FR3100996A1 - Upgraded Liquid Dispenser Backpack - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid dispenser backpack (1) suitable for dispensing a fluid stored in a fluid reservoir (8), comprising: a power supply, a pumping device, the pump being adapted to be fluidly connected to the reservoir at the level of '' one end of a fluid supply pipe, the pump having an inlet and an outlet, the fluid being capable of being pumped from the reservoir into the pumping device via the supply pipe and the inlet and being capable of being pumped out of the reservoir. pumping device via the outlet; a distribution tube in fluid connection with the outlet of the pumping device and capable of being used to pass fluid therethrough. The inlet pipe is provided at its other end with a first element, male or female, with a quick coupling type connection for fluid. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Improved Liquid Dispenser Backpack

The present invention relates to a novel transportable fluid dispenser suitable for dispensing fluid. It also relates to a process for converting a transportable fluid dispenser of known type.

State of the prior art

There are several types of transportable fluid dispensers for dispensing a wide variety of fluids in many applications.

Such portable dispensers can for example be fluid sprayers used to apply fluid to surfaces or objects, for example to spray water, fertilizer, pesticide, cleaning fluid, paint, lacquer and any other fluid.

In some cases, these portable fluid sprayers are designed to be carried by a user from location to location depending on the needs of a project. Portable fluid sprayers can be carried by a user, for example on a user's back in the form of a backpack.

Some classic knapsack sprayers are hand-pump sprayers, while other classic sprayers are powered (e.g. by battery power or another power source via a power cord to a power supply).

Powered backpack sprayers typically include a reservoir having an internal chamber for containing fluid, a pump operable to pump fluid from the reservoir, a power device (such as a battery, or suitable circuitry for connection electric) connected to the pump to supply the pump, and a conduit connected to the outlet of the pump to pass the fluid from the pump to a dispensing nozzle connected to one end of the conduit.

The spray device described in international application WO2005007558A2 is known in particular.

A very specific application consists in greasing pads at the level of a railway track switch, using a particular grease. The grease is very liquid, biodegradable and has a soap and an oil. The reservoir containing grease must therefore be cleaned after each use, which can create risks for the user who can get dirty, or even receive a few drops of fluids on the skin. Cleaning also entails costs and loss of time.

Also, depending on the contents of the liquid dispenser tank, the tank should be sent to a special industrial waste system.

An object of the invention is in particular to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fluid dispenser backpack suitable for dispensing fluid stored in a fluid reservoir, comprising:

• a power supply, for example an electric battery, for example removable to be recharged, or even a conventional power supply;
• a pumping device, for example an electric pump supplied with energy by said electric power supply, said pump being adapted to be fluidically connected to said reservoir at the level of one end of a fluid supply pipe, said pump having a inlet and an outlet, fluid being pumpable from the reservoir into said pumping device via said supply pipe and said inlet and being pumpable out of said pumping device via said outlet;
• a delivery tube in fluid connection with the outlet of the pumping device and operable to pass fluid therethrough.

According to the invention, the supply pipe is provided at its other end with a first element, male or female, of a connection of the quick coupling type for fluid, the first element being preferably arranged to cooperate with a second element of the connection present on the fluid tank.

According to one possibility, the transportable dispenser may comprise a front shell arranged to receive the electrical power supply and the pumping device, and a rear shell forming a housing arranged to receive the fluid reservoir in a removable manner.

The other end of the supply pipe may open into an internal cavity formed by the rear shell. The distributor may be provided with a window in an outer wall of the rear shell, preferably at the level of the first element of the connection.

The dispenser may further comprise a means of dispensing, for example lance, fluid arranged to be connected at one end to a liquid dispensing nozzle.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is proposed a bag (of the DOYPACK type) provided with a connection element (21) for a quick coupling for fluid suitable for being fluidically connected to a liquid dispenser backpack according to the first aspect of the invention, or one or more of its improvements.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising:

• a dispenser according to the first aspect of the invention, or one or more of its improvements,
• one knows the second aspect of the invention, or one or more of its improvements.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is proposed a method of converting a transportable fluid dispenser suitable for dispensing a fluid and having a reservoir as well as a pumping device comprising an inlet connected to one end of a fluid supply pipe which is itself connected to said tank at another end, comprising a step of placing at the other end of said supply pipe a first connection element, male or female, of the quick coupling type for fluid and a step of creating a window in the reservoir at the level of said first connection element.

The fluid dispenser backpack according to the invention can be used to receive a particular grease, for example to grease pads at a railroad switch.

Another application of the invention, in particular when the connector is a CMB type quick connector, is the field of the food industry. All parts are approved for use in this area.

Description of figures

Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and in no way limiting embodiments, with regard to the appended drawings in which:

represents a schematic perspective rear view of a system according to the invention,

represents a block diagram of the system shown in Figure 1,

illustrates the insertion of a bag according to the invention in a backpack according to the invention,

schematically represents a perspective front view of the system shown in Figure 1.

Description of embodiment

The embodiments described below being in no way limiting, variants of the invention may in particular be considered comprising only a selection of characteristics described, subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient. to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection includes at least one feature, preferably functional without structural details, or with only part of the structural details if only this part is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art .

In the figures, an element appearing in several figures retains the same reference.

Referring to the figures, one embodiment of a portable fluid dispenser 1 embodying the present invention is illustrated. Dispenser 1 can be designed to be worn and/or carried by a user, and can be powered or hand operated using any conventional hand pump. Dispenser 1 can dispense a variety of fluids, such as liquids or semi-liquids, for example, water, pesticide, fertilizer, cleaning fluid, paint, lacquer, or any other suitable fluid, in various ways, such as, for example, a constant flow, a dispersed spray, a mist and/or in any other way.

The distributor 1 illustrated in the figures and described in more detail below is presented by way of example only to illustrate and describe the various characteristics and elements of the present invention. In this regard, it should be noted that other embodiments of the present invention may employ any number of the features and elements illustrated in the figures and described in more detail below.

Referring to the figures, example dispenser 1 is designed to be worn by a user. Although the dispenser can be designed to be worn by any area of a user's body, the illustrated dispenser is designed to be worn on a user's back. To this end, the distributor 1 may comprise a front shell 2 positionable on the back of the user to support the distributor 1. The front shell 2 in the illustrated embodiment is connected to a rear shell 3 of the distributor 1, and may include upper straps 4 and lower straps 5 engageable with upper strap holders (not shown) and lower strap holders (not shown).

The front shell 2 can be provided with a foam plate 6 to which one or more of the straps 4, 5 are connected. The foam plate 6 can thus distribute the weight of the dispenser 1 via the straps 4, 5.

The back shell 3 defines an internal cavity 7 in which a bag 8 can be received and stored, and an opening 9 through which the bag can be placed in the back shell 3 or removed from the back shell 3. The opening 9 is located in an upper wall of the rear hull 3.

Windows 10 and 11 are formed on an outer surface of the front shell 3 so as to be able to observe the level of fluid contained in the bag 8. Instead of the windows, transparent plastics can be placed on these surfaces to prohibit prevent to touch the bag.

Dispenser 1 also has a tank cover 12 which can be selectively closed to close the rear shell 3 above the opening 9, the tank cover 11 is complementary in shape and is sized to cooperate with the opening 9, and can take any form.

The front shell 2 defines a battery receptacle 13 in a front surface thereof. The dispenser also includes a battery 14 removably connected to the front shell 2. The battery 14 is a high capacity 18 volt battery. However, battery 14 can be any type of battery that can be used to efficiently power dispenser 1. Battery 14 can have a footprint of 120mm by 70mm by 80mm. According to a variant, the front shell 2 can define an electrical interface so that the electrical systems making up the distributor are directly powered by a permanent electrical power supply.

In the illustrated embodiment, the battery 14 is removably connected to the front cover, preferably by means of a specific MILWAUKEE type engagement. Alternatively, the battery 14 may be mounted in some other way, such as, for example, by one or more fasteners (screws, bolts, clamps, pins and the like).

As shown in Figure 2, the distributor 1 further comprises a pumping device 15, here an electric pump driven by an electric motor 16. The electric motor 16 is powered by the battery 14.

The pump 15 is fluidly connected to the bag 8 and has an inlet 17 and an outlet 18. The pump can for example have a footprint of 190 mm by 90 mm.

A quick coupler closes both ends of the pipe preventing liquid from escaping when the coupler is uncoupled. A coupling of this type typically comprises a sleeve, a male part and a female part. When the fitting needs to be mated, the sleeve is pulled back and the male part is pushed into the female part. When uncoupling, the sleeve is pulled back to unlock the fitting and allow the ends of the pipe to be closed. For example, valves can be spring loaded and are placed in the female and male parts which are in cooperation when the coupling is coupled so that the pipeline is then open and, when the coupling is uncoupled, the valves come to cooperate with seats formed in the female and male parts.

The quick couplings covered by the invention can also be of the "push-pull" type or even of the CMB type (for CMB Schankanlagen Gmbh) equipped with a seal on the male part to ensure sealing.

To this end, the bag is provided with a first element 21 for the connection 20, respectively of the male or female part type, while the end 19 arranged to be connected to the bag is provided with a second element 22, respectively of the female or male part type, cooperating with the first element 21 for the connection 20.

As can best be seen in Figure 3, the pipe 19 opens into a lower part 7' of the internal cavity 7 of the rear shell 3. A window F is arranged on an outer surface of the rear shell 3 to allow manipulation of connection 20 to couple to, or uncouple from, pipe 19.

The pumping device 15 further comprises a pressure switch, not shown, arranged to drive the pump when the pressure is below a predetermined maximum value, for example 4.2 bars. When the maximum preset value is reached, the pump is no longer driven. When the current value is lower than a predetermined minimum value, for example 1.9 bar, the pump is driven. Also, the operating pressure for is between the minimum value and the maximum value.

Also, the user of the distributor 1 only needs to connect the bag 8 to the pipe 19 to be able to distribute the liquid on the appropriate surface. This prevents him from having to handle a potentially dangerous liquid to fill a tank. When the bag is finished, because empty, the user can remove the bag and put another one: he does not have to clean the tank.

When the bag 8 is removed from the connector, there is no liquid flowing, either from the side of the bag or that of the connector.

The bag can be hung on the lid 12 using a C-hook.

The pipe 19 is itself fluidly connected to the inlet 17 of the pump by means of another connector 23, for example of the hydraulic quick coupling type, but not necessarily.

Fluid can be pumped from bag 8 into said pumping device 15 via inlet 17 and can be pumped out of pumping device 15 via outlet 18.

The outlet 18 is itself connected, by means of a connector 24 to a pipe 25, which is connected to a connection interface 26 disposed on an outer surface of the front hull 2 or the rear hull 3.

The connection interface 26 is itself connected, by means of a pipe 27 and a connector 28, to a lance 29 equipped with a dispensing nozzle 30 at its end.

The connector 28, preferably of the push-pull type, allows the user to free himself from the lance 29, in an emergency situation, if the latter becomes stuck. This can be the case when a track switch is moved and traps the lance, while a train is arriving at the same time.

The dispensing nozzle 30 can be replaced by a spray nozzle. The lance can be provided extendable, for example from 78 cm to 125 cm.

The dispensing nozzle 30 is equipped with a push-type control means 31.

In a rest position of the control means 31, the flow of liquid pressurized by the pump 15 is blocked. In another position in which the plunger is pressed against a spring, the flow of liquid pressurized by the pump 15 can flow in the direction of the dispensing nozzle 30.

The dispenser further comprises a repriming device, not shown. The repriming device comprises a valve placed on the lance 30. It is arranged to avoid having to reprime the pump when a bag is finished and another is available. This avoids having to press on the bag. Note that the pump is reprimed without touching the liquid.

An empty channel, the bag can be sent to an ordinary industrial waste system, unlike the tanks of devices according to the state of the art which had to be sent to a special industrial waste system.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the different features, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

Claims (8)

Backpack fluid dispenser (1) suitable for dispensing fluid stored in a fluid reservoir (8), comprising:
- a power supply (14);
- a pumping device (15, 16), said pump being able to be fluidly connected to said reservoir at one end of a fluid supply pipe (19), said pump having an inlet (17) and an outlet (18), fluid being pumpable from the reservoir into said pumping device via said supply pipe and said inlet and being pumpable out of said pumping device via said outlet;
- a delivery tube (25) in fluid connection with the outlet of the pumping device and operable to pass fluid therethrough;
- characterized in that the supply pipe is provided at its other end with a first element (22), male or female, with a connection (20) of the hydraulic quick coupling type. Backpack fluid dispenser according to claim 1, comprising a front shell (2) arranged to receive the electrical power supply (14) and the pumping device (15, 16), and a rear shell (3) forming a housing arranged to receive the reservoir of fluid (8) in a removable manner. Backpack fluid distributor according to claim 2, in which the other end of the supply pipe (19) opens into an internal cavity (7) formed by the rear shell (3) and in which it is provided with a window (F ) in an outer wall of the rear shell (3). A dispenser according to any preceding claim, further comprising fluid dispensing means (eg lance) (29) arranged to be connected at one end to a liquid dispensing nozzle (30). Bag-type fluid dispenser (8), characterized in that it is provided with a hydraulic quick coupling connection element (21) suitable for being fluidically connected to a backpack fluid dispenser according to any of previous claims. Kit includes:
- a backpack fluid dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
- a bag (8) according to claim 5. A method of converting a fluid-dispensing backpack suitable for dispensing fluid stored in a fluid reservoir, comprising an electrical supply, a pumping device, said pump being adapted to be fluidly connected to said reservoir at one end of a fluid supply pipe, said pump having an inlet and an outlet, fluid being pumpable from the reservoir into said pumping device via said supply pipe and said inlet and being pumpable out of said pumping device pumping via said outlet and a distribution tube in fluidic connection with the outlet of the pumping device and which can be used to pass fluid through the latter, characterized in that it comprises comprising a step of positioning at the level from the other end of said supply pipe, male or female, of a quick coupling type connection for fluid. Method according to the preceding claim, further comprising a step of creating a window in the tank at the level of said first connection element.