Abstract
The invention relates to a pressure control device for attachment in a pressurized fluid container separating a dispersible fluid compartment and a propellant compartment, comprising a partition wall provided with at least one passage opening; and a closing element attached to the partition wall moveable between a passage opening release position and a passage opening closing position. The invention also relates to a pressurized fluid container provided with a such pressure control device.
Claims
1. Pressure control device for attachment in a pressurized fluid container separating a dispersible fluid compartment and a propellant compartment, comprising: a partition wall provided with at least one passage opening; and a closing element attached to the partition wall moveable between a passage opening release position and a passage opening closing position; wherein the partition wall is provided with a protruding guide element, wherein the closing element is surrounding the protruding guide element, and wherein the passage opening in the partition wall is allocated in or adjacent the protruding guide element.
2. Pressure control device according to claim 1, characterised in that the closing element and the protruding guide element are moveable connected such that the closing element and the protruding guide element are gas-tight enclosing a pressure chamber.
3. Pressure control device according to claim 1, characterised in that the closing element is hood-shaped.
4. Pressure control device according to claim 1, characterised in that the protruding guide element is surrounded by a slot-shaped channel.
5. Pressure control device according to claim 4, characterised in that the slot-shaped channel is recessed in the partition wall.
6. Pressure control device according to claim 4, characterised in that the at least one passage opening is allocated in the slot-shaped channel.
7. Pressure control device according to claim 6, characterised in that the at least one passage opening is allocated in the bottom of the slot-shaped channel.
8. Pressure control device according to claim 1, characterised in that the inside of the closing element contacting the protruding guide element or the outside of the protruding guide element contacting the closing element is covered with a flexible sealing material layer.
9. Pressure control device according to claim 1, characterised in that the inside of the closing element the protruding guide element contacting or the outside of the protruding guide element contacting the closing element is provided with a annular sealing element.
10. Pressure control device according to claim 1, characterised in that the protruding guide element is cylindrical.
11. Pressure control device according to claim 1, characterised in that the protruding guide element is stationary connected with at least one support that externally seizes on the closing element.
12. Pressure control device according to claim 11, characterised in that at least one external closing element support is provided with an abutment limiting the maximum freedom of movement of the closing element.
13. Pressurized fluid container provided with a pressure control device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control device is attached in the pressurized container separating a dispersible fluid compartment from a propellant compartment such that the at least one passage opening in the separating wall is the only fluid-permeable connection between the dispersible fluid compartment and the propellant compartment.
14. Pressurized fluid container according to claim 13, characterised in that the propellant compartment is an individual container that is placed in a larger dispersible fluid compartment.
15. Pressurized fluid container according to claim 13, characterised in that the fluid container is a cylindrical spray can.
16. Pressurized fluid container according to claim 15, characterised in that the partition wall is disc-shaped separating a dispersible fluid compartment and a propellant compartment within the cylindrical spray can.
17. Pressurized fluid container according to claim 13, characterised in that the pressure control device is allocated on a distance of a central axis of the pressurized fluid container and a propellant filling valve connecting to the propellant compartment is allocated centrally in the partition wall of the pressurized fluid container.
Description
[0018] The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the non-limitative exemplary embodiments illustrated in the following figures. Corresponding elements are denoted in the figures by corresponding reference numbers. Herein shows:
[0019] FIGS. 1A, 1B schematic side views on a pressure control device according to the present invention, wherein the position of a closing element is that is part of the pressure control device is varied;
[0020] FIG. 2A a longitudinal cross-section of a bottom part of a pressurized fluid container according to the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2B a cross-section through a detailed perspective view of a part of the pressurized fluid container shown in FIG. 2A;
[0022] FIG. 3 a cross-section of a pressurized fluid container according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 4A a perspective view of a propellant compartment provided with a part of an alternative embodiment of a pressure control device according to the present invention; and
[0024] FIG. 4B a longitudinal cross-section of a an further embodiment of a pressurized fluid container according to the invention incorporating the pressure control device as shown in FIG. 4A.
[0025] FIG. 1A shows a pressure control device 1 for attachment in a pressurized fluid container (see FIGS. 2 and 3) having a partition wall 2 that is provided with a surrounding mounting edge 3. In the partition wall 2 a passage opening 4 enables a propellant (normally a gas) to pass the partition wall 2, at least as long as a closing element 5 is not closing off the passage opening 4. In the position of the closing element 5 as depicted in FIG. 1A the closing element 5 is in a passage opening 4 release position. The closing element 5 here is hood-shaped and surrounds a protruding cylindrical guide element 6 that is centrally allocated on the partition wall 2, which protruding guide element 6 is surrounded by a slot-shaped channel 7 that is recessed in the partition wall 2. The passage opening 4 is allocated in the bottom of the slot-shaped channel 7. The inside of the hood-shaped closing element 5 is covered with a flexible sealing material layer 8 on the bottom of which sealing material layer 8 an inside annular sealing element 9 (to be compared with an O-ring) seals off the contact between the closing element 5 and the protruding guide element 6, thus providing a gas-tight pressure chamber 30 with a volume that is variable due to the movement of the closing element 5 relative to the protruding guide element 6. On the side of the slot-shaped channel 7 facing away from the protruding guide element 6 the partition wall 2 is provided with at least one external closing element guide 9, which external guide element 9 not only externally guides the closing element 5 but also functions as a limitation for the way of trajectory of the closing element 5 (see the abutment 10 on the outer end of the external guide element 9).
[0026] In FIG. 1B the pressure control device 1 of FIG. 1A is shown however here the closing element 5 is in the passage opening closing position as the closing element 5 is moved (in the figure downwards) in comparison with the position of the closing element 5 in FIG. 1A according the arrow P.sub.1 such that the closing element 5 seals off the passage opening 4. It is also depicted that the volume of the pressure chamber 30 in FIG. 1B is substantially smaller than the volume of the gas-tight pressure chamber 30 in the situation shown in FIG. 1A.
[0027] FIG. 2A shows a longitudinal cross-section of the bottom part of a pressurized fluid container 10 provided with a pressure control device 1 according the present invention and as shown in the FIGS. 1A and 1B. The pressure control device 1 is attached in the pressurized container 10 separating a dispersible fluid compartment 11 from a propellant compartment 12 such that a propellant only through the passage opening 4 may flow from the propellant compartment 12 to the dispersible fluid compartment 11, at least as long as the closing element 5 is not in the passage opening closing position as depicted in FIG. 2. Also shown is that the pressurized container 10 is provide with an internal annular narrowing 13 (realised buy an external circumferential indention) against which narrowing 13 the wall partition wall 2 with its surrounding mounting edge 3 form-fitting abuts. The connection between the annular narrowing 13 and the surrounding mounting edge 3 of the partition wall 2 is thus medium-tight/gas-tight. For holding the position of the closing element 5 supports 31 are attached such that they are in a stationary position relative to the guide element 6, the supports 31 externally seize on the closing element 5 to keep it in a position that fits the protruding guide element 6. On the side of the guides 31 facing away from the partition wall 2 abutments 32 (stops) are provided ensuring that the closing element 5 will not loosen from the protruding guide element 6.
[0028] FIG. 2B shows a cross-section through a detailed perspective view of a part of the pressurized fluid container shown in FIG. 2A wherein the protruding guide element 6 and two protruding guide elements 31 are clearly visible. The closing element 5that is shown in FIG. 2Ais left out in this figure. Also visible is the passage opening 4 in the partition wall 2. In this embodiment the partition wall 2, the protruding guide element 31 and the supports 31 are all stationary attached to each other. Also reference is made to the abutment 32 that are part of the guides 31 and that prevent thenot shownclosing element 5 from coming loose from the protruding guide element 6.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a perspective external view on the pressurized fluid container 10 of which only the lower part was shown in FIG. 2. A cylindrical shell 20 of the container 10 is provided with an circumferential indention 21 and on the outfeed (upper) side of the container 10 a neck 22 (also referred to as a dispense valve opening) and shoulder 23 are applied with a central outlet tube 24 that may be connected to anot shown herespray nozzle. The upper side of the pressure control device 1 borders the fluid compartment 11, in which fluid compartment 11 a piston 25. By a movement of the piston 25 towards the outlet tube 24 the fluid in the compartment 11 will be placed under pressure enabling to release a portion of the fluid to be dispersed. The shape of the piston 25 may correspond with the shape of the upper side of the pressure control device 1 and/or the shape of the piston 25 may follow the contour of the closed top of the pressurized fluid container 10 while the piston 25 connects seamlessly but moveable to the inner cylindrical shell wall preventing fluid to pass the piston 25 towards the pressure control device 1, in fact the piston 25 prevents that the dispersible fluid will pass the piston 25.
[0030] The pressure control device 1 acts as a constant pressure release valve that opens for gas to pass from the propellant compartment 12 on the opposite side of the pressure control device 1 than the fluid compartment 11.
[0031] The propellant compartment 12 functions as a reservoir for a (highly) compressed propellant. Suitable propellants include propane, butane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air or any other suitable substance. Preferably, a propellant is chosen that does not chemically react with the dispersible fluid especially when the propellant may contact the dispersible fluid (as may occur in a diptube embodiment). The cylindrical shell 20 also comprises a bottom 26. In the depicted case, the cylindrical shell 20 and the bottom 26 are formed as a single, integral part. The bottom 26 is provided with another valve or releasable closing 27, enabling to pressurize the propellant compartment 12.
[0032] FIG. 4A shows a propellant compartment 40 that is here not part of a larger construction but that as a stand-alone element. The propellant compartment 40 is provided with (here) a part of an alternative embodiment of a pressure control device. Only the protruding guide element 6 is shown (thus not the closing element).
[0033] In FIG. 4B the propellant compartment 40 from FIG. 4A is shown in a slightly further amended embodiment that is attached to a dispersible fluid compartment 41. Here also the closing element 5 is shown thus providing an embodiment of a pressurized fluid container 43 according to the present invention. Additionally also a propellant filling valve 44 is shown which is allocated centrally in the pressurized fluid container 43. The central positioning of the propellant filling valve 44 in the fluid container 43 enables to fill the propellant compartment 40 via thehere in an already closed off situation depictedcentral upper opening 46. The propellant filling valve 44 here shown is an umbrella valve 44 comprising a flexible head 47 (e.g. made out of silicone) that enables distortion for passage of a propellant that is brought in via a propellant filling opening 48. Tit will be clear that a central propellant filling valve 44 may also be practised in for instance an embodiment of the pressurized fluid container 10 partially shown in the FIGS. 2A and 2B wherein the pressure control device 1 is allocated decentrally.
