WO2002076626A1

WO2002076626A1 - Dispensing device for fluids

Info

Publication number: WO2002076626A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/001885
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Padar
Original assignee: Steven Padar
Priority date: 2001-02-22
Filing date: 2002-02-22
Publication date: 2002-10-03
Also published as: DE10108486A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing fluids out of a reservoir comprising a housing body, in which a pressure chamber is provided that is delimited on top by a plunger guided in the pressure chamber and at the bottom by a first valve that works opposite the reservoir. Said valve closes when there is excess pressure inside the pressure chamber and opens when there is negative pressure. A pump channel (21) is also provided which, on one side, is connected to the pressure chamber and, on the other side, to the surrounding area via a discharge opening (22). A second valve (25) is provided inside the pump channel (21), has a displaceable sealing body (31), opens in the existence of excess pressure and closes in the existence of negative pressure. The displaceable sealing body (31) is pretensioned at the pump channel whereby tightly resting against the discharge opening (22) thus closing the pump channel (21) at the distal end (23). The displaceable sealing body (31) can be displaced into a position, which opens the discharge opening (22), when increasing the pressure inside the pump channel (21).

Description

Dispenser for fluids

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser according to the preamble of claim 1.

Conventional dispensing devices for pharmaceuticals or cosmetics are known. Metering pumps of this type allow the delivery of a certain amount of a fluid from a storage container.

EP-0 739 247 B1 describes a suction pressure pump for fluid containers which is intended for spraying liquids, the service life of which is reduced on contact with atmospheric oxygen. The known metering pump has a pressure cylinder which projects into the fluid container and in which a piston is guided in a sealing manner. A pressure chamber is formed in the pressure cylinder, which is delimited by the piston and by a ball valve, which acts in relation to the fluid container and which closes when there is overpressure and opens at underpressure, and is connected to an axial pump channel, which in turn opens into an outlet opening. The piston is held in the upper rest position by spring force. A second valve is arranged within the pump channel, which opens in the pressure chamber when there is overpressure and closes in the pressure chamber when there is underpressure. The second valve comprises a valve piston and a spiral spring, the spiral spring being arranged between the outlet opening and the valve piston and pushing the valve piston upwards against a circumferential projection in the pump channel in order to close the pump channel. A space is thus provided between the valve piston and the outlet opening. When the piston is pressed down, the pressure in the pressure chamber increases, the valve to the fluid container closes and the one in the pressure chamber Liquid escapes under pressure through the axial pump channel past the open second valve into the intermediate space and from there to the outside. When the piston is released, a negative pressure is created in the pressure chamber so that the second valve closes again and the ball valve to the fluid container opens and liquid is sucked into the pressure chamber.

A major disadvantage of the known suction-pressure pump is that the dispensed liquid does not reach the area to be treated, such as the eye or nose of a patient, in a completely germ-free manner.

US-A-6,016,974 describes a dispenser for fluids which have a pressure chamber which is bounded at the top by a piston and at the bottom by a valve. A pump channel connected to the pressure chamber leads to an outlet opening in a nozzle plate. The outlet opening is closed by a sealing body made of an elastic material. In the depressurized state, the end face of the sealing body lies sealingly against the inside of the nozzle plate, so that the outlet opening is closed. When pressure is applied, the sealing body deforms so that the fluid can escape from the outlet opening. The disadvantage is that liquid residues remain in the outlet opening. There is therefore a risk that the outlet opening will become clogged. Otherwise there is a risk of calcification.

The object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device for fluids in which a germ-free storage of the liquid or the dispensing of germ-free liquid is guaranteed and in which there is no risk of clogging the outlet opening.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a dispensing device for fluids from a storage container, which ensures germ-free storage of the liquid or the dispensing of germ-free liquid. This object is achieved on the basis of the features specified in patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The dispensing device for fluids according to the invention from a storage container has a housing body which can be placed on the storage container and in which a pressure chamber is formed. The pressure chamber is delimited at the top by a piston guided in the pressure chamber and at the bottom by a first valve acting in relation to the storage container. The first valve closes when there is overpressure in the pressure chamber, whereas it opens when there is underpressure in the pressure chamber. Furthermore, a pump channel is provided in the housing body, which is connected on the one hand to the pressure chamber and on the other hand to the environment via an outlet opening. A second valve is provided in the pump channel, which opens when there is excess pressure in the pressure chamber and closes when there is negative pressure. The second valve has a displaceable sealing body, which can have different shapes, which enables the dispensing device to be sealed. According to the invention, the displaceable sealing body is prestressed against the outlet opening on the pump channel side, so that the pump channel is closed at the distal end. The pump channel side is to be understood here to mean that the sealing body is prestressed from the inside against the outlet opening, the sealing body also being able to protrude partially through the outlet opening. The pump channel is designed in such a way that the displaceable sealing body can be moved into a position that releases the outlet opening when the pressure within the pump channel is increased.

In contrast to the prior art, there is therefore no space between the second valve and the distal end of the pump channel or the outlet opening, in which liquid could accumulate after dispensing, which would be exposed to the environment and would therefore be germ-laden after some time. It is therefore impossible for a germ-laden liquid residue to be released together with the inflowing liquid when it is dispensed again. This is prevented by the design of the second valve insofar as the liquid within the pump channel is completely separated from the surroundings by the second valve.

In the dispensing device according to the invention, the sealing body of the second valve extends at the distal end of the pump channel in the position sealing the outlet opening into the outlet opening. Since the sealing body protrudes with its front section in the direction of flow into the outlet opening, i. H. If the sealing body does not lie flat against the inside of the cover part of the second valve that forms the valve seat, liquid residues cannot settle in the outlet opening. There is therefore no risk that the outlet opening will become clogged. Preferably, the cover part of the second valve with the outlet opening should have only a small thickness, so that the outlet opening can be completely filled by the sealing body, i. H. there is no channel-like section in the direction of flow in front of the sealing body which could become clogged.

In a preferred embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention, the sealing body is sealingly guided in a recess in the pump channel. The recess can be cylindrical, for example. The sealing guidance of the sliding seal body ensures that no liquid gets into the recess behind the seal body. So there can be no pressure equalization, which inevitably leads to the fact that the sealing body can no longer be moved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention, a spring element is provided for prestressing the sealing body, the spring element being arranged on the side of the sealing body facing away from the outlet opening. The spring element can be, for example, a spiral spring, an elastic element or the like. The spring element is preferably arranged in the recess in the pump channel. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the dispensing device, the displaceable sealing body has a cup-shaped part on its side facing away from the outlet opening. The cup-shaped part serves on the one hand as a contact surface for the pressurized liquid in the pump channel and on the other hand as a guiding and sealing element for the sealing body within the recess in the pump channel.

In a further preferred embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention the edge of the discharge opening is linienfb ^'RMIG on the displaceable Dichtungsköφer on. The sharp delimitation of the pump channel from the surroundings by means of a linear system ensures a high level of tightness of the second valve, which is not achieved to this extent in a flat system, since in the latter case a much higher manufacturing accuracy of the parts adjoining one another would be required, but which cannot always be achieved.

To achieve a particularly uniform distribution of the exiting liquid to achieve the sealing washer is located in a particularly preferred embodiment of the dispenser kreislmienfb ^'RMIG to the stationary Dichtungsköφer on. This is achieved by means of a rotationally symmetrical, displaceable sealing body and a circular outlet opening.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the displaceable sealing body is essentially conical on the side facing the outlet opening. The tip of the cone protruding into the outlet opening brings the escaping liquid together, so that an arbitrary splashing to the sides is prevented and drop formation during delivery is supported.

The aforementioned advantage is likewise achieved by a further preferred embodiment, in which the displaceable sealing body is essentially in the form of a spherical cap on the side facing the outlet opening. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pump channel comprises a first pump channel section and a second pump channel section, the latter extending transversely to the first pump channel section. The first pump channel section is connected on the one hand to the pressure chamber and on the other hand to the second pump channel section, and the second pump channel section is connected to the surroundings via the outlet opening. The second pump channel section enables the liquid to be dispensed from the side, the storage container being able to be held upright.

The second pump channel section is preferably provided within a tubular element which is arranged on the housing body and extends to the side. The tubular element enables an exact delivery of the liquid to the area to be treated, such as the patient's throat, whereby the storage container can be held in an upright position.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

Show it:

Fig. 1 the Abgabevomchtung invention in a first

Embodiment together with the storage container in a sectional view, Fig. 2 shows the detail A of Fig. 1 with the second valve in a first

Embodiment, FIG. 3 shows the second valve in the first embodiment according to FIG. 2 in the open position, FIG. 4 shows the dispensing device according to the invention in a second

Embodiment together with the reservoir in 5 shows a section B of FIG. 4 with the second valve in a second

embodiment,

First, the basic structure of the dispenser will be explained with reference to FIG. 1.

The dispensing device is intended for spraying a liquid from a storage container 1, a collapsible bag 1a being provided in the storage container 1 being provided in the present embodiment.

The housing body 2 of the dispensing device consists of a lower housing part 3 and an upper housing part 4 which is placed on the lower housing part 3. The lower housing part 3 of the housing body 2 is designed as a closure cap, which is snapped and sealed onto the storage container 1. The lower housing part 3 receives a pressure cylinder 5 which extends into the storage container 1. At the lower end of the pressure cylinder 5, a pressure chamber 6 is formed, which is delimited at the upper end by a piston 7 guided in the pressure cylinder 5 and at the lower end by a first valve 8 acting in relation to the storage container 1.

The piston 7 has a lower section 7a and an upper section 7b, the outer diameter of the lower section 7a being slightly larger than the diameter of the upper section 7b. The pressure cylinder 5 accordingly has a lower section 5a with a larger inner diameter and an upper section 5b with a smaller diameter. In the rest position shown in FIG. 1, the lower section 7a of the piston 7 is biased against the upper section 5b of the printing cylinder 5 by means of a compression spring 9 inserted into the pressure cylinder 5. The upper section 5b of the printing cylinder 5 has an annular extension 10 on its upper edge. The inner diameter of the annular extension 10 corresponds to the outer diameter of the piston 7, so that the piston 7 is guided in the extension 10. Since the piston 7 is otherwise smaller in diameter than the pressure cylinder 5, a narrow gap 11 remains between the outer wall of the piston and the inner wall of the cylinder.

The piston 7 is sealed off from the pressure cylinder 5 solely by means of a sealing lip 12 which is arranged at the lower end of the piston 7. In the lower region of the pressure chamber 6, the inner diameter of the pressure cylinder 5 increases slightly, in order to then decrease again. In the area of this extension 13, the sealing effect of the sealing lip 12 is lost.

The gap 11 between the upper section 7b of the piston and the upper section 5b of the pressure cylinder 5 is closed by a flexible seal 14. The seal 14 is made of polyethylene and has a circular hole 15 in the center, in which the piston 7 is sealingly guided. The outer edge of the seal 14 is sealingly inserted into the lower housing part 3 of the housing body 2, the underside of the seal resting in the area of the outer edge on a circumferential shoulder 16 of the housing body 2, on the other hand being freely movable in the inner area.

The piston 7 has an axial first channel 17 which is connected to a riser pipe 18 which is fastened to the upper housing part 4 and in which an axial second channel 19 extends. The axial second channel 19 in turn extends to a third channel 20, which is arranged within the upper housing part 4 and is described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The first, second and third channels 17, 19, 20 form the pump channel 21. The pump channel 21 opens with the third channel 20 into an outlet opening 22 at the distal end 23 of the pump channel 21. The liquid can thus reach the environment from the pressure chamber 6 via the first, second and third channels 17, 19, 20, which form the pump channel 21, and the outlet opening 22. A second valve 25 is arranged within the pump channel 21, the second valve 25 and its arrangement being explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The dispenser operates as follows. It is initially assumed that the storage container 1 is filled with liquid, but the dispensing device is still free of liquid. When the upper and lower housing parts 3, 4 of the housing body 2 are pressed together, the piston 7 moves into the pressure chamber 6, the air in the pressure chamber via the first, second and third channels 17, 19, 20, which form the pump channel 21, the opened second valve 25 and the outlet opening 22 are released to the environment. The second valve 25 is open due to the excess pressure in the pressure chamber 6, whereas the first valve 8 is closed. When the piston 7 springs back due to the spring force, a negative pressure is created in the pressure chamber 6, so that the first valve 8 opens, whereas the second valve 25 closes. As a result of the negative pressure, liquid is sucked from the reservoir 1 into the pressure chamber 6. If the piston is then pushed forward again, the liquid is pressed out of the pressure chamber 6 via the pump channel 21, the second valve 25 opening and the first valve 8 closing.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the structure of the second valve 25 is discussed below. The third channel 20, which forms the pump channel 21 together with the first and second channels 17, 19, is composed of a first section 26, which is arranged in the upper housing part 4 and adjoins the second channel 19, a second section 27, which extends radially outwards from the first section 26, a third section 28, which adjoins the second section 27 and extends in the direction of the distal end 23, and a fourth section 29, the fourth section 29 in turn being flush with the second channel 19 and immediately before the outlet opening 22. At the outlet 22 A cylindrical recess 30 is provided at the opposite end of the fourth section 29, the central axis of which lies on an axis with the outlet opening 22.

A displaceable sealing body 31 is guided in the recess 30 and is composed of a cup-shaped part 32 and a pin-shaped part 33. The cup-shaped part 32 is sealingly guided in the recess 30 and points with its open side in the direction of the outlet opening 22 or in the direction of the fourth section 29. The pin-shaped part 33 is fastened to the bottom of the cup-shaped part 32 and extends from the cup-shaped part 32 to the outlet opening 22, the pin-shaped part 33 being formed in the shape of a spherical cap at its end facing the outlet opening 22. Between the base of the recess 30 and the bottom of the cup-shaped part 32, a compression spring 34 is arranged, which prestresses the sealing body 31 with the spherical cap-shaped end of the pin-shaped part 33 in a sealing manner against the valve seat of the outlet opening 22. The fourth section 29 or the pump channel 21 is thus closed at the distal end 23.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outlet opening 22 is provided in a cover 35 which is inserted into the fourth section 29 and fastened therein. The assembly is particularly simple with such a construction, since the compression spring 34 can first be inserted into the recess 30 in order to then insert the seal body 30 into the recess 30. Finally, only the cover 35 has to be inserted into the fourth section 29 in order to clamp the sealing body 31 against the spring force.

3 shows the mode of operation of the first embodiment of the second valve 25 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3 using the arrows, the liquid flows through the first channel 17 when the pressure in the pressure chamber 6 (FIG. 1) increases. the second channel 19 (FIG. 3), the first, second, third and fourth section 26, 27, 28, 29 of the third channel 20 to the outlet opening 22, which is initially closed by the pin-shaped part 33 of the sealing body 31. Due to the pressure within the fourth section 29, a force is exerted on the sealing body 31, in particular on the bottom of the cup-shaped part 32, which counteracts the spring force. If a limit value predetermined by the pretension of the compression spring 34 is exceeded, the sealing body 31 is displaced in the direction of the bottom of the recess 30, so that the sealing body 31 opens the outlet opening 22 and the liquid in the form of a drop 36 (dashed line) at the distal end can leak. As soon as the pressure drops, which occurs after the piston 7 has been completely depressed, the sealing body 31 is displaced into its original position shown in FIG. 2 by the restoring force of the compression spring 34, so that the pump channel 21 is closed again at its distal end 23 is.

The liquid within the dispensing device according to the invention is thus completely separated from the germ-laden ambient air. In the embodiment shown, the sealing effect is further increased by the fact that the edge of the outlet opening 22 lies linearly against the end of the sealing body 31 in the form of a spherical cap. A section through this line is represented by reference number 37 in FIG. 2. The sharp delimitation of the pump channel 21 from the surroundings by means of a linear system ensures that the second valve 25 is tight.

4 shows a second embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention, the second embodiment being largely similar to the first embodiment, so that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts and only the differences are dealt with. In the second embodiment, the third channel 20, like the first or second channel 17, 19, is designed to run axially. In the radial direction there follows a fourth channel 38 which extends within a tubular element 39 fastened to the housing body 2. The pump channel 21 thus has a first pump channel section 40, which is composed of the first, second and third channels 17, 19, 20, and a second one extending transversely thereto Pump channel section 41, the latter being formed essentially by the fourth channel 38. The distal end 23 of the pump channel 21 is thus provided at the outwardly facing end of the tubular element 39. At this point, the second valve 25 is also arranged, which is explained below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the second valve 25, only the differences from the first embodiment (FIGS. 2 and 3) being discussed below, the same reference numerals being used for identical or similar parts, and the above description correspondingly applicable. In contrast to the first embodiment, the pin-shaped part 33 of the sealing body 31 has a conical shape at its end facing the outlet opening 22. The tip of the cone projects outwards through the outlet opening 22. The cone shape promotes the formation of drops at the distal end 23, since the liquid (not shown) is brought together at the tip of the cone.

The first or second embodiment of the second valve can be used both in the first and in the second embodiment of the dispensing device.

Claims

claims

1. Dispensing device for fluids from a storage container, with a housing body (2) which can be placed on the storage container (1) and in which a pressure chamber (6) is formed which is guided upwards by a piston (7) and guided in the pressure chamber (6) is limited at the bottom by a first valve (8) which acts in relation to the storage container (1) and which closes when there is overpressure in the pressure chamber (6) and opens when there is underpressure, a pump channel (21) also being provided which on the one hand communicates with the pressure chamber ( 6) and, on the other hand, is connected to the environment via an outlet opening (22) and in which a second valve (25) is provided, which opens under positive pressure in the pressure chamber (6) and closes under negative pressure, the second valve (25) has a sealing body (31) which is biased sealingly on the pump channel side of the outlet opening (22) so that the pump channel (21) is closed at the distal end (23), and the sealing body when the pressure increases within de s pump channel clears the outlet opening, characterized in that the sealing body (31) can be displaced into a position that releases the outlet opening (22), and that the sealing body is designed such that the sealing body in the position sealing the outlet opening (22) extends up to the outlet opening extends into it.

2. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing body (31) is sealingly guided in a recess (30) in the pump channel (21).

3. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a spring element (34) is provided for biasing the sealing body (31), the spring element (34) on the side of the sealing body (31) facing away from the outlet opening (23). is arranged.

4. Dispensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring element (34) is arranged in the recess (30) in the pump channel (21).

5. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the displaceable sealing body (31) has a cup-shaped part (32) on its side facing away from the outlet opening (22).

6. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the edge of the outlet opening (22) lies linearly on the displaceable sealing body (31).

7. Dispensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the edge of the outlet opening (22) rests in a circular line on the displaceable seal body (31)

8. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displaceable sealing body (31) is substantially conical on the side facing the outlet opening (32).

9. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displaceable sealing body (31) on the side facing the outlet opening (22) is substantially spherical.

10. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the pump channel (21) comprises a first pump channel section (40) and a second pump channel section (41) which extends transversely to the first pump channel section (40), the first Pump channel section (40) on the one hand with the pressure chamber (6) and on the other hand with the second pump channel section (41) and the second pump channel section (41) is connected to the environment via the outlet opening (22).

11. Dispensing device according to claim 10, characterized in that the second pump channel section (41) is provided within a tubular element (38) which is arranged on the housing body (2) and extends to the side.