SE537034C2

SE537034C2 - Dosing mechanism for liquids

Info

Publication number: SE537034C2
Application number: SE1251081A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Henrik Åkesson
Original assignee: Sterisol Ab
Priority date: 2012-09-25
Filing date: 2012-09-25
Publication date: 2014-12-09
Also published as: WO2014051495A1; EP2900384A1; SE1251081A1; EP2900384A4

Abstract

11 ABSTRACT A valve mechanism (1) for dispensing a fluid, said valve mechanismbeing adapted in connection with the dispensing operation to open under theaction of a positive pressure in the fluid and to close by itself when saidpositive pressure has ceased, comprising a channel (9) with an inlet (9a) andan outlet (9b) end and an axial direction of fluid flow (10), the channel (9) isdefined by a body portion (11) of a rigid material formed with a groove (13) ofsubstantially arcuate cross-section and by a cover portion (12) of flexiblematerial whose side edges extending in the direction of the flow (10), whereinthe cover portion (12) and body portion (11) are, along the side edges thereof,are sealingly connected to each other and wherein the cover portion (12)gradually conforms to the shape of the groove (13). A fixed sealing portion(20) is arranged of the outlet end (9b) of the channel (9) extending at leastpartially along a side wall (21a, 21b) of the groove (13). Elected for publication: Fig. 3b

Description

AWAPATENT AB Kontor/Handläggare Linköping/Sofia Willquist/SZJ Sterisol AB Ansökningsnr Vår referens SE-210580541 DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR FLUIDS Technical field The present document relates to a valve mechanism for dispensing a fluid.More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a valve mechanism havinga fixed sealing portion at an outlet end thereof.

Backgroundln EPO442858B1 a valve is disclosed for dispensing a fluid from a fluid chamber, where the valve is adapted to open by the action of a positivepressure and close by itself when said positive pressure has ceased.EPO442858B1 further discloses that the cover portion of the valve may beaffected by a pressure brought on by pushing down a dome section and thatthe cover portion thus forms a local convex portion, which is facilitated by thethickness distribution of the cover portion, which in turn produces an openingthrough which fluid can pass. As the production of a cover portion having aspecific thickness distribution may be difficult, which leading to disparities inthe function of the valve, there is a need for a new type of valve construction.

Summarylt is an object of the present disclosure, to provide an improved valve mechanism for dispensing fluids, which eliminates or alleviates at least someof the disadvantages of the prior art. More specific objects include providing avalve mechanism that provides a highly distinct opening and closingmechanism for dispensing fluids.

The invention is defined by the appended independent claims.Embodiments are set forth in the appended dependent claims and in thefollowing description and drawings.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a valve mechanism fordispensing a fluid, said valve mechanism being adapted in connection withthe dispensing operation to open under the action of a positive pressure in thefluid and to close by itself when said positive pressure has ceased,comprising a channel with an inlet and an outlet end and an axial direction offluid flow, the channel is defined by a body portion of a rigid material formed with a groove of substantially arcuate cross-section and by a cover portion offlexible material whose side edges extending in the direction of the flow,wherein the cover portion and body portion are, along the side edges thereof,are sealingly connected to each other and wherein the cover portion graduailyconforms to the shape of the groove. A fixed sealing portion is arranged of theoutlet end of the channel extending at least partially along a side wall of thegroove.

By providing the valve mechanism with a fixed sealing portion, there isprovided a way of ensuring the correct operation and opening of the valvemechanism during dispensing of fluid.

The fixed sealing portion may thus provide for a way of ensuring that awell-defined opening of the cover body, substantially at the centre or lowestportion of the groove in the body portion, may be achieved during theinfluence of the interior positive pressure difference for dispensing the fluid.This allows for a more defined discharge of fluid from the dispensingmechanism.

Further to this it has surprisingly been found that providing the valvemechanism with a fixed sealing portion also reduces the risk of fluids beingsucked into the valve mechanism during closing, and thus reducing the risk ofbacterial contamination and growth in the valve mechanism. This may be ofgreat importance when the valve mechanism for instance is fitted to acontainer for soap, ethanol etc. which is to be used in a hospital environment.

The valve mechanism with the fixed sealing portion thus provides for ahighly well-defined opening and closing of the valve.

According to one embodiment the fixed sealing portion may be formedby the flexible cover portion being fixedly attached to an outer edge of theoutlet end.

The fixed sealing portion may be formed by welding the flexible coverportion to the body portion.

According to one alternative the sealing connection between and alongthe side edges of the cover portion and the body portion may be provided bygrooves in the body portion and mating, flange-like projections on the coverportion. Further, according to this alternative embodiment said projectionsmay be arranged to form part of the fixed sealing portion of the outlet end ofthe channel.

According to another embodiment of the first aspect a side portion ofthe cover portion may be arranged to form part of the fixed sealing portion ofthe outlet end of the channel.

According to one embodiment the valve mechanism may be arrangedto communicate at its inlet end with a pump, whereby the valve mechanismand the pump together forms a dispensing device, comprising non-returnvalve means and a mechanicaiiy actuated dome forming with the coverportion and integral unit whose edge is sealingly connected to a housingprovided on the body portion and mating with the dome.

According to the first aspect the fluid handled by the valve mechanismmay be either viscous or non-viscous.

According to a second aspect there is provided a system comprisingthe valve mechanism according to the first aspect, and a fluid container,wherein the fluid container comprises a coilapsible fluid chamber for holdingthe fluid including at least one flexible portion and an opening sealinglyconnected to said dispensing device, wherein the pump is capable of creatinga negative pressure for sucking the fluid from the fluid chamber in order todispense it during simultaneous collapsing of the fluid chamber, and ofcreating a positive pressure for discharging said fluid through a channelcommunicating with said pump, and non-return valve means for preventingfluid from flowing back into the fluid chamber, and that the channel has aninlet and an outlet end, and an axial direction of fluid flow, means for beingprovided at said outlet end, for opening at a certain interior positive pressuredifference and for closing when said positive pressure decreases. The valvemechanism is provided with a fixed sealing portion at said outlet end,extending at least partially along a side wall of the groove.

By arranging a fixed sealing portion at the outlet end a well-definedopening of the cover body, essentially at the centre or lowest portion of thegroove in the body portion, may be achieved during the influence of theinterior positive pressure difference for dispensing said fluid. This allows for amore defined discharge of fluid from the dispensing mechanism, and also asthe valve mechanism is closed at the fixed sealing portion, reduces the risk ofbacterial contamination from fluid otherwise being sucked back into thedispensing mechanism.

According to a third aspect there is provided a use of a valvemechanism according to the first aspect for dispensing a viscous or non-viscous fluid.

According to a fourth aspect there is provided a use of a system asaccording to the second aspect, for dispensing a viscous or non-viscous fluidfrom a collapsible fluid container.

Brief Description of the DrawinqsEmbodiments of the present solution will now be described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Figs 1a-1b are top front views of a preferred embodiment of a valvemechanism, in a resting and pressurized state respectively.

Figs 2a-2b are sections taken along the line A-A and C-C in Figs 1a-1brespectively.

Figs 3a and 3b is a schematic front views of a valve mechanism in a restingand pressurized state respectively.

Description of Embodiments Figs 1a and 1b illustrate a valve mechanism 1 as seen from above in aresting and pressurized position respectively. ln the pressurized position a dome 3 of the valve mechanism ispressed down, i.e. mechanically actuated, for instance by a users finger or apressing device (neither shown in the figures). The dome 3 is formed from aflexible material, which is attached to a housing 4 of the valve mechanism 1,which is made from a rigid material.

The dome 3 is sealingly connected to the housing, by means of amounting flange 5 engaging a groove 6 in the housing (see Figs 2a and 2b).The dome 3 and housing thus defines a chamber 7, whose volume can bevaried by the mechanical actuation of the dome 3. The dome 3, may besquare shaped, which is shown in Figs 1a and 1b. ln the housing 4 a channel8 is arranged which communicates with a fluid container (not shown in thefigures). The fluid container may be a collapsible container of the type shownin EPO442857A1.

The mouth 8a of the channel 8 forms together with a tongue 3a, whichmay be extended from the dome 3, a non-return valve preventing fluid fromflowing from the chamber 7 into the container through the channel 8.

The valve mechanism has a channel 9 which extends between an inletend 9a opening in the chamber 7 and an outlet end 9b, which defines adirection of fluid flow in the channel indicated by an arrow 10.

The valve mechanism 1 is arranged to communicate at its inlet end 9awith a pump 2, whereby the valve mechanism and the pump together forms adispensing device, comprising the non-return valve means 8a, 3a and amechanically actuated dome 3 forming with the cover portion 12 and integralunit whose edge is sealingly connected to a housing 4 provided on the bodyportion 11 and mating with the dome 3.

According to the invention, the channel 9 is defined by a body portion11 of rigid material and by a cover portion 12 of flexible material. ln theembodiment shown in the drawings, the body portion 11 preferably isintegrally formed with the housing 4, for instance from injection-mouldedpolypropylene or polyethylene, and the cover portion 12 integrally formed withthe dome 3, for instance from vacuum-formed thermoplastic polyethylene. lt ishowever obvious to a person skilled in the art that all materials havingsuitable mechanical properties can be used. The body portion is formed witha groove 13 which may have an arcuate cross-section and suitably being soshaped that its cross-section, at least at the outlet end 9b, substantiallydefines the arc of an imaginary sector of a circle whose angle between thetwo straight lines is from 5 to 40 degrees, preferably from 20 to 40 degrees.Like the dome 3, the cover portion 12 is sealingly connected to the bodyportion 11 by mounting flange-like projections 14 which at the respectiveedges of the cover portion 12 extend in the direction of flow 10 and engage inmating grooves 15 in the body portion 11. ln order to seal or lock the coverportion to the body portion a ridge 23 may be folded and welded over theflange 14 (as shown in Fig. 2a).

At the outlet end 9b of the channel 9 a fixed sealing portion 20 isprovided. The fixed sealing portion 20 extends at least partially along the sidewalls 21a 21b, where only one side wall 21a is shown in Fig. 2a, of the groove13.

The fixed sealing portion 20 may be provided by fixedly attaching aside portion 23a, 23b (corresponding to the side walls 21a, 21b) of the coverportion 12 to an outer edge 22 of the outlet end 9b. The cover portion 13 may,at this outer edge 22 be welded to the body portion.

According to another embodiment the mounting flanges 14 may bearranged such that they protrude, at the outlet end 9a, beyond the mating 6 groove 15, and beyond the outer edge 22 of the outlet end and form part ofthe fixed sealing portion 20. The mounting flange may thus be welded, orfolded and possibly glued or welded to the body portion 11, such that a fixedsealing portion 20 is formed.

According to yet an alternative for forming the fixed sealing portion (notshown in the figures) a front portion 24 of the body portion 11 may beextended towards the centre of the groove 13. A sealing ridge 23, arranged toextend along a top portion of the body portion 11 and to seal the cover andbody portion, may then be folded over the mounting flange 14 (as shown inFig. 2a) before the extended front portion 24 is folded over outer edge 22 ofthe cover portion 11. The extended front portion 24 and the sealing ridge 23are then welded together against the cover portion in order to form the fixedsealing portion. ln operation, the invented valve 1 and pump 2 operates as follows.For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the chamber 7 is filled with a fluidfrom a container (not shown) to be dispensed through the valve 1.

Upon mechanical actuation of the dome 3, provided by a pressureexerted on the dome, e.g. by a finger, a positive pressure is created in thefluid. This positive pressure propagates through the channel 9.

By the fixed sealing portion 20 the cover portion 12 is forced to attain alocally and well-defined convex shape, and form of an opening 25, asillustrated in Figs 1b and 3b. The opening 25 is formed at the centre or lowestportion of the groove in the body portion by the cover portion attaining theconvex shape. As a result, the positive pressure in the chamber 7 and thechannel 9 is equalized and dispensing is discontinued. As long as the positivepressure prevails, the valve 1 automatically closes and acts as a non-returnvalve 3a, 8a. When the mechanical actuation of the dome ceases, it resumesits initial shape, a negative pressure being created and fluid being againsucked into the chamber 7 through the channel 8.

Because of the fixed sealing portion and the switching of the coverportion 12 between convex and concave shape, the opening, i.e. theformation of the well-defined opening 25 and the closure of the valvebecomes highly distinct.

This prevents fluid from remaining between the cover portion 12 andthe wall of the groove 13, which assists in providing an aseptic closure. Thearrangement now described is suitable for dispensing viscous fluids, such asliquid detergents, from containers whose volume decreases upon emptying, 7 especially containers inc|uding flexible bags or one or more flexible walls, butalso non-viscous fluids such as ethanol for hand disinfectants.

Claims

1. A valve mechanism (1) for dispensing a fluid, said valve mechanismbeing adapted in connection with the dispensing operation to open under theaction of a positive pressure in the fluid and to close by itself when saidpositive pressure has ceased, comprising a channel (9) with an inlet (9a) andan outlet (9b) end and an axial direction of fluid flow (10), the channel (9) isdefined by a body portion (11) of a rigid material formed with a groove (13) ofsubstantially arcuate cross-section and by a cover portion (12) of flexiblematerial whose side edges extending in the direction of the flow (10), whereinthe cover portion (12) and body portion (11) are, along the side edges thereof,are sealingly connected to each other and wherein the cover portion (12)gradually conforms to the shape of the groove (13), characterized in that a fixed sealing portion (20) is arranged of the outlet end (9b) of thechannel (9) extending at least partially along a side wall (21a, 21b) of thegroove (13).

2. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixedsealing portion (20) is formed by the flexible cover portion (12) being fixedlyattached to an outer edge (22) of the outlet end (9b).

3. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixedsealing portion (20) is formed by welding the flexible cover portion (12) to thebody portion (11).

4. The valve mechanism as claimed in any one of the precedingclaims, wherein said sealing connection between and along the side edges ofthe cover portion (12) and the body portion (11) is provided by grooves (15) inthe body portion (11) and mating, flange-like projections (14) on the coverportion (12).

5. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidprojections (14) are arranged to form part of the fixed sealing portion (20) ofthe outlet end (9b) of the channel (9).

6. The valve mechanism as claimed in any one of claim 1-2, wherein aside portion (23a, 23b) the cover portion (12) is arranged to form part of thefixed sealing portion (20) of the outlet end (9b) of the channel (9).

7. Valve mechanism (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,wherein the valve mechanism (1) is arranged to communicate at its inlet end(9a) with a pump (2), whereby the valve mechanism and the pump togetherforms a dispensing device, comprising non-return valve means (8a, 3a) and amechanically actuated dome (3) forming with the cover portion (12) andintegral unit whose edge is sealingly connected to a housing (4) provided onthe body portion (11) and mating with the dome (3).

8. The valve mechanism as claimed in any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the fluid is either viscous or non-viscous.

9. A system comprising the valve mechanism as claimed in claim 9,and a fluid container, wherein the fluid container comprises a collapsible fluidchamber for holding the fluid including at least one flexible portion and anopening sealingly connected to said dispensing device, wherein the pump (2)is capable of creating a negative pressure for sucking the fluid from the fluidchamber in order to dispense it during simultaneous collapsing of the fluidchamber, and of creating a positive pressure for discharging said fluid througha channel (9) communicating with said pump, and non-return valve means(8a, 3a) for preventing fluid from flowing back into the fluid chamber, and thatthe channel (9) has an inlet and an outlet end (9a, 9b), and an axial directionof fluid flow (10), means (12, 13) for being provided at said outlet end (9b), foropening at a certain interior positive pressure difference and for closing whensaid positive pressure decreases, characterized inthatthethe valve mechanism (1) is provided with a fixed sealing portion (20) at saidoutlet end (9b), extending at least partially along a side wall (21a, 21b) of thegroove (13).

10. Use of a valve mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1-7 fordispensing a viscous or non-viscous fluid.

11. Use of a system as claimed in claim 9, for dispensing a viscous ornon-viscous fluid from a collapsible fluid container.