Nozzle

Abstract

The invention relates to a nozzle (1) for pouring liquids out of a container, having a channel (2) which extends between an inflow end (2a) and an outflow end (2b), in particular in an axial direction, wherein at least one pair of two surge braking elements (4) is arranged in the interior of the channel (2), which surge braking elements are spaced apart in the direction of extension of the channel (2), in particular in the axial direction, and form a gap (5) between their edges (4a) lying in the interior of the channel.

Description

[0001] Pourer

[0002] The invention relates to a spout for pouring liquids from a container with a channel extending between an inlet end and an outlet end.

[0003] Such a spout of the invention may preferably extend in an axially linear direction, but this is not mandatory. Such a spout may also have a curved channel shape.

[0004] Such a spout is usually arranged on a container, e.g. a bottle or a foil bag, to enable the liquid present in a container to be poured out through the spout.

[0005] Often, however, pouring cannot be sufficiently controlled, especially at the beginning of the pouring process, since initially only air is displaced through the spout along with the liquid. For example, with a foil pouch, simply grasping the flexible foil pouch can cause the liquid to gush out, since the act of grasping already compresses the foil pouch and displaces the liquid, for example, before the spout of a beverage pouch is even brought to the mouth.

[0006] Even in applications where a container must be inverted from its initially upright position to apply the fluid to a desired destination, gravity can cause the fluid to gush out even though the spout is not yet positioned over the desired destination. A typical application is pouring engine oil into a filler neck. The problem is usually greater the lower the viscosity of the fluid.

[0007] Against this background, it is an object of the invention to provide a spout with which an uncontrolled, gush-like discharge of liquid can be prevented, in particular at the beginning of a liquid withdrawal.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that at least one pair of two spaced apart in the direction of extension of the channel, in particular in the axial direction of the channel,

[0009] Surge brake elements are arranged, which form a gap between their edges located inside the channel.

[0010] The invention can provide for such surge-damping elements to extend at least predominantly in a radial direction from the inner wall of the channel into the interior of the channel. Radial is the direction perpendicular to the direction of channel extension, which is preferably axial and linear. Predominantly radial means that the extension does not necessarily have to be exactly radial, but is also possible at an angle around the exact radial direction, preferably at an angle of less than 45 degrees, in particular less than 30 degrees, and more preferably less than 20 degrees.

[0011] The invention ensures that liquid flowing in the direction of extension of the channel, in particular in the axial direction, cannot flow out of the channel unhindered in the direction of extension of the channel, but must first flow around the first surge brake element in the flow direction, in particular whereby the liquid is deflected from a flow direction predominantly in the direction of extension of the channel, preferably axial flow direction, in the radial direction and then has to flow around the subsequent surge brake element arranged at a distance in the direction of extension of the channel, before the liquid can flow further downstream of the surge brake elements in the direction of extension of the channel, in particular axially. This effectively prevents the accidental escape of liquid in a surge because the deflection of the liquid has a strong braking effect.

[0012] The invention preferably provides that each surge brake element is designed as a plate, in particular with two opposing, preferably mutually parallel surfaces, wherein each plate has one (in particular only) edge located inside the channel, preferably has an edge located inside the channel that extends at least in a straight line on the middle, and is tightly connected to the inner wall of the channel in all areas outside the edge.

[0013] Such an edge can preferably extend exactly linearly, but in another embodiment it can also be designed to extend around a straight line direction of extension, in particular to extend alternately around it.

[0014] The edge can preferably also extend generally between two locations on the inner wall of the channel that are at least substantially diametrically opposite each other. In particular, "substantially" means that the two locations around the channel's central axis do not have to be exactly 180 degrees apart. In particular, the angular separation can be 180 degrees plus / minus 20 degrees, preferably plus / minus 10 degrees, more preferably plus / minus 5 degrees.

[0015] The invention preferably provides that each plate has exactly one such edge located inside the channel, preferably extending at least on average in exactly one direction. This direction of extension of the edge preferably runs transversely through the channel near the channel center.

[0016] With an exactly straight edge, assuming a circular inner cross-section of the channel, the plate forms a partial circular disc cut out of a circle with the inner diameter of the channel by means of a single secant. The aforementioned, preferably only, edge located inside the channel is formed at the secant. This partial circular disc is then tightly connected to the inner wall of the channel in all areas except the secant.

[0017] With a perfectly straight edge and any cross-sectional shape of the channel deviating from a circular shape, the plate forms a partial cross-sectional shape cut out of this cross-sectional shape by a single secant, with the aforementioned, preferably only, edge located inside the channel being formed at the secant. This plate with the partial cross-sectional shape is then tightly connected to the inner wall of the channel in all areas except at the secant.

[0018] The liquid can therefore only pass through the gap formed between the two edges of the surge brake elements and must change the flow direction due to the spacing of the surge brake elements in the direction of channel extension.

[0019] Preferably, the invention provides that each surge brake element is inclined towards the inflow end of the channel.

[0020] In particular, this means that the surge brake element has the smallest distance from the inflow end of the channel at the edge located inside the channel, in particular wherein the edge of the respective edge pointing towards the inflow end is equally distanced from the inflow end at every point of its extension.

[0021] In particular, this design ensures that the surface of the surge-damping element facing the inflow end is directed at its edge opposite the flowing liquid, which leads to a significant deceleration of the incoming liquid. However, the invention can also provide for the surge-damping elements, in particular the plates forming them, to be aligned parallel to one another. In this parallel arrangement, the surge-damping elements can form an angle of 90 degrees or less to the axis of the channel. One embodiment can also provide for each surge-damping element to be inclined toward the outflow end of the channel.

[0022] Further preferably, the edges of both surge-damping elements located inside the channel are arranged parallel to one another, in particular parallel to one another at least in the center. This configuration preferably results in a constant axial height of the gap over the radial extent of the gap (in particular along the edge extent).

[0023] In general, depending on the viscosity of the liquid, the spacing of the surge-damping elements along the channel extension can be selected differently, e.g., smaller for a low-viscosity liquid and larger for a high-viscosity liquid. When manufacturing the spout using the injection molding process, this can be achieved by selecting a suitable injection molding tool.

[0024] The invention can further provide in a possible embodiment that the edges of both surge brake elements located inside the channel, viewed in the extension of the channel, in particular viewed in the axial direction, for example, have no radial distance from one another.

[0025] The radial direction is perpendicular to the direction of the channel extension, in particular perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0026] In this design, both edges lie in the same central longitudinal plane intersecting the channel. This ensures that, when viewed exactly in the projection of the channel's extension direction, especially in axial projection, the channel cross-section is visually closed by the two surge-damping elements, thus preventing fluid from finding an unobstructed axial flow path.

[0027] It can also be provided that the edges of both surge brake elements located inside the channel are arranged so as to overlap one another, viewed in the extension of the channel, in particular viewed in the axial direction.

[0028] In particular, this means that, viewed in projection of the channel extension direction, in particular viewed in the axial direction, the edge of one surge brake element lies above the surface of the other surge brake element.

[0029] This design also ensures that, viewed in projection of the channel extension direction, in particular viewed in axial projection, the channel cross-section is optically closed by the two surge brake elements, so that in particular liquid cannot find an unhindered axial flow path.

[0030] The overlap also ensures that the channel cross-section is optically closed by the two surge brake elements not only in the exact projection of the channel extension direction, in particular the axial direction, but also in an angular range around this direction.

[0031] It is further ensured that the liquid is guided over the length of the overlap considered in the radial direction between the surge brake elements.

[0032] It can also be provided that the edges of both surge-damping elements located inside the channel are arranged at a radial distance from one another, viewed along the channel's extension, particularly in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the edges are preferably located on opposite sides of a central longitudinal plane of the channel and at a respective distance from it.

[0033] In particular, this ensures that the channel cross-section is not closed when viewed in the direction of the channel extension, especially in the axial projection. A radial gap remains between the edges in the axial projection, allowing a partial flow of the fluid to flow axially past the surge-damping elements. However, this partial flow is crossed by the radial partial flows and thus disrupted.

[0034] This latter design of the edges with radial spacing is particularly preferred in spout designs produced by injection molding. This design is particularly easy to produce using an injection mold comprising two axially opposing and axially movable core elements which, when the injection mold is closed, have two radially opposing and preferably contacting surface areas, aligned at an acute angle to the axis of the channel. This angle ensures that the surfaces can be brought into secure contact by axial movement, which prevents plastic from flowing between these surfaces during injection molding and which achieves good demoldability after injection molding.

[0035] The design further ensures that, with increasing axial spacing between the surge-damping elements, the gap, viewed in axial projection, increases in the radial direction, particularly because the edge surfaces of the edges of both surge-damping elements are formed in the axial extension of the contacting surface regions, particularly between two further axially opposite surface regions. Preferably, particularly in injection-molded designs, the edge surfaces of the edges of both surge-damping elements located inside the channel, particularly in a flat partial surface region, are inclined at an acute angle to the axis of the channel, particularly at the same angle of inclination as the aforementioned contacting surface regions of the core elements.

[0036] An embodiment which can be further combined with all possible designs provides that the surge brake elements have lips extending towards one another on their axially opposite edges of the edges located inside the channel, in particular lips which taper in the direction of extension, in particular which each merge with a curved surface profile into the opposite parallel surfaces of the respective surge brake element.

[0037] As a result, the gap is preferably formed between two very sharp edges, which can lead to the formation of vortices that further disrupt the flow. The lips can be designed to be flexible, so that at increased flow velocity, the gap cross-section is enlarged because the fluid deforms the lips. This flexibility can be achieved solely by reducing the material thickness, particularly that resulting from the tapered shape. A different, preferably more flexible, material can also be used for the lips during injection molding than for the rest of the surge-damping elements.

[0038] The invention can provide that the aforementioned lips are formed during injection molding by forming a radius on a surface of a core tool, which defines the surface on a surge brake element facing the opposite surge brake element.

[0039] The size of the radius then preferably defines the height of the lip above said surface. It can be provided that, between the axially spaced regions of the surge-damping elements, in which their edges contact the inner wall of the channel, a projection projecting into the interior of the channel, in particular a projection extending at least predominantly axially, is arranged on the inner wall, preferably with the projection tapering into the interior of the channel.

[0040] In this way, the flow cross-section of the gap can be further reduced, in particular by the taper a sharp edge can be formed at which the flow is disturbed, e.g. by the formation of vortices.

[0041] Here, too, the projection can preferably be flexible, so that at increased flow velocity, the gap cross-section is enlarged because the fluid deforms the projections. This flexibility can be achieved solely by reducing the material thickness, particularly that resulting from the tapered shape. During injection molding, a different, preferably more flexible, material can also be used for the projections than for the rest of the surge-damping elements or the channel wall.

[0042] The invention can provide that the aforementioned projections are formed during injection molding by a free space between two axially displaceable core elements of a molding tool, which are brought into contact with each other, wherein the two contact surfaces have a radius or a chamfer at their radially opposite edge regions. The size of the radius or chamfer then preferably defines the height of the projections above the inner wall of the channel.

[0043] A possible refinement can provide for the channel wall thickness to be greater downstream of each surge-damping element than upstream. Particularly preferred is the channel design such that the distance between the inner channel wall and the channel center axis increases from each surge-damping element toward both ends of the channel. This also enables easier demolding during injection molding, particularly with axial movement of core elements.

[0044] The flow direction is from the inlet end toward the outlet end. Thus, upstream is toward the inlet end, and downstream is toward the outlet end.

[0045] The invention can also provide for the spout to have at least two pairs of surge-stopping elements arranged axially spaced from one another, in particular with the orientation of the pairs rotated 90 degrees relative to one another. This further enhances the liquid-stopping effect.

[0046] A structurally possible embodiment preferably provides that the spout has a welding area at its inlet end, in particular a welding area that tapers radially in cross section perpendicular to the axial channel extension, preferably a boat-shaped welding area, with which it can be welded between two film layers of a film bag.

[0047] Such a spout that reduces spillage can be integrated directly into the film bag during its production.

[0048] It can also be provided that the spout has a connecting area at its inlet end, in particular a connecting area designed as a plug-in nozzle, with which it can be connected to the pouring opening of another spout, in particular can be inserted into it, in particular another spout which has a welding area tapering radially in cross section perpendicular to the axial channel extension, preferably a boat-shaped welding area, with which the other spout can be welded between two film layers of a film bag.

[0049] In this way, a spout according to the invention can be attached to any existing spout of a container and the splash-reducing function can be retrofitted.

[0050] A further development of all possible embodiments can provide that the spout has a cross-sectional taper of the inner free cross section of the channel upstream of the at least one pair of two surge brake elements, in particular in the region of the axial extension of a welding region which tapers radially in cross section perpendicular to the axial channel extension, preferably a boat-shaped welding region.

[0051] Such a cross-sectional taper is preferably formed by at least two, preferably at least three, preferably four tab-shaped surface elements projecting from the inner wall of the channel into the interior, preferably having a curvature convex towards the interior of the channel at a distance from their respective connection to the inner wall of the channel.

[0052] Preferably, such lobe-shaped surface elements are flexibly connected to the inner wall of the channel and can thus be axially displaced at their free ends as the flow velocity of the liquid increases, thus increasing the free cross-section.

[0053] Such a cross-sectional taper can also be formed by a wall extending a full 360 degrees around the channel axis and projecting into the channel interior, preferably defining a non-circular free cross-section. Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the figures.

[0054] Figure 1 shows several different views of a first embodiment of a spout 1 with a channel extending between an inlet end 2a and an outlet end 2b. In this embodiment, the channel 2 extends linearly in an axial direction with a circular inner cross-section and is formed around the central longitudinal axis 2c.

[0055] In this embodiment, a welding area 3 is arranged at the inlet end 2a, so that the spout 1 can be welded between two film layers of a film bag (not shown here). A closure cap (not shown) can preferably be screwed onto the outlet end 2b.

[0056] Inside the channel, here near the outflow end 2b, in particular at least closer to the outflow end 2b than to the inflow end 2a, a single pair of two surge brake elements 4 is provided. The perspective sectioned view particularly clearly shows that each surge brake element 4 is realized by a plate.

[0057] For all possible embodiments shown and not shown, it is preferably provided, as shown here, that such a plate of the surge brake element extends from the inner wall of the channel 2 into its interior, ends at an edge 4a located inside the channel 2 and thereby reduces the free channel cross-section at the location of the surge brake element, in particular to a cross-sectional size in the range of 40% to 60% of the total cross-section. The edge 4a, which here forms the only edge 4a located inside the channel 2, extends linearly in this embodiment. The edge profile thus effectively forms a secant of the free inner cross-section of the channel 2. Only along this single secant of the inner cross-section is there a single linearly extending edge of the plate. The respective plate is tightly connected to the inner wall of the channel 2 in all other areas.It is clearly visible here—and also applies to all possible designs—that both surge-damping elements 4 are arranged at an axial distance from each other. This creates a gap 5 through which flow can occur in at least one radial direction. This illustrates that a fluid flow is necessarily redirected from an axial direction to a radial direction in order to be able to flow past the surge-damping elements 4, which significantly slows the flow and prevents a surge-like outflow.

[0058] For all possible embodiments, it may preferably apply that the gap 5 has a width, in particular in the at least substantially radial direction, that corresponds to the cross-sectional dimension of the channel 2 in this direction. However, the gap 5 can also be designed smaller in this direction, as will be illustrated by the embodiments described below.

[0059] The axial height in this design ranges from 50% to 200% of the axial thickness of the surge suppressor elements. This can also be provided for other designs. However, the height can also be significantly greater, especially for very viscous media.

[0060] Furthermore, it is clearly visible here that the surge brake elements 4, in particular the plates, are inclined in particular in a, preferably in the sectional plane shown here, in the direction of the inflow end 2a, so that the edges 4a of the surge brake elements 4 are closest to the inflow end 2a of all areas of a surge brake element 4.

[0061] The section perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 2c illustrates that there is no gap between the edges 4a, particularly because they end in the same central longitudinal plane of the channel 2 or even overlap each other. As a result, in this design, there is no gap when viewed in axial projection along the central longitudinal axis 2c. The edge surface of the edges 4a can be parallel to the central longitudinal axis. Furthermore, both edges 4a run parallel to each other. In this design, fluid cannot flow past the pair of surge-damping elements 4 in the axial direction.

[0062] Figure 2 shows two different views of another embodiment of a spout, in which an insertion nozzle 6 is formed at the inlet end 2a: By means of this insertion nozzle 6, the spout 1 can be inserted into a channel of another spout, as shown, for example, in Figure 4 below.

[0063] In further contrast to Figure 1, Figure 2 shows that lips 4b are formed at the edges of the rims 4a, which are axially opposite or facing each other. These lips are tapered as they extend toward each other. The surfaces of the lips on both sides merge with curved surfaces on both sides of the respective surge-damping element 4. This can again apply to all possible designs, as shown here as an example.

[0064] The design of Figure 3 essentially corresponds to that of Figure 2, with the difference that between the areas of both surge-damping elements 4 where the edges 4a contact the inner wall of the channel 2, a projection 7 extends on the channel wall, projecting into the interior of the channel 2 and preferably tapering toward the interior. This allows the gap to be defined smaller than the channel cross-section, even in the substantially radial direction.

[0065] Another significant difference here is that a gap 5 also results between the edges 4a in the axial projection, as the section perpendicular to the direction of the central longitudinal axis 2c shows. Here, too, the axial distance between the surge brake elements 4 is greater than in Figure 2. Figure 4 illustrates the embodiment in which a spout 1 according to Figure 3 has a connecting area 6 designed as a plug-in nozzle, with which it is inserted into a channel of another spout 1', here in a spout with a welding area for welding between two film layers of a film bag. It is thus clear that the surge brake function of a spout 1 according to the invention can be retrofitted to any spout.

[0066] Such a spout of Figure 4 thus equally forms a spout according to the invention, which has a welding area (3) at its inlet end (2a), in particular a welding area (3) tapering radially in cross-section perpendicular to the axial channel extension, preferably a boat-shaped welding area (3), with which it can be welded between two film layers of a film bag. In this case, such a spout according to the invention is formed in only two parts.

[0067] Figures 5 to 8 illustrate that a cross-sectional taper of the inner free cross-section of the channel of a spout can be formed upstream of the pair of surge-damping elements 4. Here, this cross-sectional taper is implemented in a separate spout, which can be combined with a spout of Figures 2 and 3 to form a spout according to the invention. However, this cross-sectional taper can also be implemented directly in a spout 1 according to Figures 1 to 3.

[0068] In Figures 5 and 6, the cross-sectional taper is formed by three or four lobe-shaped surface elements 8 projecting from the channel's inner wall into the interior of the channel 2, respectively, preferably having a convex curvature toward the channel's interior at a distance from their respective connection to the channel's inner wall. In Figure 7, the cross-sectional taper is formed by a wall extending a full 360 degrees around the channel axis and projecting into the channel's interior, preferably defining a non-circular free cross-section.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A spout (1) for pouring liquids from a container having a channel (2) extending between an inflow end (2a) and an outflow end (2b), in particular in an axial direction, characterized in that at least one pair of two surge brake elements (4) are arranged inside the channel (2), which are spaced apart in the direction of extension of the channel (2), in particular in the axial direction, and which form a gap (5) between their edges (4a) located inside the channel.

2. Pourer according to claim 1, characterized in that each surge brake element (4) is designed as a plate, in particular with two opposite, preferably mutually parallel surfaces, wherein each plate has an edge (4a) located inside the channel, preferably has an edge (4a) located inside the channel which extends at least in a straight line, and is tightly connected to the inner wall of the channel in all areas outside the edge (4a).

3. Spout according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each surge brake element (4) is inclined towards the inflow end (2a) of the channel (2).

4. Pourer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edges (4a) of both surge brake elements (4) located in the interior of the channel (2) are arranged parallel to one another, in particular are arranged parallel to one another at least in the middle.

5. Pourer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edges (4a) of both surge brake elements (4) located inside the channel (2) viewed in the extension of the channel (2), in particular viewed in the axial direction a. have no radial distance from one another, or b. are arranged overlapping one another, or c. are arranged at a radial distance from one another, in particular wherein the edge surfaces of the edges (4a) of both surge brake elements (4), in particular in a flat partial surface area, are inclined at an acute angle to the axis (2c) of the channel (2).

6. Pourer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surge brake elements (4) have, on their axially opposite edges of the edges (4a) located in the interior of the channel (2), lips (4b) extending towards one another, in particular lips (4b) tapering in the direction of extension, in particular which each merge with a curved surface profile into the opposite parallel surfaces of the respective surge brake element (4).

7. Pourer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the axially spaced regions of the surge brake elements (4), in which their edges (4a) contact the inner wall of the channel (2), a projection (7) projecting into the interior of the channel (2), in particular at least predominantly axially extending projection (7), is arranged on the inner wall, preferably wherein the projection (7) is tapered into the interior of the channel (2).

8. Pourer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel wall thickness downstream of a respective surge brake element (4) is greater than upstream and / or the distance of the channel inner wall to the channel center axis (2c) is designed to increase from each surge brake element (2) in the direction of both ends (2a, 2b) of the channel.

9. Pourer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least two pairs of surge brake elements (4) which are arranged at an axial distance from one another, in particular wherein the orientation of the pairs is rotated by 90 degrees to one another.

10. A spout according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has on its inlet end (2a) a. a welding area (3), in particular a welding area (3) which tapers radially in cross section perpendicular to the axial channel extension, preferably a boat-shaped welding area (3), with which it can be welded between two film layers of a film bag, or b. a connecting area (6), in particular a connecting area (6) designed as a plug-in nozzle, with which it can be connected to the pouring opening of another spout (1'), in particular can be inserted into it, in particular another spout (1') which has a welding area (3) which tapers radially in cross section perpendicular to the axial channel extension, preferably a boat-shaped welding area (3), with which the other spout (1') can be welded between two film layers of a film bag. 11 .Spout according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged upstream of the at least one pair of two surge brake elements (4), in particular in the region of the axial Extension of a welding area (3) which tapers radially in cross section perpendicular to the axial channel extension, preferably a boat-shaped welding area (3), has a cross-sectional taper (8) of the inner free cross section of the channel.

12. Pourer according to claim 11, characterized in that the cross-sectional taper (8) is formed by a. at least two, preferably at least three, preferably four tab-shaped surface elements projecting from the inner wall of the channel into the interior, preferably which have a convex curvature towards the interior of the channel at a distance from their respective connection to the inner wall of the channel, or b. a wall extending over a full 360 degrees around the channel axis and projecting into the interior of the channel, preferably which delimits a non-circular free cross-section.

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