DE10108486A1 - Device for application of fluids comprises a valve with a sealing element which by means of a spring is pressed against the outlet so that the pump channel at its distal end is closed - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for application of fluids comprises a valve (25) with a movable sealing element (31) which by means of a compression spring (34) is pressed against the outlet (22) so that the pump channel (21) at its distal end is closed. As the pressure in the pump channel increases, the spring is compressed and the outlet is opened.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser according to the Preamble of claim 1.

Conventional dispensing devices for pharmaceuticals or are known Cosmetics. Such metering pumps allow the promotion of a specific one Quantity of a fluid from a storage container.

EP-0 739 247 B1 describes a suction pressure pump for fluid containers is intended for spraying liquids, their service life on contact is reduced with atmospheric oxygen. The known metering pump has one in the Fluid container protruding into the pressure cylinder, in which a piston seals is led. A pressure chamber is formed in the pressure cylinder the piston and a ball valve acting in relation to the fluid container, that closes at overpressure and opens at underpressure, limited and with one axial pump channel is connected, which in turn opens into an outlet opening. The piston is held in the upper rest position by spring force. Within of the pump channel, a second valve is arranged, which is in the Pressure chamber opens and closes when there is negative pressure in the pressure chamber. The second valve comprises a valve piston and a coil spring, the Coil spring is arranged between the outlet opening and the valve piston and the valve piston against a circumferential approach in the pump channel upwards presses to close the pump channel. Between the valve piston and the A clearance is thus provided in the outlet opening. If the piston after is pressed down, the pressure in the pressure chamber increases, the valve closes the fluid container closes and the one in the pressure chamber  Liquid escapes under pressure through the axial pump channel open second valve in the gap and from there it goes outside. When the piston is released, a negative pressure is created in the pressure chamber, so that the second valve closes again and the ball valve to the fluid container opens and liquid is sucked into the pressure chamber.

A major disadvantage of the known suction pressure pump is that the dispensed liquid is not completely aseptic, such as for example, a patient's eye or nose.

The object of the present invention is therefore a Dispensing device for fluids from a storage container to create a aseptic storage of the liquid or the release of aseptic liquid guaranteed.

This object is achieved on the basis of that in claim 1. specified characteristics. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are Subject of the subclaims.

The dispensing device according to the invention for fluids from a storage container has a housing body which can be placed on the storage container, in which a Pressure chamber is formed. The pressure chamber is up from one in the Pressure chamber guided piston and down from one opposite the Reservoir acting first valve limited. The first valve closes Overpressure in the pressure chamber, whereas there is underpressure in the The pressure chamber opens. There is also a pump channel in the housing body is provided, on the one hand with the pressure chamber and on the other hand via a Outlet opening is connected to the environment. There is a in the pump channel second valve is provided, which opens at excess pressure in the pressure chamber and at Negative pressure closes. The second valve has a slidable Sealing body, which can have different shapes, the one  tight sealing of the dispenser allows. According to the invention sliding sealing body on the pump channel side against the outlet opening biased so that the pump channel is closed at the distal end. Under On the pump channel side it should be understood that the sealing body is from the inside is biased against the outlet opening, the sealing body also for Part can protrude through the outlet opening. The pump channel is included formed such that the displaceable sealing body when increasing the Pressure within the pump channel in a the opening opening Position can be moved.

In contrast to the prior art, there is a space between the second valve and the distal end of the pump channel or the outlet opening not present in which liquid could collect after delivery, the exposed to the environment and thus would be germ-laden after some time. It is thus ruled out that with a repeated delivery a germ-laden Residual liquid is released together with the flowing liquid. This is prevented by the formation of the second valve insofar as the Liquid inside the pump channel through the second valve from the Environment is completely separated.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention Dispensing device is the sealing body in a recess in the pump channel is performed sealingly. The recess can be cylindrical, for example his. The sealing guidance of the sliding sealing body ensures that no liquid gets into the recess behind the sealing body. So pressure equalization cannot inevitably lead to the fact that the sealing body can no longer be moved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention Dispensing device is a spring element for prestressing the sealing body provided, the spring element facing away from the outlet opening  Side of the sealing body is arranged. The spring element can, for example a coil spring, an elastic element or the like. The spring element is preferably arranged in the recess in the pump channel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the dispensing device the displaceable sealing body facing away from the outlet opening Side up a cup-shaped part. The cup-shaped part serves here on the one hand as a target for the pressurized liquid in the Pump channel and on the other hand as a guide and sealing element for the Sealing body within the recess in the pump channel.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention Dispensing device, the edge of the outlet opening is linear on the sliding seal body. Due to the sharp demarcation of the Pump channel from the environment by means of a linear system is one high tightness of the second valve ensures that with a flat System is not achieved to this extent, since in the latter case it is essential higher manufacturing accuracy of the parts adjacent to each other would be necessary, but this cannot always be achieved.

To ensure a particularly even distribution of the escaping liquid achieve, the sealing washer is a particularly preferred Embodiment of the dispenser in a circular shape on the stationary Sealing body. This is done by a rotationally symmetrical sliding seal body and a circular outlet opening reached.

The displaceable sealing body is in an advantageous embodiment of the Invention on the side facing the outlet opening essentially conical. The tip of the cone protruding into the outlet opening brings the escaping liquid together, causing an arbitrary splash the sides are prevented and droplet formation during delivery is supported.  

The above advantage is also preferred by another Embodiment achieved in which the sliding seal body on the Side facing the outlet opening is essentially spherical is trained.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pump channel comprises one first pump channel section and a second pump channel section, wherein the latter extends transversely to the first pump channel section. The first Pump channel section is on the one hand with the pressure chamber and on the other hand with the second pump channel section, and the second pump channel section is over the Outlet opening connected to the environment. The second pump channel section allows the liquid to be dispensed from the side, using the reservoir can be kept upright.

Preferably, the second pump channel section is within one of the Housing body arranged, extending to the side tubular element intended. The tubular element enables exact feeding of the Liquid to the area to be treated, such as the throat of the Patient with the reservoir held in an upright position can.

In the following, the invention is described using exemplary embodiments Reference to the accompanying figures explained in more detail.

Show it:

Fig. 1, the dispensing device according to the invention, in a first embodiment together with the reservoir in a sectional view

Fig. 2 shows the detail A of FIG. 1 with the second valve in a first Ausfiibrungsform,

Fig. 3, the second valve in the first embodiment according to Fig. 2, in the open position

Fig. 4 shows the dispenser according to the invention in a second embodiment together with the storage container in a sectional view and

Fig. 5 shows the detail B of Fig. 4 with the second valve in a second Ausfiibrungsform,

First, the basic structure of the delivery device is explained with reference to FIG. 1:
The dispensing device is intended for spraying a liquid from a storage container 1 , in the present embodiment a collapsible bag 1 a is provided which is inserted into the storage container 1 .

The housing body 2 of the dispensing device consists of a lower housing part 3 and an upper housing part 4 , which is placed on the lower housing part 3 . The lower housing part 3 of the housing body 2 is designed as a closure cap which is snapped and sealed onto the storage container 1 . The lower housing part 3 receives a pressure cylinder 5 which extends into the storage container 1 . At the lower end of the pressure cylinder 5 , a pressure chamber 6 is formed, which is delimited at the upper end by a piston 7 guided in the pressure cylinder 5 and at the lower end by a first valve 8 acting in relation to the storage container 1 .

The piston 7 has a lower section 7 a and an upper section 7 b, the outer diameter of the lower section 7 a being slightly larger than the diameter of the upper section 7 b. The pressure cylinder 5 accordingly has a lower section 5 a with a larger inner diameter and an upper section 5 b with a smaller diameter. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 rest position, the lower portion 7 a of the piston 7 b by means of a established in the pressure cylinder 5 compression spring 9 against the upper portion 5 of the impression cylinder 5 is biased.

The upper section 5 b of the printing cylinder 5 has an annular extension 10 on its upper edge. The inner diameter of the annular extension 10 corresponds to the outer diameter of the piston 7 , so that the piston 7 is guided in the extension 10 . Since the piston 7 is otherwise smaller in diameter than the pressure cylinder 5 , a narrow gap 11 remains between the outer wall of the piston and the inner wall of the cylinder.

The piston 7 is sealed off from the pressure cylinder 5 solely by means of a sealing lip 12 which is arranged at the lower end of the piston 7 . In the lower region of the pressure chamber 6 , the inner diameter of the pressure cylinder 5 increases slightly, in order to then decrease again. In the area of this extension 13 , the sealing effect of the sealing lip 12 is lost.

The gap 11 between the upper section 7 b of the piston and the upper section 5 b of the pressure cylinder 5 is closed by a flexible seal 14 . The seal 14 is made of polyethylene and has a circular hole 15 in the center, in which the piston 7 is sealingly guided. The outer edge of the seal 14 is inserted in a sealing manner into the lower housing part 3 of the housing body 2 , the underside of the seal resting in the area of the outer edge on a circumferential shoulder 16 of the housing body 2 , on the other hand being freely movable in the inner area.

The piston 7 has an axial first channel 17 which is connected to a riser pipe 18 which is fastened to the upper housing part 4 and in which an axial second channel 19 extends. The axial second channel 19 in turn extends to a third channel 20 , which is arranged within the upper housing part 4 and is described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The first, second and third channels 17 , 19 , 20 form the pump channel 21 . The pump channel 21 opens with the third channel 20 into an outlet opening 22 at the distal end 23 of the pump channel 21 .

The liquid can thus reach the environment from the pressure chamber 6 via the first, second and third channels 17 , 19 , 20 , which form the pump channel 21 , and the outlet opening 22 . A second valve 25 is arranged within the pump channel 21 , the second valve 25 and its arrangement being explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The dispenser operates as follows. It is initially assumed that the storage container 1 is filled with liquid, but the dispensing device is still free of liquid. When the upper and lower housing parts 3 , 4 of the housing body 2 are pressed together, the piston 7 moves into the pressure chamber 6 , the air in the pressure chamber via the first, second and third channels 17 , 19 , 20 , which form the pump channel 21 , the opened second valve 25 and the outlet opening 22 is released to the environment. The second valve 25 is open due to the excess pressure in the pressure chamber 6 , whereas the first valve 8 is closed. When the piston 7 springs back due to the spring force, a negative pressure is created in the pressure chamber 6 , so that the first valve 8 opens, whereas the second valve 25 closes. As a result of the negative pressure, liquid is sucked from the reservoir 1 into the pressure chamber 6 . If the piston is then pushed forward again, the liquid is pressed out of the pressure chamber 6 via the pump channel 21 , the second valve 25 opening and the first valve 8 closing.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the structure of the second valve 25 is discussed below. The third channel 20 , which forms the pump channel 21 together with the first and second channels 17 , 19 , is composed of a first section 26 , which is arranged in the upper housing part 4 and adjoins the second channel 19 , a second section 27 , which extends radially outwards from the first section 26 , a third section 28 , which adjoins the second section 27 and extends in the direction of the distal end 23 , and a fourth section 29 , the fourth section 29 in turn being flush with the second channel 19 and is arranged directly in front of the outlet opening 22 . At the end of the fourth section 29 facing away from the outlet opening 22 , a cylindrical recess 30 is provided, the central axis of which lies on an axis with the outlet opening 22 .

A displaceable sealing body 31 , which is composed of a cup-shaped part 32 and a pin-shaped part 33 , is guided in the recess 30 . The cup-shaped part 32 is sealingly guided in the recess 30 and has its open side in the direction of the outlet opening 22 or in the direction of the fourth section 29 . The pin-shaped part 33 is fastened to the bottom of the cup-shaped part 32 and extends from the cup-shaped part 32 to the outlet opening 22 , the pin-shaped part 33 being designed in the form of a spherical cap at its end facing the outlet opening 22 .

Between the bottom of the recess 30 and the bottom of the cup-shaped part 32 , a compression spring 34 is arranged, which prestresses the sealing body 31 with the spherical cap-shaped end of the pin-shaped part 33 against the valve seat of the outlet opening 22 . The fourth section 29 or the pump channel 21 is thus closed at the distal end 23 .

In the embodiment shown in FIGS . 2 and 3, the outlet opening 22 is provided in a cover 35 which is inserted into the fourth section 29 and fastened therein. The assembly is particularly simple with such a construction, since the compression spring 34 can first be inserted into the recess 30 in order to subsequently insert the sealing body 30 into the recess 30 . Finally, only the cover 35 has to be inserted into the fourth section 29 in order to clamp the sealing body 31 against the spring force.

FIG. 3 shows the functioning of the first embodiment of the second valve 25 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in Fig. 3 with the arrows, the liquid flows when the pressure in the pressure chamber 6 ( Fig. 1) increases through the first channel 17 , the second channel 19 ( Fig. 3), the first, second, third and fourth section 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 of the third channel 20 to the outlet opening 22 , which is initially closed by the pin-shaped part 33 of the sealing body 31 . Due to the pressure within the fourth section 29 , a force is exerted on the sealing body 31 , in particular on the bottom of the cup-shaped part 32 , which counteracts the spring force. If a limit value predetermined by the pretension of the compression spring 34 is exceeded, the sealing body 31 is displaced in the direction of the base of the recess 30 , so that the sealing body 31 opens the outlet opening 22 and the liquid in the form of a drop 36 (broken line) at the distal end can leak. As soon as the pressure drops, which occurs after the piston 7 has been completely depressed, the sealing body 31 is displaced into its original position shown in FIG. 2 by the restoring force of the compression spring 34 , so that the pump channel 21 is closed again at its distal end 23 is.

The liquid within the dispensing device according to the invention is thus completely separated from the germ-laden ambient air. The sealing effect is further increased in the illustrated embodiment in that the edge of the outlet opening 22 lies linearly against the end of the sealing body 31 in the form of a spherical cap. A section through this line is represented by reference number 37 in FIG. 2. The sharp delimitation of the pump channel 21 from the surroundings by means of a linear system ensures that the second valve 25 is tight.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention, the second embodiment being largely similar to the first embodiment, so that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts and only the differences are dealt with. In the second embodiment, the third channel 20, like the first or second channel 17 , 19 , is designed to run axially. In the radial direction there follows a fourth channel 38 , which extends within a tubular element 39 fastened to the housing body 2 . The pump channel 21 thus has a first pump channel section 40 , which is composed of the first, second and third channels 17 , 19 , 20 , and a second pump channel section 41 extending transversely thereto, the latter being essentially formed by the fourth channel 38 . The distal end 23 of the pump channel 21 is thus provided at the outwardly facing end of the tubular element 39 . At this point, the second valve 25 is also arranged, which is explained below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the second valve 25 , only the differences from the first embodiment ( FIGS. 2 and 3) being discussed below, the same reference numerals being used for identical or similar parts, and the above description correspondingly applicable. In contrast to the first embodiment, the pin-shaped part 33 of the sealing body 31 has a conical shape at its end facing the outlet opening 22 . The tip of the cone protrudes through the outlet opening 22 to the outside. The cone shape promotes the formation of drops at the distal end 23 , since the liquid (not shown) is brought together at the tip of the cone.

The first or second embodiment of the second valve can both in the first as well as in the second embodiment of the dispenser be used.

Claims (11)

1. Dispensing device for fluids from a storage container, with a housing body ( 2 ) which can be placed on the storage container ( 1 ) and in which a pressure chamber ( 6 ) is formed which is guided upwards by a piston ( 7 ) and guided in the pressure chamber ( 6 ) is limited at the bottom by a first valve ( 8 ) which acts in relation to the storage container ( 1 ) and which closes when there is overpressure in the pressure chamber ( 6 ) and opens when there is underpressure, a pump channel ( 21 ) also being provided which on the one hand communicates with the pressure chamber ( 6 ) and, on the other hand, is connected to the environment via an outlet opening ( 22 ) and in which a second valve ( 25 ) is provided, which has a displaceable sealing body ( 31 ) and opens in the pressure chamber ( 6 ) when there is excess pressure and closes in the event of negative pressure, characterized in that the displaceable sealing body ( 31 ) is biased sealingly on the pump channel side against the outlet opening ( 22 ), so that the pump channel ( 21 ) on the dis tal end ( 23 ) is closed, wherein the displaceable sealing body ( 31 ) is displaceable when the pressure inside the pump channel ( 21 ) is increased into a position which releases the outlet opening ( 22 ). 2. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing body ( 31 ) in a recess ( 30 ) in the pump channel ( 21 ) is sealingly guided. 3. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a spring element ( 34 ) is provided for biasing the sealing body ( 31 ), the spring element ( 34 ) on the side of the sealing body ( 31 ) facing away from the outlet opening ( 23 ) is arranged. 4. Dispensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring element ( 34 ) is arranged in the recess ( 30 ) in the pump channel ( 21 ). 5. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the displaceable sealing body ( 31 ) on its side facing away from the outlet opening ( 22 ) has a cup-shaped part ( 32 ). 6. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the edge of the outlet opening ( 22 ) lies linearly on the displaceable sealing body ( 31 ). 7. Dispensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the edge of the outlet opening ( 22 ) bears in a circular shape on the displaceable sealing body ( 31 ). 8. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displaceable sealing body ( 31 ) on the side facing the outlet opening ( 32 ) is substantially conical. 9. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displaceable sealing body ( 31 ) on the side facing the outlet opening ( 22 ) is substantially spherical. 10. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the pump channel ( 21 ) comprises a first pump channel section ( 40 ) and a second pump channel section ( 41 ) which extends transversely to the first pump channel section ( 40 ), the first Pump channel section ( 40 ) is connected on the one hand to the pressure chamber ( 6 ) and on the other hand to the second pump channel section ( 41 ) and the second pump channel section ( 41 ) is connected to the surroundings via the outlet opening ( 22 ). 11. Dispensing device according to claim 10, characterized in that the second pump channel section ( 41 ) is provided within a tubular element ( 38 ) arranged on the housing body ( 2 ) and extending to the side.