|
(11) | EP 0 753 352 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
Fluid dispenser comprising quantity control means for pre-compression pump Sprühvorrichtung mit Vordruck-Pumpe und Mengenregelung Pulvérisateur comprenant une pompe à pré-compression avec réglage de la quantité |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid delivery and atomizing device which is provided with means for regulation of the quantity of fluid to be delivered during each operating cycle and with interchangeable parts for regulation of the aperture of the fluid delivery duct depending on the density of the fluid itself.
[0002] In the art, numerous forms of delivery pumps of the reciprocating type are known, designed to draw off a certain quantity of a fluid from a storage vessel such as, for example, a perfume bottle or the like and convey it under pressure to a micronization and delivery nozzle.
[0003] More particularly, so-called pre-compression pumps are known, namely of the type which are provided with an obturator movable against the action of a suitably calibrated spring; said obturator covers a hole through which the fluid flows towards the delivery cap and is lifted from this hole only after being subjected by the user to a pressure corresponding to the force sufficient to overcome the opposing action exerted by, the said spring on the obturator itself. The prior art as defined in the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in GB-2 261 389.
[0004] These devices have numerous drawbacks including the fact that the amount of fluid delivered each time pressure is exerted by the user is fixed and depends on the volume of the pump chamber, therefore resulting in the need for individual and specific dimensions and designs for the entire device depending on the quantity of fluid which is to be delivered for each cycle of the pump.
[0005] In addition to this, the fluid flow ducts are of considerable length and have a small cross-section and are therefore the cause - in particular when the pump is used for high-density fluids - of pressure drops during flowing of the fluid, resulting in irregular delivery and the need to overdimension the load of the pre-compression spring, with the consequent need for a considerable operating force on the part of the user.
[0006] The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing a device for delivering and atomizing fluids contained in a storage container, which allows the quantity of fluid delivered to be varied in a simple and economic manner without the need for modifying correspondingly the dimensions of each individual part forming the device.
[0007] Within the scope of this problem a further need is to be able to vary in a precise, but at the same time simple and economical manner, the aperture of the duct through which the fluid flows across the chamber for compression thereof, depending on the greater or lesser density of the fluid itself, so that the operating load may be kept small.
[0009] Further details may be obtained from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a section along an axial plane of the device according to the present invention in the rest position;
Figure 2 shows a section similar to that of Figure 1 with different positioning of the element for regulating the volume of fluid to be delivered;
Figure 3 is an axial section illustrating a variation of embodiment of the means for regulating the quantity of fluid to be delivered;
Figure 4 shows a cross-section along the plane indicated by IV-IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows the device according to Figure 3 during the delivery stroke.
Figure 6 shows the device according to Figure 3 at the end of the return stroke;
Figure 7 shows an axial section through the device according to Figure 3 with different dimensions of the means for regulating the quantity of fluid to be delivered.
[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the delivery device according to the invention comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical body 1 on the bottom of which there is formed a seat 1a housing a floating sphere 1b designed to function as a one-way valve for the passage of a fluid "F" contained in a bottle 2 inside which the said hollow body is inserted and sealingly fastened via suitable means described in detail below.
[0011] The hollow body 1 has arranged inside it, coaxially therewith, a stem 3 which in turn is internally hollow and slidable in an axial direction relative to hollow body 1 itself. The top end 3a of the stem 3 projects in an axial direction beyond the hollow body so as to support a delivery cap 4 provided with a radial hole 4a for supplying the fluid to a micronization chamber 4b from where the fluid emerges suitably atomized for the application.
[0012] The opposite bottom end 3b of the stem 3 has reversibly fitted to it a base-piece 5 which is provided on its internal surface with shoulders 5a (Figures 1 and 4) designed to engage with a corresponding annular projection 3c of the stem 3. The inclined surface of the said shoulders 5a and of the annular projection 3c allows easy insertion of the base-piece 5 which in this way is stably coupled to the stem 3.
[0013] The said base-piece 5, although it is provided with internal openings for passage of the fluid is, however, closed externally, avoiding the need for arranging sealing elements in between with obvious simplification of the design of the parts to be combined.
[0014] The external surface of the base-piece 5 has formed on it a support surface 5b with, acting against it, the top end of a spring 6 which reacts against an associated seat of the hollow body 1 so as to keep the base-piece itself, and hence the stem 3, raised with respect to an annular abutment shoulder 1c which can be fitted onto the internal surface of the hollow body 1.
[0015] The stem 3 has formed in its approximately middle part (Figures 1 and 2) an annular rib 3d designed to engage with corresponding concave seats 7a formed on the internal surface of a sliding piece 7 coaxially mounted on the stem 3.
[0016] The upper surface of the sliding piece 7 has formed on it an annular seat 7b designed to enter into contact with an end-of-travel element 8a of a gasket 8 arranged between a stopper 9 with an internal thread 9a designed to be coupled with the threading 2a of the neck 2b of the container so as to sealingly fasten the delivery device to the container itself.
[0017] Between the stem 3 and the hollow body 1 there is also arranged an annular gasket 10 provided with a vertical tongue 10b designed to come into contact and form a seal with the top edge 5c of the base-piece 5; in this way the gasket 10, the body 1 and the base-piece 5 define a pressure chamber 11 consisting of an upper part 11a of substantially cylindrical shape and a lower part 11b of substantially frustoconical shape, through which the fluid F is drawn up for delivery, as will be described below.
[0018] Said gaskets 10 and collar 7 have axially arranged between them a spring 12 designed to cause the pre-compression of the device since, only when the thrusting action exerted by the user on the delivery cap 4 has compressed the spring 12, does delivery of the fluid externally occur.
[0019] As can be understood from a comparison between Figure 1 and Figure 2, the different positioning of the sliding piece 7 with respect to the stem 3 results substantially in a different position of the stem 3 itself with respect to the cylindrical top part 11a of the chamber 11, which has a greater/smaller height (H1, H2) and hence a larger/smaller volume depending on the different positions of the sliding piece with respect to the stem. As will become obvious below, this volume of the cylindrical part 11a of the chamber 11 corresponds to the quantity of fluid delivered each time the pump is operated.
[0020] In a further constructional embodiment (not shown) said cavities 7a of the sliding piece 7 and said rib 3d of the stem3could also be arranged inclined in accordance with the pitch of a thread/nut screw fastening system which can be operated by means of rotation of the delivery cap 4, in this case resilient relief-type elements being provided in order to prevent undesired rotation of the sliding piece 7, but instead allow axial translation thereof following actuation by the user and the springs 6 and 12.
[0021] Figure 3 shows a simplified example of embodiment of the device according to the invention in which the stem 3 has a fixed collar 107 with a top surface having in it an incision so as to form an annular seat 107b designed to come into contact with the said end-of-travel element 8a of the gasket 8.
[0022] As can be understood from a comparison between Figure 3 and Figure 7, the height of the said collar 107 determines once again the different height (H1, H2) of the upper part 11a of the chamber 11 and hence the quantity of fluid to be delivered.
[0023] Operation of the device described for the sake of simplicity with reference to Figures 3, 5 and 6 is as follows:
[0024] After ascertaining the density of the fluid and establishing the quantity of fluid to be delivered for each pumping cycle and having consequently calibrated the height of the collar 107 (or, in the embodiment of Figure 1, axially translated the sliding piece 7 into a suitable position), as well as fitting to the stem 3 a base-piece 5 of suitable external diameter, the delivery device is fitted to the bottle 2 by means of the stopper 9.
[0025] In the rest condition (Figure 3), the spring 6 keeps the collar 107 in abutment against the lug 8a of the sealing gasket 8, while the spring 12 keeps the lug 10b of the annular gasket 10 in contact with the top edge 5c of the base-piece 5: in these conditions both entry of air "A" into the container and delivery of fluid therefrom is prevented. For the sake of simplicity it is also assumed that the chamber 11 is already full of fluid "F" following the execution of a few cycles under no load. In order to obtain delivery, the cap 4 is pressed, causing the descent of the stem 3 inside the hollow body 1, since the fluid F present inside the chamber 11 cannot be compressed and cannot return into the container 2, being retained by the sphere 1b, and constitutes an obstacle to descent of the gasket 10 which remains immobile until the spring 12 is compressed and the base-piece 5 is consequently separated from the gasket 10 itself.
[0026] This separation causes opening of the chamber 11a and consequent rising up again of the fluid F through the internal cavity of the stem 3 as far as the delivery cap 4 inside which it is atomized for delivery.
[0027] The delivery continues until the base-piece 5 reaches the cylindrical-body portion 1c and the gasket 10 reaches the top edge of said portion 1c, causing closure of the chamber 11a, the contents of which at this point have been completely delivered.
[0028] At the same time as delivery, descent of the stem 3 causes separation of the collar 107 from the gasket 8a, placing in communication the inside of the container 2 with the external environment (Fig. 5) and causing the entry of air "A" inside the bottle.
[0029] Once the stem 3 has reached the bottom end-of-stroke position, the spring 12 reacts against the collar 7, which at this point is at a standstill, and begins exerting its thrusting action on the annular gasket 10, pushing it downwards so that the lug 10b comes back into contact with the top edge 5c of the base-piece 5, closing again the chamber 11 and consequently interrupting delivery. Releasing the delivery button 4, the spring 6 is allowed to push again upwards the base-piece 5 and hence the gasket 10 and the stem 3 which move simultaneously causing a drop in pressure inside the chamber 11 itself which raises the sphere 1b, opening up the bottom of the body 1 and causing fluid F to be drawn back inside the chamber 11 which in this way is filled again for subsequent delivery.
[0030] The fluid F, rising back up from the container to the chamber 11, causes a drop in pressure inside the container which is balanced by the entry of air drawn in from outside.
[0031] As can be understood from the previous description relating to operation of the device with the fixed collar 107, the working stroke of the stem 3 with respect to the hollow body 1, and hence the volume of fluid which can be delivered during each cycle of the pump, is substantially determined by the height in the axial direction of the said collar 107 which, as illustrated in Figure 7, may be made with a much greater height, thus resulting in a reduction of the compression stroke and hence a reduction in the volume of fluid delivered per cycle. In a similar manner as in the other embodiment shown in Figure 1, the stroke of the stem is determined by the more or less lowered position of the sliding-piece 7.
[0032] Consequently, it is obvious how it is possible to vary in a simple and economical manner the volume of fluid delivered per cycle by varying only the heightwise dimension of the said collar.
[0033] In particular, while the simplified version of the device according to the invention may prove suitable for those mass production operations where a corresponding variation in the forming mould has an essentially negligible impact on the final unit cost, the realization of the device with a sliding piece which allows a variation in the quantity of fluid which can be delivered, without the need for variations in the moulds, but by means of a simple positional adjustment, will certainly prove convenient owing to the series of small number of parts.
1. Device for delivering and atomizing fluids (F) contained in a container (2), comprising
a hollow body (1) which has coaxially arranged inside it a gasket (8) in which a hollow
stem (3) is arranged movable with respect to the gasket (8) against the thrusting
action of first resilient elements (6) and second resilient elements (12), wherein
the bottom end of said second resilient elements (12) is in abutment against an annular
gasket (10) radially arranged between the hollow body (1) and the stem (3) and axially
movable with respect to the stem (3), said stem (3) being provided with a collar (7;107)
against which the top end of said second resilient elements (12) acts, means (8a),
integral with the gasket (8) and suitable to interfere with said collar (7;107) of
the stem (3) to stop the axial displacement of the stem (3) itself, the axial dimension
of said means (8a) and said collar (7;107) being designed to determine the volume
of fluid which can be delivered during each operating cycle of the device, characterized in that there is also provided an interchangeable base-piece (5), externally closed, which
can be detachably fitted to the bottom end of the stem (3), and which remains fixed
to the latter during the axial stroke of the same, and which cooperates with the gasket
(10) for sealing off a fluid delivery duct provided between the hollow stem (3) and
the base-piece (5) at the end of the compression stroke of the stem.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said collar (7) consists of a sliding piece provided with internal annular cavities
(7a) designed to be coupled with a corresponding annular rib (3d) of the stem (3)
for stable positioning of the sliding piece relative to the stem itself.
3. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said collar consists of an annular relief (107) fixed to the stem (3) and of suitable
axial height depending on the quantity of fluid to be delivered.
4. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the internal surface of said base-piece (5) is provided with shoulders (5a) designed
to engage with a corresponding annular projection (3c) of the stem (3) for detachable
fastening of the two parts.
5. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said internal cavities (7a) of the sliding piece (7) and said rib (3d) of the stem
(3) are arranged inclined in accordance with the pitch of a thread/nut screw fastening
system so as to allow variation in the position of the sliding piece itself by means
of rotation of the delivery cap (4).
1. Vorrichtung zum Fördern und Zerstäuben von in einem Behälter (2) enthaltenen Fluiden
(F), umfassend einen Hohlkörper (1), in dessen Innerem koaxial eine Dichtung (8) angeordnet
ist, in welcher ein hohler Stößel (3) beweglich gegenüber der Dichtung (8) und entgegen
der Schubwirkung erster elastischer Elemente (6) und zweiter elastischer Elemente
(12) bewegbar ist, wobei das untere Ende der zweiten elastischen Elemente (12) sich
in Anlage an einer Ringdichtung (10) befindet, die radial zwischen dem Hohlkörper
(1) und dem Stößel (3) angeordnet und axial gegenüber dem Stößel (3) bewegbar ist,
wobei der Stößel (3) mit einem Kragen (7; 107) ausgestattet ist, gegen den das obere
Ende der zweiten elastischen Elemente (12) wirkt, eine einstückig mit der Dichtung
(8) ausgebildete Einrichtung (8a) geeignet für die Kollision mit dem Kragen (7; 107)
des Stößels (7) zum Anhalten der axialen Versetzung des Stößels (3) selbst vorgesehen
ist, wobei die axiale Abmessung der Einrichtung (8a) und des Kragens (7; 107) derart
gewählt ist, daß hierdurch das Fluidvolumen bestimmt wird, welches während jedes Bedienungszyklus
der Vorrichtung gefördert werden kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß außerdem ein außen verschlossenes, austauschbares Basisstück (5) vorgesehen ist,
welches lösbar am unteren Ende des Stößels (3) angebracht werden kann, und das an
letzterem während des axialen Hubs des Stößels fixiert bleibt, und welches mit der
Dichtung (10) zum Sperren einer Fluidförderleitung zwischen dem hohlen Stößel (3)
und dem Basisstück (5) am Ende des Druckhubs des Stößels zusammenwirkt.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Kragen (7) aus einem Gleitstück besteht, welches mit inneren Ringhohlräumen (7a)
ausgestattet ist, die so ausgebildet sind, daß sie mit einer entsprechenden Ring-Rippe
(3d) des Stößels (3) verrasten, um das Gleitstück gegenüber dem Stößel selbst stabil
zu positionieren.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Kragen aus einem Ringflansch (107) besteht, der an dem Stößel (3) fixiert ist
und eine geeignete axiale Höhe abhängig von der Menge zu fördernden Fluids aufweist.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Innenfläche des Basisstücks (5) mit Schultern (5a) ausgestattet ist, die so ausgebildet
sind, daß sie mit einem entsprechenden ringförmigen Vorsprung (3c) des Stößels (3)
für ein lösbares Befestigen der beiden Teile zusammenwirken.
5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Innenhohlräume (7a) des Gleitstücks (7) und die Rippe (3d) des Stößels (3) geneigt
entsprechend der Ganghöhe eines Gewinde/Mutter-Schraubbefestigungssystems geneigt
sind, so daß eine Änderung der Lage des Gleitstücks selbst durch Verdrehen einer Förderkappe
(4) möglich ist.
1. Dispositif pour délivrer et atomiser des fluides (F) contenus dans un récipient (2),
comprenant un corps creux (1) à l'intérieur duquel est placé un joint coaxial (8)
traversé par une tige creuse (3) montée pour se déplacer par rapport au joint (8)
en s'opposant à l'action de poussée de premiers éléments élastiques (6) et de seconds
éléments élastiques (12), dans lequel l'extrémité inférieure des seconds éléments
élastiques (12) est en butée contre un joint annulaire (10) placé dans la direction
radiale entre le corps creux (1) et la tige (3) en étant mobile dans la direction
axiale par rapport à la tige (3), ladite tige (3) étant dotée d'un collier (7 ; 107)
contre lequel agit l'extrémité supérieure des seconds éléments élastiques (12), un
moyen (8a) intégré au joint (8) et apte à interférer avec ledit collier (7 ; 107)
de la tige (3) pour arrêter le déplacement axial de la tige (3) elle-même, la dimension
axiale dudit moyen (8a) et celle dudit collier (7 ; 107) étant choisies pour déterminer
le volume de fluide qui peut être délivré pendant chaque cycle de fonctionnement du
dispositif, caractérisé en ce qu'il est également prévu une pièce de base interchangeable (5), fermée extérieurement
, laquelle peut être adaptée de manière amovible sur l'extrémité inférieure de la
tige (3), et qui reste fixée sur la tige pendant la course axiale de cette dernière,
et coopère avec le joint (10) pour fermer un conduit de délivrance du fluide prévu
entre la tige creuse (3) et la pièce de base (5) à la fin de la course de compression
de la tige.
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit collier (7) est constitué par une pièce coulissante formée avec des cavités
annulaires internes (7a) prévues pour être couplées avec un bourrelet annulaire correspondant
(3d) de la tige (3) afin de positionner la pièce coulissante de manière stable par
rapport à la tige elle-même.
3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit collier est constitué par un bossage annulaire (107) fixé à la tige (3) et
d'une hauteur axiale appropriée , fonction de la quantité de fluide à délivrer.
4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la surface interne de ladite pièce de base (5) est dotée d'épaulements (5a) prévus
pour venir en prise avec une protubérance annulaire correspondante (3c) de la tige
(3) afin de relier les deux pièces de manière amovible.
5. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdites cavités internes (7a) de la pièce coulissante (7) et ledit bourrelet (3d)
de la tige (3) sont placés inclinés selon le pas d'un système de fixation du type
vis filetée/écrou afin que la position de la pièce coulissante elle-même soit modifiée
grâce à la rotation de la tête (4) du dispositif de distribution .