Dispensing device for a fluid

Abstract

Dispensing device for a fluid and method for dispensing fluid from dispensing device. Dispensing device includes a fluid channel; a chamber arrangement including at least one sealing element; a dispensing opening; a valve element configured to be movably disposed within the chamber arrangement and to interact with the dispensing opening; and at least one sealing element, arranged within the chamber arrangement, that is configured to create a seal against the valve element during a first predetermined stroke of the valve element.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for a fluid comprising: a fluid channel; a chamber arrangement comprising a valve chamber and a nozzle chamber; a dispensing opening; a valve element configured to be movably disposed within the chamber arrangement and to interact with the dispensing opening, the valve element including a space with a predefined volume that is less than a volume of the valve chamber and that is less than a volume of the nozzle chamber; and at least one sealing element, arranged within the chamber arrangement, that is configured to create a seal against the valve element during a first predetermined stroke of the valve element, wherein the valve element is configured so that, during a second predetermined stroke of the valve element, the dispensing opening is sealed and the fluid path from the chamber arrangement to the dispensing opening is closed via a positive fit with the valve element and, at a stroke greater than the second predetermined stroke, the valve element unseals the dispensing opening, wherein the at least one sealing element is configured so that, during the first predetermined stroke, and following the second predetermined stroke, a fluid path from the chamber arrangement to the dispensing opening is closed, and wherein, with reference to a fluid flow direction, the nozzle chamber is arranged downstream of the space.

2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein, in a further stroke of the valve element, which exceeds the first predetermined stroke, the fluid path is unblocked by the at least one sealing element.

3. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the space forms a part of the fluid path.

4. The dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the space comprises at least one groove.

5. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing element is configured to seal the nozzle chamber against the valve chamber.

6. The dispensing device according to claim 5, further comprising a valve seat, in which the valve element is movably disposed and which includes the at least one sealing element, the valve seat being arranged between the valve chamber and the nozzle chamber.

7. The dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein a fluid path, which is selectively blockable by the at least one sealing element, opens into the nozzle chamber, in which the dispensing opening is arranged.

8. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing element is formed as at least one sealing lip that is configured to bear against the valve element during the first predetermined stroke.

9. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined stroke constitutes a multiple of the second predetermined stroke.

10. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein the first predetermined stroke comprises the second predetermined stroke.

11. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a liner channel extending between the fluid channel and the chamber arrangement.

12. The dispensing device according to claim 11, further comprising a crown arranged at a transition from the liner channel to the chamber arrangement.

13. A method of dispensing a fluid from the dispensing device according to claim 1, comprising: guiding the fluid from the fluid channel to the chamber arrangement, whereby the fluid in the chamber arrangement displaces the valve element relative to the at least one sealing element; and during the first predetermined stroke, maintaining a seal of the at least one sealing element against the valve element, wherein, during the first predetermined stroke and, at a stroke greater than the second predetermined stroke, the valve element unblocks the dispensing opening.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein during a second predetermined stroke of the valve element, which is part of the first predetermined stroke of the valve element, the method further comprises blocking the dispensing opening.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein during a stroke of the valve element that exceeds the second predetermined stroke, the method comprises opening the dispensing opening.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, in a stroke of the valve element that exceeds the second predetermined stroke but does not exceed the first predetermined stroke, the method further comprises blocking a flow path of the fluid from the chamber arrangement to the dispensing opening.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein, in a stroke of the valve element that exceeds the first predetermined stroke, the further comprises opening a flow path of the fluid from the chamber arrangement to the dispensing opening.

18. A method of dispensing a fluid, comprising: guiding a fluid from a fluid supply to a valve chamber, whereby the fluid in the valve chamber displaces a valve element relative to at least one sealing element; during a first predetermined stroke of the valve element, maintaining a seal between the valve chamber a nozzle chamber; during a second predetermined stroke of the valve element, which is a part of the first predetermined stroke, blocking a dispensing opening in the nozzle chamber with at least a part of the valve element; during a stroke of the valve element that exceeds the second predetermined stroke but not the first predetermined stroke, unblocking the dispensing opening in the nozzle chamber while preventing a flow of the fluid from the valve chamber to the unblocked dispensing opening; and during a stroke of the valve element that exceeds the first predetermined stroke, opening a flow of the fluid from the valve chamber to the nozzle chamber via a space in the valve element having a volume that is less than a volume of nozzle chamber so that the fluid is dispensed through the unblocked dispensing opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a dispensing device for a fluid with a valve element in a closed state;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a chamber arrangement of the dispensing device for a fluid with the valve element in the closed state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a dispensing device for a fluid with the valve element in an open state; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the chamber arrangement of the dispensing device for a fluid with the valve element in an open state.

(6) FIG. 5 shows displacement of a portion of the valve element for the first and second predetermined strokes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(7) The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a dispensing device 1 for a fluid. Dispensing device 1 comprises a head base part 2 that is disposed on a snap-on element 3. A cone 4 extends from head base part 2 into an enclosure 5 through the snap-on element 3 in an axial direction. Cone 4 interacts with an enclosure spring 6 in enclosure 5. Cone 4 comprises a fluid channel 7. Fluid channel 7 extends towards head base part 2 in the axial direction.

(9) Fluid channel 7 continues into a liner channel 8 in head base part 2. This liner channel 8 is disposed between head base part 2 and a liner 9.

(10) Liner channel 8 opens into a chamber arrangement 10. This chamber arrangement 10 comprises a valve chamber 11. A space 12 thereby frees a fluid path from valve chamber 11 to a nozzle chamber 13. Nozzle chamber 13 comprises a dispensing opening 14. Dispensing opening 14 is embodied in the form of a calotte 15.

(11) A valve element 16 is disposed in the chamber arrangement 10. This element comprises a first sealing lip 17 in valve chamber 11. At an end of valve element 16 opposite of first sealing lip 17, valve element 16 is embodied in the shape of a cylinder 18. Valve chamber 11 is divided into two regions by first sealing lip 17. The fluid path of liner channel 8 continues into a first region of valve chamber 11. This first region of valve chamber 11 is spatially separated from a second region of valve chamber 11 by first sealing lip 17. The second region of the valve chamber 11 comprises a head spring 19.

(12) Between valve chamber 11 and nozzle chamber 13, a valve seat 20 is disposed. This valve seat 20 comprises at least one crown 21. Crown 21 is disposed at the transition from liner channel 8 to valve chamber 11. Furthermore, valve seat 20 comprises a sealing element 22.

(13) The embodiment of the dispensing device 1 described above is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. Identical features are thereby provided with the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 thereby illustrates a state of the dispensing device 1 in which the valve element 16 is disposed in a closed state. FIG. 3, on the other hand, shows the same dispensing device 1, in which the valve element 16 is disposed in an open state.

(14) A functional principle of the dispensing device 1 will now be explained in greater detail with the aid of FIGS. 2 and 4.

(15) To dispense the fluid, a user moves head base part 2 towards snap-on element 3 in the axial direction. As a result, cone 4 is moved against the spring force of enclosure spring 6 in the interior of enclosure 5. The volume in a pump chamber of enclosure 5 thereby decreases. The pump chamber is formed by the space surrounding enclosure spring 6. The transported fluid quantity is determined by a stroke of cone 4 inside the pump chamber. The dosage of a predetermined fluid quantity is hereby rendered possible. By the resulting overpressure, the fluid is displaced into fluid channel 7 from the pump chamber. The fluid is transported along fluid channel 7 in an axial direction. The transport of the fluid continues in or along liner 9 through liner channel 8. At an axial end of liner channel 8, the fluid ultimately passes through crown 21 and enters valve chamber 11.

(16) A certain fluid collection in the valve chamber 11 occurs. As more fluid collects in the valve chamber 11, the pressure of the fluid on valve element 16 increases. More particularly, the first region of valve chamber 11, i.e., above valve element 16, can thereby be sealed against the second region of the valve chamber 11, i.e., below valve element 16, in which head spring 19 is disposed, by first sealing lip 17. Furthermore, valve chamber 11 is sealed against nozzle chamber 13 by sealing element 22. Thus, the fluid collecting in valve chamber 11 displaces valve element 16 against the spring force of head spring 19.

(17) Before the displacement of valve element 16 against the spring force of head spring 19 takes place, cylinder 18 seals outlet opening 14. This seal is achieved, for example, by a positive fit. The possibility of a contamination of nozzle chamber 13 can be avoided.

(18) The fluid entering valve chamber 11 displaces valve element 16 against spring force of head spring 19, resulting in a stroke of valve element 16. After a further stroke, e.g., a second predetermined stroke, of valve element 16, cylinder 18 unblocks dispensing opening 14. However, at this point, sealing element 22 still bears against valve element 16 in a fluid-tight manner so that the fluid located in valve chamber 11 cannot enter space 12. Space 12 can be embodied, as in the exemplary embodiment, as a groove in valve element 16. A still further stroke of valve element 16 continues until sealing element 22 reaches space 12, whereby valve element 16 in total can be understood to have traveled a first predetermined stroke. Therefore, during the first predetermined stroke, sealing element 22 creates and maintains a seal against valve element 16.

(19) The stroke of valve element 16 can be continued so as to exceed the first predetermined stroke, whereby an overlap of sealing element 22 with space 12 occurs. In this arrangement, sealing element 22 then unblocks a fluid path from valve chamber 11 to nozzle chamber 13 via space 12. The fluid located in valve chamber 11 can enter space 12 and can then be transported through space 12 into nozzle chamber 13. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first predetermined stroke is embodied as a multiple of the second predetermined stroke. In this manner, it is achieved that cylinder 18 has completely unblocked dispensing opening 14 after a stroke that is larger than the first predetermined stroke. FIG. 5 shows examples of the extent of the displacement of a part of valve element 16 during the first and second predetermined strokes.

(20) The volume of valve chamber 11 is larger than the volume of space 12. As a result, the fluid is accelerated upon entering space 12. This acceleration is undesired, since a controlled dispensation of the fluid in the form of drops is intended. For this reason, nozzle chamber 13, which has a larger volume than space 12, is disposed after space 12 in the transport direction of the fluid in the fluid path. The fluid accelerated in space 12 can thus expand in nozzle chamber 13, resulting in the fluid being decelerated. Nozzle chamber 13 then comprises dispensing opening 14. The fluid can pass out of dispensing opening 14 along calotte 15 in the form of drops.

(21) On the one hand, the dispensation of the fluid in the form of drops by dispensing device 1 is hereby rendered possible. On the other hand, a contamination of dispensing device 1 with foreign matter can be avoided to a great extent.

(22) The contamination of the dispensing device 1 is avoided on the one hand by the sealing of the dispensing opening 14 by cylinder 18 in a closed state of valve element 16. The spatial separation of nozzle chamber 13 and valve chamber 11 by valve seat 20 also serves this purpose. Sealing element 22 prevents an ingress of foreign matter from nozzle chamber 13 into valve chamber 11 during the first predetermined stroke, i.e., during a stroke that is smaller than the first predetermined stroke. During a further stroke, which is larger than and a continuation of the first predetermined stroke, sealing element 22 unblocks the fluid path so that fluid from valve chamber 11 enters space 12 and, subsequently, nozzle chamber 13. Foreign matter potentially located in nozzle chamber 13 is thus washed out. This matter cannot reach valve chamber 11 through space 12 against the fluid flow. A contamination of dispensing device 1 can thus be avoided to a large extent.

(23) It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular elements, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.