EP2900384A1

EP2900384A1 - Dispensing mechanism for fluids

Info

Publication number: EP2900384A1
Application number: EP13842920.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Henrik Åkesson
Original assignee: Sterisol AB
Current assignee: Sterisol AB
Priority date: 2012-09-25
Filing date: 2013-09-04
Publication date: 2015-08-05
Also published as: WO2014051495A1; SE537034C2; SE1251081A1; EP2900384A4

Abstract

A valve mechanism (1) for dispensing a fluid, said valve mechanism being adapted in connection with the dispensing operation to open under the action of a positive pressure in the fluid and to close by itself when said positive pressure has ceased, comprising a channel (9) with an inlet (9a) and an outlet (9b) end and an axial direction of fluid flow (10), the channel (9) is defined by a body portion (11) of a rigid material formed with a groove (13) of substantially arcuate cross-section and by a cover portion (12) of flexible material whose side edges extending in the direction of the flow (10), wherein the cover portion (12) and body portion (11) are, along the side edges thereof, are sealingly connected to each other and wherein the cover portion (12) gradually conforms to the shape of the groove (13). A fixed sealing portion (20) is arranged of the outlet end (9b) of the channel (9) extending at least partially along a side wall (21 a, 21 b) of the groove (13).

Description

DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR FLUIDS

Technical field

The present document relates to a valve mechanism for dispensing a fluid. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a valve mechanism having a fixed sealing portion at an outlet end thereof.

Background

In EP0442858B1 a valve is disclosed for dispensing a fluid from a fluid chamber, where the valve is adapted to open by the action of a positive pressure and close by itself when said positive pressure has ceased.

EP0442858B1 further discloses that the cover portion of the valve may be affected by a pressure brought on by pushing down a dome section and that the cover portion thus forms a local convex portion, which is facilitated by the thickness distribution of the cover portion, which in turn produces an opening through which fluid can pass. As the production of a cover portion having a specific thickness distribution may be difficult, which leading to disparities in the function of the valve, there is a need for a new type of valve construction.

Summary

It is an object of the present disclosure, to provide an improved valve mechanism for dispensing fluids, which eliminates or alleviates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. More specific objects include providing a valve mechanism that provides a highly distinct opening and closing mechanism for dispensing fluids.

The invention is defined by the appended independent claims.

Embodiments are set forth in the appended dependent claims and in the following description and drawings.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a valve mechanism for dispensing a fluid, said valve mechanism being adapted in connection with the dispensing operation to open under the action of a positive pressure in the fluid and to close by itself when said positive pressure has ceased, comprising a channel with an inlet and an outlet end and an axial direction of fluid flow, the channel is defined by a body portion of a rigid material formed with a groove of substantially arcuate cross-section and by a cover portion of flexible material whose side edges extending in the direction of the flow, wherein the cover portion and body portion are, along the side edges thereof, are sealingly connected to each other and wherein the cover portion gradually conforms to the shape of the groove. A fixed sealing portion is arranged of the outlet end of the channel extending at least partially along a side wall of the groove.

By providing the valve mechanism with a fixed sealing portion, there is provided a way of ensuring the correct operation and opening of the valve mechanism during dispensing of fluid.

The fixed sealing portion may thus provide for a way of ensuring that a well-defined opening of the cover body, substantially at the centre or lowest portion of the groove in the body portion, may be achieved during the influence of the interior positive pressure difference for dispensing the fluid. This allows for a more defined discharge of fluid from the dispensing mechanism.

Further to this it has surprisingly been found that providing the valve mechanism with a fixed sealing portion also reduces the risk of fluids being sucked into the valve mechanism during closing, and thus reducing the risk of bacterial contamination and growth in the valve mechanism. This may be of great importance when the valve mechanism for instance is fitted to a container for soap, ethanol etc. which is to be used in a hospital environment.

The valve mechanism with the fixed sealing portion thus provides for a highly well-defined opening and closing of the valve.

According to one embodiment the fixed sealing portion may be formed by the flexible cover portion being fixedly attached to an outer edge of the outlet end.

The fixed sealing portion may be formed by welding the flexible cover portion to the body portion.

According to one alternative the sealing connection between and along the side edges of the cover portion and the body portion may be provided by grooves in the body portion and mating, flange-like projections on the cover portion. Further, according to this alternative embodiment said projections may be arranged to form part of the fixed sealing portion of the outlet end of the channel. According to another embodiment of the first aspect a side portion of the cover portion may be arranged to form part of the fixed sealing portion of the outlet end of the channel.

According to one embodiment the valve mechanism may be arranged to communicate at its inlet end with a pump, whereby the valve mechanism and the pump together forms a dispensing device, comprising non-return valve means and a mechanically actuated dome forming with the cover portion and integral unit whose edge is sealingly connected to a housing provided on the body portion and mating with the dome.

According to the first aspect the fluid handled by the valve mechanism may be either viscous or non-viscous.

According to a second aspect there is provided a system comprising the valve mechanism according to the first aspect, and a fluid container, wherein the fluid container comprises a collapsible fluid chamber for holding the fluid including at least one flexible portion and an opening sealingly connected to said dispensing device, wherein the pump is capable of creating a negative pressure for sucking the fluid from the fluid chamber in order to dispense it during simultaneous collapsing of the fluid chamber, and of creating a positive pressure for discharging said fluid through a channel communicating with said pump, and non-return valve means for preventing fluid from flowing back into the fluid chamber, and that the channel has an inlet and an outlet end, and an axial direction of fluid flow, means for being provided at said outlet end, for opening at a certain interior positive pressure difference and for closing when said positive pressure decreases. The valve mechanism is provided with a fixed sealing portion at said outlet end, extending at least partially along a side wall of the groove.

By arranging a fixed sealing portion at the outlet end a well-defined opening of the cover body, essentially at the centre or lowest portion of the groove in the body portion, may be achieved during the influence of the interior positive pressure difference for dispensing said fluid. This allows for a more defined discharge of fluid from the dispensing mechanism, and also as the valve mechanism is closed at the fixed sealing portion, reduces the risk of bacterial contamination from fluid otherwise being sucked back into the dispensing mechanism.

According to a third aspect there is provided a use of a valve mechanism according to the first aspect for dispensing a viscous or non- viscous fluid. According to a fourth aspect there is provided a use of a system as according to the second aspect, for dispensing a viscous or non-viscous fluid from a collapsible fluid container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present solution will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Figs 1a-1b are top front views of a preferred embodiment of a valve mechanism, in a resting and pressurized state respectively.

Figs 2a-2b are sections taken along the line A-A and C-C in Figs 1a- b respectively.

Figs 3a and 3b is a schematic front views of a valve mechanism in a resting and pressurized state respectively.

Description of Embodiments

Figs 1 a and 1b illustrate a valve mechanism 1 as seen from above in a resting and pressurized position respectively.

In the pressurized position a dome 3 of the valve mechanism is pressed down, i.e. mechanically actuated, for instance by a users finger or a pressing device (neither shown in the figures). The dome 3 is formed from a flexible material, which is attached to a housing 4 of the valve mechanism 1 , which is made from a rigid material.

The dome 3 is sealingly connected to the housing, by means of a mounting flange 5 engaging a groove 6 in the housing (see Figs 2a and 2b). The dome 3 and housing thus defines a chamber 7, whose volume can be varied by the mechanical actuation of the dome 3. The dome 3, may be square shaped, which is shown in Figs 1a and 1 b. In the housing 4 a channel 8 is arranged which communicates with a fluid container (not shown in the figures). The fluid container may be a collapsible container of the type shown in EP0442857A1.

The mouth 8a of the channel 8 forms together with a tongue 3a, which may be extended from the dome 3, a non-return valve preventing fluid from flowing from the chamber 7 into the container through the channel 8. The valve mechanism has a channel 9 which extends between an inlet end 9a opening in the chamber 7 and an outlet end 9b, which defines a direction of fluid flow in the channel indicated by an arrow 10.

The valve mechanism 1 is arranged to communicate at its inlet end 9a with a pump 2, whereby the valve mechanism and the pump together forms a dispensing device, comprising the non-return valve means 8a, 3a and a mechanically actuated dome 3 forming with the cover portion 12 and integral unit whose edge is sealingly connected to a housing 4 provided on the body portion 11 and mating with the dome 3.

According to the invention, the channel 9 is defined by a body portion

11 of rigid material and by a cover portion 12 of flexible material. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the body portion preferably is integrally formed with the housing 4, for instance from injection-moulded polypropylene or polyethylene, and the cover portion 12 integrally formed with the dome 3, for instance from vacuum-formed thermoplastic polyethylene. It is however obvious to a person skilled in the art that all materials having suitable mechanical properties can be used. The body portion is formed with a groove 13 which may have an arcuate cross-section and suitably being so shaped that its cross-section, at least at the outlet end 9b, substantially defines the arc of an imaginary sector of a circle whose angle between the two straight lines is from 5 to 40 degrees, preferably from 20 to 40 degrees. Like the dome 3, the cover portion 12 is sealingly connected to the body portion 1 by mounting flange-like projections 14 which at the respective edges of the cover portion 12 extend in the direction of flow 10 and engage in mating grooves 15 in the body portion 11. In order to seal or lock the cover portion to the body portion a ridge 23 may be folded and welded over the flange 14 (as shown in Fig. 2a).

At the outlet end 9b of the channel 9 a fixed sealing portion 20 is provided. The fixed sealing portion 20 extends at least partially along the side walls 21a 21b, where only one side wall 21a is shown in Fig. 2a, of the groove 13.

The fixed sealing portion 20 may be provided by fixedly attaching a side portion 23a, 23b (corresponding to the side walls 21 a, 2 b) of the cover portion 12 to an outer edge 22 of the outlet end 9b. The cover portion 3 may, at this outer edge 22 be welded to the body portion.

According to another embodiment the mounting flanges 14 may be arranged such that they protrude, at the outlet end 9a, beyond the mating groove 15, and beyond the outer edge 22 of the outlet end and form part of the fixed sealing portion 20. The mounting flange may thus be welded, or folded and possibly glued or welded to the body portion 11 , such that a fixed sealing portion 20 is formed.

According to yet an alternative for forming the fixed sealing portion (not shown in the figures) a front portion 24 of the body portion 11 may be extended towards the centre of the groove 13. A sealing ridge 23, arranged to extend along a top portion of the body portion 11 and to seal the cover and body portion, may then be folded over the mounting flange 14 (as shown in Fig. 2a) before the extended front portion 24 is folded over outer edge 22 of the cover portion 11. The extended front portion 24 and the sealing ridge 23 are then welded together against the cover portion in order to form the fixed sealing portion.

In operation, the invented valve 1 and pump 2 operates as follows. For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the chamber 7 is filled with a fluid from a container (not shown) to be dispensed through the valve 1.

Upon mechanical actuation of the dome 3, provided by a pressure exerted on the dome, e.g. by a finger, a positive pressure is created in the fluid. This positive pressure propagates through the channel 9.

By the fixed sealing portion 20 the cover portion 12 is forced to attain a locally and well-defined convex shape, and form of an opening 25, as illustrated in Figs 1 b and 3b. The opening 25 is formed at the centre or lowest portion of the groove in the body portion by the cover portion attaining the convex shape. As a result, the positive pressure in the chamber 7 and the channel 9 is equalized and dispensing is discontinued. As long as the positive pressure prevails, the valve 1 automatically closes and acts as a non-return valve 3a, 8a. When the mechanical actuation of the dome ceases, it resumes its initial shape, a negative pressure being created and fluid being again sucked into the chamber 7 through the channel 8.

Because of the fixed sealing portion and the switching of the cover portion 12 between convex and concave shape, the opening, i.e. the formation of the well-defined opening 25 and the closure of the valve becomes highly distinct.

This prevents fluid from remaining between the cover portion 12 and the wall of the groove 13, which assists in providing an aseptic closure. The arrangement now described is suitable for dispensing viscous fluids, such as liquid detergents, from containers whose volume decreases upon emptying, especially containers including flexible bags or one or more flexible walls also non-viscous fluids such as ethanol for hand disinfectants.

Claims

1. A valve mechanism (1) for dispensing a fluid, said valve mechanism being adapted in connection with the dispensing operation to open under the action of a positive pressure in the fluid and to close by itself when said positive pressure has ceased, comprising a channel (9) with an inlet (9a) and an outlet (9b) end and an axial direction of fluid flow (10), the channel (9) is defined by a body portion (11) of a rigid material formed with a groove (13) of substantially arcuate cross-section and by a cover portion (12) of flexible material whose side edges extending in the direction of the flow (10), wherein the cover portion (12) and body portion (11) are, along the side edges thereof, are sealingly connected to each other and wherein the cover portion (12) gradually conforms to the shape of the groove ( 3),

characterized in that

a fixed sealing portion (20) is arranged of the outlet end (9b) of the channel (9) extending at least partially along a side wall (21a, 21b) of the groove (13).

2. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fixed sealing portion (20) is formed by the flexible cover portion (12) being fixedly attached to an outer edge (22) of the outlet end (9b).

3. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixed sealing portion (20) is formed by welding the flexible cover portion (12) to the body portion (11).

4. The valve mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing connection between and along the side edges of the cover portion (12) and the body portion (1 1) is provided by grooves (15) in the body portion (11) and mating, flange-like projections (14) on the cover portion (12).

5. The valve mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said

projections (14) are arranged to form part of the fixed sealing portion (20) of the outlet end (9b) of the channel (9).

6. The valve mechanism as claimed in any one of claim 1-2, wherein a side portion (23a, 23b) the cover portion (12) is arranged to form part of the fixed sealing portion (20) of the outlet end (9b) of the channel (9).

7. Valve mechanism (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve mechanism (1) is arranged to communicate at its inlet end (9a) with a pump (2), whereby the valve mechanism and the pump together forms a dispensing device, comprising non-return valve means (8a, 3a) and a mechanically actuated dome (3) forming with the cover portion (12) and integral unit whose edge is sealingly connected to a housing (4) provided on the body portion (11) and mating with the dome (3).

8. The valve mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid is either viscous or non-viscous.

9. A system comprising the valve mechanism as claimed in claim 9, and a fluid container, wherein the fluid container comprises a collapsible fluid chamber for holding the fluid including at least one flexible portion and an opening sealingly connected to said dispensing device, wherein the pump (2) is capable of creating a negative pressure for sucking the fluid from the fluid chamber in order to dispense it during simultaneous collapsing of the fluid chamber, and of creating a positive pressure for discharging said fluid through a channel (9) communicating with said pump, and non-return valve means (8a, 3a) for preventing fluid from flowing back into the fluid chamber, and that the channel (9) has an inlet and an outlet end (9a, 9b), and an axial direction of fluid flow (10), means (12, 13) for being provided at said outlet end (9b), for opening at a certain interior positive pressure difference and for closing when said positive pressure decreases,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the

the valve mechanism (1) is provided with a fixed sealing portion (20) at said outlet end (9b), extending at least partially along a side wall (21a, 21b) of the groove (13).

10. Use of a valve mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 -7 for dispensing a viscous or non-viscous fluid.

11. Use of a system as claimed in claim 9, for dispensing a viscous or non-viscous fluid from a collapsible fluid container.