FR2952618A1 - DOSING PLUG FOR CONTAINER CONTAINING PRESSURIZED FLUID AND CONTAINER HAVING SUCH PLUG - Google Patents

Abstract

Metering cap (1) for a container (2) under pressure, comprising: - a body (8) having an axial fluid passage (12), shaped to be introduced into the container (2) through the neck (5), - a first seal (15) which is shaped to bear on a part of the body (8), - an assembly ring (16) for removably securing the measuring cap (1) to the container (2) which is removable, and - a closure member (17) adapted to close and selectively open the fluid outlet passage (12).

Description

The present invention relates to pressure vessels capable of containing a fluid, and more particularly to the means for closing such pressure vessels. The known pressure vessels are of the aerosol type.

An aerosol is a set of particles, solid or liquid, of a given chemical substance suspended in a gaseous medium. In everyday life, the term "aerosol" also refers to the container containing a mixture of a product and a propellant. The propellant creates a pressure inside the container. By opening an outlet valve, the mixture is expelled outside the pressure vessel. The product is sprayed in aerosol form, that is to say in fine particles suspended in the air. The propellant is usually nitrogen, because it is an inert gas and therefore less dangerous than propane, butane or other flammable hydrocarbons that have no effect on the ozone layer.

A known aerosol container includes a bottom, a side wall and a neck, and is usually made of aluminum. The thickness of the container is designed to hold up to 18 bar pressure inside. There are such aerosol containers having different capacities. These known containers are closed by a dispensing valve provided non-removable. The containers can not be reused. When pressure is applied to an operating member connected to the dispensing valve, the seal is broken, allowing the product contained in the container to pass into the valve and escape to the outside of the container. Aerosols, that is, pressure vessels with a non-removable dispensing valve, are subject to very strict and stringent safety standards. In all known aerosols, the dispensing valves are not removable and they do not allow to effectively measure the flow of product leaving the pressure vessel. The internal pressure allowed by the standards is limited to 12 bar at 50 ° C. In addition, the filling of known aerosols is limited by strict standards to 66% of the volume which itself is one liter at most. The known aerosols work only when they contain a non-granular fluid, otherwise the dispensing valve clogs and the aerosols can no longer dispense fluid. A first problem proposed by the present invention is to design a closure means for a pressure vessel capable of containing a fluid, which can be dismantled, which makes it possible to dose the outgoing product, and whose safety of use is ensured up to pressures of more than 20 bar.

A second problem underlying the present invention is to design a pressure vessel that allows intermittent thrust and that can contain and distribute a fluid even granular. The idea underlying the invention is to design a reliable dismountable metering stopper, and to use it in association with a container containing a fluid under a pressure much higher than the pressures usually allowed for aerosols, for example of the order of 30 bars. In order to achieve these and other objects, the invention provides, in a first aspect, a pressure container dispenser cap capable of containing a fluid, the container having a bottom, a substantially cylindrical side wall that tapers to a collar having a front neck face and an inner neck edge, comprising: - a longitudinal axis body having: - a penetrating portion, which is shaped to penetrate the neck of the container, and which has a radial peripheral outgrowth adapted to engage in abutment against the inner neck edge, - an emergent part, with an axial fluid passage communicating with the interior of the container and communicating with the outside of the container through a fluid outlet passage, 20 - a shoulder at the junction between the penetrating part and the emergent part, - a seal, shaped to bear on the sealing shoulder and on the front face collar, - an assembly ring, adapted to be fixed removably on the emergent part of the body by axially clamping the first seal against the front face of the neck and against the sealing shoulder, and a closure member adapted to close and selectively open the fluid outlet passage, controlled by a maneuvering member accessible on the emerging part of the body.

Such a measuring cap is removable. Thus, the container that closes can be easily reused which reduces the amount of waste produced. Such a measuring cap is therefore ecological. Such a dosing cap does not include a valve. And the pressure vessel provided with such a removable dosing cap is not constrained by the strict standards of aerosols, nor by other rules if the volume of the container is less than one liter and if the product pressure per volume is less than 50Lbar.

This dosing cap is simple in design, it includes only three main elements that can be preassembled, then a fourth element to assemble to assemble the dosing cap to the pressure vessel, so it is also easy to use.

Such a dosing cap is compatible with conventional aerosol container bodies, so that it is possible to take advantage of the low cost of these mass-produced containers. In addition, the cap according to the invention is a dosing cap, the user can therefore choose the flow rate of the product out of the pressure vessel.

Advantageously, it can be provided that the radial peripheral protrusion comprises a frustoconical portion whose cone angle substantially corresponds to the inclination of the inner collar edge of the container. This optimally distributes the mechanical stresses on the neck of the container.

Advantageously, it can be provided that the penetrating portion comprises at least one recessed side face defining a width smaller than the diameter of the neck of the container. The introduction of the body into the pressure vessel is thus facilitated. It can be advantageously provided that said at least one lateral face 20 is positioned so that it allows a slight local deformation of the neck which generates a leakage beyond a predetermined pressure inside the container. It is an element of security inexpensive and easy to implement. It is advantageously provided that the measuring cap is made of metal or plastic.

The use of plastic material makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of the measuring cap because the plastic material is less expensive than the metal. However, the metal will have better mechanical strength. In the case of a metal measuring cap, it can advantageously be provided that the metal is stainless steel or an aluminum alloy.

These metals are widespread and their numerical control machining is well known. Advantageously, it can be provided that the assembly ring is fixed to the body by screwing, pressing or pinning. These types of assembly make it possible to obtain a measuring cap which is removable.

Advantageously, it can be provided that the penetrating part of the body comprises two lateral plates on either side of the longitudinal axis of the body. One of these two dishes realizing the side face. Advantageously, it is possible for the assembly ring to have a peripheral skirt surrounding the neck of the container, leaving a leakage space between its extreme edge and the peripheral wall of the container. It is an inexpensive and easy-to-use security element that guides the fluid jet issuing from the container through the seal in the event of overpressure away from the user.

Advantageously, provision can be made, according to a first embodiment, for the closure member to be a rod slidably mounted in the axial fluid passage between a closed position and an open position, and comprises two grooves. annular frustoconical profile adapted to receive annular sealing seals.

The stroke of the shutter element is limited between two predefined positions. This avoids any risk of the shutter element coming out of the axial passage of the fluid. According to a second embodiment, it is advantageously provided that the closure member is a needle screw that is actuated by screwing or unscrewing into the body. The penetration of the needle screw into the body is precisely selected by a user by screwing or unscrewing more or less the needle screw. And this structure is well suited to applications in which the fluid contains solid powders or suspensions.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a container adapted to contain a fluid under pressure, closed by a measuring cap according to the first aspect of the invention, and having an initial internal pressure greater than 20 bar. Such a container is not required to meet aerosol standards because it does not include a fixed valve and the cap is removable.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a container under pressure provided with a dosing cap according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the elements to be assembled to produce the measuring cap of FIG. 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the body of the measuring cap of Figure 1 in a state penetrated into the neck of the container; FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the measuring cap of FIG. 1; Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the measuring cap of Figure 1 in a closed position; - Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an enlargement at the annular groove of the measuring cap of Figure 1 in an intermediate position; Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plug of Figure 1 in an open position; and - Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a measuring cap according to a second embodiment. Figures 1 to 7 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention, in which a measuring cap 1 is screwed together to a pressure vessel 2. The numerical references therefore refer to the same elements in all these figures. Figure 1 illustrates the container 2 closed by the measuring cap 1. The container 2 comprises a bottom 3, a cylindrical side wall 4 which narrows to a neck 5. The narrowing is provided at an angle of inclination (3.

The neck 5 is made by folding outwardly on itself the material constituting the container 2. The neck 5 comprises a front face of the neck 6 and a lower edge of the neck 7. The container 2 is intended to contain a fluid under pressure. To describe the measuring cap 1, FIG. 4 is illustrated which more precisely illustrates in section the constituent elements of the measuring cap 1.

The measuring cap 1 comprises a body 8 with a longitudinal axis II, a seal 15, an assembly ring 16, a closure member 17, and an operating member 18. The body 8 comprises a penetrating part 9 and an emerging portion 11 which meet in a sealing shoulder 14 facing the emergent portion 11. The penetrating portion 9 comprises a substantially cylindrical distal portion and a proximal radial peripheral protrusion. The radial peripheral protrusion 10 comprises a frustoconical portion 10a (FIG. 2) of cone angle a.

The cone angle a is intended to correspond with the angle of inclination 13 so as to distribute the mechanical stresses of the measuring cap 1 on the container 2.

The penetrating portion 9 comprises two lateral plates 19a and 19b (FIGS. 2 and 3) on either side of the longitudinal axis II of the body 8. These two lateral plates 19a and 19b (FIGS. 2 and 3) ), parallel to the longitudinal axis II, are provided to allow the introduction of the penetrating portion 9 of the body 8 in the container 5 2 by the neck 5. To do this, the width 190 of the penetrating portion 9, at the of the two side plates 19a and 19b, is provided to be smaller than the diameter D of the neck 5 of the container 2. Alternatively, the penetrating portion 9 of the body 8 may have non-parallel, non-symmetrical or non-symmetrical side faces lateral. The essential is to allow penetration of the penetrating part 9 in the neck 5 and a sufficient range for the seal 15. The emergent part 11 comprises an axial passage of fluid 12 through, a fluid outlet passage 13, and a threaded portion 11a on its outer surface proximate to the sealing shoulder 14. The fluid outlet passage 13 and the axial fluid passage 12 communicate with one another to allow, once the metering cap 1 is assembled to the container 2, the flow of the product contained in the container 2. The axial fluid passage 12 comprises an intermediate shoulder 20 30 disposed at an intermediate position between the fluid outlet passage 13 and the upstream orifice 12a of the axial passage of fluid 12, and having its face facing upstream. The seal 15 is annular and is shaped to bear on the sealing shoulder 14 and on the front face of the neck 6.

The assembly ring 16 comprises a substantially cylindrical portion 25 having a threaded through opening 24, and a peripheral skirt 20. The thread of the threaded through opening 24 of the assembly ring 16 is provided to correspond to the portion thread. 1. The closure member 17 is able to shut off and selectively open the fluid outlet passage 13. It is controlled by an operating member 18 accessible on the emergent portion 11 of the body 8. The closure member 17 is a rod comprising two annular grooves 22a and 22b with a frustoconical profile and longitudinally offset from one another at a spacing greater than the axial distance between the fluid outlet passage 13 and the the intermediate shoulder 30 (Figure 4). Each annular groove 22a and 22b is provided with a closure seal, respectively 23a and 23b. Each closure seal 23a and 23b can advantageously be made of elastomer and of cylindrical tubular shape with circular section of constant thickness. The upstream annular groove 22a has a depth which is reduced in the direction of the upstream orifice 12a. The closure member 17 comprises an intermediate portion 170 situated between the two annular grooves 22a and 22b and which is cylindrical in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7. This intermediate portion 170 could, however, be frustoconical, or more broadly, any form to be determined according to the particle size of the fluid to be dispensed. FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate the sliding of the closure member 17 in the axial fluid passage 12. FIG. 5 illustrates the measuring cap 1 in a closed position P1 in which the product contained in the container 2 It can not be expelled out of the container 2: the upstream seal 23a is engaged in a small diameter cylindrical section of the axial fluid passage 12, between the fluid outlet passage 13 and the intermediate shoulder 30. , and it then ensures tight sealing of the axial fluid passage 12. Figure 6 illustrates on a larger scale the shutter member 17 in an intermediate position P. In this intermediate position P, the shutter seal 23a upstream is to the right of the intermediate shoulder 30, and it realizes 20 a partial opening by passing the fluid under pressure at a rate that the user can control by axial displacement of the shutter member 17. The frustoconical ring of the annular groove 22a gradually forces the shutter seal 23a upstream, allowing a gradual opening. Figure 7 illustrates the measuring cap 1 in an opening position P2, in which the product contained in the container 2 is expelled to the outside of the container 2. As illustrated in Figure 5, when the closure member 17 is in the position P1 shutter, the fluid can not be expelled because the axial passage of fluid 12 is closed by the closure member 17. By the pressure inside the container 2, the organ shutter 17 is pushed outwards, and its stroke is limited by a shoulder 26 provided on the closure member 17 and which bears axially against the intermediate shoulder 30 of the axial fluid passage 12, avoiding that the shutter member 17 does not escape. Sealing is ensured in the position P1 of sealing by the upstream sealing gasket 23a which is pressed conically against the wall of the axial fluid passage 12.

In case of overpressure inside the container 2 beyond a determined pressure value, leakage is possible by the seal 15 and in the space E between the peripheral skirt 20 and 2. When a user applies a force F (FIG. 7) to the operating member 18, the stem of the closure member 17 slides in the axial fluid passage 12. The fluid does not escape not thanks to the closure seal 23a upstream which is always pressed against the wall of the axial fluid passage 12. As can be understood from Figure 6, the closure is provided efficiently and very economically with a seal 23a cylindrical engaged in a frustoconical annular groove 22a. Figure 7 illustrates the elements in the opening position P2 in which the fluid is expelled. The closure member 17 is lowered sufficiently to break the seal at the upstream seal 23a. The fluid is thus expelled in a controlled manner to the outside through the axial passage of fluid 12 and then through the outlet passage 13. The second seal 23b seals to prevent a quantity of fluid can be extracted towards the operating member 18. The operating member 18 is a cap provided with a threaded bore 18a for fixing it by screwing on the distal end 17a of the threaded closure member 17. alternatively, the operating member 18 may be fixed by clipping, crimping, hooping or gluing. The operating member 18 may also be integral with the closure member 17. In the embodiment described, a resilient means 17b of the helical compression spring type is engaged between the operating member 18 and the body 8 , to help the closure if the pressure is too low inside the container 2, or if the fluid is sticky. The elastic means 17b is however not essential, and it can be considered that the pressure inside the container 2 is sufficient to allow the sliding of the closure member 17 to the position P1 shutter with the appropriate dispensing fluids. If necessary, the fluid contained in the container must be filtered beforehand. FIG. 2 makes it possible to explain the assembly order of these elements in order to produce the measuring cap 1.

The seal 15 is disposed on the inside of the assembly ring 16 so that once assembled, the seal 15 seals at the neck 5 of the container 2. sliding member 5576FDEP.doc 2952618 9 the closure member 17 without the actuating member 18 in the axial fluid passage 12 by engaging it through the upstream orifice 12a. The closure joints 23a and 23b have previously been mounted in the respective annular grooves 22a and 22b provided in the closure member 17. The assembly ring 16 provided with the seal 15 is engaged on the body 8 The closure member 18 is screwed onto the distal end 17a of the closure member 17, by blocking in rotation the closure member by engagement of a screwdriver in a slot 17c provided at the end. proximal to the closure member 17. As an alternative to the slot 17c, any other locking means can be provided.

Then, the penetrating portion 9 can be introduced obliquely into the neck 5 of the container 2. This introduction is made possible in particular by the presence of the two side plates 19a and 19b. Then, the measuring cap 1 is positioned so that the radial peripheral protrusion 10 engages against the inside collar edge 7.

Then, the assembly ring 16 is screwed onto the threaded part of the emergent part 11 of the body 8. The assembly ring 16 axially clamps the first seal 15 against the end face of the collar 6 and against the sealing shoulder 14. The assembly of the measuring cap 1 with the container 2 is made. The peripheral skirt 20 surrounds the neck 5 of the container 2 leaving a leakage space E between its end edge 21 and the peripheral wall 4 of the container 2. The invention also ensures the safety of the users, by a safety leak when a predetermined maximum pressure is reached inside the container 2. To do this, the side plates 19a and 19b are positioned recessed 25 so that they allow a slight local deformation of the neck 5 providing a zone of less resistance . Thus, when the predetermined maximum pressure is reached, the neck 5 is deformed outwards and the seal 15 is less crushed, which generates a safety leak. This first embodiment is more particularly suitable for fluids whose particle size is less than 500 μm. FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the container 2 (FIG. 1) is closed by the measuring cap 100. As in the first embodiment, the measuring cap 100 is assembled to the container 2 by screwing .

The same essential means are identified by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 7.

The measuring cap 100 comprises a body 80 with a longitudinal axis II-II, a seal 15, an assembly ring 16, a shutter element 40. The main difference between the first and the second mode of It is realized that in the second embodiment the shut-off member 41 and the operating member 42 are in one piece and provide the shutter member 40. Alternatively, the operating member 42 may be a single piece. reported by gluing, clipping, hooping or screwing. The axial fluid passage 12 comprises a threaded upper portion 12b, a lower shoulder 43 and an intermediate shoulder 44. The lower shoulder 43 is disposed at an intermediate position between the fluid outlet passage 13 and the upstream orifice 12a of the axial fluid passage 12. The shutter element 40 is able to shut off and selectively open the fluid outlet passage 13. It is directly controlled by an action of a user on the operating member 42 accessible on the emergent part 11 of the body 80. The closure member 41 is a rod having three sections. A first upper section 41a is partially threaded in its part close to the operating member 42. A second section 41b has a reduced diameter and comprises an annular groove 45 having a frustoconical profile. The first section 41a and the second section 41b are joined by a shoulder 44a. The rod ends in a point with a third section 41c. The annular groove 45 is provided with a closure seal 46. As in the previous embodiment, the closure seal 46 may advantageously be made of elastomer and of cylindrical tubular shape with circular section of constant thickness. The annular groove 45 has a depth which increases towards the upstream orifice 12a. The operation of the measuring cap 100 will now be described. In the position illustrated in FIG. 8, the measuring cap 100 is in a closed position in which the product contained in the container 2 can not be expelled outwards. of the container 2. The third portion 41c at the tip of the closure member 41 is engaged in a cylindrical section with a small diameter of the axial fluid passage 12, upstream of the fluid outlet passage 13, and it then ensures a closure When the closure member 41 is in an intermediate position, the third tip section 41c is no longer engaged in the small-diameter cylindrical section of the axial fluid passage 12. Thus, a partial opening is made which passes the fluid under pressure at a rate that the user can control by axial displacement of the shutter member 41 by unscrewing us or less the shutter element 40. The pointed shape of the third section 41c allows a gradual opening. In an open position, the product contained in the container 2 is expelled towards the outside of the container 2 because the third section 41c is no longer engaged in the axial fluid passage 12, which has the effect of breaking the sealing. When a user unscrews the shutter member 40, the stem of the shutter member 41 rises in the axial fluid passage 12. The closure seal 46, which remains pressed against the wall of the axial fluid passage 12, prevents the progression of the fluid towards the operating member 42. This second embodiment is more particularly suitable for fluids whose particle size is less than 2 mm. In this embodiment of FIG. 8, the shutter element 40 is thus a needle screw which is actuated by screwing or unscrewing in the body 80. The measuring cap may be made of any material having characteristics when the container must contain and dispense a food-grade fluid. It may be made of plastic or metal (for example stainless steel or an aluminum alloy).

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the following claims.

5576FDEP.doc

Claims (1)

CLAIMS1 - Metering cap (1; 100) for a receptacle (2) under pressure capable of containing a fluid, the receptacle (2) comprising a bottom (3), a substantially cylindrical lateral wall (4) which narrows towards a neck (5) ) having a front end face (6) and an inner neck edge (7), characterized in that it comprises: - a body (8; 80) with a longitudinal axis having: - a penetrating part (9), which is shaped to penetrate the neck (5) of the container (2), and which has a radial peripheral protrusion (10) 10 adapted to engage in abutment against the inner collar edge (7), - an emerging part (11) ), with an axial fluid passage (12) communicating with the interior of the container (2) and communicating with the outside of the container (2) through a fluid outlet passage (13), - a sealing shoulder ( 14) at the junction between the penetrating part (9) and the emerging part (11), - a seal (15), shaped to carry on the sealing shoulder (14) and on the end face of the neck (6), - an assembly ring (16), adapted to be fixed removably on the emergent part (11) of the body (8; 80) by axially clamping the first seal (15) against the end face of the neck (6) and against the sealing shoulder (14), and - a closure member (17; 41) adapted to selectively closing and opening the fluid outlet passage (12), controlled by an actuating member (18; 42) accessible on the emergent portion (11) of the body (8; 80). 25 2-metering cap (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial peripheral protrusion (10) comprises a frustoconical portion (10a) whose cone angle corresponds substantially to the inclination of the inner collar edge (7) of the container (2). 3-metering cap (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the penetrating portion (9) comprises at least one recessed side face (19a; 19b) defining a width (190) smaller than the diameter (D) the neck (5) of the container (2). 4. A dosing cap (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one lateral face (19a; 19b) is positioned so that it allows a slight local deformation of the neck (5) which generates a leak at a predetermined pressure inside the container (2). 5 ù Measuring cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is made of metal or plastic. 6 - metering cap (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the metal is stainless steel or an aluminum alloy. 5. A dosing cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting ring (16) is fixed to the body (8; 80) by screwing, pressing or pinning. 8-metering cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting ring (16) comprises a peripheral skirt (20) surrounding the neck (5) of the container (2) in leaving a leakage gap (E) between its end edge (21) and the side wall (4) of the container (2). 9-metering cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the closure member (17) is a rod slidably mounted in the axial fluid passage (12) between a position d shutter (P1) and an open position (P2), and comprises two annular grooves (22a and 22b) frustoconical profile receiving annular sealing seals (23a and 23b). 10-metering cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the closure member (41) is a needle screw which is actuated by screwing or unscrewing in the body (80) . Container (2) adapted to contain a fluid under pressure, characterized in that it is closed by a measuring cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and in that its initial internal pressure is greater than at 20 bars.