EP1986789B1 - Dosing device with a manually actuable pumping means - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a metering device with a manually operable pumping device comprising a pumping chamber and an inlet valve, which is designed as a slide valve and in its closed position is sealingly movable in a metering via a metering, which defines a metering volume for the pumping chamber, wherein the metering inlet side opens into an inlet area.

Such a metering device is from the EP 12 95 646 A1 known. The known metering device has a medium reservoir, on which a manually operable pumping device is mounted. The pumping device is provided with a pumping chamber whose volume is variable by a thrust piston. The pumping chamber is associated with an inlet valve and an outlet valve, wherein the outlet valve is held spring-loaded in the closed position. The inlet valve is designed as a slide valve, which is held in a metering stroke in a metering passage in a sealing position and thus in a closed position. Applied to the medium storage closes to the metering and thus to the inlet valve to an inlet region which widens stepwise relative to the metering. The slide valve moves in its closed position from above through the dosing until it passes through the step-like heel when entering the inlet area and thus opens the pumping chamber to the medium reservoir.

Out EP 0 901 835 A2 a dispenser for media is known, wherein upstream of an inlet valve, a suction chamber is provided, which adjoins an inlet channel. In the inlet channel counteracts flow direction, a core or guide body freely protruding in the transition region to the suction chamber.

The object of the invention is to provide a metering device of the type mentioned, which allows an improved dosage.

This object is achieved in that the inlet region is provided with flow profiles, the flow profiles being aligned in the longitudinal direction of the metering stroke. As a result, an improved flow characteristic for the inflowing medium from the medium reservoir is achieved when opening the slide valve from the metering to the inlet area, resulting in an improved filling and consequently a more accurate dosage for the metering device. In contrast to the prior art, in which the transition between the metering and the inlet region was designed by a circumferential annular step, the transition between inlet region and metering channel through the flow profiles of the inlet region is now designed so that there is an improved flow transition. The flow profiles are preferably provided in the form of a profiled annular wall.

Preferably, a corresponding longitudinal profiling is formed by a plurality of longitudinal grooves which extend uniformly distributed parallel to a pump axis over the circumference of the inlet region. Depending on the medium used and the desired Einlasscharakteristik the longitudinal grooves can be made wider or narrower. The depth of the longitudinal grooves preferably corresponds to the radius difference between the radius of the section of the metering device which adjoins the inlet region downstream of the medium reservoir and the radius of the metering channel.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the inlet region and the metering channel are provided on separate components. This is in production terms of great advantage. As a result, metering devices with relatively small dimensions can be manufactured very accurately.

Due to the bipartite, a particularly exact opening characteristic for the slide valve can be achieved.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the components are joined together coaxially interlocking, and the components are profiled on their mutually facing lateral surfaces such that there is at least one gas flow capillary between axially opposite end edges of the lateral surfaces between the lateral surfaces. This ensures that a desired ventilation can take place.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one gas flow capillary is open at one end to an environment and at its other end into a medium reservoir, and at the end facing the medium reservoir, a filter unit is arranged. This makes it possible to aerate the medium storage without causing contamination of the medium by the ambient air.

Fig. 1

zeigt in einer Schnittdarstellung eine erste Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Dosiervorrichtung,

Fig. 2

in einer weiteren Schnittdarstellung eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Dosiervorrichtung ähnlich Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen Querschnitt durch die Dosiervorrichtung nach Fig. 2 entlang der Schnittlinie III - III in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen Querschnitt durch die Dosiervorrichtung nach Fig. 1 entlang der Schnittlinie IV - IV in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

in vergrößerter Darstellung den Ausschnitt V der Dosiervorrichtung nach Fig. 2,

Fig. 6

den Ausschnitt nach Fig. 5, wobei ein Auslassventil der Dosiervorrichtung in seiner geöffneten Position dargestellt ist und

Fig. 7

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Dosiervorrichtung in vergrößerter Schnittdarstellung.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated by the drawings.

Fig. 1

shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of a metering device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

in a further sectional view, a further embodiment of a metering device according to the invention similar Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

in an enlarged view a cross section through the metering device according to Fig. 2 along the section line III - III in Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4

in an enlarged view a cross section through the metering device according to Fig. 1 along the section line IV - IV in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 5

in an enlarged view the detail V of the metering device according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 6

the clipping after Fig. 5 wherein an outlet valve of the metering device is shown in its open position and

Fig. 7

a further embodiment of a metering device according to the invention in an enlarged sectional view.

A metering device according to the Fig. 1 to 6 is intended for attachment to a media store that can hold liquid media such as pharmaceutical or cosmetic media. In the illustrated embodiment, the metering device is advantageously used for the metering of pharmaceutically active liquids, wherein an application of the pharmaceutically active liquid is preferably carried out in a nasal opening of a patient.

The metering device has an attachment sleeve in the form of a screw sleeve 1 which can be screwed onto a container neck of the medium reservoir. The attachment sleeve 1 carries a pump housing 2, 3, 4, composed of two stationary held to the attachment sleeve 1 and thus to the media storage components 2 and 3 and from a linearly movable to the stationary components 2, 3 mounted pump component 4 is. The pump component 4 forms an applicator of the metering device, which is designed as a nose applicator in the illustrated embodiment.

In the medium reservoir, a riser 19 protrudes, which is inserted in an unspecified inlet channel of the component 2. The inlet channel is designed as a hollow cylinder in the illustrated embodiment. Also, the riser 19 is cylindrical. The component 2 represents a carrier component. The carrier component 2 has an upwardly open, cup-like receptacle into which the stationary pump component 3 is pressed and is thus rigidly connected to the carrier component 2. The stationary pump component 3 and the movable pump component 4 delimit a pumping chamber 10 which extends into a head region of the pump component 4 and opens into a metering opening 12 which is open toward the environment. The metering opening 12 is designed in the illustrated embodiment as a spray nozzle.

The pump component 4 is in turn designed in several parts by being composed of an outer, hood-like applicator housing 4 'and a piston component 5, 6. Between the applicator 4 'and the piston member 5, 6, an outlet valve 11 is arranged coaxially with a pump axis P of the metering device in the applicator and the piston member 5, 6 is limited linearly movably held. The exhaust valve 11 is by a spring assembly 16 in the form of a helical compression spring in his in Fig. 1 held closed position shown. The piston component 5, 6 surrounds the outlet valve 11 with a sleeve-like guide wall in a sealing manner towards the pumping chamber 10. Also on the applicator 4 'is an unspecified, hood-like closure lid placed. In addition, with the applicator 4 'on the outside a likewise unspecified finger rest is connected, according to the illustration according to Fig. 1 is snapped onto the applicator housing 4 '. The piston component 5, 6 has a metering piston 6, which is aligned coaxially with the pump axis P and formed substantially cylindrical. The metering piston 6 widens down to a ring lip 7, which forms an inlet valve in the form of a slide valve. The circumferential sealing lip 7 cooperates during its function as a slide valve with a metering 8, which is provided coaxially to the pump axis P in the pump component 3. The dosing channel 8 defines a dosing path for the sealing lip 7. On the output side, the dosing channel 8 passes into the pumping chamber 10. On the input side, the metering channel 8 is adjoined by an inlet region 9, which has an expanded, free cross section in relation to the metering channel 8. With a corresponding longitudinal displacement, the slide valve opens at the transition of the sealing lip 7 from the metering 8 into the inlet region 9, since the extended cross-section of the inlet portion 9 is designed so that liquid on the sealing lip 7 outside pass into the metering 8 and thus into the pumping chamber 10 can. The design of the inlet region 9 will be discussed in more detail below.

The metering devices according to the Fig. 1 and 2 are essentially identical to each other. However, they differ in the design of the inlet region 9 or 9a. In the following, the different embodiments will be described. Both exemplary embodiments have in common that the respective inlet region 9, 9a has three longitudinal grooves 20 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) or 21 ( Fig. 4 ), which are introduced into an annular wall of the inlet region 9, 9a. In the embodiment of the Fig. 1 and 4 the longitudinal grooves 21 are designed relatively narrow. In the embodiment of the Fig. 2 and 3 they are correspondingly wider. The longitudinal grooves are distributed at uniform intervals over the circumference of the otherwise cylindrical inlet region 9, 9a and extend parallel to the pump axis P. The diameter of the inlet region 9, 9a at its lying between the longitudinal grooves 20, 21 Wandungsabschnitten preferably corresponds at least substantially to the diameter of the metering 8, 8a.

Adjoining the inlet area 9, 9a on its end face facing the medium reservoir is an aperture B whose passage cross section is smaller than the average cross section of the dosing channel 8 and the inlet area 9. However, the average cross section of the aperture B is greater than the free channel cross section of the riser 19 on the media storage side facing the aperture B connects to this. The panel B additionally serves as a plug-in stop for the riser 19.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 the inlet region is formed integrally in the pump component 3. The diaphragm B, however, is integrally formed on the support member 2, as the Fig. 1 is removable. To this end, the carrier component 2 forms coaxially with the pump axis P a dome-shaped projection which is inserted non-positively into a corresponding sleeve-like receptacle of the pump component 3, in particular pressed in and terminates at its front side facing the inlet region 9 with the integrally formed diaphragm B. The diaphragm B is aligned radially to the pump axis P. The inlet region 9 of the pump component 3 thus passes by means of a stepped annular shoulder in the sleeve-like, cylindrical receptacle, in which the support member is pressed with its corresponding cylindrical shaped bulge. The longitudinal grooves 21 are closed at the end towards the metering channel 8, towards their opposite end face they are open.

In the embodiment of the Fig. 2 and 3 the inlet region 9a including the diaphragm B is an integral part of the carrier component 2a. For this purpose, the support member 2a is provided with an upwardly projecting, coronet-shaped extension, in which the inlet portion 9a is integrated. Below the inlet region 9a, the diaphragm B is integrally formed.

The support member 2a is inserted with a coronal extension coaxial with the pumping axis P in a corresponding cylindrical receptacle of the pump member 2a and connected tightly and non-positively with the pump member 3a. The wide longitudinal grooves 20 of the inlet region 9a are closed towards the metering 8a towards the front side. Also towards their opposite front end they are closed by the formation of the diaphragm B.

In both embodiments according to the Fig. 1 and 4 or 2 and 3, the mutually facing peripheral surfaces of the pump component 3, 3a and the support member 2, 2a in the region of their abutted state adjacent wall surfaces with circumferential profiles 18 are provided. The profiling 18 are designed such that gas-permeable Strömungsleitwege in the form of capillaries between a lower end edge of the outer surface of the pump component 3a and an upper end edge of this lateral surface arise. In the field of profiling 18 thus a liquid-tight connection between the components is created. At the same time, however, a gas exchange, in particular an exchange of air between the medium reservoir and the environment through the at least one capillary formed between the components 2a, 3a and 2, 3 should be possible.

The access of ambient air to the medium reservoir is made possible via a passage provided in the carrier component 2a into which a filter component 17 serving as a filter unit is inserted. Both embodiments according to the Fig. 1 and 2 are executed identically in their design of the outlet valve 11 and the outlet region of the applicator housing 4 ', so that the following explanations based on the FIGS. 5 and 6 be made, apply equally to both embodiments.

As based on the FIGS. 5 and 6 is clearly visible, the outlet valve 11 is provided at its the metering opening 12 facing end face with a cylindrical extension which is aligned coaxially to the pump axis P and forms a sealing pin 13. An outlet region of the applicator housing 4 'is provided with a correspondingly cylindrical valve seat 24 inwardly adjacent to the metering opening 12 which tapers inwardly inwardly. The sealing pin 13 and the valve seat 24 form both an axial and a radial sealing seat in the closed state of the exhaust valve 11 according to Fig. 5 , To the sealing pin 13 around a cylinder-like labyrinthine rim 15 is provided, which - as the sealing pin 13 - is integrally formed on the exhaust valve 11. The labyrinth wreath 15 also serves as protection for the sealing pin 13 from damage. The annular labyrinth ring 15 has circumferentially the same cross-section. The cross section is essentially rectangular, as shown by the Fig. 5 is recognizable. The height of the labyrinth ring 15 is less than the height of the sealing pin 13. Between the labyrinth ring 15 and the sealing pin 13 results in an annular gap whose width corresponds to the embodiment shown approximately the width of the labyrinth ring 15 and has a rectangular clear cross-section.

In an embodiment not shown, the labyrinthine rim is at least as high as the sealing pin. As a result, a particularly good protection of the sealing plug against damage is created.

The valve seat 24 is provided in a sleeve-like coaxial with the pump axis P inwardly projecting, serving as a shell portion annular extension of the applicator 4 '. The annular extension projecting into the interior of the applicator housing 4 'is provided on its axially inner end face with a centering cone 22 which defines a wall surface tapering conically towards the metering opening 12. In the conically rejuvenated Wandungsfläche are integrated over the circumference of the annular extension of the applicator 4 'distributed a plurality of longitudinal grooves 23 which continue axially parallel to the pump axis P in the valve seat 24, as shown in the Fig. 6 is recognizable. The sealing pin 13 thus forms with the valve seat 24 only an axial sealing seat, since the flow path to the metering opening 12 is already released as soon as the sealing pin 13 has slightly removed axially from the corresponding end face of the valve seat 24. Because then the auszubringende liquid can be transported through the longitudinal grooves 23 on the lateral surface of the sealing pin 13 over upwards to the metering 12, without the sealing pin 13 must completely leave its radial guidance within the valve seat 24. Depending on the pressure build-up and maximum stroke mobility of the outlet valve 11, however, the outlet valve 11 can also be moved out of the valve seat 24 so far that the liquid can flow over the conical surfaces of the centering cone 22 to the metering opening 12 without having to flow exclusively through the longitudinal grooves 23.

Around the valve seat 24 comprehensive annular extension around an annular space 14 is provided in the interior of the applicator 4 ', in which the labyrinthine rim 15 is immersed. The inner contour of the annular space 14 has wall surfaces which run parallel to the wall surfaces of the labyrinth ring 15, as shown in the cross section Fig. 5 is recognizable. As based on the Fig. 5 In addition, it can be seen, the wall surfaces of the annular space 14 in the closed state of the outlet valve 11 to the adjacent wall surfaces of the labyrinthine rim 15 are spaced such that there is a gap to the sealing pin 13. The gap space serving as Fluidleitweg is already provided between the underlying lateral surfaces of the outlet valve 11 of the inner wall of the applicator 4 'with approximately the same thickness as in the upper labyrinth or outlet region of the annular space 14 of the applicator 4'. When opening the exhaust valve 11, the liquid flow is thus deflected in a labyrinth-like manner between the annular space 14 and the labyrinth ring 15 and the radially inwardly adjacent annular extension, before it reaches the centering cone 22 and, consequently, the longitudinal grooves 23. As a result, a particularly accurate and advantageous dosing characteristic or spray characteristic can be achieved.

The metering device after Fig. 7 has a manually operable pumping device, which is designed to function the same as the pumping devices of the embodiments described above according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 , Functionally identical components are provided with the same reference numeral, but with the addition of the letter b. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the description of the preceding embodiments for the description of the functionally identical and provided with the same reference numerals components.

Significant difference in the metering device after Fig. 7 it is that the applicator housing is designed such that the outlet valve 11 b and the metering or discharge opening 12 b are aligned at right angles to the pump axis P. Accordingly, the pumping chamber 10b is provided with deflected at right angles Strömungsleitwegen. On the valve seat of the applicator, which surrounds the sealing pin 13b annularly facing the inside of the labyrinth rim 15b is a flat, spherical ring groove PG is provided, which further improves the flow characteristics in the labyrinthine region and therefore requires a further improved spray effect.

An essential idea in the inventive solution, as they are based on the embodiments of the Fig. 1 to 7 is described, in the region of the inlet valve of the pumping chamber 10, namely in the region of the slide valve 6, 7, and / or in the region of the outlet valve 11, namely in the outlet region immediately before the metering opening 12, each provided with flow profiling provided annular walls, so as to be able to influence the inlet and Ausströmcharakteristik the liquid in the pumping chamber or from the pumping chamber positively.

Claims (5)

1. Dosing device with a manual actuatable pumping means comprising a pumping chamber (10) and an inlet valve (6, 7) which is constructed as a slide valve and in its closed position is sealingly movable over a dosing stroke in a dosing channel (8) which defines a dosing volume for the pumping chamber, with the dosing channel (8) on the inlet side opening into an inlet area, and the inlet side (9, 9a) being provided with flow profilings (20, 21), characterized in that the flow profilings (20, 21) are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the dosing stroke.
2. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow profilings are formed by longitudinal grooves (20, 21) extending parallel to a pumping axis (P) over an axial length of the inlet area and which are arranged in mutually uniformly distributed manner in the circumferential direction of the inlet area.
3. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet area (9a) and the dosing channel (8a) are provided on separate components (2, 3; 2a, 3a).
4. Dosing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the components (2, 3; 2a, 3a) are joined together in coaxially interengaging manner and in that on their facing circumferential surfaces the components are profiled in such a way that between the circumferential surfaces is formed at least one gas flow capillary tube between the axially facing front edges of the circumferential surfaces (18).
5. Dosing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one gas flow capillary tube is open at one end to an environment and at its other end into a medium reservoir, and in that on the end facing the medium reservoir is provided a filter unit (17).

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