LIQUID TANK FOR AN ATOMIZER

Abstract

Liquid tank for an atomizer for liquids, in particular, an electrostatic atomizer, the liquid tank comprising a receiving space for a liquid and a delimiting wall for delimiting the receiving space with respect to the surrounding area, the liquid tank comprising a self-closing valve for connection to the atomizer.

Claims

1. A liquid tank for an atomizer for liquids, in particular an electrostatic atomizer, the liquid tank comprising a receiving space for a liquid and a delimiting wall for delimiting the receiving space with respect to the surrounding area, wherein the liquid tank comprises a self-closing valve for connection to the atomizer.

2. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delimiting wall and/or a housing surrounding the delimiting wall consists of insulating material, in particular forms an electrostatic shielding, the material preferably having a dielectric strength of at least 30 kV and/or having in particular a wall thickness of at least 1 mm.

3. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein the delimiting wall and/or a housing surrounding the delimiting wall comprises a contacting to a reference potential with respect to a high voltage, for example a common negative pole or a common ground potential of a high-voltage source and a storage battery, the contacting having at least one contact for connecting to the electrostatic atomizer.

4. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid tank comprises a detector for identifying (coding) the liquid tank, the detector being formed in particular as mechanical coding, preferably for forming an interlocking engagement, and/or electronic coding, for example in the form of an RFID marking, in particular for transmitting information about the liquid tank (reading) and for receiving information about the liquid tank (writing), and/or electrical coding, in particular for forming electrical line routes via contacts.

5. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delimiting wall is formed as flexible, in particular as a collapsible bag.

6. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delimiting wall is formed as a cylinder, preferably with a passively guided piston head.

7. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one further receiving space for a further liquid and a delimiting wall for delimiting the receiving space with respect to the surrounding area and the first receiving space are comprised.

8. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one filling level indicator for indicating the filling level of the liquid in the receiving space is comprised.

9. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sensor element for detecting the ambient parameters of the liquid tank and/or the liquid is comprised, the sensor element having in particular a memory element for storing the ambient parameters.

10. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the self-closing valve is formed as a diaphragm, a lip valve, a ball valve or a spring valve.

11. The liquid tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid tank comprises a first mechanical coupling element, in particular a bayonet element or a rotary bolt mechanism, in the surrounding region of the valve on a housing and preferably comprises a second mechanical coupling element, the geometry of which is formed correspondingly such that it can be connected to the first mechanical coupling element, on a portion of the housing that is facing away from the valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] An exemplary embodiment of the liquid container according to the present invention is schematically represented in the following figures.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a first liquid tank in a perspective representation, with a valve;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a liquid tank in a sectional representation, with a valve and a flat bottom;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a liquid tank in a sectional exploded representation, with a valve and a coupling element at the bottom; and

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a second liquid tank in a sectional exploded representation, with a valve and a coupling element and a passive follow-up piston.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a liquid tank 1. The liquid tank 1 in this case comprises a housing 2 and a housing cover 3. The housing 2 has on one side an opening 4, through which a bag 5 for receiving the liquid that is arranged in the housing 2 can be seen. The filling level of the bag 5 can be read off through the opening 4.

[0040] Arranged centrally on the housing cover 3 is a valve 6, in the present case in the form of a lip valve. The valve 6 has centrally an inlet opening 7 for an opening mechanism (not represented), which is provided on an atomizer and enters the inlet opening 7 when the liquid tank 1 is used.

[0041] Arranged surrounding the valve 6 is a coupling mechanism 8, the coupling mechanism 8 in the present case being formed as a rotary coupling. In this case, a projection arranged on the atomizer reaches into the grooves 9A, 9B and, by a turning movement in the direction 10 along the channel 11, is engaged in an interlocking manner. In this way, a simple, self-centering arrangement of the liquid tank 1 on an atomizer is ensured. The housing cover 3 also comprises devices for mechanical and/or electrical or electronic coding. Mechanical coding may be realized, for example, by a notch opening 12, in which a latch of the atomizer engages. An electrical coding may be achieved by the provision of a conductive bridge, for example, a conductive housing cover 3. For an electronic coding, information on a chip or other data carriers may be provided in one or more elements 13A, 13B. Wireless information, for example, an RFID, is also conceivable.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a section through a liquid tank 1 corresponding to FIG. 1. The housing 3 has in this case an additional opening 20, which serves for aerating the interior space of the housing 2, in order that the released volume when the bag 5 collapses due to removal of the liquid cannot lead to a negative pressure in the interior of the housing.

[0043] The bag 5 is connected by way of a connection region 21 to an outlet channel 22 of the housing cover 3. This connection may be sealed either by elastic deformation or by way of clamping mechanism, in particular clips or rings.

[0044] At the upper end of the outlet channel 22, the lip valve 6 sits with the arranged valve lips 23A, 23B. If an opening mechanism is then inserted through the opening 7 in the direction 24, it penetrates the valve lips 23A, 23B and allows a removal of the liquid from the interior of the bag 5. If the opening mechanism is withdrawn, a flow of material from the interior of the bag 5 leads to a pressure on the valve lips 23A, 23B, whereby they are closed. For providing the corresponding material pressure, the bag 5 may have a certain elasticity or prestress, for example, in the form of a rubber balloon.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a liquid tank 100 according to the present invention in an exploded representation. In comparison with the embodiment described above, the embodiment of the liquid tank 100 has an additional closure cover 101, which by way of corresponding coupling elements 102 can be introduced into the mechanical rotary coupling described above.

[0046] Furthermore, the liquid tank 101 has in the region of its bottom 104 a matching corresponding coupling element 110, which is chosen in its geometrical design in such a way that it can engage in a coupling element 108 of the housing cover 103 in the way described above. In this way, a number of liquid tanks 101 can be arranged one behind the other and can be fastened to one another. The further component parts of the liquid tank 101 correspond to the component parts described above and are denoted by the same designations.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a liquid tank 201 in an exploded representation. The liquid tank 201 in turn comprises a housing 202, a housing cover 203 and a lip valve 206. Instead of a bag for keeping the liquid, the interior space 205 of the housing 202 is now formed for receiving a liquid. When the liquid is removed through the lip valve 206, in that the liquid is, for example, sucked away by a suction pump, a passively entrained follow-up piston 207 follows the remaining volume of the liquid. Initially, when the liquid tank is completely filled, the follow-up piston 207 is arranged in the region of the lower housing bottom 209. As time passes, the piston moves in the direction 240 toward the outlet channel 222 of the housing cover 203. The lower projection 223 of the housing cover 203 may in this case enter a clearance 224 in the follow-up piston 207, in order as well as possible to allow complete emptying of the liquid tank 201.

[0048] In the region of the housing cover 203, the liquid tank 201 likewise comprises a coupling mechanism 208, which can correspondingly engage in the corresponding coupling mechanism 210 of another liquid tank 201, so that the liquid tanks 201 can likewise be arranged on one another. In addition, a closure cover 230 may also be provided in a way corresponding to the embodiment described above.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0049] 1 Liquid tank [0050] 2 Housing [0051] 3 Housing cover [0052] 4 Opening [0053] 5 Bag [0054] 6 Valve [0055] 8 Coupling mechanism [0056] 9A,9B Grooves [0057] 10 Direction of rotation [0058] 11 Channel [0059] 12 Notch opening [0060] 13A, 13B Coding element [0061] 20 Opening [0062] 21 Connection region [0063] 22 Outlet channel [0064] 23A, 23B Valve lips [0065] 100 Liquid tank [0066] 101 Closure cover [0067] 102 Coupling element [0068] 103 Housing cover [0069] 104 Bottom [0070] 110 Coupling element [0071] 108 Coupling element [0072] 201 Liquid tank [0073] 202 Housing [0074] 203 Housing cover [0075] 205 Interior space [0076] 206 Lip valve [0077] 207 Follow-up piston [0078] 208 Coupling mechanism [0079] 209 Housing bottom [0080] 210 Coupling mechanism [0081] 222 Outlet channel [0082] 223 Projection [0083] 224 Clearance [0084] 240 Direction of movement [0085] 230 Closure cover