SK286478B6 - Precompression system - Google Patents

Abstract

A precompression system for placing between a pump (3) and a discharge nozzle (8) that are connected by a conduit (9) debouching in a space (54). The system comprises a precompression valve movable between a closing position and a release position and biased to the closing position by spring means. In accordance with the invention the space is connected to the pump (3) and the conduit (9) is connected to the discharge nozzle (8). The spring means may be integrated in the precompression valve, for instance as a result of the precompression valve and the spring means being constituted by a resiliently flexible and preferably domed diaphragm (59). The space may be annular, may surround the end of the conduit and may be bordered by a cylindrical sleeve (60). The invention further relates to a spraying device comprising a pump (3), means connected to the suction side (5) of the pump (3) for supplying a fluid, a discharge nozzle (8) connected to the compression side (6) of the pump (3) and a precompression system as disclosed above arranged between the pump (3) and the discharge nozzle (8). Finally, the invention relates to an assembly constituted by a container (2) and such a spraying device (1).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a precompression system for positioning between a pump and an outlet nozzle which is connected by a duct extending into a certain space, the system comprising a precompression valve movable between a position closing the connection and a seat at the duct orifice and which releases the connection and is spaced apart from the seat, the pre-compression valve being spring-loaded to the closing position by spring means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a precompression system is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. This known precompression system is used in a spray head for a container, for example a bottle containing a liquid detergent. Such a spray head is formed by a body in which a manually operable pump is arranged. The pump is controlled by a starter which is pivotally connected to said body. The suction side of the pump is connected to a tube that extends into the bottle of considerable length, usually near its bottom, and through which fluid can be withdrawn from the bottle. The compression side of the pump is connected to the outlet nozzle of the spray head via a duct. A precompression system is provided between the pump and the conduit leading to the outlet nozzle, comprising a precompression valve, which is held closed by spring means, and which opens only when the pump has reached a predetermined pressure. The purpose of the precompression valve is to prevent the fluid from leaving the outlet nozzle at too low a pressure, which would lead to the formation of too large droplets in the atomized fluid. In order to achieve an optimum spray pattern, the fluid must in fact be expelled from the outlet nozzle at a predetermined and relatively high pressure.

The known precompression system comprises an end portion of the cylindrical wall of the pump that extends into the annular space. The rim of this cylindrical wall forms a seat on which a resiliently flexible diaphragm is pressed. This membrane is pushed into the closed position by the spring pressure which is created in the membrane of this earlier patent by flexural tensions in the material of the membrane itself. When the pressure in the pump cylinder increases sufficiently, the diaphragm is lifted from the seat, whereby the pressurized fluid can flow from the cylinder into the duct leading to the outlet nozzle. When almost all the fluid has been expelled from the cylinder and the pressure in it again drops, the diaphragm will return to the closing position in which it will rest on the seat again due to the internal spring force.

The known precompression system has the disadvantage that the annular space is arranged coaxially with the pump cylinder. Therefore, it is difficult to design this known precompression system so that it can be made by injection molding and further the resulting structure becomes relatively bulky, making it difficult to incorporate it into a compact spray head. In said U.S. Patent 5,730,335, a pump comprising this precompression system is for manufacturing reasons arranged at an angle between the suction tube and the spray tube, resulting in a complex construction that is difficult to assemble.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a precompression system of the type described, which is easier to manufacture and assemble than a conventional precompression system and which therefore offers greater design freedom when integrated into a compact spray head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by a precompression system for positioning between the pump and the outlet nozzle, which are connected by a duct extending into a space, the space being connected to the pump and the duct connected to the outlet nozzle. Thus, only by reversing the flow direction in comparison with known precompression systems, a precompression system is achieved which does not have to be coaxial with the pump cylinder but can, for example, be located next to the cylinder. In this way, the design of the spray head can be substantially simplified, the head can be made more compact and will be simpler and more convenient to manufacture. Furthermore, this has the consequence that the cylinder and the piston need not be positioned at an angle relative to each other that is advantageous for their operation.

The resilient means are preferably integrated into the precompression valve, for example, such that the precompression system and the resilient means are formed by a resiliently flexible membrane. In this way, a constructionally simple valve is obtained. The diaphragm is preferably domed so that it has a stable and suitably biased position.

Said precompression system preferably comprises a stop member interacting with the membrane, the bending of the membrane being limited and preventing it from "tipping" to another stable position at a greater distance from the seat from which it would not return more. The stop member is preferably integrally made with the membrane.

Furthermore, said space is preferably at least partially annular and at least partially surrounds the end of the pipe, so that a simple circular membrane can be used. The part of the pipe that is surrounded by the annular space and the pump may each have its central axis, the central axes being substantially parallel but spaced apart from each other.

The annular space is preferably bounded by a substantially cylindrical sleeve. In this way a good seal is achieved and leakage is prevented. The diaphragm and sleeve can be integrally formed, further reducing the number of parts and thus simplifying the assembly of the system.

At least one suction opening, which can be closed by a valve, is arranged in the sleeve to draw in the fluid to be atomized. If the shut-off valve is integrally formed with the sleeve, the number of discrete parts will be reduced even further, and the production and assembly of the precompression system will be further simplified.

The invention further relates to a spraying device comprising a pump having a suction side and a compression side, means connected to the suction side of the pump for supplying the fluid to be sprayed, an outlet nozzle connected to the compression side of the pump, and a precompression system of the described type. arranged between the pump and the outlet nozzle.

Finally, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a container and a spray device as described.

The invention is illustrated by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly comprising a container and a spray device in which the precompression system of the present invention can be used;

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the spray head of the assembly of FIG. 1, comprising said precompression system;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the spray head of FIG. 2 during pump lift;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, on the spray head during the back stroke;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the precompression system in the direction of the arrow V in FIG. 3;

Fig. 6A and 6B are longitudinal sections of the precompression system at the beginning and end of the pump stroke, and FIG. 7, 8 and 9 show a schematic, perspective, detailed view of an alternative embodiment of the valve used in the precompression system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The spray head 1 for the receptacle 2 provided with the neck 30 comprises a pump 3 having a suction side 5 and a compression side 6. The movable actuating means 4 are connected to the pump 3, in the illustrated example being a starter 13 with a continuous rotating shaft 53 which is inserted The hollow space 54 in the frame 22 supporting the pump 3 and locked therein by the flexible snap arm 55. The means 7 are connected by the suction side 5 of the pump 3 for supplying fluid from the container and form a conduit having a free end connected to the tube 23. passing into the container. The compression side 6 of the pump 3 is connected to the outlet nozzle 8 via a pipe 9.

Since the shaft 53 of the actuator 13 and the space 54 are located above the spray line 9, an opening 56 is provided in the actuator 13 through which the end of this line 9, on which the outlet nozzle 8 is arranged, extends.

The pump 3 is a piston pump formed by a pump housing or cylinder 10 and a piston 11 moving there and there. The piston 11 is connected to the actuator 13. In order to return the piston 11a to the actuator 13 to its extended rest position at the end of the pump stroke, the spray head 1 comprises spring means 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring means are formed by a pair of parallel flexible springs 17 which engage the ribs. within the actuator 13. When the actuator 13 is rotated around the rotary shaft 53 toward the pump 3 and pushes the piston 11 into the cylinder 10 during the pump lift, the springs 17 bend. When the pressure on the trigger 13 is released, it is pushed back into its rest position by springs 17 that bend back. Since the actuator is coupled to the piston 11 so as to remain fixed both under tension and compression, the piston 11 is then also pulled back to its rest position. The connection between the actuator 13 and the piston 11 is a snap connection formed in that the projections 14 on the actuator 13 are snapped into corresponding holes 28 in the piston 11.

A precompression system is provided between the cylinder 10 and the spray line 9, comprising an annular space 58, in the illustrated embodiment, connected to the cylinder 10 and extending therein an end portion of the spray line 9 which is enclosed by a gas-tight and liquid tight pre-compression valve. The space 58 is delimited by a cylindrical sleeve 60 that is inserted into the cavity 61 in the frame 22 and which in the illustrated embodiment is integrally formed with the membrane 59.

In this cylindrical sleeve 60 is formed an opening 15 in which a valve 63 is arranged and which is connected by a fluid intake tube 7 through an opening 67 in the frame 22. This valve 63, which is also integrally formed with the sleeve 60, is movable, in the illustrated embodiment rotatable between a position in which it hermetically seals the opening 67 (FIGS. 3, 4, 6A) and a position in which the opening 67 is left open (FIGS. 5, 6B). Further, the stop member 64 is connected to the diaphragm 59, which serves to limit the bending of the diaphragm 59 and prevent it from "tipping over". The cylindrical sleeve 60 is locked in the cavity 61 of the frame 22 by an end wall which in the illustrated embodiment is integrally formed with the container 2. The cylindrical sleeve 60 further comprises a stiffening flange 75 by deformation whose sleeve 60 under pump pressure in the cylinder 10 thereby avoiding the risk of leakage along sleeves 60.

According to a preferred embodiment (FIG. 7), the shut-off valve 63 is connected to the sleeve 60 by a pair of -f-shaped pivoting and resilient arms 68 having one end connected to the valve body 63. During the return or suction stroke of the pump 11, the arms 68 are turned upwards and slightly stretched, with the body 63 venting raised from the opening 67 a height L.

According to a further preferred embodiment (FIG. 8), the cylindrical sleeve 60 does not include an opening which is connected to the suction tube 23. Instead of the sleeve 60 it comprises a slightly outwardly curved peripheral edge portion 70 closely adjacent the wall of the cavity 61. the inclined inner surface 73. The sleeve 60 further includes a portion 71 having a reduced diameter and a boundary on one side by a resilient edge portion 70 and on the other side by a cylindrical portion of the sleeve 60. Along with the cavity wall 61, the reduced diameter portion 71 defines an annular space 72. which is in fluid communication with the opening 67.

During the stroke of the pump piston 11, the fluid pressure acts on the inclined inner surface 73 of the peripheral edge portion 70, which pushes this portion inwardly in the direction of the wall of the cavity 61, resulting in excellent sealing along the entire periphery of the cavity 61. or the suction stroke and the atmospheric pressure in the container 2 will result in a pressure difference on the edge edge portion 70, pushing this inwardly away from the wall and resulting in a fluid connection formed between the annular space 72 directly connected to the interior of the container 2 by the suction tube 23; cylinder 10.

In this way, the edge portion 70 functions as a valve having excellent sealing properties. Due to the sealing action of the edge edge portion 70, the pressure of the pump does not act on the cylindrical portion of the sleeve 60 such that the risk of fluid leakage along the cylindrical portion provided with annular sealing projections 74 is reduced. Further, the sleeve 60 may be made smaller and less heavy, then in the previous embodiments, unless there is a need to reinforce the flange along the edge edge. Further, this embodiment of the sleeve 60 can simply be made by injection molding, since the elimination of the opening in the side wall and the corresponding valve results in it which does not need sliding surfaces or mandrels in the mold. Finally, the sleeve 60 can also be installed easier because it is completely symmetrical in the rotational direction around the centerline and does not include an opening that should be coaxial with the opening 67.

The exact shape of the peripheral edge portion 70 of the sleeve 60 is not critical, as the only requirement is that it should exert sufficient pressure on the wall of the cavity 61 to ensure perfect sealing during the pump stroke and lift off the wall at each point of its circumference during the suction stroke. . Obviously, the shape of the edge edge portion 70 and the wall should further be selected to define an annular space. For this reason, the inclination angle of the edge edge portion is somewhat smaller in an alternative embodiment (FIG. 9), wherein the wall of the cavity has a larger inclined portion that leads to substantially the same volume of the annular space 72.

The precompression system 40 serves in a known manner to prevent the transfer of fluid from the container 2 to the outlet nozzle until a predetermined pump pressure has been reached. If the liquid is sprayed through the nozzle 8 at too low a pressure, the liquid is not sprayed enough and the drops formed in the spray cone are too large. To prevent this, the connection between the container 2 and the outlet nozzle 8 is closed by a diaphragm 59 which is forcedly pressed against the rim 66 of the spray line 9 serving as a seat due to an internal tension determined by the arched configuration and supported by ambient pressure behind the diaphragm. 59. Only when sufficient pressure is produced in the cylinder 10, for example of the order of 3 bar, by moving the piston 11 to its end position, the diaphragm 59 is lifted from the seat 66.

Thus, the spray head 1 functions as follows. When the user wishes to spray liquid from the container 2, he first pulls the trigger 13. In this way the air present in the cylinder 10 and cannot flow back into the container 2 due to the opening 67 being closed by the valve 63 is compressed by the piston 11. the air pressure at the end of the pump stroke is sufficiently high, the diaphragm 59 is lifted from the seat 66 and air can escape.

During the subsequent return stroke forced by the roasting means 16, the fluid is drawn from the container 2 through the tube 23, the pipe 7 and the openings 62 and 67 into the cylinder 10 until it is completely filled at the end of the return or suction stroke (Fig. 6A). In order to prevent partial vacuum in the container 2 during this stroke, a vent hole 51 is formed in the wall of the cylinder 10 which is open when the outer peripheral sealing lip 39B passes around the hole 51 during movement of the piston 11 inwards and in turn connected to the enclosure. provided between the outer and inner peripheral sealing flaps 39B and 39A of the piston 11 during the outward stroke of the piston 11.

When the trigger 13 is then pulled again, the pressure in the cylinder 10 rises very quickly because the fluid is difficult to compress. In this way, the diaphragm 59 is lifted from the seat 66 almost immediately and fluid can be forced through the space between the diaphragm 59 and the seat 66 into the spray line 9 and from there into the outlet nozzle 8 (FIG. 6B) where it is sprayed.

Since according to the present invention, the annular space 58 is connected to the pump cylinder 10 and the conduit 9 that extends therein is connected to the outlet nozzle, instead of, as in conventional precompression systems, the annular space 58 need not be coaxial with the cylinder 10 but it may be indented as shown. Thus, the spray head can be effectively manufactured by injection molding, so that the structure can be kept compact.

Although the invention has been illustrated by one embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto. For example, the membrane and the sleeve could be formed separately. Also, the stop member could possibly be omitted in some cases, and of course the choice of materials can also be varied. Thus, the scope of the invention is determined only by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

PATENT CLAIMS A precompression system for positioning between a pump (3) and an outlet nozzle (8), the system comprising a pipe (9) and a space (58) connecting the pump (3) and the outlet nozzle (8), the space (58) being connected to the pump (3) and the conduit (9) is connected to the outlet nozzle (8), the conduit (9) comprising an end portion in the space (58), the space (58) being at least partially annular and at least partially surrounding the end of the conduit (9); comprising a precompression valve movable between a position that closes the connection and a bearing (6) at the mouth of the duct (9) and a position releasing the connection in which it is spaced from the seat (66), the precompression valve being resilient to a stop position by roasting means, characterized in that the roasting means are integrated in the precompression valve, wherein the roasting means and the precompression valve are in the form of a resiliently flexible diaphragm (59), and sy The system further comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve (60) bounding the annular space (58) and integrally formed with the membrane (59). Pre-compression system according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane (59) is domed. Pre-compression system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a stop member (64) interacting with the membrane (59). Pre-compression system according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop member (64) is integrally formed with the membrane (59). Pre-compression system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the part of the pipe (9) surrounded by the annular space (58) and the pump (3) each have a central axis, the central axes being substantially parallel but spaced apart from each other. Pre-compression system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one suction opening (15) is provided in the sleeve (60) and can be closed by a shut-off valve (63). Pre-compression system according to claim 6, characterized in that the shut-off valve (63) is integrally formed with the sleeve (60). Pre-compression system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sleeve (60) comprises a relatively resilient edge portion (70) and a reduced diameter portion (71) bordering the resilient edge portion (70). ). Spray device (1), characterized in that it comprises a pump (3) having a suction side (5) and a compression side (6), means (7) connected by the suction side (5) of the pump (3), supplying the fluid to be atomized, an outlet nozzle (8) connected to the compression side (6) of the pump (3), and a precompression system according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 arranged between the pump (3) and the outlet nozzle (8) . A spraying device, characterized in that it comprises a container (2) with a neck (30) and a spray head (1) according to claim 9 connected to the neck (30).