Pump

Abstract

A pump comprising: - a pump body (1) forming a fluid product inlet (13) opening into a valve chamber (14) comprising a bottom (15) forming a valve seat (16) and a peripheral wall (17), the pump body (1) defining an axis of revolution X, - a retaining element (2) axially engaged in the pump body (1) so as to delimit the valve chamber (14) with the bottom (14) and the peripheral wall (17), - a movable valve element (3) disposed in the valve chamber (14), the movable valve element (3) being axially movable in the valve chamber (14) between the bottom (15) and the retaining element (3), characterized in that the peripheral wall (17) is formed by the pump body (1). (Figure 3 for abbreviation)

Description

Title of the invention: Pump

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump comprising a pump body forming a fluid inlet. This inlet opens into a valve chamber comprising a bottom forming a valve seat and a peripheral wall. The pump also includes a retaining element axially engaged in the pump body so as to delimit the valve chamber with the bottom and the peripheral wall. A movable valve element is disposed in the valve chamber, being axially movable between the bottom and the retaining element. The preferred areas of application for the invention are those of perfumery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food.

[0002] In the prior art, document FR2403465 is known, describing a pump of this type, with an inlet valve comprising a movable valve element, in the form of a disc, which is movable within a valve chamber between a bottom forming a valve seat and a retaining element engaged in the pump body. The peripheral or lateral wall of the valve chamber is formed by the retaining element, which abuts against the bottom. This document FR2403465 will be described in more detail below.

[0003] The drawback with the retention element of this document is that it must be oriented correctly before being inserted into the pump body. Specifically, the peripheral wall must be positioned around the disc.

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by defining a pump comprising: - a pump body forming a fluid product inlet opening into a valve chamber comprising a bottom forming a valve seat and a peripheral wall, the pump body defining an axis of revolution X, - a retention element engaged axially in the pump body so as to delimit the valve chamber with the bottom and the peripheral wall, - a movable valve element disposed in the valve chamber, the movable valve element being axially movable in the valve chamber between the bottom and the retention element, characterized in that the peripheral wall is formed by the pump body.

[0005] Consequently, the retention element now forms only the roof of the valve chamber. The peripheral or lateral wall preferably extends over the entire periphery of the pump body. In other words, the retention element remains away from the bottom of the valve chamber.

[0006] Thus, it is possible to make the retention element symmetrical about a median plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution of the pump body. The two faces of the retention element are therefore identical, so that it is no longer necessary to orient it before mounting it in the pump body.

[0007] According to one feature of the invention, the peripheral wall can flare outwards from the bottom. In other words, the peripheral wall can be frustoconical with a diameter that increases from the bottom. In this way, the fluid passage area around the moving valve element is maximized when the latter is pressed against the retention element by the flow of fluid drawn into the valve chamber.

[0008] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the pump body can form an internal annular shoulder around the peripheral wall, the retention element abutting or in contact with this internal shoulder. Preferably, the internal annular shoulder is adjacent or contiguous to the peripheral wall, forming an obtuse angle between them, advantageously on the order of 100 to 120 degrees. Alternatively, the internal shoulder can be said to extend radially outwards from the upper annular edge of the peripheral wall, forming an angle between them. This implies that the diameter of the retention element is greater than that of the peripheral wall.

[0009] According to another interesting feature of the invention, the pump body can form a frustoconical external section around the peripheral wall. This means that the peripheral wall is at least partially inscribed within the frustoconical external section.

[0010] Advantageously, the frustoconical external section defines a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter, the ratio of the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter being on the order of 1.5. The taper of the frustoconical external section can be on the order of 45 degrees, plus or minus 10 degrees.

[0011] Preferably, the internal annular shoulder is located at approximately the same axial level as the maximum diameter of the frustoconical external section. This implies that the peripheral wall is entirely or almost entirely inscribed within the frustoconical external section.

[0012] The purpose of this extended frustoconical external section is to facilitate the insertion of the pump into a reservoir neck, particularly when the internal diameter of the neck is only slightly larger than the external diameter of the pump body. Indeed, without this extended frustoconical external section, the pump body may strike the top of the neck during installation, which can lead to damage to the pump or breakage of the neck. With this extended frustoconical external section, one This considerably minimizes this risk, since the neck will slide, and not bump, on the extended truncated conical external section.

[0013] According to another feature of the invention, the retention element may comprise a ring internally provided with several retention profiles projecting radially inwards, the movable valve member abutting against these retention profiles. Advantageously, the movable valve member defines an external diameter, the ring defines an internal diameter, and the retention profiles together define a fictitious inscribed diameter, the external diameter being smaller than the internal diameter and larger than the inscribed diameter. This ensures that the movable valve member will always abut against the retention profiles during the suction phases, while maintaining a sufficient passage area for the fluid, preferably larger than that of the fluid inlet of the pump body.This avoids any pressure loss between the fluid inlet and the pump chamber via the valve chamber.

[0014] It should be noted that the following features could be subject to separate protections: - Symmetrical retention element along a median plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution X, - Peripheral wall flaring outwards from the bottom, - Pump body forming an internal annular shoulder around the peripheral wall, the retention element being in contact with this internal shoulder, - Pump body forming an external frustoconical section around the peripheral wall of the valve chamber.

[0015] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of the invention.

[0016] In the figures:

[0017] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a prior art pump,

[0018] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a perspective and vertical cross-sectional view at through the lower part of a pump according to the invention,

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a similar view to that of [Fig.2], front view and enlarged, and

[0020] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] is a top view showing the inside of the pump body.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a pump of the prior art designated as a whole by P. It comprises a main barrel 1 of substantially cylindrical shape, terminating at its upper end in an annular collar 111a that projects radially outwards. At its lower end, the pump body forms a connecting sleeve 12a intended to receive a dip tube (not shown). This connecting sleeve 12a communicates with the interior of the barrel 1 by a Fluid product inlet 13a. More precisely, this fluid product inlet 13a communicates with a valve chamber 14a, which is delimited by the pump body la and a retention element 2a. The pump body la defines a bottom 15a which is advantageously provided with a valve seat 16a, extending concentrically around the fluid product inlet 13a. Thus, the lower part of the valve chamber 14a can be said to be formed by the bottom 15a of the pump body la. The remainder of the valve chamber 14a is formed by this retention element 2a, which forms a peripheral wall 21a, as well as an upper wall 22a that forms a passage connecting the valve chamber 14a with the interior of the drum 1 la. A disc 3a, acting as a movable valve element, is arranged inside the valve chamber 14a, so as to be able to move axially between the valve seat 16a and the upper wall 22a.At rest and during dispensing phases, the disc 3a rests on its seat 16a. Conversely, during suction phases, the disc 3a is pressed against the upper wall 22a, thus allowing the fluid product to fill the drum with fluid product stored in a fluid product reservoir into which the dip tube extends. The disc 3a is moved against the upper wall 22a by the flow of fluid product passing through the valve chamber 14a.

[0022] The retention element 2a, and more particularly its peripheral wall 21a, is engaged in a lower section 112a of the shaft lia, which advantageously has a somewhat smaller diameter, in order to be able to insert the retention element 2a into the shaft lia without friction up to the level of the lower section 112a, in which the retention element 12a is engaged by force until it comes into contact with the bottom 15a.

[0023] It can be noted that the peripheral wall 21a of the retaining element 2a extends into contact with the bottom 15a. Consequently, the lateral wall of the valve chamber 14a is formed entirely and solely by the retaining element 2a. It should also be noted that the retaining element 2a must be correctly oriented before being inserted into the pump body 1a. Indeed, its two faces are not identical due to the presence of the peripheral wall 21a.

[0024] The lower end of the shaft 1 forms a chamfer 114a, which then extends inwards to form the bottom 15a. The small chamfer 114a extends only through the thickness of the bottom 15a. It can be noted that the lower edge of the peripheral wall 21a of the retention element 2a, which comes into contact with the bottom 15a, is located approximately at the same level as, or slightly below, the chamfer 114a. Similarly, the lower diameter of the chamfer 114a is slightly larger than the external diameter of the retention element 2a. The ratio of the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter of the chamfer 114a does not exceed 1.15.

[0025] The prior art pump P, like any conventional pump, further comprises an actuating rod T on which a sliding piston K is mounted The pump P is sealed inside the barrel 1 against a return spring S. The pump P is further equipped with a fastening element F that allows a neck seal G to be compressed against the upper edge of the neck of a reservoir (not shown). The design of the actuating rod T, the piston K, and the fastening element F is not critical to the present invention. These elements can have a wide variety of shapes without departing from the scope of the invention. Only the lower part of the pump is the subject of the present invention.

[0026] Reference will now be made to Figures 2, 3, and 4, which represent the lower part of a pump according to the invention. The upper part of the pump may be identical or similar to that of the prior art pump described below. It may be noted that the lower part of the pump also comprises a pump body 1, a retaining element 2, and a movable valve element 3, elements which are found in the prior art pump of [Fig. 1], but with different designs.

[0027] The pump body 1 defines a barrel 11, which is essentially cylindrical, particularly at its inner wall against which the pump piston slides. At its lower end, the barrel 11 forms a receiving section 112 for the retaining element 2. This receiving section 112 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the barrel 11, so as to allow the retaining element 2 to pass without friction inside the barrel. Below this receiving section 112, the pump body 1 forms an annular shoulder 18, which is in the form of a flat annular surface. Below this shoulder 18, the pump body 1 defines a peripheral wall 17, which joins a bottom 15 pierced in its direction by a fluid product inlet 13. The pump body 1 also defines a connecting sleeve 12 which extends around this fluid product inlet 13, and which is intended for receiving a dip tube (not shown).The bottom 15 defines an annular step that serves as the seat for the valve 16. It can be observed that the side wall 17 is flared or frustoconical from the bottom 15. In other words, the lower diameter of the peripheral wall 17, forming the outer edge of the bottom 15, is smaller than the upper diameter of the peripheral wall 17 forming the injunction with the internal shoulder 18. The angle that the peripheral wall 17 makes with the axis of revolution X is on the order of 10 to 30°. With respect to the internal shoulder 18, the peripheral wall 17 forms an obtuse angle on the order of 100 to 120°. These angle values ​​are given for guidance purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. The conicity of the peripheral wall 17 allows the passage cross-section for the fluid product to be increased when the movable valve member 3 is pressed by suction against the retention profiles 22 of the retention element 2. This is clearly visible in [Fig.3].Alternatively, the peripheral wall could be cylindrical or stepped.

[0028] The pump body 1, at its outer wall, also forms a frustoconical external section 114 which connects the shaft 11 and the bottom 15. This frustoconical external section 114 can be described as an extended chamfer. Indeed, the ratio between its maximum diameter 114M and its minimum diameter 114m is on the order of 1.5, much greater than the ratio of 1.15 of the pump in [Fig. 1]. The taper of the frustoconical external section 114 with respect to the axis of revolution X is on the order of 35° to 55°, but preferably on the order of 45°. Axially, the maximum diameter 114M is located approximately at the level of the internal shoulder 18. Radially, the minimum diameter 114m is substantially aligned with the outer periphery of the bottom 15, which also defines the minimum diameter of the peripheral wall 17.Thus, it can be said that the peripheral wall 17, as well as the annular shoulder 18, are located axially and radially at the level of this frustoconical external section 114. This extended chamfer greatly facilitates the introduction of the pump into the reservoir necks, particularly when these necks define a diameter slightly greater than that of the barrel 11. This avoids any sharp stop on the annular edge of the neck, which could lead to damage to the pump or deterioration of the neck.

[0029] The retaining element 2 differs from that 2a of the pump in [Fig. 1] in that it is symmetrical with respect to a median plane Pm perpendicular to the axis of revolution X. This median plane Pm is shown in [Fig. 3]. Consequently, it is not necessary to orient the retaining element 2 before inserting it into the pump body 1. Its orientation is irrelevant, since its two faces are completely identical. At the end of the insertion, the retaining element 2 is press-fitted into the reduced-diameter receiving section 112. In its final mounting position, the retaining element 2 rests against or is in contact with the internal shoulder 18. It then defines the upper part or roof of a valve chamber 14, the bottom 15 and peripheral wall 17 of which are formed by the pump body 1.Referring to Figures 2 and 4, it can be seen that the retention element 2 comprises a ring 21 which engages with the receiving housing 112 and bears against or contacts the internal shoulder 18. This ring 21 is provided internally with several retention profiles 22 that extend radially inwards. These retention profiles 22 can be very simply in the form of small vertical bars distributed equidistantly inside the ring 21. The radial inward extension of these retention profiles 22 depends on the nature, and in particular the external diameter, of the movable valve member 3. In the present case, the radial extent of the profiles 22 does not exceed the radial thickness of the ring 21. There are six retention profiles 22, but this is not a limiting factor.

[0030] Referring again to [Fig. 3], it can be noted that the internal diameter of the crown 21 corresponds approximately to the internal diameter of the internal annular shoulder 18 or to the maximum diameter of the peripheral wall 17. As a result, the ring 21 creates little or no pressure loss for the fluid product flowing through the valve chamber 14. It can also be said that the radial thickness of the ring 21 corresponds approximately to the radial width of the internal shoulder 18.

[0031] The movable valve element 3 is in the form of a disc or washer, which is disposed inside the valve chamber 14, so as to be able to move axially between its seat 16 and the retention element 2, and more particularly its retention profiles 22. In Figures 2 and 3, the movable valve element 3 is shown in the suction phase, in which it is pressed against the retention profiles 22. It is then away from its seat 16, which defines a significant passage for the fluid product from the inlet 13 into the interior of the drum 11. The fluid product from the fluid product reservoir travels through the dip tube (not shown), then through the fluid product inlet 13, between the bottom 15 and the movable valve element 3, between the peripheral wall 17 and the movable valve element 3, and then between the profiles of retention 22 to reach the inside of the barrel 11.There are no pressure losses, since the passage cross-sections inside the valve chamber 14 and through the retention element 2 are greater than that of the fluid product inlet 13.

[0032] On [Fig.4], it can clearly be noted that the external diameter of the movable valve member 3 is less than the internal diameter of the crown 21 but greater than the inscribed diameter defined between the free inner ends of the retention profiles 22.

[0033] The present invention could also be defined as follows. The lower part of the pump body 1 is formed with an annular step that acts as both a peripheral wall 17 of the valve chamber 14 and a shoulder 18 serving as a stop for the retaining element 2. This step allows for an external chamfer 114 that extends over a significant area. Another advantageous feature of the invention is the symmetry of the retaining element 2, which eliminates the need for orientation during assembly. A large flow area for the fluid is ensured because the thickness of the ring 21 is substantially equal to the width of the internal shoulder 18.

[0034] It should be noted that the combined axial height of the valve chamber 14 and the retaining element 2 is no greater than that of the pump P of the prior art of [Fig. 1]. The peripheral wall 21a of the retaining element 2a has been replaced by the peripheral wall 17 and the internal shoulder 18. The upper wall 22a of the retaining element 2a has been replaced by a perfectly symmetrical retaining element 2. The small chamfer 114a has been replaced by a frustoconical section 114 of increased extent.

Claims

Demands

1. A pump comprising: - a pump body (1) forming a fluid product inlet (13) opening into a valve chamber (14) comprising a bottom (15) forming a valve seat (16) and a peripheral wall (17), the pump body (1) defining an axis of revolution X, the bottom (15) and the peripheral wall (17) being formed by the pump body (1), - a retaining element (2) axially engaged in the pump body (1) so as to delimit the valve chamber (14) with the bottom (14) and the peripheral wall (17), - a movable valve element (3) which is in the form of a disc or a washer, the movable valve element (3) being disposed in the valve chamber (14), the movable valve element (3) being axially movable in the valve chamber (14) between the bottom (15) and the element retention (2), in which the pump body (1) forms an internal annular shoulder (18) around the peripheral wall (17),the retention element (3) being in contact with this internal shoulder (18), characterized in that the peripheral wall (17) flares outwards from the bottom (15) to the internal annular shoulder (18).

2. Pump according to claim 1, wherein the retention element (3) is symmetrical about a median plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution X.

3. Pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal annular shoulder (18) is adjacent to the peripheral wall (17), forming between them an obtuse angle, advantageously of the order of 100 to 120 degrees.

4. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump body (1) forms an external frustoconical section (114) around the peripheral wall (17).

5. Pump according to claim 4, wherein the frustoconical external section (114) defines a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter, the ratio of the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter being on the order of 1.

5.

6. Pump according to claim 4, wherein the internal annular shoulder (18) is located axially substantially at the same level as the maximum diameter of the frustoconical external section (114).

7. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retention element (2) comprises a ring (21) which is provided internally with several retention profiles (22) which project radially inwards, the movable valve member (3) coming into butt contact against these retention profiles (22).

8. Pump according to claim 7, wherein the movable valve element (3) defines an external diameter, the ring (21) defines an internal diameter, and the retention profiles (22) together define an inscribed diameter, the external diameter being smaller than the internal diameter and larger than the inscribed diameter.

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