Filling head for a device for dispensing a liquid product with one valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling head for a device having a valve (100) comprising a valve shutter (120), said head having: - a body (50) having a receiving space (55), - a control member (10) that slides in the body (50) between rest and filling positions, said member (10) having a channel (15) that opens into the receiving space (55), - a ring (30) that is fixed to the member (10) and cooperates with a spring (7) disposed between the ring (30) and the body (50), and - a plate (70) that is fixed to the body (50) and has a housing (71) for receiving the valve (100), such that, in the filling position, the valve shutter (120) opens into the receiving space (55), wherein, in the filling position, the receiving space (55) is sealed off, having a first seal (4) between the control member (10) and the body (50), a second seal (5) between the body (50) and the receiving plate (70), and a third seal (6) between the receiving plate (70) and the valve shutter (120), said third seal (6) cooperating with an external lateral wall of the valve shutter (120).

Description

[0001] Filling head of a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve

[0002] The present invention relates to a filling head of a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve, in particular a metering valve.

[0003] So-called metering valves, in which each time the valve is actuation, a precise dose of fluid product is dispensed, are well known in the state of the art, and are generally assembled on a reservoir containing the fluid product and a propellant gas used to expel the dose.

[0004] Filling the reservoir of a fluid dispensing device comprising a valve, in particular a metering valve, is generally carried out by means of a filling device which sends a pressurized flow of fluid through the valve's valve. To do this, the valve's valve is inserted into a filling head which actuates the valve by moving the valve to its dispensing position and which then injects the fluid through the outlet orifice of the valve. In the case of a metering valve, the fluid passes through the valve and enters the metering chamber and from there into the reservoir, deforming the chamber seal. Typically, the filling pressure is between 5 and 10 bar, which is sufficient to deform the chamber seal, which typically deforms from a pressure of 2 to 3 bar.

[0005] A disadvantage of this type of filling head is the variability of the valve position during filling. In fact, the fully actuated position of the valve in a metering valve, also known as bottom dead center, can be defined by the valve spring in contiguous coils, with high potential variability. While this does not pose difficulties when using the valve to dispense doses of fluid product, since the dose dispensing occurs before the valve reaches its end position, this indeterminacy of the valve position can generate problems during the filling phase. This is further amplified when the seal between the valve and the filling head is made on the upper axial edge of the valve, since the crushing of the seal at this point can also contribute to variability in the final position of the valve during filling.

[0006] Another disadvantage of filling heads is related to the stress exerted by the filling head on the valve body, which can cause valve malfunctions, for example in the event of deformation of the valve body.

[0007] Documents US3234707 and US4917156 describe state-of-the-art devices.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a filling head for a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0009] The present invention thus aims to provide such a filling head which improves the reliability of filling.

[0010] The present invention also aims to provide such a filling head which eliminates the indeterminacy and variability of the filling position.

[0011] The present invention also aims to provide such a filling head which limits the stresses on the valve body during filling.

[0012] The present invention also aims to provide such a filling head which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and which operates reliably.

[0013] The present invention therefore relates to a filling head for a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve mounted on a reservoir by means of a fixing element, said valve comprising a valve provided with an axial outlet orifice sliding in a valve body, said filling head comprising:

[0014] - a body comprising a reception space,

[0015] - a control member mounted to slide axially in said body between a rest position and a filling position, said control member comprising a filling channel through which, in the filling position, the pressurized fluid product is supplied to said valve to fill said reservoir, said filling channel comprising an outlet orifice opening into said receiving space,

[0016] - an upper plate crossed by said control member and fixed to said body,

[0017] - a support ring fixed to said control member and cooperating with a first spring arranged between said support ring and said body,

[0018] - a receiving plate fixed to said body and comprising a housing for receiving said valve, such that in the filling position, the axial outlet orifice of said valve opens into said receiving space, in which, in the filling position, said receiving space is sealed, comprising a first seal between said control member and said body, a second seal between said body and said receiving plate, and a third seal between said receiving plate and said valve, said third seal cooperating with an external side wall of said valve, and

[0019] - valve ejection means for ejecting said valve from said housing after filling, said ejection means comprising:

[0020] - an ejector cylinder arranged in said body,

[0021] - at least one ejector disposed axially movable in said body between an ejection position and a filling position, each ejector being disposed between said ejector cylinder and said support plate, each ejector comprising an enlarged head and a rod extending axially downward from said enlarged head, said rod passing through said body and said receiving plate to project into said housing in the ejection position, and

[0022] - a second spring disposed between said ejector sleeve and said upper plate and urging said at least one ejector towards its ejection position. Advantageously, said first seal is a dynamic seal formed by an O-ring or quadrilobe seal assembled in a groove or groove of said control member.

[0023] Advantageously, said second seal is a static seal formed by an O-ring or quadrilobe seal wedged between said body and said receiving plate.

[0024] Advantageously, said third seal is a dynamic seal formed by an O-ring or quadrilobe seal arranged in a suitable recess of said receiving plate.

[0025] Advantageously, in the filling position, said filling head forms only two contact zones with said valve, the first contact zone being produced between said control member and said valve and the second contact zone being produced between said support plate or an element connected to said support plate and a radially external part of said fixing element.

[0026] Advantageously, three ejectors spaced 120° apart are provided.

[0027] Advantageously, said receiving space is formed in a hollow cylindrical sleeve of the body in which said control member slides axially in a sealed manner between its rest and filling positions.

[0028] The present invention also relates to an assembly formed from a filling head as described above and a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve mounted on a reservoir by means of a fixing element.

[0029] Advantageously, said valve comprises a valve provided with an axial outlet orifice sliding in a valve body, in which, in the filling position, said valve is arranged in said receiving space of said body and said fixing element is arranged in said housing of said receiving plate.

[0030] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description thereof, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, and in which

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a metering valve according to an advantageous embodiment, in the rest position of the valve, in the upright filling and storage position of the valve,

[0032] Figure 2 is an exploded schematic view of a filling head according to an advantageous embodiment,

[0033] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the filling head of Figure 2, at the start of the filling cycle before insertion of the valve,

[0034] Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, after insertion of the valve and before filling,

[0035] Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, during filling,

[0036] Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5, after filling, and

[0037] Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, after ejection of the valve.

[0038] In the following description, the terms "top", "bottom", "lower", "upper" and "vertical" refer to the upright position shown in Figures 3 to 7, and the terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis X of the valve.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a valve 100 in the straight filling position, that is to say the position in which the valve is arranged above the reservoir 200, of which only the neck 201 is shown schematically. The valve 100 shown in this example is a metering valve.

[0040] The metering valve 100 shown in Figure 1 comprises a valve body 110 extending along a longitudinal central axis X. Inside said valve body 110, a valve 120 slides between a rest position, which is that shown in Figure 1, and a dispensing position, in which the valve 120 is pressed axially downwards inside the valve body 110. This valve 100 is assembled on a reservoir 200 adapted to contain fluid product and a propellant gas by means of a fixing element 130, which can be a crimped, screwed or snap-on cap, with the interposition of a neck seal 140. Optionally, a ring 150 can be assembled around the valve body 110, in particular to reduce the dead volume in the inverted position of use and / or to limit the contact of the fluid product with the neck seal 140. This ring 150 can be of any shape, and the example in figure 1 is not limiting.Generally, the reservoir 200 is intended to contain the fluid product and the propellant gas, in particular a formulation consisting of one or more active ingredient(s) in suspension and / or in solution in a liquefied propellant gas, as well as possibly excipients. The propellant gas advantageously comprises an HFA gas, for example HFA 134a and / or HFA 227. Preferably the propellant gas comprises HFA-152a. Alternatively, other non-harmful gases may be used, such as HFO1234ze.

[0041] The valve 120 is biased towards its rest position by a spring 160, which is arranged in the valve body 110 and which cooperates on the one hand with this valve body 110, and on the other hand with the valve 120, preferably with a radial collar 129 of the valve 120. A metering chamber 170 is defined inside the valve body 110, said valve 120 sliding inside said metering chamber 170 to allow the dispensing of the contents thereof when the valve is actuated.

[0042] Advantageously, the valve 120 is made in a single, one-piece part, including an upper part (also called the valve top) and a lower part (also called the valve bottom). The upper part comprises a central axial channel 122 provided with an axial outlet orifice 121 and a radial inlet channel 123 which is arranged in the metering chamber 170 when the valve 120 is in the dispensing position. The lower part comprises an axial internal channel 125 provided with a radial outlet channel 124. The lower part also comprises the collar 129 on its external surface.

[0043] The internal axial channel 125 makes it possible to connect the dosing chamber 170 to the reservoir 200, to fill said dosing chamber 170 before each use. This filling is done when the device is in the inverted position of use, with the valve 100 arranged below the reservoir 200.

[0044] In the example of Figure 1, when the valve 120 is in the rest position, the metering chamber 170 is connected to the reservoir via the internal axial channel 125 of the valve 120. In this rest position, the metering chamber 170 therefore remains connected to the reservoir and can empty by gravity in the upright position of Figure 1. The valve shown in Figure 1 is therefore a valve of the non-priming type. The invention is however also applicable to other types of valves, in particular valves of the retention type.

[0045] The valve body 110 comprises a cylindrical part 115 in which the spring 160 is arranged and in which the collar 129 slides between the rest and dispensing positions. In the position of FIG. 1, this cylindrical part 115 is the lower part of the valve body 110. This cylindrical part 115 comprises one or more longitudinal openings 111, such as slots, extending laterally in said cylindrical part 115 of the valve body, over a part of the axial height of the valve body in the direction of the longitudinal central axis. These openings 111 allow the filling of the dosing chamber 170 before each actuation, when in the inverted position of use (with the valve arranged under the reservoir), the valve 120 is in its rest position.

[0046] The metering chamber 170 is defined between two annular seals, a top seal or valve seal 171 and a bottom seal or chamber seal 172, in a well-known manner. This metering chamber 170 fills before each actuation with a dose of fluid product from the reservoir, when the user returns the device to the inverted position.

[0047] The volume of the metering chamber 170 is defined by means of a chamber insert 175, of substantially cylindrical shape, with a cylindrical wall having a radial thickness greater or lesser depending on the desired volume. This volume can advantageously vary between 25 and 75 pl.

[0048] On its internal radial edge, the chamber seal 172 advantageously comprises a radial sealing lip 173 to improve the dynamic seal with the valve 120 during its movement when the valve is actuated. This deformable lip 173 extends radially inwards and axially downwards. This implementation makes it possible to guarantee a perfect seal when the valve 120 moves in one direction and then in the other direction during actuation. In addition, this radial sealing lip allows easy filling of the reservoir through the valve without risk of damaging the bottom seal 172, as will be described below.

[0049] Figures 2 to 7 describe a filling head of a filling device according to an advantageous embodiment.

[0050] This filling head comprises the following elements: a control member 10, an upper plate 20, a support ring 30, an ejector cylinder 40, a body 50, at least one ejector 60 and a receiving plate 70.

[0051] In the example of Figure 2, there are three ejectors 60, advantageously arranged at 120° to each other, but any number of ejectors is possible.

[0052] First fixing means 1 are provided for fixing the control member 10 to the motor (not shown) of the filling device, second fixing means 2 are provided for fixing the upper plate 20 to the body 50, and third fixing means 3 are provided for fixing the receiving plate 70 to the body 50. These different fixing means can be formed respectively by one or more screws, or the like.

[0053] A first seal 4 is provided on the control member 10, to cooperate with a part of the body 50 when the control member 10 moves relative to the body 50. This first seal 4 is a dynamic seal, and may be formed by an O-ring or quad-lobe seal assembled in a suitable groove 13 of the control member 10. A second seal 5 is provided between the body 50 and the receiving plate 70. This second seal 5 is a static seal, and may be formed by an O-ring or quad-lobe seal wedged between the body 50 and the receiving plate 70. A third seal 6 is provided between the receiving plate 70 and the valve leaf 120. This third seal 6 is a dynamic seal, and may be formed by an O-ring or quad-lobe seal disposed in a suitable recess of the receiving plate 70 to cooperate with an external side wall of the valve 120.

[0054] A first spring 7 is provided between the support ring 30, fixed to the control member 10, and the body 50. A second spring 8 may optionally be provided between the upper plate 20 and the ejector cylinder 40.

[0055] A centering pin 9 may be provided between the body 50 and the receiving plate 70.

[0056] The assembly of the filling head of Figure 2 can be carried out in the following manner.

[0057] The receiving plate 70 is fixed to the body 50 by the third fixing means 3 after positioning the centering pin 9 and the second and third seals 5 and 6.

[0058] According to the invention, the filling head comprises means for ejecting the valve after filling. Each ejector 60 is advantageously inserted from above into the body 50. Each ejector 60 comprises an enlarged head 61 and a rod 62 extending axially downwards from said head. The rod 62 passes through the body 50 and the receiving plate 70 through suitable openings, while the head is retained axially by a shoulder 72 of the receiving plate 70. In the rest position, each ejector is therefore positioned with the enlarged head 62 in abutment against the respective shoulder 72 and the rod 62 extending into a housing 71 of the receiving plate 70.

[0059] The ejector cylinder 40 is then inserted into the body 50 from above, with the bottom wall of said ejector cylinder 40 cooperating with the enlarged head of each ejector 60.

[0060] The first and second springs 7 and 8 are inserted into the body 50 from above, with the first spring 7 bearing directly on an internal part of the body 50 and the second spring 8 bearing on the bottom wall of the ejector cylinder 40. In the example shown, the two springs 7, 8 are concentric, with the first spring 7 being radially inside the second spring 8. Other implementations are possible. As explained below, the second spring 8 is optional.

[0061] The control member 10 comprises an axial rod portion 11 which comprises a fastening profile 12, for example a snap-on profile or a screw-on profile, intended to receive the support ring 30 and a groove or groove 13 intended to receive the first seal 4. The upper plate 20 is perforated in its center and is arranged around the axial rod portion 11 of the control member. The support ring 30 is inserted from below into the lower part of the upper plate 20 to snap or screw onto the fastening profile 12 of the axial rod portion 11.

[0062] This assembly is then fixed to the body 50 by means of the second fixing means 2, with the first spring 7 which cooperates with the support ring 30 and the second spring 8 which cooperates with the upper plate 20.

[0063] The at least one ejector 60 and the ejector cylinder 40 are axially movable in the body 50 between an ejection position and a filling position, in which each ejector 60 is axially moved upwards in the body 50, causing the ejector cylinder 40 to move axially upwards and thereby compress the second spring 8.

[0064] The control member 10 comprises a filling channel 15, which extends axially in the center of the axial rod part 11, and the lower axial end of which, which comprises an outlet orifice 16, opens into a receiving space 55 of the body 50 defined by a hollow cylindrical sleeve 54 of the body 50.

[0065] The control member 10 is therefore axially movable in the body 50 between its rest position and its filling position. During this axial movement, the first seal 4 cooperates in a sealed manner with said hollow axial sleeve 54 to keep said receiving space 55 sealed. In addition, when the control member 10 moves towards its filling position, the first spring 7 compresses, to return the control member 10 to its rest position at the end of filling.

[0066] The operation of the filling head of Figure 2 is illustrated in Figures 3 to 7. This filling head is a so-called blank press head, that is to say that the pressure that it exerts on the valve is applied on the one hand to the valve 120 and on the other hand to the radially external part of the fixing element 130, that is to say the part which cooperates with the reservoir 200 via the neck seal 140. There are therefore no constraints exerted by the filling head on the radially internal part of the fixing element 130, that is to say the part which cooperates with the valve body 110 via the valve seal 171. There are also no constraints exerted by the control member 10 on the valve body 110 via the valve 120 beyond what is permitted by the calibration of the spring 160 of the valve.

[0067] Furthermore, unlike existing filling heads, the seal between the head and the valve is not achieved by means of a seal arranged axially above the radially upper edge of the valve, which defines the outlet orifice 121 of the valve, but on a lateral side of the valve. Thus, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, when the valve is inserted into the filling head, the valve top enters the receiving space 55 via an axial opening of the receiving plate 70 aligned with an axial opening of the body 50, with the third seal 6 which comes to cooperate in a sealed manner with the external lateral wall of the valve, as seen in Figures 5 and 6.

[0068] During this insertion of the valve into the head, the at least one ejector 60, which at rest projects into a housing 71 formed in the receiving plate 70, is pushed upwards by the fixing element 130 of the valve, as visible in Figures 3 and 4, which also moves the ejector cylinder 40 and compresses the second spring 8.

[0069] When the valve 120 arrives in the receiving space 55 of the body, abutting against the lower edge of the axial rod portion 11 of the control member 10, the filling process can begin. Advantageously, the outlet orifice 16 of the filling channel 15 forms a small projection which can penetrate slightly into the axial outlet orifice 121 of the valve 120. As seen in FIG. 5, the control member 10 is moved axially downwards, which moves the valve 120 to its filling position. The pressurized fluid product can then be injected through the filling channel 15 of the control member to pass into the valve 120 and then to the reservoir 200.During this filling under pressure, the sealing of the receiving space 55 is ensured by the first seal 4 between the control member 10 and the body 50, by the second seal 5 between the body 50 and the receiving plate 70, and by the third seal 6 between the receiving plate 70 and the valve 120.

[0070] At the end of filling, the first spring 7 returns the control member 10 to the rest position, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and the at least one ejector 60 ejects the valve from the housing 71 of the receiving plate 70, via the ejector cylinder 40 and the second spring 8, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0071] It should be noted that the ejection means, in this case the ejectors 60 and the associated elements, namely the ejector sleeve 40 and the second spring 8, are not mandatory for the proper operation of the filling head. An advantage of using such ejection means is to ensure good separation between the valve and the head. Indeed, due to the seal made on a side wall of the valve 120, there is a certain resistance to the removal of the valve from the housing 71 of the receiving plate 70, and the use of ejectors 60 can be advantageous.

[0072] An advantage of the filling head described above is the better control of the position of the valve in the valve during filling, which is less subject to variability thanks on the one hand to the absence of a seal arranged axially between the upper edge of the valve 120 and the lower edge of the axial rod portion 11 of the control member 10, on the other hand to the absence of contact between the filling head and the radially inner portion of the fixing element 130, and also to the fact that the spring 160 of the valve is not brought into contiguous turns in the filling position. The only contact between the head and the fixing element is provided only on the radially outer portion of the fixing element, which eliminates the variability linked to the valve seal and moreover protects the valve body, and in particular the metering chamber, against any stresses during filling.Although the present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is understood that it is not limited by the example shown. On the contrary, those skilled in the art may make any useful modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims Filling head of a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve (100) mounted on a reservoir (200) by means of a fastening element (130), said valve (100) comprising a valve (120) having an axial outlet orifice (121) sliding in a valve body (110), said filling head comprising: - a body (50) comprising a receiving space (55), - a control member (10) mounted to slide axially in said body (50) between a rest position and a filling position, said control member (10) having a filling channel (15) through which, in the filling position, the pressurized fluid product is supplied to said valve (100) to fill said tank (200), said filling channel (15) having an outlet orifice (16) opening into said receiving space (55), - an upper plate (20) through which said control member (10) passes and which is fixed to said body (50), - a support ring (30) fixed to said control member (10) and cooperating with a first spring (7) disposed between said support ring (30) and said body (50), - a receiving plate (70) fixed to said body (50) and having a housing (71) for receiving said valve (100), such that in the filling position, the axial outlet orifice (121) of said valve (120) opens into said receiving space (55), in which, in the filling position, said receiving space (55) is sealed, having a first sealing gasket (4) between said control member (10) and said body (50), a second sealing gasket (5) between said body (50) and said receiving plate (70), and a third sealing gasket (6) between said receiving plate (70) and said valve (120), said third gasket (6) cooperating with an external side wall of said valve (120), and - valve ejection means (60, 40, 8) for ejecting said valve (100) from said housing (71) after filling, characterized in that said ejection means comprise: - an ejector cylinder (40) disposed in said body (50), - at least one axially movable ejector (60) within said body (50) between an ejection position and a filling position, each ejector (60) being disposed between said ejector cylinder (40) and said support plate (70), each ejector (60) having an enlarged head (61) and a rod (62) extending axially downwards from said enlarged head (61), said rod (62) passing through said body (50) and said receiving plate (70) to protrude into said housing (71) in the ejection position, and - a second spring (8) disposed between said ejector sleeve (40) and said upper plate (20) and urging said at least one ejector towards its ejection position.

2. Head according to claim 1, wherein said first seal (4) is a dynamic seal formed by an O-ring or quadruple-lobe seal assembled in a groove or channel (13) of said control member.

3. Head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second seal (5) is a static seal formed by an O-ring or quadrilobe seal wedged between said body (50) and said receiving plate (70).

4. Head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said third seal (6) is a dynamic seal formed by an O-ring or quadrilobe seal disposed in a suitable recess of said receiving plate (70).

5. Head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the filling position, said filling head forms only two contact areas with said valve (100), the first contact zone being made between said control member (10) and said valve (120) and the second contact zone being made between said support plate (70) or an element (60) connected to said support plate and a radially external part of said fixing element (130).

6. Head according to any one of the preceding claims, in which three ejectors (60) spaced 120° apart are provided.

7. Head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said receiving space (55) is formed in a hollow cylindrical sleeve (54) of the body (50) in which said control member (10) slides axially in a sealed manner between its rest and filling positions.

8. Assembly consisting of a filling head according to any one of the preceding claims and a fluid product distribution device comprising a valve (100) mounted on a reservoir (200) by means of a fastening element (130).

9. Assembly according to claim 8, in which said valve (100) comprises a valve (120) having an axial outlet orifice (121) sliding in a valve body (110), in which, in the filling position, said valve (120) is disposed in said receiving space (55) of said body (50) and said fixing element (130) is disposed in said housing (71) of said receiving plate (70). * * *