FR2703980A1 - Device for dispensing or spraying small quantities of fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing or spraying fluid, characterised in that it comprises: an outer container (10) resistant to pressure; a first fluid-tight deformable enclosure (14) capable of receiving the fluid to be dispensed; a second fluid-tight deformable enclosure (12) capable of receiving a pressurised gas; and a dispensing or spraying head (18) connected to the said first enclosure, the said first and second enclosures being disposed in the said container in such a way that the pressure of the said compressed gas is applied to the said first enclosure containing the fluid through its flexible wall in such a way as to cause the expulsion of the said fluid when the said head is actuated.

Description

HAFFFH FOR BROADCASTING OR SPRAYING
LOW QUAN1TnS OF FLUID
The present invention relates to a device for diffusing or spraying small quantities of fluid continuously or intermittently.

 Devices which are used for spraying or diffusing gaseous or liquid products in the form of fine droplets or aerosol are well known, these products being, for example, deodorants, perfumes or similar products.

 These devices known as bombs essentially comprise a metallic external casing which must hold the pressure and be impermeable to gases, in particular to propellant gas making it possible to cause the liquid to exit. On the one hand, this solution has the drawback that these bombs are conventionally produced using metallic materials which are non-biodegradable and difficult to recycle. In addition, this solution involves certain dangers when the tank is subjected to high temperatures. It practically requires filling in a specialized workshop, which of course increases the cost of the operation. Finally, in the case where the propellant is in equilibrium with its vapor and contains chlorine, its release can be the source of harmful effects on the upper atmosphere.

 An object of the present invention is to provide a device for diffusing or spraying fluid which overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.

To achieve this goal, the fluid diffusion or spraying device is characterized in that it comprises:
an external pressure-resistant container;
a first deformable sealed enclosure capable of receiving the fluid to be diffused;
a second deformable sealed enclosure capable of receiving a gas under pressure; and
a diffusion or spray head connected to said first enclosure, said first and second enclosures being arranged in said container in such a way that the pressure of said compressed gas is applied to said first enclosure containing the fluid through its flexible wall so as to cause the outlet of said fluid when said head is activated.

 It is understood that, thanks to the provisions of the invention, the container only serves to ensure the mechanical strength of the entire installation and in particular with respect to the pressure of the propellant gas.

On the other hand, the latter being enclosed in the second deformable and waterproof enclosure, there is no risk of it leaking outwards. In addition, it should be noted that the propellant gas could be introduced beforehand into the enclosure, the latter only being put into place in the container subsequently.

 According to a first embodiment, the first and second enclosures are partially in mutual contact inside the container. The two enclosures can be aligned according to the width of the container or arranged side by side.

 According to a second embodiment, one of the two enclosures is placed inside the other enclosure. In this case, preferably, the first enclosure containing the compressed gas is arranged around the enclosure containing the fluid to be diffused.

 Preferably also, the device comprises its own means for recharging with compressed gas, thus ensuring the autonomy of the device. These recharging means may consist of a rigid tank disposed in the container and capable of receiving a compressed gas at a pressure substantially greater than the operating pressure, said tank being connected to said second enclosure by a pressure reducer.

 According to another embodiment, the compressed gas is air and the device comprises pumping means for introducing pressurized air into said enclosure.

 According to yet another embodiment, the compressed gas is air and the diffusion device also comprises pumping means for introducing pressurized air into the additional tank.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the following description of several embodiments of the invention given by way of nonlimiting examples. The description refers to the appended figures in which:
- Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the diffusion device according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of the diffusion device comprising pumping means;
- Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the diffusion device in the case where it is equipped with a propellant gas storage tank; and
- Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the diffusion device in the case where it is adapted to receive a removable pressurized gas tank;
- Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a spray device showing an alternative embodiment of the two sealed enclosures;
- Figure 6 shows in longitudinal section a first embodiment of the diffusion head;
- Figure 7 shows the detail A of Figure 6;
- Figure 8 shows in longitudinal section a second embodiment of the diffusion head;
- Figure 9 shows in longitudinal section a third embodiment of the diffusion head; and
- Figure 10 is a detail view of the embodiment of Figure 9 showing the pressure drop system.

 Referring first to Figure 1, we will describe the principle of the invention.

 The diffusion or spraying device comprises an external container 10 made of a material capable of mechanically withstanding the pressures brought into play in such a device. Preferably, this container is cylindrical in shape and is produced using a biodegradable or easily recyclable material. For example, this external container is produced using cardboard or similar material.

Inside this container, there is a first deformable sealed enclosure 12 which is initially filled with a pressurized gas constituting the propellant gas. Preferably, the propellant gas is non-condensable, which limits the risk of accidents by suppression due to a rise in temperature. Inside the container 10, there is a second sealed deformable enclosure 14 which contains the fluid which it is desired to distribute or spray. This enclosure 14 comprises an outlet pipe 16 which is connected to a diffusion head 18 which can be of any known type so as to carry out either a spraying of fine droplets, or a diffusion. This diffusion or spraying can be continuous or intermittent or a combination of the two depending on the type of diffusion head used.

 According to a preferred embodiment, there are also means 20, which will be described later in more detail, making it possible to recharge the chamber 12 containing the propellant gas with compressed gas.

 The operation of the diffusion or spraying device appears clearly. When the diffusion head 18 is open, the fluid contained in the deformable enclosure 14 is gradually expelled from this enclosure under the effect of the pressure of the gas in the enclosure 12. In fact, the latter tends to apply a pressure on the enclosure 14 which is also maintained by the mechanically resistant wall 10 of the external container. In the case of the preferred embodiment, the recharging device 20 makes it possible to fill the enclosure 12 with compressed gas as and when it is extended, resulting from the progressive reduction in the quantity of fluid contained in the deformable enclosure 14 .

 It will be understood that, the propellant gas being enclosed in the enclosure 12 and the fluid to be diffused being enclosed in the enclosure 14, these two enclosures being sealed, it is not necessary for the container 10 to be itself sealed, it it suffices that it withstands the pressures involved in the deformable enclosure 12. This therefore makes it possible to produce the external enclosure 10 using a biodegradable and easily recyclable material such as cardboard which has the desired mechanical strength but which can be porous.

 It is also understood that the gas-tight enclosures 12 and 14 do not need to be elastic, it suffices that they are deformable, in particular in the case of the enclosure 12 to accept an increasing quantity of compressed gas.

 Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the diffusion or spraying device. In this embodiment, there is the outer container 22 made for example of cardboard and which is generally cylindrical. On the first end 24 of the container is fixed a diffusion or spray head 26 which is connected to an internal pipe 28 opening in leaktight manner in the first sealed enclosure 30 intended to receive the fluid to be diffused.

In the external container, there is also the second enclosure 32 which contains the propellant gas. In this embodiment, the bottom 34 of the container 22 is provided with a pumping device of conventional type 36 connected by a non-return valve 38 to the enclosure 32. Thanks to the pumping device 36, it is possible to recharge in compressed gas, the deformable enclosure 32 as it is extended due to the gradual output of the fluid in the enclosure 30. In this case, of course, the propellant is air.

 FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the diffusion or spraying device. I1 always includes the external container 22, the diffusion head 26 ′, the first deformable and sealed enclosure 30 intended to receive the fluid, the second deformable and sealed enclosure 32 intended to receive the propellant gas. In this embodiment, there is also a rigid pressure-resistant tank 40 containing a compressed gas under a relatively high pressure compared to the operating pressure, this pressure can typically be of the order of 10 bars at the time of the manufacture of the diffusion or spraying device. This reservoir 40 is connected to the enclosure 32 by a conventional regulator 42 so as to maintain the enclosure 32 at its operating pressure as the volume decreases of the enclosure 30, that is to say as the output of the fluid to be diffused. As a variant, the gas contained in the rigid tank 40 may be air. In this case, it is possible to also provide a manual pumping system 44 for periodically recharging the reservoir 40, the latter in turn being used to recharge the second deformable enclosure 32.

 It is understood that the particular arrangements for recharging the second enclosure 32 with pressurized gas depend on the quantity of fluid contained in the first enclosure 30 or on the conditions of use of the diffusion or spraying device.

 According to the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3, the two sealed enclosures are aligned along the length of the outer container. It is understood, however, that these two enclosures could each extend over the entire length of the container, the two enclosures then being placed side by side. In this case, the two enclosures can be produced using a single sheet of waterproof material folded and welded suitably. This is illustrated in Figure 5.

The sheet 70 is folded in the shape of an S and its free edges 72 and 74 are welded to the middle part of the S thus constituting two enclosures 76 and 78.

 Referring now to Figure 4, we will describe a third embodiment of the diffusion device. We find the outer container 50 which is preferably cylindrical in shape. I1 is provided with a diffusion head 52. Inside the container 50, there is a first deformable sealed enclosure 54 which is connected in leaktight manner to the tube 56 of the diffusion head 52. This first enclosure 54 is intended to receive the fluid to be diffused. The second sealed deformable enclosure 58 is arranged around the first enclosure 54 and inside the container 50. This second enclosure 58 is intended to receive the propellant gas under pressure.

 It is understood that, in this embodiment, as in the previous embodiments, the compressed gas contained in the enclosure 58 acts on the entire wall of the first enclosure 54 to allow the expulsion of the fluid contained in this pregnant.

 According to this embodiment, the bottom 60 of the external container 50 is formed by a cavity 62 intended to receive a removable reservoir of propellant compressed gas 64. The connection between the reservoir 64, when the latter is put in place, with the second enclosure 58 is produced by a regulator system 66 of the same type as that which is provided in the embodiment of FIG. 3. The installation of the removable tank 64 in the end of the regulator 66 causes for example the perforation of a perforable membrane 68 closing off the reservoir 64, thus ensuring communication between the reservoir 64 and the second enclosure 58.

 It goes without saying that this method of recharging the enclosure containing the propellant gas could be substituted for the rigid reservoir 40 of FIG. 3 or the pumping system 36 of FIG. 2.

 In the foregoing description, diffusion devices have been described comprising a diffusion head of the conventional type. For certain applications, it may be advantageous to provide the container with a diffusion head allowing the output flow rate of the liquid to be limited to a very low value.

 FIG. 6 illustrates a first embodiment of such a diffusion head 80 mounted at the upper end of the container 22. The part 81 is fixed to the support 82 of the spring valve 83 of the pressurized tank 22 by means of screws 85 On this piece is screwed a piece 86 provided in its center with an orifice 87 and a seal 88 allowing the sealing of this piece 86 with the upper part of the valve guide when said piece 86 is screwed. This screwing action allows, firstly, the opening of the valve 83 by pushing on the outlet pipe 89 linked to said valve. The valve is connected to the first enclosure 30 by the tubing 28. The liquid leaving the enclosure 22 through the valve 83, the piping 89, then the orifice 87, enters a chamber 90 formed between the part 86 and a cylindrical part 91 which is itself screwed onto the part 86 at the upper part thereof. Between the two parts 86 and 91 is placed a tight seal 92.

 The part 91 is surrounded in its central cylindrical part by a spring 93 with contiguous turns, so that a passage 94 is created between the turns and the cylinder. Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of this helical passage. This helical passage can be very small and thus constitute a very long channel. The liquid passes from the chamber 90 through the passage 95, then through the spring before being discharged to the outside through the passage 96. In order to allow a slow diffusion of the fluid, it is possible to place in a receptacle 97 a hydrophilic medium 98, for example wadding which soaks up the liquid to be diffused before allowing it to evaporate in the atmosphere.

 This assembly constitutes an autonomous device making it possible to very slowly diffuse a liquid from the enclosure 22 pressurized by the gas contained in the enclosure 32. One of the essential elements for controlling the output flow rate is the pressure drop device In the case of a spring 20 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height formed by turns of 200 M in diameter, the flow leaving a pressurized tank at 1 bar containing a liquid of viscosity equal to that of water would be 8 10-12 m3 / s, or about 20 cm3 per month. For a conventional tank of 250 cm3 of capacity, this allows a regular diffusion of liquid product during a period of about one year.

 FIG. 8 gives an exemplary embodiment in which the diffusion head is mixed and is formed from a laminar pressure drop, as in the previous case and from an aerosol generator integrated into this pressure drop. The description is, as regards the laminar pressure drop, identical to that of FIGS. 6 and 7. To carry out the second function, a spring valve 99 controlled by the push button 100 which can be used in the spring support cylinder include an element for rotating the liquid flow 101 favorable to the creation of droplets 102. The movement of the movement of the control button takes place through the piping 103 which transports the liquid at the outlet of the valve 99.

 The operation of the assembly is then as follows: the diffuser is put into service by screwing the piece 86 into the piece 81. This opens the valve 83. The liquid then diffuses towards the reservoir 97 containing a hydrophilic diffusing medium 98 through orifices 87 and 95, then the helical channel between spring and cylinder, outlet port 96 and the clearance existing between the piping 103 and its guide tube 104. When the button is pressed 101, the valve 99 opens and the liquid is guided through the tube 103 to the outlet valve 1000, which allows a high flow rate. This operation is generally intermittent. When the button 100 is released, the flow is stopped and only the broadcast function remains active.

 Of course, by unscrewing the part 86, the operation of the apparatus can be completely stopped by closing the valve 83.

 FIG. 9 gives another embodiment making it possible to achieve the same diffusion function through a laminar pressure drop The essential difference compared to FIG. 6 lies in the embodiment of the laminar pressure drop. Instead of using a spring and a cylinder cooperating to create the narrow channel, a very long groove 109 and 109 ′ is produced in the two faces of a pellet 108 which is given in detail in FIG. 10. The two grooves 109 and 109 'in the form of a spiral are connected by the hole 110 which passes through the thickness of the patch. The patch 108 is clamped between two solid plates 110 and 112 respectively provided with an axial inlet port 114 and an axial outlet port 106. We find the fixing piece 81 which receives the piece 86 whose action of screwing opens the valve 83.After opening it, the fluid 106 passes through the orifice 87 then enters the grooves 109 and 109 'etched in the pressure drop pad 108 to finally escape towards the receptacle 97 through the piping 96. This solution makes it possible to produce a device more compact than that which is represented in FIG. 6.

 It is understood that, according to the invention, the production of the seal with respect to the propellant gas and the fluid to be diffused is carried out only by the two internal sealed enclosures, which makes it possible to produce the external container using of a possibly porous material such as cardboard, as has already been explained. In addition, it is understood that the propellant gas can be previously enclosed in the second external enclosure 14, 30 or 58 in a preliminary phase of manufacturing the device. Once the desired quantity of gas has been enclosed and the enclosure is closed, it can be conveniently placed inside the external container during the final manufacture of the spray or diffusion device.

 It should also be emphasized that the diffusion and spraying device has the advantage of being able to operate in all positions.

Claims (11)

 1. Fluid diffusion or spraying device, characterized in that it comprises:  an external pressure-resistant container (10,22,50);  a first sealed deformable enclosure (14, 30, 54, 76) capable of receiving the fluid to be diffused;  a second sealed deformable enclosure (12, 32, 58, 78) capable of receiving a gas under pressure; and  a diffusion or spray head (18, 26, 52) connected to said first enclosure, said first and second enclosures being arranged in said container such that the pressure of said compressed gas is applied to said first enclosure containing the fluid through its flexible wall so as to cause the exit of said fluid when said head is activated.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first (14, 30, 76) and second (12, 32, 78) enclosures are partially in mutual contact.  3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said two enclosures (54, 58) is arranged inside the other enclosure.  4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a rigid tank (40) disposed in said container (22) and capable of receiving a compressed gas at a pressure substantially higher than the operating pressure said tank being connected to said second enclosure (32) by a pressure reducer (42).  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said reservoir (64) is removable.  6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said compressed gas is air and in that it comprises pumping means (36) for introducing into said second enclosure air under pressure.  7. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises pumping means (44) for introducing into said tank (40) pressurized air.  8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said diffusion or spraying head comprises means forming a channel of small section and of great length formed by a controlled gap existing between mechanical parts, a first end of said channel being connected to said first enclosure, the second end of said channel being connected to the outlet of said diffusion or spray head.  9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said channel is formed by the helical passage existing between a spring with contiguous turns and the external face of a cylindrical part on which it is applied.  10. Device according to Ia claim 8, characterized in that said channel is formed by at least one groove etched in one side of a pellet and covered by a solid plate integral with the face of the pellet in which is engraved the groove.  11. Device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said diffusion head further comprises a hydrophilic diffuser medium.