GB2562732A - Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid - Google Patents

Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2562732A
GB2562732A GB1708179.5A GB201708179A GB2562732A GB 2562732 A GB2562732 A GB 2562732A GB 201708179 A GB201708179 A GB 201708179A GB 2562732 A GB2562732 A GB 2562732A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
shuttle member
fluid
transport chamber
seal
shuttle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1708179.5A
Other versions
GB201708179D0 (en
Inventor
Bickford Holbeche Thomas
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Linde GmbH filed Critical Linde GmbH
Priority to GB1708179.5A priority Critical patent/GB2562732A/en
Publication of GB201708179D0 publication Critical patent/GB201708179D0/en
Publication of GB2562732A publication Critical patent/GB2562732A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
    • B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices
    • B65D83/52—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices for metering
    • B65D83/54—Metering valves ; Metering valve assemblies
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M15/00—Inhalators
    • A61M15/009—Inhalators using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0109—Shape cylindrical with exteriorly curved end-piece
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0119—Shape cylindrical with flat end-piece
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/05—Size
    • F17C2201/058—Size portable (<30 l)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
    • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
    • F17C2203/0614—Single wall
    • F17C2203/0617—Single wall with one layer
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
    • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
    • F17C2205/0323—Valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/011—Oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2223/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/02—Applications for medical applications
    • F17C2270/025—Breathing

Abstract

A metering valve apparatus comprises an enclosed shuttle member 112 defining a dosing chamber 172 between first and second ends of the shuttle member 112. Fluid communication between the dosing chamber 172 and each end of the shuttle member 112 may be selectively established or prevented by reciprocating the shuttle member between first and second positions. The shuttle member 112 preferably has a reduced diameter middle portion, with the transfer chamber 172 defined by an internal surface of an enclosure 114 and the reduced diameter external surface of the shuttle member 112. The enclosure preferably defines sealing surfaces 138, 140 which create a seal with the larger diameter surfaces of the shuttle member. Fluid bypass means, preferably longitudinal channels (160, 162, fig. 4) may be provided for bypassing the seals to allow filling of the transport chamber from fluid provided at the first end (116, fig. 2) of the shuttle member when in the first position, and to allow dispensing of fluid from the transport chamber at the second end (118, fig. 2) of the shuttle member when in the second position. Biasing means (166, fig. 4) may be provided for biasing the shuttle member towards the first position.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):
Linde Aktiengesellschaft (Incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany) Klosterhofstrasse 1, Munich 80331, Germany (51) INT CL:
B65D 83/54 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:
GB 2544128 A
US 6202900 B1
A61M 15/00 (2006.01)
EP 0350376 A1
US 5772085 A (58) Field of Search:
INTCLA61M, B65D Other: WPI, EPODOC.
(72) Inventor(s):
Thomas Bickford Holbeche (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:
The Linde Group Limited
The Priestley Centre, 10 Priestley Road,
The Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU12 7XY, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid Abstract Title: Metering valve apparatus (57) A metering valve apparatus comprises an enclosed shuttle member 112 defining a dosing chamber 172 between first and second ends of the shuttle member 112. Fluid communication between the dosing chamber 172 and each end of the shuttle member 112 may be selectively established or prevented by reciprocating the shuttle member between first and second positions. The shuttle member 112 preferably has a reduced diameter middle portion, with the transfer chamber 172 defined by an internal surface of an enclosure 114 and the reduced diameter external surface of the shuttle member 112. The enclosure preferably defines sealing surfaces 138, 140 which create a seal with the larger diameter surfaces of the shuttle member. Fluid bypass means, preferably longitudinal channels (160, 162, fig. 4) may be provided for bypassing the seals to allow filling of the transport chamber from fluid provided at the first end (116, fig. 2) of the shuttle member when in the first position, and to allow dispensing of fluid from the transport chamber at the second end (118, fig. 2) of the shuttle member when in the second position. Biasing means (166, fig. 4) may be provided for biasing the shuttle member towards the first position.
Figure 3
Figure 3
2/3
Figure 5
Figure 6
3/3
-1 METERING VALVE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF METERING A FLUID [0001] The present invention relates to a metering valve apparatus of the type that, for example, delivers a dose of a fluid in response to actuation. The present invention also relates to a method of metering a fluid, the method being of the type that, for example, delivers a dose of a fluid in response to actuation of a valve.
[0002] It is known to dose volumes of gases for a variety of applications. The applications include medical applications where a patient is required to take a predetermined measure of a gas to treat a particular medical condition. For other applications, for example, the oxygenation of wine, the dispensing of a predetermined amount of oxygen is important in order to avoid over-oxygenating the wine, which can spoil the wine, resulting in undesirable, and sometimes expensive, waste. Furthermore, dispensing an oxidising gas can create a pressure wave, which in turn can result in the generation of heat. In the right conditions, the heat can cause ignition of compounds that come into contact with the oxidising gas, for example oxygen.
[0003] In the field of medical devices, it is known to provide inhaler devices comprising a canister with a cap carrying a dosing valve, the cap being crimped onto the canister. However, this type of canister is difficult to manufacture reliably and can fail due to the establishment of a number of possible leakage paths. Leakage of some of the contents of the canister can result in an inhaler device lacking an expected number of remaining doses of a medication dispensable using the inhaler.
[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metering valve apparatus, comprising: an enclosed shuttle member comprising a transport chamber disposed between ends of the shuttle member, the transport chamber being accessible from a first side and a second side of the shuttle member; wherein the enclosed shuttle member is reciprocatable between a first position and a second position and arranged so that reciprocation alternates isolation of the transport chamber from the first side and the second side of the shuttle member.
-2[0005] The apparatus may further comprise: an enclosure to enclose the shuttle member; wherein an internal surface of the enclosure and an external surface of the shuttle member may define the transport chamber.
[0006] The enclosure may be a sleeve portion arranged to receive the shuttle member sealingly therein.
[0007] The shuttle member may comprise a generally dumbbell shape having a reduced diameter portion between ends thereof.
[0008] The transport chamber may be a dosing chamber. The transport chamber may be an annular chamber.
[0009] The apparatus may further comprise: a biasing arrangement arranged to urge the shuttle member to the first position, thereby resisting translation of the shuttle member towards the second position.
[0010] The first position may be a closed position and the second position may be an open position.
[0011] The biasing arrangement may be integrally formed with the shuttle member.
[0012] The transport chamber may be in fluid communication with the first side when in the first position and the transport chamber may be in fluid communication with the second side when in the second position.
[0013] The reciprocation of the shuttle member may alternate fluid communication between the transport chamber and the first side and fluid communication between the transport chamber and the second side.
[0014] The apparatus may further comprise a first circumferential seal and a second circumferential seal; the first and second circumferential seals may be separated by a predetermined longitudinal distance.
[0015] The enclosure may be arranged to carry the first circumferential seal and the second circumferential seal.
-3[0016] The shuttle member may comprise a first enlarged portion and a second enlarged portion; and the first enlarged portion may comprise a first inner sealing surface and a first outer bypass surface adjacent the first inner sealing surface, and the second enlarged portion may comprise a second inner sealing surface and a second outer bypass surface adjacent the second inner sealing surface.
[0017] The first circumferential seal may be arranged to engage the first enlarged portion and the second circumferential seal may be arranged to engage the second enlarged portion.
[0018] The predetermined longitudinal distance may be such that the first circumferential seal creates a first fluid-tight seal with the first inner sealing surface when the shuttle member is in the second position; and the second circumferential seal may create a second fluid-tight seal with the second inner sealing surface when the shuttle member is in the first position.
[0019] The reciprocation of the shuttle member may alternate formation of the first seal and the second seal.
[0020] The first outer bypass surface may comprise a first plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal bypass channels; and the second outer bypass surface may comprise a second plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal bypass channels.
[0021] The transport chamber may be rechargeable by reciprocation of the shuttle member.
[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressure vessel apparatus comprising: a body portion having an interior; and a metering valve apparatus as set forth above in relation to the first aspect of the invention; wherein a neck portion of the metering valve apparatus encloses the shuttle member therein; and the first side of the enclosed shuttle member is adjacent and in fluid communication with the interior of the body portion.
-4[0023] The apparatus may further comprise: an outlet port in fluid communication with the second side of the enclosed shuttle member.
[0024] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metered gas delivery apparatus comprising: a pressure vessel apparatus as set forth above in relation to the second aspect of the invention; wherein the body portion is filled with a fluid; and a dose of the fluid is drawn into the transport chamber from the body portion of the pressure vessel apparatus and then released to the second side of the enclosed shuttle member.
[0025] The dose of the fluid may be released to the outlet port.
[0026] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of metering a fluid, the method comprising: storing the fluid in a pressure vessel; providing a valve apparatus comprising an enclosed reciprocatable shuttle member reciprocatable to transport sealingly a dose of the fluid from an interior of the pressure vessel to an outlet port of the pressure vessel; and reciprocating the shuttle member in order to draw and transport the dose of the fluid from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port.
[0027] It is thus possible to provide an apparatus and method that obviates or at least mitigates leakage of gas from a pressure vessel. Furthermore, the apparatus can be manufactured reliably. The apparatus and method also provide metered doses of gas, which can be sized so that each dose is below a quantity necessary to sustain combustion.
[0028] At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a canister constituting an embodiment of the invention;
[0030] Figure 2 is a part cross-sectional view of section A-A of the canister of Figure 1 with a shuttle member (not in cross-section) in-situ;
-5[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of portion B of Figure 2 in greater detail;
[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the shuttle member of Figures 2 and 3;
[0033] Figure 5 is a plan view of the shuttle of Figure 4;
[0034] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the shuttle of Figure 5; and [0035] Figure 7 is a flow diagram of a method of metering a fluid constituting another embodiment of the invention.
[0036] Referring to Figure 1, a pressure vessel, for example a canister 100, comprises a body portion 102 and a metering valve apparatus 104 sealing coupled thereto. Turning to Figure 2, the body portion 102 has in interior 106 defined by a base portion 108 and, in this example, a cylindrical side wall 110. The metering valve apparatus 104 encloses a shuttle member 112 by way of a sleeve portion 114 in which the shuttle member 112 is sealingly disposed. The sleeve portion 114 therefore constitutes an enclosure for the shuttle member 112. The shuttle member 112 has a first side 116 adjacent and in fluid communication with the interior 106 of the body portion 102 and a second side 118 adjacent and in fluid communication with an outlet port 120. In this example, the sleeve portion 114 comprises a generally cylindrical portion 122, constituting a neck portion, and a flared portion 124 integrally formed with and extending away from the generally cylindrical portion 122. The sleeve portion 114 has a generally inverted funnel shape. In this example, the cylindrical wall 110 of the body portion 102 has a shoulder 126 to reduce the diameter of an upper portion of the cylindrical wall 110 for receiving a circumferential downwardly depending side wall 128 of the sleeve portion 114 that overlies the upper portion of the cylindrical wall 110. The downwardly depending side wall 128 is, in this example, sealingly fixed to the body portion 102 by laser welding the downwardly depending side wall 128 to the upper portion of the cylindrical wall 110 near the shoulder 126.
[0037] Referring to Figure 3, the cylindrical portion 122 of the sleeve portion 114 comprises a first circumferential ledge portion 130 at the side of the sleeve portion 114 nearest to where the sleeve portion 114 is connected to the body portion 102.
-6The cylindrical portion 122 also comprises a second circumferential ledge portion 132 at the side of the sleeve portion 114 nearest the outlet port 120. The sleeve portion 114 comprises a first internal diameter 134 and a second internal diameter 136, the second internal diameter 136 being smaller than the first internal diameter 134. The first circumferential ledge portion 130 is a first recess for receiving a first seal therein, for example a first O-ring seal 138. The second circumferential ledge portion 132 is a second recess for receiving a second seal therein, for example a second O-ring seal 140. The first and second circumferential ledge portions 130, 132, and hence the first and second O-ring seals 138, 140, are therefore longitudinally spaced by a predetermined distance. The sleeve portion 114 has an internal surface 142. In this example, the first and second O-ring seals 138, 140 extend out of the first and second circumferential ledge portions 130, 132 sufficiently to be able to form a seal with an external surface 144 of the shuttle member 112. In this regard, the protruding part of the first and second O-ring seals 138, 140 are closer to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve portion 114 than the parts of the internal surface 142 having the second internal diameter 136.
[0038] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the shuttle member 112 is generally dumbbell shaped and has a reduced diameter portion 146 between ends thereof. A first distal portion 148 has an enlarged diameter relative to the reduced diameter portion 146. Similarly, a second distal portion 150 has an enlarged diameter relative to the reduced diameter portion 146. The first and second distal portions 148, 150 therefore constitute first and second enlarged portions.
[0039] In this example, the first and second distal portions 148, 150 have the same diameter and are separated from each other by the reduced diameter portion 146, the diameter being selected so that the shuttle portion 112 fits snuggly within the generally cylindrical portion 122 of the sleeve portion 104 with respect to the second internal diameter 136 and can move slidably within the generally cylindrical portion 122. Relative to the centre of the shuttle member 112, namely the reduced diameter portion 146, the first distal portion 148 has a first inner sealing surface 152, which is circumferential in this example, and adjacent the reduced diameter portion 146. The second distal portion 150 has a second inner sealing surface 154, which is
-7circumferential in this example, and adjacent the reduced diameter portion 146. Adjacent the first inner sealing surface 152, and longitudinally further from the reduced diameter portion 146 than the first inner sealing surface 152, the first distal portion 148 has a first outer bypass surface 156. Similarly, adjacent the second inner sealing surface 154, and longitudinally further from the reduced diameter portion 146 than the second inner sealing surface 154, the second distal portion 150 has a second outer bypass surface 158.
[0040] The first outer bypass surface 156 comprises a first plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal recesses or channels 160, which effectively reduce the diameter of the first distal portion 148 in the regions where the recesses 160 are disposed. The second outer bypass surface 158 similarly comprises a second plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal recesses or channels 162, which effectively reduce the diameter of the second distal portion 150 in the regions where the recesses 162 are disposed. The first and second plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal recesses 160, 162 are substantially lozengeshaped.
[0041] In this example, a biasing arrangement 164 is provided. The biasing arrangement 164 is integrally formed with the shuttle member 112, although other implementations are contemplated provided such implementations serve the same purpose as the biasing arrangement described later herein. The biasing arrangement 164 comprises a plurality of radially extending fingers 166. The radially extending fingers 166 extend from the surface of the first distal portion 148 and generally downwardly at an angle sufficient to provide a required degree of bias. The radially extending fingers 166 are disposed adjacent the first outer bypass surface 156.
[0042] Turning to Figure 6, it can be seen that the shuttle member 112 is generally hollow. The shuttle member 112 is therefore particularly well-suited to manufacture using a deep drawing formation process. It should be appreciated that although the shuttle member 112 is hollow, the second distal portion 150 is not open at its most
-8distal point and constitutes a blind end. In this example, this is at the second end 118.
[0043] Referring back to Figure 3, assembly of the metering valve apparatus 104 is as follows. The sleeve portion 114 is manufactured and the first and second Oring seals 138, 140 are inserted into the first and second circumferential ledge portions 130, 132. Thereafter, the shuttle member 112 is inserted into the sleeve portion 114 from the widest opening thereof, namely the side that is to mate with the body portion 102 of the canister 100. In this respect, initial insertion of the shuttle member 112 results in the radial fingers 166 lying close to and substantially parallel with the flared portion 124. The second O-ring seal 140 also urges against the second inner sealing surface 154 to form a fluid-tight seal.
[0044] To complete assembly, the sleeve portion 114 is them placed over the open end of the body portion 102 so that the distal ends of the plurality of radial fingers 166 are respectively interposed between an inner surface 168 of the flared portion 124 and a peripheral shoulder 170 of the open end of the body portion 102. The downwardly depending peripheral side wall of the sleeve portion 114 is then laser welded to the upper portion of the cylindrical wall 110 near the shoulder 126 of the body portion 102.
[0045] In operation (Figure 7), after filling the canister 100 (for example by pushing the shuttle member 112 beyond the range of travel for metering or overpressure filling), the shuttle member 112 is initially in a first position described above where the second inner sealing surface 154 forms a seal with the second O-ring seal 140. The external surface of the reduced diameter portion 146 forms a transport chamber 172 with the internal surface 142 of the sleeve portion 114. In this example, the transport chamber 172 is an annular chamber. The transport chamber 172 constitutes a dosing or metering chamber and is sized to deliver a predetermined volume of gas to the output port 120 when the shuttle member 112 is reciprocated. In the initial state, the valve apparatus 100 is in a closed position and the transport chamber 172 is in fluid communication with the body portion 102 of the canister 100, because the first O-ring seal 138 overlies the first outer bypass surface 156 and so
-9fluid communication between the first side 116 of the shuttle member 112 and hence the body portion 102 of the canister 100 occurs (Step 200) by virtue of the first plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal recesses 160 providing a fluid path from the body portion 102, around the first O-ring seal 138, to the transport chamber 172.
[0046] To deliver a measure or dose of the gas, which in this example is residing in the transport chamber 172, the shuttle member 112 is urged (Step 202) axially towards the first side 116 of the shuttle member 112 and hence the body portion 102. The axial movement has to be sufficiently great to overcome the bias imposed by the biasing arrangement 164. This results in the first O-ring seal 138 riding over the first inner sealing surface 152 of the shuttle member 112 to form a circumferential fluid-tight seal. The second O-ring seal 140 also rides over the second outer bypass surface 158, the second plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal recesses 162 providing a fluid path between the transport chamber 172 and the second side 118 of the shuttle member 112 and hence the output port 120. In this second, open, position, the transport chamber 172 is isolated from the second side 118 of the shuttle member 112 and hence the body portion 102 of the canister 100, and the transport chamber 172 comes into fluid communication with the first side 116 of the shuttle member 112 and hence the output port 120 (Step 204). The gas stored in the transport chamber 172 is therefore vented to the output port 120 for use. In this regard, the output port 120 can be coupled to a delivery conduit of an inhaler by a seal, such as an O-ring seal, or another component of a different apparatus, for example an oxygenator. Upon removal of the axial force (Step 206) towards the body portion 102, the biasing arrangement 164 urges the shuttle member 112 back to the initial position (Step 208) and the seal between the second inner sealing surface 154 and the second O-ring seal 140 is reinstated as is the fluid communication path between the transport chamber 172 and the body portion 102 of the canister 100. The transport chamber 172 is therefore isolated from the second side 118 of the shuttle member 112 and hence the output port 120.
[0047] Now that the transport chamber 172 is again in fluid communication with the body portion 102, fluid stored under pressure in the canister 100, for example a
- 10gas, such as oxygen gas, is drawn into, and thus recharges, the transport chamber 172 ready for the next actuation of the shuttle member 112. Hence, it can be seen that reciprocation of the shuttle member 112 alternates fluid communication between the transport chamber 172 and the first side 116 of the shuttle member 112 5 and fluid communication between the transport chamber 172 and the second side
118 of the shuttle member 112. Indeed, the longitudinal distance between the first and second O-ring seals 138, 140 is such that only one fluid-tight seal is established with the shuttle member 112 at a time, and so reciprocation of the shuttle member 112 alternates formation of the first seal and the second seal. This process can be 10 repeated until the contents of the canister 100 is substantially depleted (Step 210).
[0048] The skilled person should appreciate that the above-described implementations are merely examples of the various implementations that are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims. Indeed, although in this example, oxygen gas is described as the supply gas, any other kind of inert gas is 15 contemplated.
[0049] Although the above examples have been described in the context of gases, the skilled person should appreciate that fluids can be employed.

Claims (23)

Claims
1. A metering valve apparatus, comprising:
an enclosed shuttle member comprising a transport chamber disposed between ends of the shuttle member, the transport chamber being accessible from a first side and a second side of the shuttle member; wherein the enclosed shuttle member is reciprocatable between a first position and a second position and arranged so that reciprocation alternates isolation of the transport chamber from the first side and the second side of the shuttle member.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising:
an enclosure to enclose the shuttle member; wherein an internal surface of the enclosure and an external surface of the shuttle member define the transport chamber.
3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the enclosure is a sleeve portion arranged to receive the shuttle member sealingly therein.
4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the shuttle member comprises a generally dumbbell shape having a reduced diameter portion between ends thereof.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport chamber is a dosing chamber.
6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport chamber is an annular chamber.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:
-12 a biasing arrangement arranged to urge the shuttle member to the first position, thereby resisting translation of the shuttle member towards the second position.
8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the biasing arrangement is integrally formed with the shuttle member.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport chamber is in fluid communication with the first side when in the first position and the transport chamber is in fluid communication with the second side when in the second position.
10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the reciprocation of the shuttle member alternates fluid communication between the transport chamber and the first side and fluid communication between the transport chamber and the second side.
11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first circumferential seal and a second circumferential seal, the first and second circumferential seals being separated by a predetermined longitudinal distance.
12. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, when dependent upon Claim 2, wherein the enclosure is arranged to carry the first circumferential seal and the second circumferential seal.
13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 12, wherein the shuttle member comprises a first enlarged portion and a second enlarged portion; and the first enlarged portion comprises a first inner sealing surface and a first outer bypass surface adjacent the first inner sealing surface, and the second enlarged portion comprises a second inner sealing surface and a second outer bypass surface adjacent the second inner sealing surface.
14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, when dependent upon Claim 11, wherein the first circumferential seal is arranged to engage the first enlarged portion and the second circumferential seal is arranged to engage the second enlarged portion.
15. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, when dependent upon Claim 11, wherein the predetermined longitudinal distance is such that the first circumferential seal creates a first fluid-tight seal with the first inner sealing surface when the shuttle member is in the second position, and the second circumferential seal creates a second fluid-tight seal with the second inner sealing surface when the shuttle member is in the first position.
16. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the reciprocation of the shuttle member alternates formation of the first seal and the second seal.
17. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the first outer bypass surface comprises a first plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal bypass channels, and the second outer bypass surface comprises a second plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal bypass channels.
18. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport chamber is rechargeable by reciprocation of the shuttle member.
19. A pressure vessel apparatus comprising:
a body portion having an interior; and a metering valve apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein a neck portion of the metering valve apparatus encloses the shuttle member therein; and the first side of the enclosed shuttle member is adjacent and in fluid communication with the interior of the body portion.
20. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 19, further comprising:
an outlet port in fluid communication with the second side of the enclosed shuttle member.
21. A metered gas delivery apparatus comprising:
a pressure vessel apparatus as claimed in Claim 19; wherein the body portion is filled with a fluid; and a dose of the fluid is drawn into the transport chamber from the body portion of the pressure vessel apparatus and then released to the second side of the enclosed shuttle member.
22. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the dose of the fluid is released to the outlet port.
23. A method of metering a fluid, the method comprising:
storing the fluid in a pressure vessel;
providing a valve apparatus comprising an enclosed reciprocatable shuttle member reciprocatable to transport sealingly a dose of the fluid from an interior of the pressure vessel to an outlet port of the pressure vessel; and reciprocating the shuttle member in order to draw and transport the dose of the fluid from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port.
Intellectual
Property Office
Application No: GB1708179.5
GB1708179.5A 2017-05-22 2017-05-22 Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid Withdrawn GB2562732A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1708179.5A GB2562732A (en) 2017-05-22 2017-05-22 Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1708179.5A GB2562732A (en) 2017-05-22 2017-05-22 Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201708179D0 GB201708179D0 (en) 2017-07-05
GB2562732A true GB2562732A (en) 2018-11-28

Family

ID=59220498

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1708179.5A Withdrawn GB2562732A (en) 2017-05-22 2017-05-22 Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2562732A (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0350376A1 (en) * 1988-07-04 1990-01-10 Valois S.A. Metering valve for aerosols
US5772085A (en) * 1995-03-10 1998-06-30 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Free flow aerosol valves
US6202900B1 (en) * 1998-04-21 2001-03-20 Unisia Jecs Corporation Dispensing valve for an aerosol-type container enabling gaseous fluid recharging
GB2544128A (en) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-10 Aer Beatha Ltd Canister and valve

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0350376A1 (en) * 1988-07-04 1990-01-10 Valois S.A. Metering valve for aerosols
US5772085A (en) * 1995-03-10 1998-06-30 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Free flow aerosol valves
US6202900B1 (en) * 1998-04-21 2001-03-20 Unisia Jecs Corporation Dispensing valve for an aerosol-type container enabling gaseous fluid recharging
GB2544128A (en) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-10 Aer Beatha Ltd Canister and valve

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201708179D0 (en) 2017-07-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN101247842B (en) Syringe designed to be pre-filled then sterilized by steam autoclaving
TWI527604B (en) Syringe
CN100586802C (en) Method and device for filling reservoir with variable useful volume
US5833088A (en) Container with closure cap and method of filling containers without gas bubbles
US5593069A (en) Aerosol valves with movable agitator
DK2985015T3 (en) Syringe Adapter
US8631716B2 (en) Connection of an accessory to a vessel
CN105263822B (en) Metering valve and the device fluid dispensing product for including this valve
WO2001087392A3 (en) Method and package for storing a pressurized container containing a drug
JP2021512820A (en) Measuring valve for product distribution
CN108495574A (en) Packaging and distributor for double contents
JPH04501819A (en) an elongated container having two separate compartments, one of which is an extension of the other
JPH0149444B2 (en)
US9731083B2 (en) Valved syringe receptacle
WO2008150208A1 (en) A substance dispensing device and a filling instrument for such a device
WO2001097888A3 (en) Method and package for storing a pressurized container containing a drug
GB2562732A (en) Metering valve apparatus and method of metering a fluid
JP2021532949A (en) Needle hub / syringe device
CN101678947A (en) Fluid product dispensing valve and the device fluid dispensing product that comprises this valve
GB2385315A (en) Improvements in or relating to valves for dispensers
CA2669924A1 (en) An aerosol device
US20030110740A1 (en) Method and apparatus for filling containers
US20100327026A1 (en) valve
JP2021524343A (en) Fluid discharge device and filling and closing method of fluid discharge device
JP7373280B2 (en) Fluid product dispensing device with metering valve and metering valve

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)