Abstract
The present invention relates to a pump head for a metering device for a metered dispensing of a fluid. The pump head can thereby be fitted on a storage container, for example a bottle, which is designed for storing the fluid to be dispensed. Pump head and storage vessel together thereby form the metering device according to the invention. The pump head is distinguished by including a passage for air, by means of which air from outside can be transferred into the storage vessel during the pumping process for pressure compensation. The present invention relates in addition to purposes of use for the pump head and the metering device.
Claims
1. A pump head for a metering device for a metered dispensing of a fluid, the pump head comprising: a pump housing which has a pressure chamber, an inlet valve which delimits the pressure chamber, a cone which is arranged moveably in the pressure chamber of the pump housing and comprises a through-channel, the cone being dimensioned in a part orientated towards the inlet valve such that it is capable of being guided in a form-fit in the pressure chamber and being dimensioned smaller in cross-section in the remaining parts, an outlet valve via which the dispensing of the fluid is effected, the outlet valve being in fluidic communication with the through-channel of the cone, and also a component which narrows the diameter of the pressure chamber in a part situated opposite the inlet valve and which is configured for guiding the cone, wherein the pump head has at least one air inlet for guidance of air, the air inlet comprising a passage for air between cone and component and also at least one through-opening for air in the pump housing, which are opened when the cone is transferred into an outlet position in which the pump head dispenses fluid.
2. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein the component has a prescribed internal diameter, in which the cone is guided, the internal diameter of the component being smaller than the internal diameter of the pressure chamber.
3. The pump head according to claim 2, wherein the diameter of the cone, starting from the diameter in the vicinity of the pump chamber, reduces down to the diameter in the vicinity of the component, wherein the cone is configured conically in the vicinity of the component.
4. The pump head according to claim 3, wherein, in a closed position of the pump head, the cone is mounted in a sealed manner relative to the component.
5. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein the component has a guiding rib by which the cone is guided.
6. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet comprises at least one boring which is located in the component.
7. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein an insert is arranged between a fluidic outlet and the outlet valve, which insert has a shell that surrounds an inner cavity that surrounds the outlet valve, a through-opening leading through a wall of the shell which opens into at least one fluid-guidance channel arranged on the outer surface of the shell, the at least one fluid-guidance channel being guided in an upper part of the shell around the latter and being supplied to an outlet end of the shell, and the at least one fluid-guidance channel being delimited by a pump head upper part which incorporates the insert in a form-fit.
8. The pump head according to claim 7, wherein the insert has a device for at least one of sterilisation, degermination, or germ-reduction of the fluid, and/or the pump head upper part and/or the insert comprises at least one of antibacterial or bacteriostatic material or is formed herefrom.
9. The pump head according to claim 7, wherein the outlet valve is a cylinder valve which comprises a closing body which closes the through-channel of the cone in the closed position of the pump head and, in outlet position of the pump head, opens the through-channel of the cone and also the through-opening of the shell.
10. The pump head according to 9, wherein, in the closed position of the pump head, the closing body is retained by a return spring (10) in a position which closes the through-channel of the cone.
11. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein, inside the air inlet, at least one air-permeable device for at least one of sterilisation, degermination, or germ-reduction of the air is provided, including a bacterial filter.
17. The pump head according to claim 11, wherein the device for at least one of sterilisation, degermination, or germ-reduction of the air is inserted at the upper end of the component in the latter.
13. The pump head according to claim 1, comprising a pump head upper part which surrounds the outlet valve and also an outlet opening, which abuts on the outlet valve, and the cone, the pump head upper part being arranged moveably relative to the component so that the cone can be guided in the pressure chamber by the pump head upper part.
14. The pump head according to claim 13, wherein the pump head upper part is connected to the component by a return spring.
15. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein the component is configured as a separate component and is connected to the pump housing.
16. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein the pump head is connectable via the component to a storage container for storing the fluid to be dispensed.
17. The pump head according to claim 1, comprising a riser pipe which abuts on the side of the inlet valve orientated away from the pressure chamber.
18. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein the inlet valve includes at least one of a disc valve, a cylinder valve, or or a ball valve.
19. The pump head of claim 1, in combination with a metering device for a metered dispensing of a fluid, the combination further comprising a storage container for storing the fluid to be dispensed which has an opening and is connected to the pump head at the opening via the component in a manner sealing against fluids.
20. The pump head of claim 19, in combination with the metering device according to, the combination further comprising a flange or a gasket for sealed connection of the pump head to the storage container.
21. A method of using the pump head of claim 19 in combination with the metering device the method including performing a metered dispensing of liquid or semi-solid contents.
Description
[0039] The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the subsequent figures without restricting the invention to the illustrated special parameters.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows an exploded drawing of a pump head according to the invention. The pump head I thereby has a pump head upper part 2 which has an outlet opening A. The pump head upper part thereby has a cavity into which an insert 3 is insertable in a form-fit. This insert has a through-opening G (pin-hole) via which fluid from the interior can be guided to the surface of the insert. The surface has a fluid-guidance channel which is not illustrated in more detail in FIG. 1. In addition, the insert 3 has a silver spiral 9 which is intended for disinfection or killing of bacteria which possibly enter into the pump head I via the outlet hole A. The insert 3 consists of a shell which has a cavity illustrated in the lower part of the shell. An outlet valve 4 which closes the through-opening of the cone 5 in the closed position is inserted into this cavity. The valve 4 is thereby a cylinder valve and is retained in position via a return spring 10. The abutting cone 5 has a through-channel via which the cone 5 can be subjected to a flow of fluid. This cone 5 is retained in a pump housing 7 via a component 6. The lower part of the cone 5 can thereby be introduced into the cavity of the pump housing 7, i.e. into the pressure chamber, in a form-fit, the upper tapering part of the cone 5 is thereby retained and guided through the corresponding opening of the component 6. The component 6 thereby has a recess into which a bacterial filter, for example an HEPA filter 12, can be inserted. The lower end of the pump housing 7 has an outlet opening which can be sealed relative to the exterior of the pump chamber 7 via a disc valve. At the lower end, a riser pipe can likewise possibly be present. In addition, a flange or a gasket 13 can be arranged over the pump housing in order to enable a sealing connection to a storage container, not illustrated in FIG. 1. The pump head I can thereby likewise comprise a protective cap 1 which can be applied on the pump head upper part and protects the outlet opening A.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a metering device according to the invention which comprises a pump head I, described in FIG. 1, which is mounted on a storage vessel II. The same reference numbers thereby denote identical components. In FIG. 2 on the left, the metering device is shown in an inoperative position, in the right-hand figure in an outlet position in which the cone 5 is pressed downwards, compared with the left-hand illustration.
[0042] In FIG. 2, the interaction of the individual components can be detected. If a user activates the metering device by pressing the pump head upper part 2 downwards and hence the metering device is transferred into the right-hand position, in the position illustrated on the left in FIG. 2, the cone 5 is pressed downwards into the pump housing. The pump housing 7 thereby contains the fluid to be let out, which is situated in the outlet volume V. Because of the volume reduction which thereby takes place, the fluid situated in the pressure chamber or in the outlet volume V is pressed upwards in the cone. The cone valve 4 is hereby opened so that the fluid passes through the wall of the insert 3 via the pin-hole H which is situated in the insert 3. The fluid is hence guided in the fluid-guidance channels situated on the surface of the insert 3 towards the outlet opening A and emerges there. In the upper part of the insert 3, a silver spiral prevents contamination of the fluid situated in the outlet opening. During the pumping process, air can enter into the storage container II via the path illustrated in the right-hand figure for pressure compensation. The air thereby follows a path via the sterile filter 12 through the passage illustrated in the right-side illustration in FIG. 2. Between the component 6 and the cone 5, a non-hermetically sealed gap via which air can enter is thereby situated. When the cone 5 is moved downwards in the pressure chamber, in addition a through-opening in the wall of the pump housing 7 is opened, via which the air flow can enter into the interior of the storage container II and hence a pressure compensation takes place. After completion of the activation process, the cone is guided back into the initial position. This is made possible automatically by the return spring 11. The air-inlet passage is hereby closed, the inlet valve 8 is opened because of the resulting low pressure and fluid from the storage container II is suctioned into the pressure chamber of the pump housing 7. As can be detected likewise in FIG. 2, the cone 5 has a conical configuration and has a reducing external diameter (the maximum external diameter is configured in the vicinity of the pressure chamber of the pump housing 7). In the vicinity of the component 6, the external diameter of the cone 5 is already reduced. At the positions at which the cone 5 impinges on the component 6 in the inoperative positive, a seal is ensured. The component 6 and/or the cone 5 can possibly have additional sealing elements at this position which assist the hermetic seal.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the metering device according to the invention. This embodiment according to FIG. 3 has borings H which are present in the component 6. The cavities formed by the borings H thereby abut directly on the cone 5. The component 6 can have for example 1 to 10 such borings. The borings enable easier air passage in the passage discussed already in FIG. 2 so that faster return movement and response of the metering device is given.
[0044] In addition, the component 6 has a guiding rib R, in the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, this guiding rib is configured for example as a small projection in component 6. This guiding rib R. thereby seals with the cone 5 in a form-fit and serves for precise guidance of the cone 5. The cone 5 which is guided by means of the component 6 can hence be guided precisely and in a form-fit in the pump housing 7. The guiding rib R can thereby also be present independently of the borings H, given by way of example in FIG. 3.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the interaction of the cone 5 and the component 6. FIG. 4a thereby shows the cone 5 in a closed position of the metering device. In the area which is labelled with reference sign M, it is detectable that the cone 5 abuts against the component 6 because of the conical course of the cone 5 in this area and hence a seal is possible.
[0046] In FIG. 4b in contrast, the opened position of the metering device is shown, i.e. the case in which the cone 5 is introduced into the pressure chamber. In this case, a passage for air is opened, which enables the pressure compensation in the storage container II, not illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0047] FIG. 4c shows an alternative embodiment of the component 6 which, in this case, has additional borings H.
[0048] FIG. 5 shows special embodiments of the insert 3. This insert can be designed differently depending on the respective configuration. FIG. 3a, for example, illustrates an insert which is advantageous in particular for applications with drops. FIG. 3b shows, in contrast, an insert which is suitable for a spray. The inserts 3 thereby differ merely in the design of the outlet opening.
[0049] However, both embodiments thereby comprise a through-opening, i.e. a so-called pin-hole G, via which communication of the cavity of the insert shell 3, illustrated at the bottom, is made possible with the fluid channel F. In FIG. 5c, a top view on the shell is illustrated, in which the through-opening G and also the fluid-guidance channels F and E are illustrated. The fluid-guidance channels F and E are thereby recesses which are configured in the surface of the insert 3. The fluid-guidance channels are thereby made possible by fitting this insert 3 into a pump head upper part 2 in a form-fit. This is illustrated in fact in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fluid-guidance channel is configured in the case of FIG. 3 such that, in the area of reference sign F, a type of riser pipe from the through-opening G upwards is effected. In the upper part of the insert 3, guidance of the fluid channel is effected horizontally around the insert 3. Subsequently, further guidance of the fluid channel in the area of reference sign E is furthermore effected upwards so that a fluidic communication is possible in the outlet region. FIG. 3d shows a top view on the insert 3. In particular, also the graduated diameter of the insert 3 is hereby evident, which is illustrated by the references signs A, B, C and D. In the area of reference sign D, notches can likewise be present so that a targeted formation of drops and dispensing at the outlet opening A is possible.
