JP2000028096A - Gas capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for filling a capsule with fluid under high pressure. SOLUTION: A method for filling this capsule with helium includes steps that a first contracted diameter part is formed in the neck part 4 of the capsule separated from the free end part 6 of the neck part 4, and next, a second contracted diameter part is formed in a position located adjacently to the free end part 6 of the neck part 4, thereby forming a chamber effectively between two contracted diameter parts. The chamber prevents such that helium reaches the welded free end part 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a bar between 30 bar and 80 bar.
It relates to a capsule containing a volume of fluid at high pressure between the bars.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that sealed capsules distribute the contents under the pressure of a fluid under pressure, such as when pouring draft beer from a beer dispenser or when pouring soda water from a soda siphon. Sealed capsules are also used as fluid containers for soft drinks or beer under pressure.

[0003] It is further known to use sealed capsules containing helium under high pressure in medical devices that use pressurized helium energy to distribute therapeutic agents through the skin of a patient.

[0004] International published application WO 94/242.
At 63, a syringe without a needle is described. The syringe includes a metal capsule containing high pressure helium gas that is used to force particles of the therapeutic agent through the patient's skin in a substantially painless manner. The capsule is detachable from the rest of the syringe and, once used, allows a new filling of the gas into the capsule or, more preferably, discards the capsule and replaces it with a new gas-filled one. The capsule can be attached to the rest of the syringe.

When the gas capsule is a disposable item, it is important that the gas capsule can be manufactured easily and at low cost. In medical device applications, helium gas is very lightweight, suitable for use as a propellant for therapeutic agents when striking the patient's skin, and does not bounce back into the atmosphere and pass through the patient's skin, making it helium gas. Gas is a preferred source of fluid. However, helium gas is lightweight and will leak from microscopic defects in the container, making it difficult to fill the container.

[0006]

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for filling capsules with a fluid under high pressure. In particular, it is an object to provide a method for filling gas capsules with helium gas under a pressure of at least 30 bar.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of filling a capsule having a hollow body portion and a hollow neck portion extending from the hollow body portion with a fluid under pressure. The method comprises the steps of: a) in a fluid-tight condition, attaching a filling cap to the free end of the neck portion, evacuating the hollow body portion, and subsequently filling the hollow body portion with a fluid under pressure. B) reducing the diameter of the neck portion at a location remote from the free end of the neck portion while the fill cap remains stationary while fluid is under pressure; c) removing the filling cap,
Exposing the free end of the neck portion in this way;
d) providing a second reduced diameter adjacent to the free end of the neck portion; and e) welding the free end of the neck portion to hermetically seal the capsule. .

Preferably, the fluid comprises at least 30
Helium under bar pressure.

[0009]

Preferred embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will be described in more detail, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown, the capsule 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical body part 2 made for example of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. From the hollow cylindrical main body part 2,
An elongated hollow neck portion 4 extends. The diameter of the hollow neck portion 4 is smaller than the diameter of the hollow body portion 2. In the initial state, the neck part 4 has an open free end 6.

If it is desired to fill the capsule 1 with helium gas or the like under pressure, a filling cap (not shown) is attached to the free end 6 of the neck 4 in a known manner. After the filling cap is attached and the hollow cylindrical body part 2 is evacuated, the body part 2 is filled with a fluid under pressure. With the filling cap in place on the free end of the neck portion 4 and pressure applied to the fluid in the body portion 2, the neck portion 4
Is reduced at a position away from the free end 6 (FIG. 2).
reference). This reduced diameter is sufficiently rigid to avoid significant leakage of fluid from the body portion 2.

[0012] The filling cap is then removed from the free end 6 of the neck portion 4 exposing the free end 6. As soon as the free end 6 is exposed, a second diameter reduction is applied at a position adjacent to the free end (see FIG. 3). At about the same time, the free end 6 is laser welded to hermetically seal the end of the neck portion 4.

[0013] The purpose of the first diameter reduction is to make the fluid under pressure the second diameter.
Is to prevent the free end 6 from being reached by the reduced diameter, and to enable laser welding without gas permeation holes. Effectively, the two reduced diameters define a provisional chamber that prevents or suppresses fluid under pressure from reaching the point of the free end 6 of the neck portion 4 to be welded.

The diameter can be reduced to a circular swaging type or a simple flat type. If the capsule is to be used with a syringe without a needle, the fluid is at least 30 bar of helium gas.

Obviously, the invention is also applicable to other embodiments, such as capsules containing substantially no more than 30 bar of gas or liquid.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a capsule for containing a fluid under pressure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1, showing a first diameter reduction applied to the neck of the capsule.

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a second diameter reduction of the neck portion according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Capsule 2: Body part 4: Neck part 6: Free end

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for filling a capsule having a hollow body portion and a hollow neck portion extending from said hollow body portion with a fluid under pressure, comprising: a) in a fluid-tight state, a filling cap free of said neck portion. Attaching to the end, emptying said hollow body portion and subsequently filling said hollow body portion with fluid under pressure; b) leaving said filling cap in place and applying pressure to said fluid. Reducing the diameter of the neck portion at a location remote from the free end of the neck portion while remaining, c) removing the filler cap, thus exposing the free end of the neck portion; d. A) providing a second reduced diameter adjacent the free end of the neck portion; and e) welding the free end of the neck portion to hermetically seal the capsule. Caps characterized by the following The method of filling Lumpur. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is helium under a pressure of at least 30 bar. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 4. The capsule filling method according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the neck portion is laser-welded to hermetically seal the capsule. Characteristic capsule filling method.