EP2667975B1 - Variable spray head - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a spray head for a spray can for placement on a valve with an internal valve seat, wherein the spray head has a coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the spray extending tubular hollow cylinder which is coupled to the valve and through which passes a passage for the spray located in the spray wherein the passage opens in a radially pointing outlet nozzle and the hollow cylinder has at its valve-side end on one of its longitudinal sides a recess, so that upon actuation of the spray head entering the Sprühguts is possible through the recess in the hollow cylinder.

Aerosol cans have become widely used in many applications. Among other things, spray cans are also used for spraying paints, where they represent a comparatively easy to use and inexpensive alternative to paint sprayers. Meanwhile paint spray cans are increasingly used in the professional field. In the do-it-yourself sector, paint spray cans have been established for a long time. In addition, paint spray cans are sometimes used by artists.

Often, it is desirable for the user to easily reduce or increase the paint coverage rate or change the spray pattern. For example, a high paint coverage rate may be useful when large areas are to be uniformly sprayed, but for smaller areas or more delicate painting jobs, it may be useful to have the application rate Keep as low as possible in order to control the painting process in this way better.

From the prior art spray heads are already known with regulating function, for example from the WO 2005/051802 A1 or the US 3,407,977 , In the case of the spray cans described here, the sprayed material first enters the spray head before a passage for the spray material is adjusted in terms of the size of its cross section within the spray head, so that the application rate changes accordingly. However, different problems can occur here. On the one hand, a backflow can form in the spray head when the valve is closed. An undefined amount of Sprühgut, which remains after valve closure in the spray head in front of the control mechanism, escapes uncontrollably from the spray head on re-actuation of the valve, this can lead to uncontrolled material leakage in the form of a "spitting" or "stuttering".

Another problem is that when the control mechanism in the spray head is completely closed, an increased amount of spray material accumulates in the spray head. Now, if the control mechanism is opened again, this also leads to a spit of the spray head. If a propellant gas is used at a high partial pressure, even the spray head may jump off the valve.

Another problem that results from the retention of sprayed material in the spray head is the sticking of the control mechanism. Especially when using the spray can for paints, this problem may occur because the paint cures and the moving parts of the spray head glued together, so that a further actuation of the spray head or the control mechanism is difficult.

From the US 3,863,816 a controllable spray head is known in which a stopper arranged in the spray head is provided with a plurality of channels of different cross-sectional area extending from the lower end of the plug into extend up the side wall. By turning the individual channels can be brought into contact with another channel, which communicates with the outlet opening. In this way, an in the US 3,176,888 described technique are improved, in which corresponding channels are provided in the bottom of the plug. Unlike the invention, however, the spray head is provided for valves with a valve stem (male valves); In addition, the provision of individual channels does not allow continuous adjustment of the discharge rate.

Out DE 20 2005 007242 U a controllable spray head is known, which is suitable for placing on a valve with an internal valve seat. However, here also allows the adjustment of the spray head no continuous adjustment of Ausbringrate.

Based on the above-described prior art, therefore, the task is to provide a spray head available, which solves the problems described, however, however, allows easy adjustment of the application rate.

This object is achieved by a spray head for a spray for placement on a valve with an internal valve seat, wherein the spray head has a coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the spray extending tubular hollow cylinder which is coupled to the valve and through which a passage for in the spray located Sprühgut runs, wherein the passage opens into an outlet nozzle pointing in the radial direction and the hollow cylinder has at its valve-side end on one of its longitudinal sides a recess, so that upon actuation of the spray head entry of the Sprühguts is possible through the recess in the hollow cylinder, and wherein through the passage of the hollow cylinder, a rotatable regulating pin, wherein the outer diameter of the regulating pin at its valve end corresponds to the inner diameter of the passage in the hollow cylinder and the regulating pin at its valve-side end on one of its longitudinal sides has a recess which, when the recess is in coincidence with the recess in the hollow cylinder, allows the entry of the Sprühguts in the passage, wherein the regulating pin at its end facing away from the valve with an externally accessible, rotatable regulator in combination stands.

Unlike a spray head, such as in the US 3,407,977 is described, it is the spray head according to the invention is a spray head, which is combined with a valve with an internal valve seat. Such valves are also called female valves. Female valves have no upstanding Ventilstem, but an inner valve seat, wherein the spray head is attached to the valve. The spray head has centrally a coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the container extending Stem or hollow cylinder, which is hollow inside and through which the Sprühgut can flow. In the further course, the sprayed material passes from the stem extending in the axial direction into a spray channel running laterally, ie in the radial direction, which opens into an outlet nozzle. Through the outlet nozzle, the sprayed material and possibly the propellant finally reaches the environment. The radially extending spray channel as well as the inside hollow, extending in the axial direction of the hollow cylinder form a total of a passage through the spray head for the Sprühgut.

In the case of the use of a spray head for female valves, the spray material frequently passes into the hollow cylinder via a metering slot, also called a measuring groove. The metering slot is a slot-shaped recess on the valve-side end of the hollow cylinder. The metering slot thus usually forms a small, extending in the axial direction slot in the wall of the hollow cylinder. Upon actuation of the spray head by pressure on the usually flattened top of the spray head of the dosing is pressed through an opening in the valve belonging to the inner seal down so that penetration of sprayed into the hollow cylinder. When you release the spray head a spring in the valve pushes the valve seat and thus the hollow cylinder back up, so that the metering again comes to rest above the inner seal. Penetration of spray material is no longer possible.

According to the invention, the amount of spray material is now regulated, which enters the hollow cylinder through the recess, which is usually a dosing slot running in the axial direction in the wall of the hollow cylinder. For this purpose, an additional regulating pin is guided through the interior of the hollow cylinder, wherein the regulating pin has at its valve-side end on a longitudinal side a recess. The longitudinal side runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spray can. The outer diameter of the regulating pin at its valve-side end, ie the end which is down when the spray can is upright, corresponds to the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder. Thus, there is at least a partial positive connection between the inner wall of the hollow cylinder and the outer wall of the regulating pin, wherein this positive connection must exist at least in the valve-side region of the regulating pin, but can also continue over the entire length of the hollow cylinder. But it is also possible that the regulating pin has only at its valve-side end an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder, while followed in the direction of regulator, a region of smaller diameter, for example in the form of a relatively thin pin designed. It is only important that in the valve-side region of the hollow cylinder and the regulating pin there is a form-locking, which by more or less strong overlap of recess in the hollow cylinder and recess in Regulatory pin a regulation of the application rate allowed. The passage of spray material through the hollow cylinder is thus possible when the recess in the hollow cylinder and the recess in the regulatory pin are at least partially in cover. Are recess and recess completely in coverage, the Ausbringrate is maximum, recess and recess on the other hand do not overlap, emerges little or no Sprühgut. The regulating pin is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spray can or the spray head. For this purpose, the valve-side end of the regulating pin facing away from the outside, ie guided to the top of the spray head, where it is accessible from the outside. The recess in the regulating pin can have different shapes, but it is important in any case that at exit position, ie coverage of recess in the hollow cylinder and recess in the regulating pin, an axially extending passage for the spray up to the part of the passage is present leads in the radial direction to the outlet nozzle.

The axial passage for the spray material may extend laterally along the regulating pin or through the regulating pin. In the first case, the recess in the regulating pin extends from the valve-side end of the regulating pin to the part of the passage extending in the radial direction to the outlet nozzle on a longitudinal side of the regulating pin. The regulating pin normally has a circular basic shape when viewed in cross-section, with a circle segment being cut out. In other words, the regulating pin on the valve-side end in cross-section has the shape of a circle with a segment of a circle cut off. If the circular chord delimiting the circular segment (the circle segment) coincides with the diameter of the circle, the recess is semi-circular in cross-section, but the circular segment may also have a smaller segment height. If the circular segment-shaped recess is brought into coincidence with the recess in the hollow cylinder when the regulating pin is rotated, the sprayed material can penetrate through the recess into the intermediate space formed between the outside of the regulating pin and the inside of the hollow cylinder by the recess in the regulating pin. Along the regulating pin, the sprayed material thus reaches the part of the passage extending in the radial direction.

However, the recess does not necessarily have to have the shape of a circle segment when viewed in cross-section. There are also other alternatives conceivable to create a gap between the outer wall of the regulating pin and the inner wall of the hollow cylinder, so that sprayed material can reach the outlet nozzle. For example, the valve-side end of the regulating pin may be a longitudinally slotted tube. If longitudinal slot and recess in the hollow cylinder with each other in coverage, a large amount Sprühgut occur, with rotation of the regulating pin, however, cover the recess in the hollow cylinder and the pipe of the regulating pin, the spray head is thus at least largely closed. Of course, intermediate stages are possible in which a part of the recess is covered by the regulating pin, while another part is accessible. The regulatory pin ultimately acts as a kind of aperture for the recess in the hollow cylinder. The expression "longitudinal slot" is to be interpreted according to the invention and also includes very wide slots, so that for example the regulating pin at its valve-side end also has the shape of a longitudinally cut tube, for example, a tube halved in the longitudinal direction. The regulating pin has in this case at its valve-side end in the form of a longitudinally extending groove.

A recess in the form of a circle segment does not necessarily have to extend continuously up to the part of the passage extending in the radial direction to the outlet nozzle on a longitudinal side of the regulating pin. It is also possible to provide a circular segment-shaped recess at the valve-side end of the regulating pin, followed by a different shaped recess in the direction of the regulator. This may be z. B. also be a reduction in the diameter of the regulating pin, ie the regulating pin has at the valve end end to a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder, while the diameter in the direction of regulator decreases (with standing up spray can above). In this area, there is thus a gap between the hollow cylinder and the regulating pin, through which the spray material can flow. Another alternative is a circular sector-shaped recess in the regulatory pin viewed in cross-section.

The passage for the spray material toward the part of the passage extending in the radial direction to the outlet nozzle may alternatively also extend through the interior of the regulating pin. In this case, the regulating pin has a lateral, with the radially extending to the outlet nozzle extending portion of the passage in coverable opening, wherein extending between the opening and the recess in the regulating pin, a channel in the interior of the regulating pin, through which the Sprühgut can flow , The Sprühgut thus passes upon actuation of the spray head first through the recess in the regulating pin in the running inside the regulating pin channel, flows through the regulating pin in the longitudinal direction and exits at the opening again, from where the spray reaches the radial part of the passage.

The outlet nozzle can be an integral part of the spray head, but often the outlet nozzle can be plugged reversibly into the spray head. If necessary, an adaptation to the desired spray pattern can be achieved by replacing the spray can, for example by selecting an omnidirectional or a broad-jet nozzle.

A significant advantage of the invention compared to control mechanisms of the prior art is that the regulation takes place directly at the interface valve / spray head. In this way, a backflow in the spray head is avoided, which, as stated above, to spit, d. H. Uncontrolled discharge of spray material can lead from the spray head. As a result, a particularly uniform spray result is thus achieved, which is of particular importance for paint spray cans. By more or less complete coverage of recess in the hollow cylinder and recess in the regulating pin, the outlet between 0 (or a low exit rate) and 100% can be adjusted.

The rotatable regulator may in particular be a circular disc which covers the side of the spray head facing away from the valve. The rotatable regulator is located upright spray can on the top of the spray head. In particular, the rotary regulator may form the top of the spray head, to which pressure is applied, around the valve to open. By turning the controller, the discharge rate is also set. The fact that the regulation of the Ausbringrate by twisting, the opening of the valve, however, takes place by pressing, it is ensured that during operation of the spray head no accidental change in the discharge rate. The rotatability of the controller should be set so that on the one hand a rotation for the user is easily possible, on the other hand, however, an undesirable automatic rotation is virtually eliminated. To further improve the rotatability of the regulator, this may have a corrugation on the outside. It is also possible to provide locking means for determining the angular position of the controller.

In order to prevent the regulator with the regulating pin integrally formed therefrom becoming undesirably detached from the spray head, means for fixing the regulating pin or the regulator to the spray head can be provided. One possibility is, for example, that the regulating pin has a section of increased diameter. This thickening ensures that the regulating pin together with the regulator is normally held securely in the spray head, but nevertheless continues to be rotatable. However, by applying a certain amount of force, the regulating pin can also be pulled out of the spray head. Conversely, such an embodiment facilitates the assembly of the spray head according to the invention.

In addition to the spray head, the invention also relates to a spray can with a can body containing the spray material and a propellant, a valve with an internal valve seat and a spray head as described above. Particular importance of the invention in the field of paint or Farbsprühdosen, since it is particularly important to the exact dosage when spraying. Of course, the spray head according to the invention or the spray can of course also be used in other areas.

Figur 1:

eine Schnittzeichnung eines erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopfes und

Figuren 2-5:

unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen eines Regulierungsstifts.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a sectional view of a spray head according to the invention and

Figures 2-5:

different embodiments of a regulatory pin.

In FIG. 1 the spray head 1 according to the invention is shown cut along an axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the spray can. It is a female spray head 1, which is attached to a valve with an internal valve seat. For this purpose, the spray head 1 centrally on a coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the container extending hollow cylinder 2, through which a passage 3 extends for the Sprühgut. The spray material further passes through the passage 3 to the spray channel 10 extending in the radial direction, through which it flows to the outlet nozzle 4.

At its valve-side end, the hollow cylinder 2 has a slot-shaped recess 5. Upon actuation of the valve, the spray can pass through the recess 5 in the passage 3, while the hollow cylinder 2 is closed over its further circumference. In the in FIG. 1 The selected representation is the slot-shaped recess 5 on the hollow cylinder 2 right below. The slot-shaped recess 5 is narrow as a rule, with the slot extending in the longitudinal direction, ie coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the container.

Through the passage 3 of the hollow cylinder 2, a regulating pin 6, the outer diameter of the valve-side end corresponds to the inner diameter of the passage 3 in the hollow cylinder 2 extends. On one side, the regulating pin 6 has a recess 7. If the recess 7 is brought into coincidence with the slot-shaped recess 5 in the hollow cylinder 2, the passage 3 is free for the spray material. However, if the regulating pin 6 is twisted, the recess 7 and recess 5 are no longer or only to a lesser extent in coincidence, so that the application of spray material is reduced or even completely stopped. In the in FIG. 1 selected representation are recess 5 and recess 7 with each other in coverage, ie, shown is a position in which spray material can flow to a large extent. If, however, the regulating pin 6 were rotated by 180 °, for example, the dark-drawn, fixed part of the regulating pin 6 in the in FIG. 1 selected representation go to the right and the recess 5 cover more or less completely. The rate of application of spray material would thus be considerably lower or even zero.

In order to rotate the regulating pin 6 about its longitudinal axis, this has at its end facing away from the valve (here above) on a controller 8, which is a circular disc which covers the side facing away from the valve of the spray head 1. The discharge rate can thus be regulated by turning the regulator 8, while the application itself is triggered by a pressure from above on the controller 8. Thus, the controller 8 is coupled captive together with the regulating pin 6 with the spray head 1, the regulating pin 6 in the valve side facing away from a thickening 9, so that a withdrawal of the regulator 8 with regulating pin 6 is possible only with a certain amount of force.

In FIG. 2 an example of a regulating pin 6 according to the invention is given. In this case, the recess 7 in the regulating pin is circular-segment-shaped. Thus, if the circular segment-shaped recess 7 is brought into coincidence with the recess 5 of the hollow cylinder 2, then spray material can flow out, but if the round side of the regulating pin 6 is rotated toward the recess 5, the discharge rate is minimized. In addition, it can be seen that the recess 7 extends approximately over half the length of the regulating pin 6. In this embodiment, the recess 7 must extend at least as far in the longitudinal direction of the spray can that a transition of the spray material to the radially extending spray channel 10 and thus to the outlet nozzle 4 is possible.

In FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment is shown, according to which the recess 7 is not circular segment-shaped, instead, the valve-side end of the regulating pin 6 has the shape of a longitudinally slotted tube. Incidentally, the mode of operation of the regulating pin corresponds to that described above, ie when the recess 7 is brought into coincidence with the recess 5 in the hollow cylinder 2, spray material can flow out and pass through the recess 7 as far as the radially extending spray channel 10.

A similar embodiment is in FIG. 4 illustrated here, however, the recess 7 has been chosen even larger, ie the valve-side portion of the regulating pin has the shape of a longitudinally slotted tube to an even greater extent, it being noted that the longitudinal slot in the tube was chosen to be quite wide. The longitudinal slot can for example be chosen so wide that ultimately only one half of the tube remains.

In FIG. 5 Finally, another embodiment is shown, in which the regulating pin 6 at the valve end has a larger cross-section than in an adjoining the controller 8 section. Again, a recess 7 on the valve-side end of the regulating pin 6 is present. Through this recess, spray material can continue to flow in the longitudinal direction, where it reaches the region of the regulating pin 6 with a smaller diameter, so that the forwarding is guaranteed up to the radially extending spray channel 10.

In addition, one recognizes in all FIGS. 2 to 5 the regulator 8, which is formed as a circular disc, wherein a thickening 9, ie a region of the regulating pin 6 with an enlarged cross-section causes the regulating pin 6, although rotatable about its longitudinal axis, but otherwise firmly seated in the spray head 1. However, when a certain amount of force is applied, the regulating pin 6 can be pulled out of the spray head 1.

Claims (9)

1. Spray head for a spray can with the spray head to be placed on a valve having an inner valve seat, wherein said spray head (1) being provided with a tubular hollow cylinder (2) extending coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the spray can, said cylinder being coupleable to the valve and designed to include a passage (3) for the spraying product contained in the spray can, said passage (3) ending in an outlet nozzle (4) pointing in radial direction and said hollow cylinder (2) having an opening (5) on one of its longitudinal sides at its valve-side end so that actuating the spray head (1) allows the product to be sprayed to enter the hollow cylinder (2) through said opening (5), characterized in that a rotatable regulating pin (6) extends through the passage (3) in the hollow cylinder (2), the outer diameter of said regulating pin (6) corresponding at its valve-side end to the inside diameter of the passage (3) arranged in the hollow cylinder (2) and said regulating pin (6) having at its valve-side end on one of its longitudinal sides a cutout (7) that, when said cutout (7) coincides with the opening (5) in the hollow cylinder (2), enables sprayed product to enter the passage (3), with the regulating pin (6) at its end facing away from the valve being connected to a rotatable regulator (8) accessible from the outside.
2. Spray head according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutout (7) in the regulating pin (6) extends from the valve-side end of the regulating pin (6) to that portion of the passage (10) on one longitudinal side of the regulating pin (6) that leads in radial direction towards the outlet nozzle (4).
3. Spray head according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating pin (6) is provided with a lateral opening capable of being made congruent with the portion of passage (10) leading in radial direction towards the outlet nozzle (4), wherein a channel in the interior of the regulating pin (6) extends between said opening and the cutout (7) in the regulating pin (6) through which sprayed product passes.
4. Spray head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cutout (7) in regulating pin (6) is designed to form a circle segment viewed as a cross sectional representation.
5. Spray head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the valve-side end of regulating pin (6) is a longitudinally slotted tube.
6. Spray head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rotatable regulator (8) is a circular disk covering the end of the spray head (1) facing away from the valve.
7. Spray head according to claim 6, characterized in that the disk is provided with serrations on its outside.
8. Spray head according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the regulating pin (6) is provided with detent/ratchet means to secure its angular position.
9. Spray can provided with a can body that contains the sprayed product as well as a propellant, a valve with inside valve seat and a spray head (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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