DE2705071A1 - HAND-OPERATED SPRAY DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC TANK VENTILATION - Google Patents

Description

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Common problem with liquid spray devices with manual override is the need to relieve the negative pressure in the closed container is generated on which the device is used as soon as the liquid is pumped out. That generated Vacuum is dispensed by venting atmospheric air into the container to move the Fluid relieved. Various ways of doing this have already been proposed, usually usually separate ones or discrete valves with or without a vent passageway, and these tend to be difficult to design and expensive. In addition, the known devices are often cumbersome to use and operate.

It is also very important that the device does not leak when the trigger or actuator is at rest and the container or sprayer is on its side or even the other way around, which e.g., during normal use in spraying or transport, where a -full container comes to the device is added when selling.

A large number of patents for hand spray devices with piston actuation are known which describe spray devices useful for dispensing liquids from containers.

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For example, the particularly useful and potentially basic trigger sprayer is disclosed in U.S. Patent 3 06 I 202 (Tracy B. Tyler), which was published on October 30, 1962. According to this U.S. patent venting takes place by means of a separate valve which is preloaded in the normally open position. Other U.S. patents Beschrelsn similar spray devices, which also use discrete valve devices for ventilation, e.g., U.S. Patent 3,650,473 (Carl E. Malone) on 3/13/72, U.S. Patent 3,685,739 (Vance R. Vanier) published 8/22/72 and U.S. Patent 3,780,951 (Richard T. Powers) published 12/25/73. The former Malone patent concerned the venting in a similar manner as in the TyIer device, while after the Powers patent showed an atmospheric vent is through the body of the sprayer where it is attached to the container but has a collar that is used by the operator is screwed down into an annular slot to close it and thus allow liquid to leak from the container to prevent. According to the second mentioned US patent Vanier, a vent passage is used which the flow of atmospheric air through the lower part of the sprayer at a resilient, conically shaped, hollow valve into the container.

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In U.S. Patent published 10/3/07 * 1 3 84O 157 (J.F. Hellenkamp) is one with a shutter release actuatable spray device described, which differs from the spray devices of the aforementioned patents differs in that a piston or hunger is arranged so that its axis is vertically aligned a sealing collar and is arranged to be movable away from it in order to enable a container to be vented, and is an example of a lever or trigger actuated venting device, as also in FIG U.S. Patent 3,749,290 (L.A. Micalleff), published 7/31/73 and a Shows a pump system with a deformable membrane in which a venting surface is lifted from the seat, to allow the application of atmospheric pressure to the interior of the container ai. Devices with venting devices are also described in other, the following US patents! US patents 3,701,478, published 10/31/1972, 3,762,647, published 10/2/73 - and 3,770,206, published on 11/6/73 to T. Tada; U.S. Patent 3,768,734, i.O. Anderson, Jr. et al; published 10/30/74; and US patent 3 820 721 (J.F. Hellenkamp), published on June 28, 1974.

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The present invention provides a simple, efficient, relatively inexpensive, and easy to use venting system and incorporates the automatic back emptying feature in an aesthetically pleasing structure which operates during pumping and spraying without the use of additional parts or assembled mechanisms.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a ventilation system for a manual, actuated by a trigger A spray device that is simple in structure, efficient in operation, and easy and economical to manufacture.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the manually operated trigger tester does not use separate ones or separate mechanisms or other parts for venting the container on which the device is placed attached, as well as no additional components assigned to the company.

According to the invention, it is also expedient to provide a manually operated spray device with a trigger or release lever of the aforementioned type, in which the liquid, the can run out through a sealing element, can be emptied back into the container instead of being able to run out of the spray device.

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Further advantages, features and possible uses of the The present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment from the invention showing a pump mechanism operated by a trigger in its rest " or non-pumping state and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another embodiment of FIG Invention, similar to FIG. 1.

According to Figure 1, a manually operated spray device 10 with trigger lever a housing or part 10a for holding the components together with a cylindrical, hollow pump chamber or bore 11 which is closed at its upper end, but through its side wall by means of an exit orifice Outlet passage 12 is in communication with a chamber 13 in a nozzle Ik . The nozzle 14 has an exit orifice or "spray" nozzle orifice 15. An inlet passage provides communication between the pump chamber or bore 11 and an inlet valve chamber 17 into an inlet or port. Aneaugteil 17a · The chamber 17 contains sealingly on a valve seat 19 Λχη ball check valve 18 in an inlet passage 2O. A liquid intake or immersion

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line or pipe 21 is fitted airtight and extends

out of the part 17a into the container 23 and opens near its bottom (not shown). A container cap 22 is attached to the body 10a on the part 17a and adapted so that it can be clamped or screwed down onto the threaded neck part of the container 23 in a liquid-tight manner. A ring or lip seal 2k is formed on the bottom surface of the portion 17a and mates with or contacts the top surface of the container 23.

For reciprocating movement, a piston assembly 25 is slidably arranged in the chamber or bore 11, which has a hollow piston 25a and a support piece or Has holder 25b. The holder 25b has a recess 25a at one end, which with an extension 27a an actuation release lever or actuation trigger 27

the

engages / on part 10a by means of a fulcrum or pin connection 29 is attached. The piston 25a is fitted into a second recess in holder 25b at the opposite end, and in the embodiment shown it has a pair of spaced apart, annularly extending circumferential seals 30 and 31, the first « is preferably a lip seal, which is at an angle to the rear and in sealing contact with the wall the bore 11 extends, while the seal 31 is preferably

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has a round, substantially circular appearance and also contacts the wall of the bore 10 in a sealing manner. A compression spring 26 axially biases the piston assembly 25 in a direction away from or from the bore 11 Bore 11 out in front, with the spring 26 in the bore 11 is mounted between its closed end on one side and the hollow interior of the piston 25a, the parts described are arranged such that at rest, as shown in the drawings, the spring 26 below easier compression. From Fig. 1 it can be seen that when the trigger 27 is actuated and pivoted or rotated about the pin 29, the piston assembly 25 and the piston 25a are reciprocated in the bore 11 compressing the spring 26 to pumping the spray device 10 to start and maintain "

As mentioned above, in the preferred embodiment the piston 25a is provided with a spaced circumferential lip seal 30 and an annular circular seal 31 which are in sliding engagement with the inner wall of the bore 11 in a sealing manner. In the rest or non-pumping position according to FIG. 1, the seals JO and 31 are separated by a circumferential space or a groove 32 and span the opening or the inlet 33a to a vent formed in part 10a in a bottom wall of the chamber or bore 11.

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passage 33. This extends from the room or the Groove 32 to at least one vertical passage 3 ^ (only one is shown in the figures) formed in part 17a and the flow connection to the interior of the container 23 creates of the Rai m or the groove 32, whereby the vent of the container 23 is made possible, as can be seen.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the invention also has a single seal on the piston 25a can be operated well, preferably the front Lip seal 30 would be. In this case, in the in Fig. (and Fig. 2) shown-rest position of the piston 25 in the chamber 11 be arranged so that the seal 30 is close to or in juxtaposition to the opening or to the entrance 33a of the passage 33, by which it is meant that the seal 30 normally, namely in the rest position of the piston 25 (or 125 in Fig. 2) is in a position near entrance 33 or one of its sides, or at the top of entrance 33a. It would be taken for granted in a single seal arrangement, it is preferred that the seal 30 (or seal 130 of FIG. 2) be adjacent to the Entrance 33a on the side of the trigger 27 would be in order to have the above-mentioned and described advantage of "no leakage" obtain. In operation, however, the goal of venting is achieved with a single seal 30 (or 130) even if when this seal is in a normal position of rest

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in a juxta position on the opposite side of the opening 33a or on top of the opening. With these latter arrangements, however, some leakage can be expected in some circumstances, such as when the sprayer 10 and container 23 are turned over or on their side. It is of course possible to modify the spray device somewhat to avoid this possibility in any known manner (not shown). For example, the passage 33 can be formed as a fine diameter capillary tube, neglecting the liquid leakage that might occur, but the air passage would be unobstructed. Another means of preventing or alleviating this possible leakage is the use of materials known to those skilled in the art in passage 33t, thereby allowing gas or air flow, but inhibiting or preventing liquid flow. Finally, mechanical devices such as check valves (not shown) can be used in the passage 33 or Jk to prevent the liquid outflow while allowing the air flow in the opposite direction to relieve the container 23.

In the operation of Figure 1 or the preferred embodiment According to the invention, the container 23 is filled with liquid

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and the spray device IO is attached by clamping or screwing the cap 22 onto the neck of the container 23, the dip tube 21 extending below the surface of the liquid. A liquid-tight seal is obtained by the sealing ring 24 on the upper surface of the container 23 when the cap 22 is screwed down or otherwise clamped onto the container neck picks up a pistol grip with fingers gripping trigger 27. When the trigger is pulled, the piston assembly 25 and piston 253 are forced into the bore 11, the air therein being pressurized and the ball 18 being forced to close against the seat 19. The air in the canal or bore 11 flows into the exit or evacuation line 12 and into the chamber 13 of the nozzle 11 and forces a slidable valve member 35 therein to move to the left. Fluid flows around the valve body 35 and through the radial passages formed between the vertical wall 35a and the ridges 35b at the end of the part 35 and is ^{discharged in a spray through the opening 15 i-1} * of the nozzle 14. When the trigger 27 is released, the piston 25a and plunger 25 move in the opposite direction to the left under the force of the compressed spring 26, and the trigger 27 returns in

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the shown "rest" position back. In this way, an expansion or increase in volume of the chamber 11 is caused, and it develops a slight vacuum which opens the check valve 18 and forces to flow into the chamber 13 the valve body 35 in the nozzle "\ k against a seat 36th Simultaneously Fluid is drawn up through tube 21 into bore 10, through chamber 17 and inlet passage 16. The seal "} 0 on piston 25a prevents fluid leakage from chamber or bore 11, but should leakage occur, it will Liquid flows back into the preparer 23 through the passages 33 and Jk out of the annulus 32 and is prevented from flowing out of the spray device 10 by the seal 31. After squeezing and releasing the trigger 27, repeat the aforementioned cycle with the

Exception that now liquid is pumped out and from the loading

ab-HLLter 23 is sprayed.

However, it is necessary to have atmospheric air in the container 23 can enter in order to make up for or restore the volume of liquid which has been drawn out of the container and to equalize the pressure prevailing therein. If venting is not permitted, a vacuum develops in the container 23 and either the liquid spray stops or the container 23 tries to de-

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form and / or collapse. The provision of the vent passage 33 and the passage "} h communicating in the wall of the chamber or bore 11 and part 17a, respectively, allow venting communication between the interior of the container 23 and the atmosphere. If annular, spaced seals 30 and 31 are used on the piston 25 and cock the inlet 33a to vent 33 and when the trigger 27 is pressed and the piston 25a moves into the chamber 11, the seal 31 slides over the opening or the inlet 33a out to the passage 33 "And the container 23 is vented to the atmosphere. It can therefore be seen that the location of the inlet 33a to the passage 33 between the seals 30 and 31 in the annular space 32 and close to the seal 31 enables the container 23 to be vented during the Pumping or the spray stroke, and yet in the non-pumping or "rest" position an effective closure of the container 23 is provided at the same time.

In Fig. 2 another embodiment is shown in which a one-piece device 125 with piston and plunger is shown. The piston or plunger 125 is preferably a single molded piece including the spacing arranged, annular, circumferentially extending Seals or sealing surfaces 130 and 131 »which through

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the ode ^ annular recess 132 located on the circumference are separated, and according to Fig. 2 it is in the rest position. In this position, the seals span 130 and 131 the opening or the entrance 33a with Ventilation passage 33 as in the preferred embodiment βίο rm according to FIG. 1. With regard to all other relationships of construction and operation is the embodiment of FIG. 2 is identical to that of FIG. Additionally is

that although not shown here, it is clear that the seal 130 as well could be formed e.g. by molding or the like as a lip seal to improve the sealing quality, a common property of this type of seal, and as a result of less friction between the seal and the wall a faster return of the pump and the readout lever or trigger to the rest position due to the squeezed Spring 26.

It will be understood that a single sealing device similar to that described above is used in this embodiment applicable and therefore fully intended or considered. The piston or plunger 125 can also be expedient Annular grooves (not shown) may be formed in which O-ring-like seals or the like instead of the sealing elements shown 130 and 131 inserted with comparably good results will. In addition, the associated with the piston

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Sealing parts are also arranged in the bore 11, which remain stationary with respect to the piston 25 during its reciprocating movement. With short words Any number of methods may be used to provide the necessary seal between the piston and the bore in the chamber 11 _f provide and are stirred by the skilled artisan. Any leaks that occur can also be treated using known methods, as described above.

It is expected that the above-described subject invention constructed from thermoplastic materials by any conventional and known process, e.g. by molding, injection molding, casting or the like, depending on the materials used and the qualities desired the spray device. Examples of suitable materials useful in practicing the invention include known plastics, such as polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefins, polyamide, polyacetate, Polycarbonate, polyester and the many possible mixtures or Mixtures of these. A preferred material is the polyolefin, polypropylene, which has many desirable qualities, including the resilient property, and thus in particular for the sealing elements or the devices and for the pistons 25a and 125a is useful. Other suitable materials include natural rubber, synthetic rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and mixtures of these and others

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Materlallen on. Each material can be selected according to good engineering practice in order to maximize quality and to keep costs and effort to a minimum.

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Claims (1)

Dr. Hans-Heinrich Willrath t Dr. Dieter Weber Dipl.-Phys. Klaus Seiifert PATENT LAWYERS 75O5-UOI D-62 WIESBADEN 7th Feb. 1977 PostfadiHH 6145 S / pf Gusttv-Freyttg-Strat * IS
* (OMm 3717 M Telegraraaudrtste, WILLPATENT Telex: 4-186 247 THE AFA CORPORATION 14201 NW 60th Ave. Miami Lakes, Florida 33014 / USA HAND-OPERATED SPRAY DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC TANK VENTILATION Priority: February 1, 1976 in USA, Serial No. 656,547, 2. of June 7, 1976 in USA, Serial No. 693,383 Claims Manually operable liquid dispensing with the components of a cohesive body, a, displaceable from this depending dip tube having formed in the body bore, which opens to the outside for connection with ambient air in the bore with a 709832/0330 original inspected ble piston defining a variable size chamber with the bore, with inlet and outlet lines The flow of liquid to the chamber defined by the piston and the bore is more variable Size and away from this, with at least one check valve to regulate the flow of liquid, with a mechanism for pushing the piston in the bore between a normal, non-pumping and a pumping position and with a vent, we] before is in communication with the outlet line for dispensing the liquid, marked thereby net that the body holding the components together (1O) contains a vent (33) which extends through the body (1O) and at one end into the Bore (11) opens, and that the dispenser has a seal (30, 31) for the vent, which in the normal Non-pumping prevents the connection between the vent (33) and the ambient air and the free Connection between the vent (33) and the ambient air allows in the pumping position. 2. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (30, 31) is arranged in the bore (11). 709832/0330 - Sr - 3 * dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (30, 31) on the circumference around the piston (25) is attached around. k. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal is a pair of spaced apart seals (30, 31). 5. Dispenser according to claim k, characterized in that the spaced-apart seals (30, 31) are arranged on the circumference around the piston (25). 6. Dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the seals (30, 31) are integral with the piston (25) are shaped. 7. Dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one (30) of the seals (30 »31) is a lip seal. 8. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (10) on a container (23) for dispensing Liquid attached so that the dip tube (21) extends into the liquid and the Vent (33) in the pumping position between the 709832/0330 ambient air and the air in the container (23) above the liquid level extends and creates connection between them. 709832/0330