of the pendant arm is removed from the closure coupling in the air aperture 41. The pendant arm may be hinged to the cover 88 so as to being deformable to pass outside around the piston forming element 70. The end of the inner cap 97 can be cam and guided in the air opening 41 by applying the cover 88 on the tubular element Outer 80 as by coupling with the pipe 78. While for ease of illustration, only one arm for 96 is shown, such an arm 2869305 is preferably provided to close each air opening 41.

  The plugs for closing the air openings 41 may otherwise be a removable element independent of the cover 88. Similarly, the shoulder 82 which joins the inner pipe 78 to the outer tubular element 80 and the cylindrical wall 36 can be reconfigured and replaced to be at a location further outside that in which it is shown in Figure 7 such as, for example, to be close to the inner end 98 of the removable cover 88 so that the inner end 98 of the removable cover can be used to close the air openings 41 without separate arms pendants 96 are necessary.

  The embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 has a decompression device 12 within the pump assembly. The pump assembly includes the retainer valve 76 and a piston 70 with two disks 91 and 92, as shown in FIG. 9 of Ophardt US Patent 5,975,360 published November 2, 1999.

  It should be appreciated that the pump assembly can be replaced by a pump assembly that avoids a separate retainer valve and includes three disks that can be used as described, for example, in FIG. 975 360. Other pump sets may be used with the pressure relief device 12 similarly mounted inwardly.

  Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment in which a removable dispensing cap is placed in the reservoir orifice, the dispensing cap comprising, in combination, a decompression device and a pump assembly with the decompression device actually placed coaxially towards the inside of the pump assembly. This is advantageous for tanks with relatively small diameter orifices. With larger ports, the dispensing plug may include the pump assembly and the pressure relief device mounted side by side. In either case, as described, the chamber forming member in the piston 66 may comprise a unitary member formed by injection molding and comprising (a) an element to be coupled to the orifice of the reservoir, that is, an outer tubular member 80, (b) the inner tube 78 for receiving the piston 70, (c) the side wall 36, and (d) the support tube 46.

  Reference is made to Figure 9 which schematically shows an embodiment according to the present invention very similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, but with the pump 24 arranged to suck the fluid from the chamber 33 rather than since the For this purpose, the outlet 22 for the pump 24 is illustrated as extending from the base 30 to a height less than the liquid inlet 44. The fluid of the pump 24 flows through an outlet pipe 100 to an outlet 102.

  Fig. 9 shows the reservoir 18, the decompression device 12 and the outlet 102 at preferred relative heights according to the present invention. Fig. 9 illustrates a state in which the pump is not operating and the level of the liquid 26 in the outlet pipe 100 being at a height which is effectively the same as the height of the level of the liquid 26 in the chamber 33. The height of the level of the liquid 26 in the chamber 33 and thus in the outlet pipe 100, is 2869305 22 chosen to be less than the height of the outlet 102. With this arrangement, the liquid does not tend to drip through the outlet 102 if the liquid in the tank 18 is at a height greater than the outlet 102.

  This configuration is particularly advantageous for use with relatively low viscosity liquids such as alcoholic solutions which are used for disinfection and hand-washing in hospitals. The dispensers for these alcoholic solutions generally suffer from the disadvantage that the alcohol drips through the outlet and, while it has been known previously in the past that the alcohol outlet should be at a height greater than the level of the alcohol. the alcohol in the tank, this proves to some extent inconvenient and increases the pressure through which the alcohol must be pumped by the pump to be moved to a height higher than the level of alcohol in the tank. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the decompression device 12 may be of relatively small size and, therefore, the outlet 102 only needs to be raised relatively low to place the outlet 102 at a height greater than the level of the liquid 26. in the chamber 33. For example, the height of a conventional tank is generally in a range of fifteen to forty centimeters whereas the height of the decompression device 12 may be only in the range of about 2.5 cm or less.

  Figure 9 schematically illustrates the pump 24.

  This pump may preferably comprise a pump as is disclosed in the Applicant's U.S. Patent No. 5,836,482 issued November 17, 1998 to Ophardt and U.S. Patent 6,343,724, issued February 5, 2002 to Ophardt.

  Fluid dispensers with these pumps preferably have configurations for reducing the frictional forces that occur during fluid flow and which must be overcome by the pump in order to increase the useful life of the batteries and, therefore, reduce the size and amount of batteries used. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 has the advantage that a check valve is not necessary to prevent seepage through the outlet and therefore, during pumping, there is a minimum resistance to the flow of fluid since the fluid can flow directly from the reservoir into the chamber 33, from the chamber 33 to the pump 24, and therefore from the pump 24 to the outlet 102 through the outlet pipe 100. The height relative of the outlet 102 above the height of the inlet of the liquid 44 ensures that there will be no seepage. Thus, the decompression device 12 as used in the context of Fig. 9 serves not only to provide a structure suitable for allowing air to pass upwardly into the reservoir 18 to clear any voids generated at the same time. interior, but it also provides a device by which a mechanical valve is not necessary to prevent seepage and in which the height at which the outlet is to be placed is less than the height of the liquid in the tank 18 and simply needs to be greater than the height of the liquid in the chamber 33.

  Although the schematic embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 shows the pump disposed below the decompression device 12, it should be appreciated that the pump can easily be placed on one side, further reducing the length of the outlet pipe.

  FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show an arrangement as shown in FIG. 9 using a pump of US Pat. No. 6,343,724 as a pump. The dispenser generally indicated at 110 comprises an incompressible fluid container 111 with the element of FIG. outlet 114 which provides an outlet passage 115 for the outlet of the fluid from the container 111.

  The pump / valve assembly 112 is best illustrated as having a plurality of separate members, i.e., a feed pipe 122, a pump 120, and an outlet pipe 100. The pump 120 includes a pump housing 156. a drive wheel 152, a driven wheel 153, a housing plug 158 and a drive shaft 159.

  The cylindrical feed pipe 122 is adapted to be received in a sealing coupling in the cylindrical outlet passage 115 of the outlet member 114. The feed pipe 122 incorporates a decompression device according to the present invention and the feed pipe 122 is best seen in section in FIG. 12 as having a configuration similar to that in FIG. 4, but with the notable exception that outlet 22 is provided as a cylindrical external extension of support pipe 46. The cover 32 is intended to be located in a snap fit within the cylindrical sidewalls 36. The outlet 22 leads to the pump 120 from which the fluid is pumped by the rotation of the wheels 152 and 153. outlet 100 is a separate element frictionally coupled to a trough-shaped outlet 118 on the housing of the pump 156. The outlet pipe 100 has a general S configuration and extends upwardly so as to place its outlet 102 at a height greater than the height of the liquid inlet 44. As is illustrated in FIG. 12, the fluid in the outlet pipe 100 takes the height of the fluid in the chamber 33 which is less than the height of the outlet 102 so that there is no seepage through the outlet 102.

  The embodiment of Figure 12 is particularly advantageous for low viscosity liquids such as alcohol and water solutions in which bleeding can be a serious problem. The embodiment of Figure 12 does not require a mechanical check valve to prevent seepage and the fluid can be dispensed therethrough with minimal effort. The illustrated dispenser is easily primed and will be self-priming since the gear pump is a pump that generally allows, when it is not running, fluids with reduced viscosity to pass through it slowly.

  As described in US Pat. No. 6,343,724, the drive shaft 159 is adapted to be coupled to a motor, preferably a battery motor, contained in the container of a dispenser. The entire pump assembly illustrated in Figure 12 can be made of plastic and be disposable.

  Reference is made to Figures 13 and 14 which show a modified form of the dispenser of Figure 12. The embodiment of Figures 13 and 14 is identical to that of Figure 12 except that the decompression device consists of two different parts, i.e., an inner member 103 and an outer member 104. The inner member 103 is a unitary member that includes the cover 32 fused with an outer cylindrical wall 36a that terminates at an opening cylindrical which extends outwards. The outer member 104 includes the support pipe 46, the outlet pipe 22 and the base 30 fused with an inner cylindrical wall 36b which terminates at a cylindrical opening which extends inwardly. An air opening 41 is placed in an outermost portion of the inner cylindrical wall 36b. The outer member 104 is coaxially accommodated in the inner member 103 for relative axial sliding between the open position of Fig. 13 and the closed position of Fig. 14. The inner and outer cylindrical walls 36b and 36a mate with each other. to one another to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

  The outer member 104 includes within the support pipe 46 a disk-shaped closure member 105 which includes an inwardly extending central plug 106 for mating with the liquid inlet 44 and the to close. Radially outside the central plug 106, the closure element 105 comprises a through opening 107 for the free passage of the fluid 26.

  In the open position as shown in FIG. 13, the decompression valve 12 operates in the same manner as shown in FIG.

  In the closed position of FIG. 14, the plug 106 mates with the liquid inlet 44 and prevents the flow of fluid from the tank 18 through the liquid pipe 42. Similarly, in the closed position of Figure 14, the air opening 41 is closed by being covered by the outer cylindrical wall 36a. Various mechanisms may be provided to releasably lock the outer member 104 in the locked and unlocked positions. Upon axial sliding of the inner member 103 and the outer member 104, the plug 106 acts as a movable valve to open and close a liquid passageway through the liquid pipe 42. Similarly, the outer cylindrical wall 36a acts as a movable valve to open and close an air passage through the air opening 41.

  Figures 13 and 14 show the inner member 103 which supports on its outer cylindrical wall 36a a lip structure 107 for mating with the mouth of the outlet member 114 of the container by a friction fit which opposes the easy removal.

  The outer member 104 is also shown to support on its inner cylindrical wall 36b a lower lip structure 108 to mate with the inner member 103 and to hold the outer member 104 in the closed position until the lip 108 can be disengaged to move the outer member 104 to the open position. Various other locking assemblies, threading systems and brittle closing mechanisms can be used.

  The liquid filled container 111 with its upwardly directed outlet member 114 may comprise a pump assembly as illustrated in Figure 14 applied thereon in a closed position to enclose the fluid in the container. For use, the container may be overturned and the outer member 104 axially displaced outwardly in the open position of Fig. 13. Preferably, a manifold housing for accommodating the container 111 with the connected pump assembly may require, for coupling the container and the pump assembly to the housing, that the outer member 104 is necessarily moved to the open position of Figure 13.

  Each of the inner member 103 and the outer member 104 may be an integral member formed of plastic by injection molding.

  Reference is made to Figures 15 to 19 which show another embodiment of a fluid dispenser 10 according to the present invention.

  FIG. 15 shows the dispenser 200 comprising a bottle 202 and a lid 204.

  The bottle 202 has a body 206 which is rectangular in section as shown in FIG. 16 and a neck 208 which is generally circular in section about a longitudinal axis 210. The neck 208 includes a threaded inner neck portion 212 which includes external threads 214. The inner portion 212 merges into a liquid pipe 42 of reduced diameter.

  The cover 204 includes a base 34 with a cylindrical side wall 36 that includes internal threads 216 adapted to mate with the threaded neck portion 212 in a fluid tight coupling. An air pipe 38 extends radially from the side wall 36. A central plug 106 is supported on the vertical base 34 therefrom. In an assembled closed position as visible in Figure 18, the cover 204 is threaded onto the neck 208 of the bottle 202 such that the plug 106 mates with the end of the liquid pipe 42 and closes. the liquid pipe 42 so as to prevent the flow of fluid inside or outside the bottle 202.

  From the position of FIG. 18, by rotation of the lid 204 to 180 relative to the bottle 202, the lid 204 assumes an open position in which the neck of the bottle and the lid form a decompression device with the a liquid pipe 42 which comprises a liquid inlet 44 at a height less than the height of an air inlet 40 at the inner end of the air pipe 38. The bottle being in the inverted position with its neck towards the bottom as illustrated, the lid and the neck function not only as a decompression valve but also as a dispensing outlet. For this purpose, the bottle 202 is preferably a flexible plastic bottle formed by extrusion blow molding which comprises an inherent thrust to take an inherent shape with an inherent internal volume. The bottle may be compressed by having, for example, its side surfaces displaced inwardly so as to be deformed into different shapes of the inherent shape and having smaller volumes than the inherent volume but which, when the compressive forces are removed, resumes its original inherent form.

  With the bottle in the position of Fig. 18 at the time of squeezing the bottle, as by squeezing the bottle by hand, the fluid 26 in the bottle is pressurized and forced to flow out of the liquid pipe 42 into the bottle. the chamber 33 in the cover 202 and therefore outside the air pipe 38. As soon as the compression of the bottle ceases, given the resilience of the bottle, it tries to resume its normal shape and, in so doing, a vacuum is generated in the bottle, in which case the liquid pipe 42 and the air pipe 38 in the cavity 33 act as a decompression valve in the same manner as described in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6.

  The bottle and lid can be mounted on a wall by a simple mounting mechanism and the fluid can be dispensed simply by a user who pushes on the side of the bottle into the wall. The bottle and lid may be mounted within a contention housing with a mechanism for applying compressive forces to the side of the bottle, such as in response to the movement of a manual lever or an electric pusher element .

  The bottle and lid can be adapted to be stored ready for use in the upside-down open position as shown in FIG. 19 and an extension of the base 34 of the lid 204 is shown in dashed lines 220 to provide a platform. extended shape for supporting the inverted bottle and lid on a flat surface such as a table. In use, the bottle and lid can be kept in an upside-down open position and the liquid does not drip since the liquid in the chamber 33 is at a lower level than the liquid inlet 42 and Alternatively, a hook may be provided, as shown in Figure 9 by the dashed lines 222, to suspend the overturned bottle and lid in a shower. Bottle and lid must be closed only for shipping and storage prior to use.

  Reference is made to Figures 19 and 20 which have a device identical to that in Figures 4 and 5 but firstly for the location of the air opening 41 in the side wall 36, and second, for that the base 34 is at different heights below the support pipe 46 with respect to the bottom of the annular air passage 43, and thirdly, the liquid pipe 42 has on its outer surface a plurality of annular rings Spaced radially outwardly extending to the pipe 46. Each ring includes an opening 230 adjacent to its outer edge to allow flow between the pipe 42 and the pipe 46.

  The openings 230 on the alternate rings are disposed 180 apart to provide an extended length flow path for fluid flow through the passage between the liquid pipe 42 and the support pipe 46. .

  These annular rings are not necessary. They are designed to illustrate a form of flow restriction device that may be optionally provided to limit the flow of liquid but not to limit the flow of air therethrough. The purpose of the annular rings is to provide a reduced area for flow between the liquid pipe 42 and the support pipe 46 as through relatively small spaces or openings, the spaces or openings being selected not to limit air flow but to provide increased resistance to the flow of liquids therethrough, particularly viscous soaps and the like. This is seen as an advantage in dispensers in which it is undesirable for the liquid to flow through the air inlet 40, if a condition arises in which the liquid tries to pass from the inside of the pipe. 42 through the interior of the pipe 40 and outside the air inlet 40 or the air opening 41. Increased resistance to fluid flow can help reduce flow leakage through the air openings 41 under certain conditions.

  Reference is made to FIGS. 22 and 23 which illustrate an embodiment which is identical to that illustrated in FIG. 7 with the exception of two modifications.

  First, a male valve seat 300 is provided to extend vertically coaxially about the axis 93 from the top wall 90 where the top wall forms the floor of the chamber 33, and then the cover 32 extends radially inwardly beyond the liquid pipe 42 to provide a reduced diameter annular female valve seat 304 adapted to mate with the upper end 302 of the male valve seat 300. The lid 32 is flexible, formed preferably to include an inherent thrust to assume a closed rest position as shown in Fig. 22 so as to prevent the flow of fluid into the liquid pipe 42 through the female valve seat 304 which is pushed towards the low in coupling with the annular periphery of the male valve seat 300 near its upper end 302.

  Under the conditions in which a vacuum can be generated inside the reservoir 18 in comparison with the pressure in the chamber 33, the cover 32 deforms upwardly so that the female valve seat 304 lifts the valve seat male 300 in an open position as shown in Fig. 23, allowing the flow of fluid through the liquid pipe 42 to level the pressure between the chamber 33 and the reservoir 18. The embodiment illustrated in the figures 22 and 23 is adapted, in a preferred normal use, to rely on the inherent resilience of the cover 32 and its selective support and bearing on the male valve seat 300 as a first mechanism for controlling when air can be allowed to pass. in the tank 18 to level the pressure. When the cover 32 does not rest on the male valve seat 300 as shown in FIG. 23, a second mechanism, ie the same decompression device as that of FIG. which air may be allowed to pass into the tank 18 to level the pressure.

  The cover 32 is preferably formed of a resilient plastics material which is biased to a closed position as shown in FIG. 22. Generally, such a cover 32 tends to lose its inherent thrust and over time it begins to adopt as a permanent configuration the raised configuration illustrated in FIG. 23. The time required for any lid 32 to lose its resilience may depend on the nature of the plastic and the nature of the liquid in the tank 18 with which the cover 32 is in contact.

  Insofar as the cover 32 loses its resilience and therefore has a tendency to permanently take the open configuration illustrated in FIG. 23, the decompression device operates in the same manner as that illustrated in FIG. that is, as if the liquid pipe 42 was permanently open at its upper end.

  Reference is made to FIG. 24 which illustrates an embodiment substantially identical to that of FIG. 22 but which uses a simple retaining valve generally indicated at 310 and including an annular valve seat 312 around the top opening to the pipe wherein the valve member 314 is movable between the closed position shown in solid lines and an open position shown in dashed lines. The valve member 314 can in the event of gravity alone take the closed position. Otherwise, the valve member 314 can be pushed into the closed position as by the inherent thrust of a bridge 316 which joins the valve member 314 to the valve seat 312.

  Reference is made to FIG. 25 which illustrates an embodiment identical to that of FIG. 24 but which uses a generally indicated check valve at 320 which is identical to the check valve 76 but which is fixed in a pipe 322 forming a inlet to the liquid pipe 42. The valve 320 comprises a flexible annular flange 324 pushed radially outwardly within the pipe 322.

  Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, many modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is

made to the attached claims.

Claims (13)

  A decompression mechanism (12) adapted to allow ambient air to enter a reservoir (18) containing a liquid (26) to reduce the vacuum generated in the reservoir (18), said mechanism including a decompression device ( 12) and a check valve (76), the decompression device (12) comprising: a closed chamber (33) having an air inlet (40) and a liquid inlet (44), the air inlet (40) in communication with the air at atmospheric pressure, the liquid inlet (44) in communication with the liquid (26) in the reservoir (18), the liquid inlet (44) open to the chamber ( 33) at a height less than the height at which the air inlet (40) is open to the chamber (33), the check valve (76) disposed between the liquid inlet (44) and the reservoir (18) movable between a closed position which prevents flow between the reservoir (18) and the liquid inlet (44) and an open position which has utorises the flow through the valve, the valve being pushed to the closed position.   2. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the valve moves from the closed position to the open position when the pressure in the reservoir (18) is sufficiently lower than the pressure at the inlet of the liquid (44).   2869305 36 The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the check valve (76) comprises a resilient member (77) that urges the check valve (76) to the closed position.   The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the resilient member (77) is an elastomeric member comprising an inherent pushing the check valve (76) to the closed position and having a tendency to lose its resiliency.   5. Mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the case of failure of the check valve (76) so that the check valve (76) does not prevent the flow of fluid (26) between the tank (18) and the liquid inlet (44), the flow of the reservoir (18) through the liquid inlet (44) is controlled by the pressure relief device (12) according to the pressure differential between the pressure in the reservoir (18). ) and the atmospheric pressure.   6. Mechanism according to claim 5 wherein the reservoir (18) is a rigid incompressible container.   7. Mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the chamber (33) is defined inside a container comprising side walls, an upper wall (90) and a lower wall (34), an air passage is defined within an air pipe which extends from an opening (41) in the bottom wall (34) upwardly within the chamber (33) to the top wall (90) up to at an upper end of the air pipe which includes the air inlet (40), a liquid passage (26) is defined inside a liquid pipe (42) which extends from an opening (41) in the upper wall (90) downwardly within the chamber (33) to the bottom wall (34) to a lower end of the liquid pipe (42) which includes the liquid inlet (44), the check valve (76) disposed across the opening (41) in the top wall (90).   The mechanism of claim 6 comprising a container with sidewalls, an upper wall (90) and a bottom wall (34), a support tube extending from the bottom wall (34) upwardly inwardly. from the container to the upper wall (90) to an upper end of the support pipe which includes the air inlet (40), the support pipe defining the chamber (33) therein, a passage of air between the support pipe and the side walls which extend from the bottom wall (34) to the top wall (90), an opening (41) open to the atmosphere at a height below the inlet of air (40) through the bottom wall (34) or the side wall in the air passage between the support pipe and the side walls, a liquid passage (26) defined within a a liquid pipe (42) extending from an opening (41) in the top wall (90) downwardly to the int from the chamber (33) to the bottom wall (34) in the support pipe to a lower end of the liquid pipe (42) which includes the liquid inlet (44) with a transfer passage between the pipe of support and the liquid pipe (42) for the passage of fluid between the air inlet (40) and the liquid inlet (44), the retaining valve (76) disposed across the opening ( 41) in the upper wall (90).   The mechanism of claim 8 wherein: a base member (30) comprises the bottom wall (34) and the support pipe, a cover member (32) comprises the top wall (90) and the liquid pipe (42), the cover member (32) and the base member (30) coupled together to form the container, the valve member comprising: a male valve seat member supported by the base member which extends upwardly therefrom into the liquid pipe (42), and an annular female valve seat member supported by the cover member (32) within the liquid pipe (42), the female valve seat member being urged to move downwardly in sealing engagement with the male member in the closed position of the valve and to move to be spaced upwardly from the male member in the open position of the valve.   The mechanism of claim 9 wherein the liquid pipe (42) is movable with the female valve seat member.   The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the liquid pipe (42) is coaxially disposed within the air pipe with the transfer passage 2869305 39 including an annular passage radially therebetween, the seat member of male valve and the female seal member coaxially inside the liquid pipe (42).   12. Mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the air pipe is coaxially placed inside the side walls with the air passage comprising an annular passage between the two.   A liquid dispenser comprising in combination a closed reservoir (18) containing a liquid (26), a pump (24) and a decompression mechanism (12), the decompression mechanism (12) comprising a decompression device ( 12) and a check valve (), the tank (18) comprising a liquid outlet (22) connected to the pump (24) which operates to draw the liquid (26) from the tank (18) via the liquid outlet (22), a vacuum below atmospheric pressure is generated inside the reservoir (18) at the suction of the liquid (26) from the reservoir (18) via the outlet of distribution, the decompression device (12) is adapted to allow ambient air to enter the reservoir (18) via the liquid outlet (22) to reduce any vacuum generated in the reservoir (18), the decompression device (12) comprising a closed chamber (33) having an air inlet (40) and a liquid inlet (44), the liquid inlet (44) opening into the chamber (33) at a height less than the height at which the air inlet ( 40) opens into the chamber (33), the air inlet (40) communicates with the air at atmospheric pressure so that the chamber (33) is at atmospheric pressure, the air inlet air (40) connected via a liquid passage (26) to the liquid outlet (22), the holding valve (76) disposed between the liquid inlet (44) and the reservoir (18). ) movable between a closed position which prevents flow between the reservoir (18) and the liquid inlet (44) and an open position which allows flow through the valve, the valve pushed into the closed position, liquid inlet (44) at a height less than the height of the liquid in the reservoir (18).