Atomiser

Abstract

The invention relates to an atomiser (1) for a fluid (3) located in a container (2), comprising an atomiser nozzle and a housing (7), wherein a pump body (8) with a first through-opening (9) having a first opening cross-sectional area is arranged in the housing (7), wherein a hollow piston (10) with a non-return valve (11) and a filter element (12) are arranged in the first through-opening (9), wherein a holding region (13) is also provided for holding the filter element (12) in a flow direction (r) of the fluid (3) in the first through-opening (9), wherein an atomising part (17) is also arranged downstream of the filter element (12) in the flow direction (r), which atomising part is accommodated in an extension region of the pump body (8) adjoining the first through-opening (9) in the flow direction (r). For an advantageous embodiment, the filter element (12) is arranged in the first through-opening (9) in the flow direction (r) upstream of the holding device (13), in which a second through-opening (16) is provided, with the second through-opening (16) having a second opening cross-sectional area, and the second opening cross-sectional area is smaller than the first opening cross-sectional area in such a way that the filter element is securely held while the flow is otherwise as unimpeded as possible.

Description

Description atomizer field of technology

[0001] The invention relates to an atomizer for a fluid located in a container, comprising an atomizer nozzle and a housing, wherein a pump body with a first through-opening having a first opening cross-sectional area is arranged in the housing, wherein a hollow piston with a check valve and a filter element are arranged in the first through-opening, wherein a mounting area is further provided for mounting the filter element in a flow direction of the fluid in the first through-opening, wherein further in the flow direction after the filter element an atomizing element is arranged, which is received in an expansion area of ​​the pump body adjoining the first through-opening in the flow direction. State of the art

[0002] Atomizers of the type in question, which are also referred to as inhalers, are known, for example, from WO 2007 / 022898 A2 (US 7823584 B2) as well as, for example, from WO 2012 / 160052 Al (US 9827384 B2) or also from WO 2017 / 080895 Al (US 2017 / 0128681 Al).

[0003] In an atomizer known from WO 2012 / 007315 Al (US 2016 / 0144138 Al), the filter part designed as a fine filter is metallic and is arranged downstream of a plastic pre-filter in the through-opening in the direction of flow. Summary of the invention

[0004] Starting from the aforementioned prior art, the invention deals with the problem of providing an atomizer which, with an advantageous design, has a favorable arrangement of a filter element.

[0005] This problem is solved in the subject matter of claim 1, wherein the filter element is arranged in the first through-opening in the direction of flow upstream of the holding device, in which a second through-opening is given, wherein the second through-opening has a second opening cross-sectional area, and wherein the second opening cross-sectional area is smaller than the first opening cross-sectional area such that a secure holding of the filter element is given with otherwise as unimpeded a flow as possible.

[0006] With regard to the required mounting of the filter element, the second opening cross-sectional area can vary depending on the material used for the filter element. Possible materials are explained in more detail below. If a relatively soft filter material is used, the second opening cross-sectional area is preferably smaller than with a hard material such as a metallic material. The filter element is preferably a depth filter. Depth filters have a high filtration capacity compared to surface filters, while also offering high pressure resistance and preferably reduced pressure drop with increasing amounts of filtered substance.

[0007] By positioning the mounting device downstream of the filter element in the direction of flow, a favorable and highly supportive mounting of the filter element in the first through-opening is achieved. The mounting device is preferably a plastic part or formed on a plastic part, particularly the pump body. If the filter element is made of a relatively soft material, it cannot be forced through the second through-opening by the pressure drop that occurs during inhalation or spray mist activation, nor can it be extruded by it. Preferably, it can be an effective and, if necessary, soft filter element in the nozzle area, in addition to the microfilter integrated in the atomizing section. In particular, it is the sole filter element located upstream of the atomizing section.In such a case, it is accordingly a single piece and exists as a one-piece filter element.

[0008] Although the second opening cross-sectional area is smaller, it is preferably also chosen such that no additional, relevant flow resistance arises relative to the greatest flow resistance located in the atomizing section. If the atomizing section, ultimately the nozzle outlet of the atomizing section, has, for example, (only) one opening area, between approximately... 50 to 120 | in 2 , preferably 90 gm 2 , then the second opening cross-sectional area should preferably be at least approximately 100 times the largest assumed cross-sectional area of ​​the nozzle outlet, i.e. 12,000 m², in order to minimize flow resistance. 2 or 0.012 mm 2This would correspond to a minimum diameter of approximately 0.12 mm for the second through-hole. From a manufacturing perspective, this diameter is still easily achievable by mechanical drilling or laser drilling. The upper limit of the second through-hole is determined by the filter's strength. Experience has shown that... For soft PE filters with a diameter preferably between 1.3 and 1.8 mm, more preferably 1.5 mm, a through-hole of 20% to 40%, more preferably 30% of the filter diameter or the first through-hole, has proven effective. This preferably corresponds to diameters of the second through-hole of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, more preferably 0.4 mm. This size range is still manageable in injection molding.

[0009] For harder filter materials such as ceramic and glass, the cross-section of the second opening can be close to that of the first and preferably approximately four-fifths or less of the cross-sectional area of ​​the first opening. This would correspond to a diameter of the second opening of preferably approximately 1.3 mm compared to a diameter of the first opening of preferably 1.5 mm in the example above.

[0010] In a series of approximately 200 atomizations or doses, no significant pressure loss due to obstruction of the microfilter integrated in the atomization unit could be detected.

[0011] A quantity of 200 doses, for example, corresponds to a typical one-month supply. This result is also observed when ethanolic solutions are used as the active ingredient.

[0012] According to this, the choice of material for the filter element is subject to very few restrictions. In particular, it can also be a soft material. A metallic filter element in the direction of flow upstream of the atomizing section, as described in the prior art, is not necessarily required.

[0013] The filter element can be designed to suit a specific filtration requirement. In particular, it can be integrally formed in one piece from a relatively soft, porous material. However, the filter element can also be made of a material such as glass, ceramic, plastic, metal, or a semiconductor, such as silicon. Regarding its manufacture, it can be sintered from a powder, woven as a nonwoven fabric, and structured by etching or ion bombardment. Finally, it can also be manufactured using additive manufacturing.

[0014] The mounting area can be designed solely by a taper integrated into the pump body with respect to the second through-hole. This taper can be stepped or, for example, conical. Regarding the manufacturing process for the pump body, which is usually injection molding for large production runs, if the resulting through-hole (the combined opening of the first and second through-holes) is disadvantageously small (and long) for the given length, it can also be designed by first manufacturing the part without the second through-hole and with the second opening cross-sectional area. This second through-hole is then added to the injection-molded part in a subsequent machining process using subtractive methods such as boring, laser cutting, punching, or similar techniques.

[0015] In one embodiment, a separate mounting part can also be provided. This is particularly advantageous because the injection molding of the pump body does not require a significantly reduced or complexly designed opening due to the comparatively long through-hole.

[0016] The mounting component is preferably made of plastic. It can also preferably be injection-molded, for example from polypropylene. Except for the second through-opening, it is preferably non-flow-permeable. The mounting component can be essentially cylindrical or conical. However, it can also be disc-shaped, or, regardless of the specific design, flow-permeable and sieve-like as a support structure. While preferably made of plastic, it can also be made of metal, ceramic, glass, silicon, or similar materials.

[0017] The mounting component can be seated in a tapered section of the first through-hole. Since the mounting component further reduces the size of the first through-hole even with a tapered section, the first tapered section can still be formed relatively easily on the pump body from an injection molding perspective.

[0018] The retaining part is preferably fitted with an interference fit or transition fit in the first through-hole and preferably also in the aforementioned tapered area.

[0019] The retaining part is preferably fitted into the first through-hole in a plug-like manner.

[0020] The mounting bracket can be inserted into the first through-hole from below for assembly purposes. It can then be pressed into its final position.

[0021] As explained, the filter element, besides the microfilter integrated into the atomizing section, is the only discrete filter element of the atomizer. It can be designed with multiple stages and varying porosities, e.g., porosity decreasing in the direction of flow.

[0022] A favorable, dense design can be achieved with a comparatively low number of components. The tolerance chain for the nozzle seal preload is reduced. The pressurized surfaces of the nozzle holder can be advantageously reduced.

[0023] If the mounting area is formed as a single piece within the pump body, the components involved in filtration—i.e., excluding the nozzle holder, atomizing element, and screw cap—can be reduced to three parts: the filter element, the nozzle seal, and the pump body itself. If a mounting component (made of plastic) is added, there are four parts. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which, however, only represents an exemplary embodiment. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows the atomizer in perspective view, with a cover cap attached; Fig. 2 shows the atomizer in a section along plane II-II in Figure 1; Fig. 3 shows an enlarged upper area of ​​the representation according to Figure 2, in a first embodiment; Fig. 4 shows the enlarged upper area of ​​the illustration according to Figure 2, in a second embodiment; Fig. 5 shows the enlarged area of ​​the representation according to Figure 2, in a third embodiment; Fig. 6 shows the enlarged area of ​​the representation according to Figure 2 in a fourth embodiment. Description of the embodiments

[0025] Shown and described is an atomizer 1 for spraying a fluid 3 stored in a container 2.

[0026] The atomizer 1 is preferably designed as a portable inhaler, more preferably with an elongated shape that is round or oval in cross-section. Viewed along a longitudinal axis x of the housing, the atomizer 1 can have a length of approximately 80 to approximately 200 mm. Preferably, the length is approximately 100 to approximately 150 mm. A width or diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing can be in the range of 20 to 60 mm, preferably approximately 25 to 50 mm. The atomizer 1 can thus be held and used in one hand to perform an inhalation procedure.

[0027] Fluid 3 is preferably a therapeutic or pharmaceutical product to be inhaled by the user. Preferably, this inhalation occurs without a propellant. Fluid 3 is preferably drawn from container 2 into a pressure chamber 4 and, upon pressurization, atomized via a The mouthpiece 5 is ejected. The atomization processes carried out can be counted using a counter 6 arranged on the housing.

[0028] Preferably, in the embodiment of the atomizer 1 described here, the fluid 3 is present as an ethanolic solution, or alternatively as an aqueous solution.

[0029] The atomizer 1 further comprises a housing 7 in which a pump body 8 (Figure 2) is arranged. The pump body 8 has a first through-opening 9. In the first through-opening 9 are arranged a hollow piston 10, a check valve 11, and a filter element 12 (see also Figures 3 and 4). The hollow piston 10 is a well-known and common design for such atomizers.

[0030] Furthermore, a mounting area 13 is provided for mounting the filter element 12 in the flow direction r of the fluid 3 expelled for atomization upstream of a nozzle holder 14. Further downstream in the flow direction r of the filter element 12, an atomizing element 17 with an integrated microfilter is arranged, which is received in an extension area of ​​the pump body 8 adjoining the first through-opening 9. The atomizing element 17 is held in the nozzle 5 by the nozzle holder 14, preferably a metal part. The nozzle holder 14 can also be a plastic part. The nozzle holder 14 is in turn covered by a screw cap 19, preferably mounted on the pump body 8. The nozzle holder 14 further encompasses a sealing element 15 made of plastic or elastomer, which is preferably seated with a certain radial and axial preload between the nozzle holder 14, the pump body 8 and the atomizing part 17.

[0031] The mounting area 13 can preferably be formed integrally in the pump body 8. This is illustrated in Figure 5.

[0032] A second through-opening 16 is formed in the mounting area 13.

[0033] Preferably, as shown in the embodiments in particular in Figures 3 and 4, a retaining part 18 is provided for holding the filter element 12 in the flow direction r of the fluid 3 driven out for atomization in front of the atomizing part 17.

[0034] The filter element 12 is received in the first through-opening 9 in the flow direction r upstream of a support area 13. As already mentioned, the support area 13 can be formed by the pump body 8 itself or by the support part 18 received in the first through-opening 9. The support area 13 or the support part 18 has the second through-opening 16. If the support area 13 is formed integrally with the pump body 8, the second through-opening 16 is a continuation of the first through-opening 9, i.e., a section thereof. The second through-opening 16 has a second opening cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first opening cross-sectional area. This difference is chosen to ensure secure retention of the filter element while otherwise allowing as unimpeded flow as possible. For this purpose, the second opening cross-sectional area can correspond to four-fifths or less of the first cross-sectional area. For example, it can also correspond to two-thirds or less of the first opening cross-sectional area of ​​the first through-opening. nung 9 corresponds. The first and second opening cross-sectional area is the free area of ​​the first and second through-opening 9, 16, respectively, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis x of the housing.

[0035] The filter element 12 is preferably a depth filter, further preferably designed as a sintered part with a certain porosity. Suitable materials include common thermoplastics such as PP, PBT or HT (high-temperature) thermoplastics such as PEEK, but also corrosion-resistant, inert materials such as glass, ceramics or metals (stainless steel, titanium).

[0036] The mounting part 18 is preferably a plastic part, manufactured by injection molding, e.g. from PP, or integrated into the pump body, but can also consist of other materials, such as HT thermoplastics, preferably PEEK (polyetheretherketone). The pump body 8 can be manufactured in the same way.

[0037] The retaining part 18 is preferably seated in a tapered area of ​​the first through-opening 9.

[0038] The retaining element 18 is preferably shaped to fit the tapered area of ​​the first through-opening 9. As shown in Figure 3, it can have an outer contour that tapers substantially conically in the direction of flow, and preferably, the tapered area of ​​the first through-opening 9 is also tapered conically in this case. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, the outer contour can have a stepped taper as a defined stop for the retaining element 18, or it can be shaped to fit the inner contour of the first through-opening 9 in this area.

[0039] Preferably, the retaining part 18 is press-fitted into the first through-hole 9 to be axially secured.

[0040] The filter element 12 is preferably provided as the sole filter element alongside the microfilter integrated in the atomizing section 17 of the atomizer 1. A stepped design with different porosities is also possible.

[0041] The nozzle seal 15 and / or the nozzle holder 14 sit directly and sealingly on an end face of the pump body 8. An interposed O-ring or the like is preferably not provided.

[0042] With reference to Figure 6, an embodiment according to Figure 3 or Figure 4 is shown, further enlarged, in which the mounting part 18 is disc-shaped. The left half shows a stepped design, and the right half, with respect to the longitudinal axis x of the housing, shows a conical design, thus essentially corresponding to Figure 4 or Figure 3. Preferably, even with such a disc-shaped design of the mounting part 18, the design is either uniformly stepped or uniformly conical. The dashed lines indicate that, instead of the specifically depicted stepped design of the pump body 8, a conical design, as shown in Figure 3, can also be provided. List of reference symbols 1 Atomizer r Flow direction 2 containers x housing longitudinal axis 3 Fluid 4 pressure chamber 5 Mouthpiece 6 counter 7 cases 8 pump bodies 9 first passage opening 10 hollow pistons 11 Check valve 12 filter elements 13 Mounting area 14 nozzle holders 15 nozzle seal 16 second passage opening 17 Atomizing part 18 Mounting part 19 screw cap

Claims

Claims 1. An atomizer (1) for a fluid (3) located in a container (2), comprising an atomizer nozzle and a housing (7), wherein a pump body (8) having a first through-opening (9) having a first opening cross-sectional area is arranged in the housing (7), wherein a hollow piston (10) having a check valve (11) and a filter element (12) are arranged in the first through-opening (9), wherein a holding region (13) is further provided for holding the filter element (12) in a flow direction (r) of the fluid (3) in the first through-opening (9), wherein further in the flow direction (r) downstream of the filter element (12) an atomizing part (17) is arranged, which is received in an extension region of the pump body (8) adjoining the first through-opening (9) in the flow direction (r), characterized in thatthat the filter element (12) is arranged in the first through-opening (9) in the flow direction (r) in front of the holding device (13), in which a second through-opening (16) is provided, wherein the second through-opening (16) has a second opening cross-sectional area, and that the second opening cross-sectional area is smaller than the first opening cross-sectional area such that a secure holding of the filter element is provided with otherwise as unhindered a flow as possible., 2. Atomizer according to claim 1, characterized in that the second opening cross-sectional area corresponds to four fifths or less of the first opening cross-sectional area.

3. Atomizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (13) has a holding part (18) inserted into the first through opening (9).

4. Atomizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding part (18) is a plastic part.

5. Atomizer according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the holding part (18) is seated in a tapered region (19) of the first through opening (9).

6. Atomizer according to claim 5, characterized in that the holding part (18) is formed so as to be adapted to the tapered region (19) of the first through opening (9).

7. Atomizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter element (12) is provided as the sole filter element of the atomizer (1) in addition to a microfilter integrated in the atomizing part (15).

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