GB2162901A

GB2162901A - Dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2162901A
Application number: GB08515012A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas John Brassey; Christopher John Bowyer; Winston Graham Nelson; Anthony John Pagdin
Original assignee: Dow Corning Hansil Ltd
Current assignee: Dow Corning Hansil Ltd
Priority date: 1984-06-15
Filing date: 1985-06-13
Publication date: 1986-02-12
Also published as: GB2162901B; GB8515012D0

Abstract

A pressurized cylindrical container (Fig. 1) for containing a product to be dispensed is provided with a valve having a valve outlet member which is movable axially inwardly of the container to dispense the product. A nozzle 20 comprises an inlet portion adapted to engage the valve outlet member, a pair of arms 25 extending in opposite directions outwardly away from the axis of the valve outlet member and substantially perpendicular thereto and an outlet portion 22, a continuous passage being formed through the inlet and outlet portions, said passage bending through an acute angle, whereby in use the arms 25 may be pushed to operate the valve and dispense the product at an angle to the container axis. The inlet portion may be screwed onto the valve outlet member (as in Fig. 4) and a nozzle extension can be screwed on at 23. Means preventing valve actuation during transport comprise spacers (31, 32, Fig. 4) or frangible webs (36, Fig. 8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing apparatus This invention relates to a dispensing apparatus including a- nozzle and is of particular, though not exclusive, value in dispensing materials from cylindrical containers such as aerosol canisters and pressure cartridges.

As is well known, aerosol canisters and pressure cartridges are normally provided with a valve at one axial end of the container and the valve is actuated by pressing it axially in towards the container to release the product to be dispensed. In the case of an aerosol the product is mixed with a propellant and the product and propellant are ejected together in the form of a spray or jet, commonly directed at 90 to the axis of the container. Pressure cartridges consist of an outer cylindrical casing and an inner collapsible pouch formed of plastics or thin metal, such as aluminium, with a space between the bottom of the pouch and the bottom of the casing which is filled with a gas under pressure. When the valve at the top of the cartridge is actuated, the product alone is expelled as the pouch collapses under gas pressure.The product and gas do not come into contact. Pressure cartridges have been used for dispensing a wide variety of materials, usually creams, gels, pastes or the like, such as toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, sealants and adhesives.

A known valve for a pressure cartridge comprises a tubular member which passes through a resilient seal in the top of the cartridge, The tubular member is open at the top outside of the seal but closed at the bottom below the seal and within the car trudge to form a valve head which seats on the seal, Immediately above the closed end a number of apertures are formed in the wall of the tubular member. If the tubular member is pressed axially into the container or its end outside-of the container-is moved sideways the valve- head is unseated to allow the contents of the cartridge to be expeiled.

A straight tapering nozzle has been connected to such a valve for dispensing the product. However, in a number of applications, such as the dispensing of sealants, such a nozzle and valve arrangement has several disadvantages. Firstly, the material is dispensed along the axis of the container and this may not be convenient and comfortable in use. Secondly, the valve has to be actuated by pressing the end of the nozzle against the work and this may be undesirable, for example when extruding a fillet of sealant.

Further, since the valve may be actuated by moving the end of the nozzle, difficulties are encountered in packaging and transporting filled cartridges if it is desired to prevent the accidental discharge of product.

Viewed from one aspect, the invention provides a nozzle for use with a pressurized cylindrical container containing a product to be dispensed and provided with a valve having a valve outlet member which is movable axially inwardly of the container to dispense the product, the nozzle comprising an inlet portion adapted to engage the valve outlet member, a pair of arms extending in opposite directions outwardly away from the axis of the valve outlet member and substantially perpendicular thereto in use and an outlet portion, a continuous passage being formed through said inlet portion and said outlet portion for passing dispensed product from the valve outlet member to the nozzle outlet portion, said passage bending through an acute angle, whereby in use the arms may be pushed to operate the valve and the product may be dispensed at an angle to the container axis.In use, the nozzle is engaged with the valve outlet member and the valve may then be operated by pressing the arms of the nozzle to move the valve outlet member axially inwardly of the container. This avoids the disadvantage of the prior art that the valve must be operated by pressing the nozzle on the work. The fact that the product is dispensed at an angle to the container axis renders the container more convenient and comfortable in use. Preferably the acute angle is substantially 45 ; this has been found to be particularly effective in practice.

Preferably the nozzle inlet portion is internally screw-threaded so as to fit a corresponding thread on the outside of the valve outlet member, and preferably the outlet portion is externally screw-threaded for receiving an elongate tapered nozzle extension. The nozzle preferably further comprises a skirt portion surrounding the inlet portion; this may serve to limit the degree of opening of the valve for controlling the flow rate of the product.

In one form of the invention the apparatus for dispensing a product comprises a cylindrical container for containing the product, a valve mounted in an axial end wall of the container and having an outlet member which also serves as an operating member for the valve, and the nozzle has a portion adapted to engage the valve outlet member and a skirt portion generally surrounding said engaging portion and spacer means are disposed around the valve outlet member so as to be abutted by the skirt portion to prevent operation of the valve, the spacer means being removable when desired to permit operation of the valve.

Preferably the engaging portion of the nozzle is internally screw-threaded so that it can be screwed on to a corresponding external screw thread on the valve outlet member. In use for transport, the spacer means are placed around the valve outlet member and the nozzle is screwed onto the valve outlet member until the nozzle skirt portion abuts the spacer means. In this condition the nozzle and valve outlet member cannot be pressed axially into the container and so the valve cannot operate to release product. When it is desired to dispense product, the nozzle is unscrewed, the spacer means removed and the nozzle is screwed onto the valve outlet member again.

The skirt portion is then free to move further whereby the valve may be operated.

Preferably the -spacer means comprises a plurality of spacers of different thicknesses.

One or more of the spacers may then be removed to permit a selected degree of move menu of the valve outlet member whereby the flow rate of the product may be controlled.

The spacer means may comprise one or more annular discs, washers or the like, for example two paper washers of 1 and 2mm thickness.

In another form, the nozzle has a portion adapted to engage the valve outlet member and a a portion adapted to engage the container, the latter portion being connected to the rest of the nozzle via frangible or severable means whereby the nozzle may be held in a fixed position relative to the container for transport, so that the valve cannot then be operated, and the frangible or severable means may be broken or cut to free the nozzle from its connection with the container so as to allow the valve to be operated for dispensing the product.

Preferably a skirt portion generally surrounds the valve outlet member engaging portion of the nozzle and the container engaging portion is connected to the skirt portion by the frangible or severable means. The frangible or severable means may comprise a plurality of thin webs of material spaced around the periphery of the skirt. portion. The container engaging portion is preferably a ring adapted to be press-fitted onto the container to fit tightly thereon.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a pressure cartridge for containing and dispensing a sealant or the like, comprising a cylindrical container provided at one axial end with a valve which has an axially outwardly extending tubular outlet member which discharges the contents of the container when moved axially inwardly and a nozzle disposed on the outlet member and provided with a laterally outwardly extending portion which may be engaged buy a finger of the same hand of a user as holds the container, the nozzle being arranged to receive the discharged contents and deliver them at an angle to the container axis.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is part sectional view of a known pressure cartridge and valve; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle according to the invention; Figure 3 is a:cross-section of the nozzle of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-section of the nozzle assembled with the valve for transport of a filled cartridge; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the nozzle fitted with an elongate tapered nozzle extension; Figure 6 is a perspective view of another nozzle according to the invention; Figure 7 is a cross-section of the nozzle of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a cross-section of the nozzle of Figure 6 assembled with the valve fortran- sport of a filled cartridge; and Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the nozzle of Figure 6 fitted with an elongate tapered nozzle extension.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a known pressure cartridge 1 and valve 2. The pressure cartridge 1 comprises an outer cylindrical casing 3 and an inner collapsible pouch 4 formed of plastics or thin metal, such as aluminium. The casing 3 and pouch 4 are sealingly connected together around a rolled circular rim 5 where a dome 6 of the cartridge is joined to the casing 3 and pouch 4. The casing 3 is provided with a filling hole 7 for filling the space between the casing 3 and pouch 4 with a compressed or liquified gas.

In use the pouch 4 is filled with a product to be dispensed by way of the opening in the dome 6 and then a valve 2 is inserted and rolled or crimped around the rim 8 to form a seal. A resilient sealing washer 9 may be employed. The space between the casing 3 and pouch 4 is then filled with gas under pressure via the filling hole 7 and the hole 7 is plugged with a rubber plug or the like.

The valve 2 comprises a metal, e.g. tinplate, dish 11 having a central aperture through which is inserted a resilient seal 1 2.

A tubular member 13, which may suitably be formed of plastics material, e.g.-polypropylene, is disposed so as to pass through the seal 1 2. The upper end of the tubular member 1 3 is open but the lower end is closed by an integral disc 14 which also serves as a valve head and prevents the tubular member 1 3 from passing outwardly (i.e. upwardly in Figure 1) through the seal 12. A number, e.g.

three, of apertures 1 5 are formed in the tubular member 1 3 immediately above the disc 1 4. These serve to communicate the space 1 6 around the tubular member with the interior of the tubular member. The seal 1 2 allows a certain amount of movement of the tubular member 1 3 and it may be seen that if the tubular member 1 3 is moved axially downwardly or if its upper end is moved sideways, the disc 1 4 will move from its seat 1 7 to allow the product within pouch 4 to pass via space 1 6 and apertures 1 5 into the interior of the tubular member 1 3 and then to its open upper end. The tubular member 1 3 is provided with a thread 1 8 for receiving a nozzle extension or other dispensing element.

Figures 2 and 3 show a nozzle 20 according to the invention. It comprises a one-piece moulding of suitable plastics, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or nylon. Nozzle 20 comprises a sleeve portion 21 including a thread 22 adapted to matingly engage thread 1 8 of valve 2, a head portion 22 having an external thread 23 for receiving a nozzle extension or the like, a skirt portion 24 and a pair of arms 25 which extend horizontally, i.e. perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve portion 21. A passage 26 is formed through the sleeve portion 21 and head portion 22 and the axis of the passage 26 turns through an angle of 45, between the sleeve portion 21 and head portion 22. Ribs 27 are provided for purely decorative purposes.

In use, the sleeve portion 21 is threaded onto the thread 1 8 of the valve 2 and a nozzle extension 30 (Figure 5) may be threaded onto the head portion 22. A user of the cartridge may hold the casing 3 below the dome 6 and with the first two fingers of the same hand press on the arms 25 to draw the tubular member 1 3 into the cartridge and so release the product. Thus the valve may be operated without pressing the nozzle against the work.

This is particularly convenient when dispensing sealants, such as silicone or acrylic sealants in building work. Further, it may be seen that the product is dispensed at an angle to the axis of the cartridge; this is considerably more convenient and comfortable than dispensing product along the axis.

Turning now to Figure 4, the nozzle 20 is shown mounted on the valve 2 in the position in which a filled and pressurised cartridge may safely be transported. Before the nozzle 20 is screwed onto the thread 18, a pair of annular disc spacers 31 and 32 are positioned in the dish 11 surrounding the seal 1 2. The spacers 31 and 32 may be made of paper or the like and for example the spacer 31 may have a thickness of 1 mm and the spacer 32 a thickness of 2 mm.As the nozzle 20 is screwed onto the thread 18, the bottom of the skirt portion 24 engages the top of the spacers and as the thread is tightened the tubular member 1 3 is pulled firmly upwardly to seal the valve reliably.When it is desired to use the cartridge, the nozzle 20 is unscrewed and one or both of the spacers 31 and 32 is removed before the nozzle 20 is replaced.

This allows the skirt portion 24 to be moved axially dowardly by 1 mm, 2 mm or 3 mm depending on which of the spacers is or are removed. By selecting whether one or the other or both of the spacers is removed, it is possible for the user to control the flow rate of product to be dispensed.

Figures 6 to 9 illustrate a second embodiment of the nozzle. Parts which are similar to those of the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 5 have been given the same reference numbers and a description thereof will not be repeated. The second embodiment of the nozzle is provided with a ring portion 35 which is adapted to engage the pressurised container. The ring portion 35 is connected to the skirt portion 24 via a plurality, e.g. four, of-thin webs 36 spaced around the periphery of the skirt and which may be broken or cut to release the connection. The ring portion may be simply press-fitted on the container, e.g. over the rolled rim of the valve as shown in Fig. 8, to fit tightly thereon and in this condition the nozzle is held in a fixed position relative to the container so that the valve cannot be operated, e.g. by accidental pressure during transport. When it is desired to dispense the product, the webs 36 are broken or cut and the nozzle may then be screwed onto the valve outlet member 1 3. The nozzle is then free to be moved to dispense product as described above.

Thus it may be seen that the invention provides a product dispensing apparatus, for example for sealants, which is safe for storage and transport and which is comfortable and convenient in use.

Claims

1. A nozzle for use with a pressurized cylindrical container containing a product to be dispensed and provided with a valve having a valve outlet member which is movable axially inwardly of the container to dispense the product, the nozzle comprising an inlet portion adapted to engage the valve outlet member, a pair of arms extending in opposite directions outwardly away from the axis of the valve outlet member and substantially perpendicular thereto in use and an outlet portion, a continuous passage being formed through said inlet portion and said outlet portion for passing dispensed product from the valve outlet member to the nozzle outlet portion, said passage bending through an acute angle, whereby in use the arms may be pushed to operate the valve and the product may be dispensed at an angle to the container axis.

2. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acute angle is substantially 45 .

3. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the nozzle inlet portion is internally screw-threaded so as to fit a corresponding thread on the outside of the valve outlet member, and the outlet portion is externally screw-threaded for receiving an elongate tapered nozzle extension.

4. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a skirt portion surrounding the inlet portion and adapted to limit the degree of opening of the valve for controlling the flow rate of the product.

5. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a portion adapted to engage the container, said portion being con nected to the rest of the nozzle via frangible or severable means whereby the nozzle may be held in a fixed position relative to the container for transport, so that the valve cannot then be operated, and the frangible or severable means may be broken- or cut to free the nozzle from its connection with the container so as to allow the valve to be operated for dispensing the product.

6. A nozzle as claimed in claim 5, wherein a skirt portion generally surrounds the valve outlet member engaging portion of the nozzle and the container engaging portion is connected to the skirt portion by the frangible or severable means, said means comprising a plurality of thin webs of material spaced around the periphery of the skirt portion.

7. A nozzle as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the container engaging portion is a ring adapted to be press-fitted onto the container to fit tightly thereon.

8. Apparatus for dispensing a product, comprising a cylindrical container for containing the product, a valve mounted in an axial end wall of the container and having an outlet member which also serves as an operating member for the valve, and a nozzle as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the nozzle has a skirt portion generally surrounding the valve outlet engaging portion thereof, and spacer means are disposed around the valve outlet member soars to be abutted by the skirt portion to prevent operation of the valve, the spacer means being removable when desired to permit operation of the valve.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the spacer means comprises a plurality of spacers of different thicknesses.

10. A pressure cartridge for containing and dispensing a sealant or the like, comprising a cylindrical container provided at one axial end with a valve which has an axially outwardly extending tubular outlet member which discharges the contents of the container when moved axially inwardly, and a nozzle disposed on the outlet member and provided with a laterally outwardly extending portion which may be engaged by a finger of the same hand of a user as holds the container, the nozzle being arranged to receive the discharged contents and deliver them at an angle to the container axis.

11. A nozzle for use with a pressurized cylindrical container containing a product to be dispensed and provided with a valve having a valve outlet member which is movable axially inwardly of the container to dispense the product, the nozzle comprising a portion adapted to engage the valve outlet member and a portion adapted to engage the container, said portion being connected to the rest of the nozzle via frangible or severable means whereby the nozzle may be held in a fixed position relative to the container for transport, so that the valve cannot then be operated, and the frangible or severable means may be broken or cut to free the nozzle from its connection with the container so as to allow the valve to be operated for dispensing the product.

12. Apparatus for dispensing a product, comprising a cylindrical container for containing the product, a valve mounted in an axial end wall of the container and having an outlet member which also serves as an operating member for the valve, a nozzle having a portion adapted to engage the valve outlet member and a skirt portion generally surrounding said engaging portion, and spacer means disposed around the valve outlet member so as to be abutted by the skirt portion to prevent operation of the valve, the spacer means being removable when desired to permit operation of the valve.

1 3. A nozzle for use with a pressurized cylindrical container containing a product to be dispensed, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 or Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

1 4. Apparatus for dispensing a product, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 or Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.