Fill head for a fluid product dispensing device with a valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling head for a device having a valve (100) comprising a valve shutter (120), the filling head having: - a body (50) having a receiving space (55); - a control member (10) sliding in the body (50) between a rest position and a filling position, the member (10) having a passage (15) opening into the receiving space (55); - a ring (30) fixed to the member (10) and cooperating with a spring (7) arranged between the ring (30) and the body (50); and a plate (70) fixed to the body (50) and having 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 and has 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), the third seal (6) cooperating with an outer side wall of the valve shutter (120).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling head for a fluid product dispensing device including a valve (particularly a metering valve).

[0002] Known metering valves are well-known in the art; they dispense a precise dose of fluid product each time the valve is actuated, and are typically mounted on a reservoir that contains the fluid product and propellant for discharging that dose.

[0003] The reservoir of a fluid product dispensing device, including valves (especially metering valves), is typically filled by a filling device that delivers a pressurized fluid product flow through the valve's gate. For this purpose, the valve's gate is inserted into a filling head, which actuates the valve by moving the gate toward its dispensing position, and then injects the fluid product through the gate's outlet orifice. In the case of a metering valve, the fluid product passes through the gate and enters the metering chamber, and from the metering chamber into the reservoir, causing deformation of the chamber gasket. Typically, the filling pressure is between 5 and 10 bar, which is sufficient to deform the chamber gasket, which is usually deformed at 2 to 3 bar.

[0004] A disadvantage of this type of filling head is the variability of the valve gate position during filling. In fact, the fully actuated position of the valve gate in a metering valve (also known as the bottom dead center) can be defined by the number of consecutive turns of the valve gate spring, exhibiting significant variability. While this doesn't cause any difficulty when dispensing a specific dose of fluid product using the valve, this uncertainty in valve position can be problematic during the filling stage because the dose is dispensed before the valve gate reaches its final position. This uncertainty in valve position is further amplified when a seal is formed between the valve gate and the filling head on the upper axial edge of the valve gate, as the compression of the gasket at this point also contributes to the variability of the final valve gate position during filling.

[0005] Another drawback of the filling head is related to the stress it applies to the valve body, which can lead to valve malfunction, for example, if the valve body is deformed.

[0006] The prior art apparatus is described in documents US 3 234 707 and US 4 917 156.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a filling head for a fluid product dispensing device, the fluid product dispensing device including a valve that does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a filling head with improved filling reliability.

[0009] The present invention also aims to provide a filling head in which uncertainty and variability in filling position have been eliminated.

[0010] The present invention also aims to provide a filling head in which stress on the valve body is limited during filling.

[0011] The present invention also aims to provide a device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and reliable in use.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention relates to a filling head for a fluid product dispensing device, the fluid product dispensing device including a valve mounted on a reservoir by a fixing element, the valve including a valve gate having an axial outlet orifice and sliding within a valve body, the filling head comprising:

[0013] -The main body, including the receiving space.

[0014] A control component, mounted to slide axially between a rest position and a filling position within the body, includes a filling channel through which pressurized fluid is supplied to the valve to fill the reservoir in the filling position. The filling channel includes an outlet orifice leading to the receiving space.

[0015] - Upper plate, through which the control member passes and the upper plate is fixed to the main body.

[0016] - A support ring, fixed to the control member and cooperating with a first spring disposed between the support ring and the body.

[0017] - A receiving plate, fixed to the main body and including a housing for receiving the valve, such that, in the filling position, the axial outlet orifice of the valve gate opens into the receiving space.

[0018] In the filling position, the receiving space has a seal, which includes a first gasket between the control member and the main body, a second gasket between the main body and the receiving plate, and a third gasket between the receiving plate and the valve gate. The third gasket mates with the outer wall of the valve gate.

[0019] - A valve ejection device for ejecting the valve from the housing after filling.

[0020] The ejection device includes:

[0021] - An ejector cylinder is provided within the main body.

[0022] - At least one ejector, axially displaceable within the body between an ejection position and a filling position, each ejector disposed between the ejector cylinder and the support plate, each ejector including an enlarged head and a rod extending axially downward from the enlarged head, the rod passing through the body and the receiving plate to extend into the housing in the ejection position, and

[0023] - A second spring is disposed between the ejector sleeve and the upper plate and biases the at least one ejector toward its ejection position.

[0024] Advantageously, the first washer is a dynamic washer formed by an O-ring or X-ring assembled in a groove or recess of the control member.

[0025] Advantageously, the second washer is a static washer formed by an O-ring or X-ring wedged between the body and the receiving plate.

[0026] Advantageously, the third washer is a dynamic washer formed by an O-ring or X-ring disposed in a suitable recess of the receiving plate.

[0027] Advantageously, in the filling position, the filling head forms only two contact areas with the valve, the first contact area being formed between the control member and the valve gate, and the second contact area being formed between the support plate or the element connected to the support plate and the radially outer portion of the fixing element.

[0028] Advantageously, it is equipped with three ejectors spaced 120° apart.

[0029] Advantageously, the receiving space is formed in a hollow cylindrical sleeve of the body, and the control member slides axially between its rest position and filling position in a sealed manner within the hollow cylindrical sleeve.

[0030] The present invention also relates to an assembly formed of a filling head and a fluid product dispensing device as described above, the fluid product dispensing device including a valve mounted on a reservoir by a fixing element.

[0031] Advantageously, the valve includes a gate valve having an axial outlet orifice and sliding within the valve body, wherein, in the filled position, the gate valve is located in the receiving space of the valve body, and the fixing element is located within the housing of the receiving plate.

[0032] These features and advantages of the invention, as well as other features and advantages, will become more apparent from the following detailed description by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a distribution valve according to an advantageous embodiment, wherein the valve gate is in a stationary position and in the valve's vertical filling and storage position.

[0034] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the filling head according to an advantageous embodiment.

[0035] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the filling head at the start of the filling cycle before the insertion valve.

[0036] Figure 4 It is similar to the one after the insertion valve and before filling. Figure 3 The view,

[0037] Figure 5 It is similar to the filling process. Figure 4 The view,

[0038] Figure 6 It is similar to the one after filling. Figure 5 The view, and

[0039] Figure 7 It is similar to the one after the pop-out valve. Figure 6 The view.

[0040] In the following description, the terms "top," "bottom," "lower part," "upper part," and "vertical" refer to... Figures 3 to 7 In the upright position shown, the terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the position relative to the longitudinal center axis X of the valve.

[0041] Figure 1 The valve 100 is shown in the upright filling position, that is, the position where the valve is above the reservoir 200, with the reservoir neck 201 shown only in a simplified manner. The valve 100 shown in this example is a metering valve.

[0042] Figure 1 The metering valve shown includes a valve body 110 extending along a longitudinal central axis X. Within the valve body 110, a valve gate 120 slides between a rest position and a dispensing position; the rest position is... Figure 1 As shown, the gate valve 120 has been axially pushed downward into the valve body 110 at the designated position.

[0043] The valve 100 is assembled onto a reservoir 200 suitable for containing fluid products and propellants by means of a fixing element 130, which may be a bladder-like element that can be secured to an inserted neck washer 140 by means of crimping, threading, or snap-fit.

[0044] Optionally, the ring 150 may be mounted around the valve body 110, particularly to reduce dead zone volume in the inverted position during use and / or restrict contact between the fluid product and the neck gasket 140. The ring 150 can be of any shape, and Figure 1 The examples provided are not limiting. Typically, the reservoir 200 is intended to contain fluid products and propellants (particularly formulations consisting of one or more active ingredients suspended and / or dissolved in a liquefied propellant, and optionally excipients). Propellants advantageously include HFA gases, such as HFA 134a and / or HFA 227. Preferably, the propellant includes HFA-152a. In one variation, other harmless gases such as HFO1234ze may be used.

[0045] The gate valve 120 is pushed to its rest position by a spring 160 disposed in the valve body 110. The spring engages with both the valve body 110 and the gate valve 120, preferably with the radial collar 129 of the gate valve 120. A metering chamber 170 is defined within the valve body 110, and the gate valve 120 slides within the metering chamber 170 to allow the contents of the metering chamber to be dispensed when the valve is actuated.

[0046] Advantageously, the gate valve 120 is manufactured as a single piece, comprising an upper portion (also referred to as the upper gate valve) and a lower portion 32 (also referred to as the lower gate valve). The upper portion 31 includes a central axial channel 122 provided with an axial outlet port 121 and a radial inlet channel 123, the radial inlet channel being located in the metering chamber 170 when the gate valve 120 is in its dispensing position. The lower portion includes an internal axial channel 125 provided with a radial outlet channel 124. The lower portion also includes a collar 129 located on its outer surface.

[0047] An internal axial passage 125 allows the metering chamber 170 to be connected to a reservoir for filling before each use. This filling is performed when the device is in its inverted position for use, in which the valve 100 is positioned below the reservoir 200.

[0048] exist Figure 1 In this example, when the valve gate 120 is in its rest position, the metering chamber 170 is connected to the reservoir 1 via the internal axial passage 125 of the valve gate 120. Therefore, in this rest position, the metering chamber 170 remains connected to the reservoir 1 and can be emptied under gravity. Figure 1 The upright positions within were cleared. Therefore, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The valve shown is a non-filling valve. However, the present invention can also be applied to other types of valves, especially retaining valves.

[0049] The valve body 110 includes a cylindrical portion 115, a spring 160 disposed in the cylindrical portion, and a collar 129 sliding between a rest position and a dispensing position within the cylindrical portion. Figure 1 In this position, the cylindrical portion 115 is the lower portion of the valve body. The cylindrical portion 115 includes one or more longitudinal openings 111 (e.g., slots) that extend laterally along a central longitudinal axis within the cylindrical portion 115 of the valve body over a portion of the valve body's axial height. These openings 111 allow the metering chamber 170 to be filled prior to each actuation, and the valve gate 120 is in its rest position when in the inverted position of use (valve located below the reservoir).

[0050] The metering chamber 170 is defined in a known manner between two annular washers (a top washer or gate washer 171 and a bottom washer or chamber washer 172). When the user flips the device to the inverted position, the metering chamber 170 is filled with a predetermined dose of fluid product from the reservoir before each actuation.

[0051] The volume of the metering chamber 170 is defined by a chamber insert 175, which is substantially cylindrical, wherein the radial thickness of the cylindrical wall is greater or smaller depending on the desired volume. This volume can advantageously vary between 25 μL and 75 μL.

[0052] The chamber gasket 172 advantageously includes a radial sealing lip 173 on its radially inner edge to enhance dynamic sealing with the valve gate 120 during valve actuation and displacement. This deformable lip 173 extends radially inward and axially downward. This implementation ensures a perfect seal as the valve gate 120 displaces in one direction and then in the other during actuation. Furthermore, the radial sealing lip allows the reservoir to be easily filled through the valve without risking damage to the bottom gasket 172, as will be described below.

[0053] Figures 2 to 7 A filling head of a filling device according to an advantageous embodiment is described.

[0054] The filling head includes the following components: a control member 10, an upper plate 20, a support ring 30, an ejector cylinder 40, a main body 50, at least one ejector 60, and a receiving plate 70.

[0055] exist Figure 2 In this example, there are three pop-ups 60, which are advantageously spaced 120° apart from each other, but any number of pop-ups is feasible.

[0056] A first fixing device 1 is provided for fixing the control member 10 to the motor (not shown) of the filling device, a second fixing device 2 is provided for fixing the upper plate 20 to the main body 50, and a third fixing device 3 is provided for fixing the receiving plate 70 to the main body 50. These different fastening devices can each be formed by one or more screws, etc.

[0057] A first washer 4 is provided on the control member 10 to engage with a portion of the body 50 when the control member 10 is displaced relative to the body 50. This first washer 4 is a dynamic washer and can be formed from an O-ring or X-ring assembled in a suitable groove 13 of the control member 10. A second washer 5 is provided between the body 50 and the receiving plate 70. This second washer 5 is a static washer and can be formed from an O-ring or X-ring wedged between the body 50 and the receiving plate 70. A third washer 6 is provided between the receiving plate 70 and the valve gate 120. This third washer 6 is a dynamic washer and can be formed from an O-ring or X-ring disposed in a suitable recess of the receiving plate 70 to engage with the outer wall of the valve gate 120.

[0058] The first spring 7 is disposed between the support ring 30 and the main body 50, and the support ring is fixed to the control component 10. The second spring 8 may optionally be disposed between the upper plate 20 and the ejector cylinder 40.

[0059] The centering pin 9 can be set between the main body 50 and the receiving plate 70.

[0060] It can be assembled as follows Figure 2 The fill head in the middle.

[0061] After positioning the centering pin 9 and the second washer 5 and the third washer 6, the receiving plate 70 is fixed to the main body 50 by the third fixing device 3.

[0062] According to the invention, the filling head includes means for ejecting a valve after filling. Each ejector 60 is advantageously inserted into the body 50 from above. Each ejector 60 includes an enlarged head 61 and a rod 62 extending axially downward from said head. The rod 62 passes through the body 50 and the receiving plate 70 through a suitable opening, while the head is axially held by a shoulder 72 of the receiving plate 70. Thus, in the rest position, each ejector is positioned such that the enlarged head 62 abuts against the corresponding shoulder 72 and the rod 62 extends into the housing 71 of the receiving plate 70.

[0063] Then, the ejector cylinder 40 is inserted into the body 50 from above, wherein the bottom wall of the ejector cylinder 40 mates with the enlarged head of each ejector 60.

[0064] A first spring 7 and a second spring 8 are inserted into the body 50 from above, with the first spring 7 directly supported on the interior portion of the body 50 and the second spring 8 supported on the bottom wall of the ejector cylinder 40. In the illustrated example, the two springs 7 and 8 are concentric, with the first spring 7 located radially inside the second spring 8. Other embodiments are also possible. As explained below, the second spring 8 is optional.

[0065] The control member 10 includes an axial rod portion 11, which includes a fixed profile portion 12 (e.g., a snap-fit ​​profile or a threaded profile) for receiving a support ring 30 and a groove or recess 13 for receiving a first washer 4. An upper plate 20 has a central perforation and is disposed around the axial rod portion 11 of the control member. The support ring 30 is inserted from below into the lower portion of the upper plate 20 to snap or screw onto the fixed profile portion 12 of the axial rod portion 11.

[0066] Then, the component is fixed to the main body 50 by the second fixing device 2, wherein the first spring 7 cooperates with the support ring 30 and the second spring 8 cooperates with the upper plate 20.

[0067] At least one ejector 60 and ejector cylinder 40 may be axially displaced in the body 50 between an ejection position and a filling position. In the filling position, each ejector 60 is axially upwardly displaced in the body 50, thereby causing the ejector cylinder 40 to be axially upwardly displaced and causing compression of the second spring 8.

[0068] The control member 10 includes a filling channel 15 that extends axially at the center of the axial rod portion 11 and includes an axially lower end of an outlet hole 16 that leads to a receiving space 55 of the body 50 defined by the hollow cylindrical sleeve 54 of the body 50.

[0069] Therefore, the control member 10 is axially displaced within the body 50 between its rest position and its filling position. During this axial displacement, the first washer 4 engages in a sealing manner with the hollow axial sleeve 54 to maintain the seal of the receiving space 55. Furthermore, as the control member 10 displaces toward its filling position, the first spring 7 is compressed so that the control member 10 can return to its rest position upon completion of filling.

[0070] exist Figures 3 to 7 It shows Figure 2 The operation of the fill head in the process.

[0071] The filling head, also known as the clamping head, applies pressure to the valve on both the gate valve 120 and the radially outer portion of the retaining element 130 (the portion that mates with the reservoir 200 via the neck washer 140). Therefore, the filling head does not apply stress to the radially inner portion of the retaining element 130 (the portion that mates with the valve body 110 via the gate washer 171). Furthermore, the stress applied by the control member 10 to the valve body 110 via the gate valve 120 will not exceed the stress allowed by the calibration of the valve spring 160.

[0072] Furthermore, unlike existing filling heads, the seal between the head and the valve gate is not achieved through a gasket axially positioned above the radially upper edge of the valve gate, defining the outlet orifice 121 of the valve gate, but rather through the side of the valve gate. Therefore, as... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, when the valve is inserted into the filling head, the top of the valve gate enters the receiving space 55 through the axial opening in the receiving plate 70. The axial opening in the receiving plate is aligned with the axial opening in the main body 50. The third washer 6 is sealed against the outer wall of the valve gate. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown.

[0073] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, during the process of inserting the valve into the head, at least one ejector 60 extending into the housing 71 formed in the stationary receiving plate 70 is pushed upward by the valve fixing element 130, which also causes the ejector cylinder 40 to shift and compress the second spring 8.

[0074] The filling process can begin when the valve gate 120 reaches the receiving space 55 of the main body and abuts against the lower edge of the axial rod portion 11 of the control member 10. Advantageously, the outlet hole 16 of the filling channel 15 forms a small protrusion that can slightly penetrate into the axial outlet hole 121 of the valve gate 120. Figure 5 As shown, the control member 10 is displaced axially downwards, causing the gate valve 120 to shift toward its filling position. The pressurized fluid product can then be injected through the filling channel 15 of the control member into the gate valve 120 and then to the reservoir 200. During this pressurized filling, the receiving space 55 is sealed by a first gasket 4 between the control member 10 and the body 50, a second gasket 5 between the body 50 and the receiving plate 70, and a third gasket 6 between the receiving plate 70 and the gate valve 120.

[0075] like Figure 6 As shown, at the end of filling, the first spring 7 returns the control member 10 to the rest position, and as... Figure 7As shown, at least one ejector 60 ejects the valve from the housing 71 of the receiving plate 70 via an ejector cylinder 40 and a second spring 8.

[0076] It should be noted that the ejector device (in this case, ejector 60 and related elements, namely ejector sleeve 40 and second spring 8) is not mandatory for the proper operation of the filling head. One advantage of using such an ejector device is that it ensures good separation between the valve and the head. In fact, since there is some resistance to the retraction of the valve from the housing 71 of the receiving plate 70 due to the seal formed on the side wall of the valve gate 120, the use of ejector 60 can be advantageous.

[0077] The advantages of the aforementioned filling head are better control over the position of the valve gate within the valve during filling. This is due, on the one hand, to the absence of an axially positioned washer between the upper edge of the valve gate 120 and the lower edge of the axial rod portion 11 of the control member 10; on the other hand, to the lack of contact between the filling head and the radially inner portion of the fixing element 130; and also to the fact that the coil of the valve spring 160 does not become continuous in the filling position, making the position of the valve gate less prone to change. It is envisioned that the only contact between the head and the fixing element is on the radially outer portion of the fixing element, which eliminates the variability associated with the valve gate washer and also protects the valve body (especially the metering chamber) from any stress during filling.

[0078] Although the invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples shown. Rather, any useful modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A filling head for a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve (100) mounted by fixing elements (130) on a reservoir (200), the valve (100) comprising a valve shutter (120) provided with an axial outlet orifice (121) and sliding in a valve body (110), the filling head comprising: - a main body (50) comprising a receiving space (55), - a control member (10) mounted to slide axially in the main body (50) between a rest position and a filling position, the control member (10) comprising a filling channel (15) through which a fluid product under pressure is supplied to the valve (100) to fill the reservoir (200) in the filling position, the filling channel (15) comprising an outlet orifice (16) opening into the receiving space (55), - an upper plate (20) through which the control member (10) passes and which is fixed to the main body (50), - a support ring (30) fixed to the control member (10) and cooperating with a first spring (7) arranged between the support ring (30) and the main body (50), - a receiving plate (70) fixed to the main body (50) and comprising a housing (71) for receiving the valve (100) so that, in the filling position, the axial outlet orifice (121) of the valve shutter (120) opens into the receiving space (55), wherein, in the filling position, the receiving space (55) has a seal comprising a first gasket (4) between the control member (10) and the main body (50), a second gasket (5) between the main body (50) and the receiving plate (70) and a third gasket (6) between the receiving plate (70) and the valve shutter (120), the third gasket (6) cooperating with the outer lateral wall of the valve shutter (120), and - a valve ejection device (60, 40, 8) for ejecting the valve (100) from the housing (71) after filling, characterized in that the ejection device comprises: - an ejector cylinder (40) arranged in the main body (50), - at least one ejector (60) axially displaceable between an ejection position and a filling position in the main body (50), each ejector (60) being arranged between the ejector cylinder (40) and the support plate (70), each ejector (60) comprising an enlarged head (61) and a stem (62) extending axially downward from the enlarged head (61), the stem (62) passing through the main body (50) and the receiving plate (70) to project into the housing (71) in the ejection position, and - a second spring (8) arranged between the ejector sleeve (40) and the upper plate (20) and urging at least one ejector toward its ejection position.

2. The filling head of claim 1, wherein, Said first gasket (4) is a dynamic gasket formed by an O-ring or X-ring assembled in a groove or recess (13) of said control member.

3. The filling head of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, Said second gasket (5) is a static gasket formed by an O-ring or X-ring wedged between said main body (50) and said receiving plate (70).

4. The filling head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Said third gasket (6) is a dynamic gasket formed by an O-ring or X-ring arranged in a suitable recess of said receiving plate (70).

5. The filling head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, In said filling position, said filling head forms only two contact areas with said valve (100), a first contact area being formed between said control member (10) and said valve shutter (120) and a second contact area being formed between said support plate (70) or an element (60) connected to said support plate and a radially outer portion of said fixing element (130).

6. The filling head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Three said ejectors (60) are provided at 120° intervals.

7. The filling head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Said receiving space (55) is formed in a hollow cylindrical sleeve (54) of said main body (50), in which said control member (10) slides in a sealed manner between a rest position and a filling position of said control member in an axial direction.

8. An assembly formed by a fluid product dispensing device comprising a valve (100) mounted on a reservoir (200) by a fixing element (130) and a filling head according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein, Said valve (100) comprises a valve shutter (120) provided with an axial outlet aperture (121) and sliding in a valve body (110), wherein, in said filling position, said valve shutter (120) is located in said receiving space (55) of said main body (50) and said fixing element (130) is located in said housing (71) of said receiving plate (70).

Images