Device for dispensing a pressurized gas such as CO2 or air

Abstract

Device for dispensing a pressurized gas such as CO2 or air, comprising: a housing (16) having a handle (12), a valve (28), a trigger lever (34) for actuating the valve (28), and a gas outlet opening (32); the housing (16) having a first connection (18) for a gas cartridge (14) and a second connection (22) for a pressurized gas hose, in particular for a compressed air hose (24); both connections (18, 22) being in fluid communication with a valve chamber (20) of the housing (16); the valve chamber (20) being in fluid communication with the gas outlet opening (32), and the valve (28) being arranged in the fluid communication; and at least one check valve (42) and a closure element (40); a connection being provided between the valve chamber (20) and one or each connection (18,22) a check valve (42) is arranged and prevents gas from escaping from the valve chamber (20) through the relevant connection and- wherein the closing element (40) is provided for closing the first and / or second connection (18, 22) from the outside.

Description

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a pressurized gas such as CO2 or air. The cleaning of various objects, equipment, or systems with pressurized gas, especially compressed air, is a known method. Stationary compressed air cleaning devices utilize pistol-like handheld units to which compressed air generated by compressors is supplied via hoses. The disadvantage of such compressed air cleaning systems is that they cannot be used portably, or only with considerable effort (namely, with mobile compressors). From DE 19 26 625 U a portable tire inflation device is known which has a portable compressed air tank and a connection for a compressed air supply line, In DE 10 2012 013 464 A1, a medical spray device is disclosed as a lavage system comprising a pressurized gas supply line and a liquid supply line. German patent DE 20 2004 016 632 U1 discloses a device for dispensing pressurized gas contained in a cartridge. A disadvantage of this device is that during longer cleaning processes, used gas cartridges must always be replaced with new ones. The object of the invention is to create a device for dispensing a pressurized gas such as CO2 or air that can be used more flexibly. To solve this problem, the invention provides a device for dispensing a pressurized gas such as CO2 or air, which is equipped with the features of claim 1. Individual embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention essentially proposes equipping the housing with at least two connections, the first connection being for a gas cartridge and the second connection being for a compressed gas hose, in particular a compressed air hose. From each connection, a channel with an opening leads into a valve chamber containing a valve that can be actuated by means of a trigger lever. The gas flowing through the valve reaches a gas outlet opening, which may be equipped with an outlet nozzle. This nozzle may be adjustable to produce different gas outlet flow profiles and cross-sections. Alternatively, one of several gas outlet nozzles can be attached to the gas outlet opening, allowing for the realization of different flow profiles and cross-sections. Furthermore, the device according to the invention has at least one check valve. Preferably, a check valve is located between the valve chamber and each port, thereby preventing gas from escaping from the valve chamber through one of the two ports. Alternatively or in addition to the at least one check valve, the second port can be closed externally with a sealing element. The advantage of the device according to the invention lies in its flexibility with regard to the supply of the gas to be dispensed. This gas can either be supplied by a gas cartridge or via a pressurized gas hose that is connected to the second port. In an advantageous further development of the invention, it can be provided that a gas cartridge or a compressed gas hose, in particular a compressed air hose, can be optionally connected to the first connection. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that a removable element surrounding the first connection for receiving a gas cartridge can be attached to the housing. The housing is preferably pistol-shaped or has some other type of handle. It is advantageous if the removable mounting element is integrated into or formed by the handle. According to the above description of the invention, the device thus has, in addition to the first connection for the gas cartridge, a second connection for the compressed gas hose. A further embodiment of this invention provides a third connection for a compressed gas hose, which is arranged at the end of the receiving element opposite the first connection of the housing. This third connection can be closed by means of a sealing element or can be equipped with a check valve to prevent gas from escaping from the receiving element to the outside. If no gas cartridge is contained in the receiving element (but also if a gas cartridge is contained in the receiving element), compressed gas can be supplied through the receiving element via a compressed gas hose connected to the third connection, and if necessary,The pressurized gas is routed around the gas cartridge via the first port into the valve chamber, from where it flows to the gas outlet when the valve is open. Normally, the gas cartridge should be removed during this process. This allows the first port to be used to direct the gas entering the receiving element via the third port. Otherwise, an additional channel would be required in the housing to fluidically connect the receiving element to the valve chamber. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a gas flow rate adjustment element can be arranged in the valve chamber, which can be manually adjusted by means of a handle, in particular an adjustment knob, arranged on the outside of the housing. Such a gas flow rate adjustment element is advantageously designed as a (rotary or linear) slide valve with two metering openings, each of which, in a basic position of the slide valve, is aligned with the other of the two outlet openings, whereby the respective outlet opening can be more or less closed to adjust the gas flow rate by rotating and / or translating the slide valve. The device according to the invention is preferably used for cleaning purposes in dental practices or dental laboratories. Even delicate, touch-sensitive objects, such as exhibits or the like, can be cleaned with the gas stream emitted by the device according to the invention. The device according to the invention can also be used in industrial and workshop settings. Electronic components, electrical devices, and precision mechanical arrangements can also be cleaned conveniently and reliably with the device according to the invention. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be used for filling inflatable bodies such as swimming rings, inflatable boats, tires, inner tubes, and pneumatic jacks with gas. If necessary, when working with gas from a gas cartridge, the gas cartridge must be changed several times, or larger gas cartridges or even gas cylinders must be used. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the drawing. Specifically, the figures show: Fig. 1 a side view of a compressed air gun in the state in which a gas cartridge is used; Fig. 2 the compressed air gun according to Fig. 1 in the operating situation in which the compressed air is supplied via the second connection by means of a compressed air hose; Fig. 3 the compressed air gun according to Fig. 1, wherein the compressed air is now supplied via a compressed air hose connected to the handle and the gas cartridge normally held by the handle has been removed; and Fig. 4 an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve chamber with surrounding housing structure to illustrate the design and function of the gas flow rate adjustment element. Figure 1 shows a side view of a device 10 for dispensing a pressurized gas, which in this embodiment is designed like a pistol. A handle 12 of the device 10 serves to hold a gas cartridge 14 and can be attached to and detached from a housing 16 by screwing it on. A first connection 18 is located on the housing 16, which can be used with commercially available gas cartridges and directs the gas from these cartridges into a valve chamber 20 of the housing 16. A second connection 22 opens into the valve chamber 20, to which a compressed air hose 24 can be connected, as shown in Figure 2. In the operating situation according to Figure 1, the second connection 22 is closed by means of a sealing element 26. From the valve chamber 20, a gas outlet channel 30 leads, viewed in the direction of gas flow, behind a valve 28 to a gas outlet opening 32. The valve 28 can be opened and closed (more or less) selectively by means of a trigger lever 34. As can be seen from Fig. 1, at the end 36 opposite the housing 16 there is a further, third connection 38 which is closed in the operating situation according to Fig. 1 by means of a closing element 40. As mentioned above, in the operating situation shown in Fig. 1, gas is released from the gas cartridge 14. The gas exiting the gas cartridge 14 and entering the valve chamber 20 is prevented from escaping through the second port 22 by both the sealing element 26 and a check valve 42 associated with the second port 22. In the operating situation according to Fig. 2, cleaning gas enters the valve chamber 20 via the compressed air hose 24 and the second connection 22. In the situation shown in Fig. 3, there is no gas cartridge in the handle 12. The second port 22 is closed by means of the sealing element 26. The compressed air hose 24 is now connected to the third port 38, so that the compressed air passes through the receiving chamber of the receiving element, i.e., the handle 12, via the first port 18 into the valve chamber 20. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a gas flow rate adjustment element 44. A slide 48 coupled to the adjustment knob 46, arranged externally on the housing 16 and serving as a handle for the gas flow rate adjustment element 44, can be rotated. The slide 48 is, for example, designed as a sleeve and covers two openings 50, 52, each connecting a channel 54, 56 to the valve chamber 20. The slide 48 has two metering openings 58, 60, which, in the slide 48's home position (where the maximum flow rate enters the valve chamber 20 from each opening 50, 52), are aligned with the openings 50, 52. By turning the adjustment knob 46, the gas flow rate for each muzzle opening 50, 52 can now be changed. REFERENCE MARK LIST 10 Device 12 Handle (receiving element) 14 Gas cartridge 16 Housing 18 First connection 20 Valve chamber 22 Second connection 24 Compressed air hose 26 Sealing element 28 Valve 30 Gas outlet channel 32 Gas outlet opening 34 Trigger lever 36 End 38 Third connection 40 Sealing element 42 Check valve 44 Gas flow rate adjustment element 46 Adjustment knob 48 Slide 50 Muzzle opening 52 Muzzle opening 54 Channel 56 Channel 58 Metering opening 60 Metering opening

Claims

Device for dispensing a pressurized gas such as CO2 or air, comprising: a housing (16) having a handle (12), a valve (28), a trigger lever (34) for actuating the valve (28), and a gas outlet opening (32); the housing (16) having a first connection (18) for a gas cartridge (14) and a second connection (22) for a pressurized gas hose, in particular for a compressed air hose (24); both connections (18, 22) being in fluid communication with a valve chamber (20) of the housing (16); the valve chamber (20) being in fluid communication with the gas outlet opening (32), and the valve (28) being arranged in the fluid communication; and at least one check valve (42) and a closure element (40); a connection being provided between the valve chamber (20) and one or each connection (18,22) a check valve (42) is arranged and prevents gas from escaping from the valve chamber (20) through the relevant connection and- wherein the closing element (40) is provided for closing the first and / or second connection (18, 22) from the outside. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a gas cartridge (14) or a compressed gas hose, in particular a compressed air hose (24), can be optionally connected to the first connection (18). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a removable receiving element surrounding the first connection (18) for receiving a gas cartridge (14) can be placed on the housing (16). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the handle (12) of the housing (16) is designed as the removable receiving element. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a third connection (38) for a compressed gas hose, in particular for a compressed air hose (24), is arranged at the end (36) of the receiving element opposite the first connection (18). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a further check valve (42) is arranged between the valve chamber (20) and the first connection (18) and / or that the receiving element has a further check valve (42) at its end (36) provided with the third connection (38). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a gas flow rate adjustment element (44) is arranged in the valve chamber (20), which can be manually adjusted by means of a handle arranged on the outside of the housing (16), in particular an adjustment knob (46). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that a channel (54, 56) with an outlet opening (50, 52) leads from the first and the second connection (18, 22) into the valve chamber (20) and that the flow rate adjustment element (44) has a slide (48) which has two metering openings (58, 60), each of which, in a basic position of the flow rate adjustment element (44), is aligned with another of the two outlet openings (50, 52), wherein the respective outlet opening (50, 52) can be closed more or less by rotary and / or translational movement of the slide (48) in order to adjust the gas flow rate through one of the two channels (54, 56). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing (16) is pistol-shaped.

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