Modified dosing valve

Abstract

A bag-on-valve dispensing mechanism consisting of a hollow shaft (1) that has a seal at its outflow and is fitted with a number of openings, with a tubular part (5), fitted with at least one opening (8), with a cylinder (3) with a larger diameter than the tubular part (5) at one extremity and with a ring-shaped raised edge (6) with at least one recess (7) at its other extremity near the outflow, and in which a flexible hose (9) covers the opening (8) in the tubular part (5), as a resulting of which the product is dispensed through the opening (8) and via recess (7) due to pressure build-up under the hose (9).

Description

[0001] Modified dosing valve

[0002] This invention relates to a dispensing mechanism for a bag-on-valve, fitted with a flexible hose that covers at least a through-flow or dispensing opening. In particular, this invention relates to a modified dosing valve, in which the hollow through-flow shaft of the valve is fitted at its extremity with a dispensing mechanism with through-flow openings, comprising a flexible hose that covers at least a dispensing or through-flow opening. This flexible hose is deformable in order to dispense the product via a through-flow or dispensing opening.

[0003] Bag-on-valve technology consists of a valve that is fitted to a bag in order to dispense a product by means of a pressure agent such as compressed gas or air, liquid gas, nitrogen and in which the gas does not come into contact with the product. Various types of products can be dispensed, such as gels, soaps, liquids or viscous and semi-viscous agents, creams, foams, etc. Such a valve is described in EP2935042B1. The valve is characterised by the fact that it comprises a hollow through-flow shaft via which a product is dispensed. This hollow through- flow shaft consists of a cylindrical body with through- flow and dispensing openings to move the product from the bag to the outflow opening and possibly vice versa.

[0004] A significant issue with such valves is that the valve comprises various mechanical components. Such components can cause blockage of the product and have a higher risk of wear due to friction forces. In addition, such mechanical components are under constant pressure and susceptible to corrosion, thus reducing their functioning .

[0005] The movement of the components by gas pressure will then become less smooth as time goes by, as a result of which the product will be dispensed less accurately towards the outflow.

[0006] This invention precisely consists in eliminating the disadvantages of the known bag-on-valve by modifying the dispensing mechanism with the flexible and deformable tubular body.

[0007] The first advantage of this invention is that the dispensing mechanism does not require a mechanical component, but uses a deformable flexible body, such as a hose.

[0008] Considering that this invention offers a very straightforward solution and is also very easy to implement in a dosing valve, this is a second important advantage.

[0009] In addition, this invention is a very economical and sustainable alternative to the existing devices. This is an important third advantage.

[0010] As a final advantage, this flexible hose allows for precise dosing, without having to pressurise any mechanical components.

[0011] According to the state of the art, US3459217 describes an elastic sleeve in a recess. This differs substantially from the present invention because, according to the present invention, the flexible body tightly fits around a hollow shaft and connects with an outflow opening in a ring-shaped body.

[0012] By means of the corresponding figures, the invention is described in detail.

[0013] Figure 1: a side view of the hollow shaft of the valve

[0014] Figure 2: detailed view of the outflow

[0015] Figure 1 illustrates a hollow through-flow shaft(1) that is part of a dosing valve for a bag-on-valve. This hollow shaft moves within the valve and the product is moved and dispensed through the various openings. This figure is merely added to explain the bigger picture. The invention primarily relates to the outflow(2), indicated with a circle in figure 1. The details of this component are explained in figure 2.

[0016] Figure 2 only shows a part of the outflow (2) of the hollow shaft(1), namely the part where the through-flow opening (8) is regulated. The outflow (2) comprises the cylinder (3) that connects to a tubular body(5), with a smaller diameter than the cylinder(3) and that ends at its other extremity in a raised edge(6), fitted in a ring-shaped manner onto the hollow shaft(1). The tubular body(5) has at least one opening(8). The purpose of this opening (or openings)(8) is to dispense the product towards the outflow. This is indicated with an arrow (10). This opening (or openings)(8) are covered with a flexible hose(9). This tubular flexible body(9) fits tightly on the tubular part(5), located between the cylinder(3) and the ring-shaped raised edge(6). This causes the hose(9) to be secured on the hollow shaft(1). The hose(9) is preferably made from an elastic plastic, such as polyurethane, latex, silicone, etc. This hose(9) preferably has a thin wall to fit tightly on the hollow shaft(l). The cylinder(3) has at least a groove(4) and the raised edge(6) has at least a recess(7). The purpose of this recess (or recesses)(7) is to dispense the product towards the outflow. As a result of pressure build-up of the product flowing from the bag in the direction of the outflow, through the hollow shaft(1), the hose(9) is slightly deformed through the opening(8) in the tubular part(5) of the hollow shaft (1), causing the product to move further through the recess(7) in the ring-shaped raised edge(6) towards the outflow opening. As shown in figure 2, the flexible hose (9) extends over the ring-shaped raised edge(6). This allows the product to be moved outwards through the recess(7). At its extremity towards the outflow, the hollow shaft(1) is sealed with a device(11), that causes pressure build-up in the hollow shaft(1). According to this embodiment, the device (11) is a ball. It goes without saying that any device (11) that can seal the hollow shaft(1) via the outflow is covered by this invention.

[0017] As soon as the pressure on the hose (9) decreases, the shape is restored and fits tightly against the tubular part (5) of the hollow shaft (1) again.

[0018] The flexible hose (9) is slid over the hollow shaft(1) over the tubular part(5) and fits over the groove(4) at one extremity and over the recess(7) of the ring-shaped raised edge (6) at its other extremity. The flexible hose (9) is thus secured between the cylinder(3) and the ring-shaped raised edge(6).

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received bythe InternationalBureau on 5 November2025 (05.11.2025)1.A bag-on-valve dispensing mechanism that comprises a hollow through-flow shaft (1), with a seal(11) at its outflow, fitted with openings to dispense a product and in which the outflow of the hollow through-flow shaft(1) is fitted with a tubular body(5), located between a cylinder(3) with a larger diameter than the tubular body (5) at one extremity and a ring-shaped raised edge (6) at its other extremity and in which the tubular body (5) has at least one opening(8) and is characterised by the fact that a flexible hose (9) covers at least one opening (8) in the tubular body(5) between the cylinder (3) fitted with a groove (4) and the ringshaped raised edge(6), fitted with at least a recess (7) and in which the flexible hose (9) is released under pressure to cause the product to flow through at least one opening (8) in the tubular body (5) and subsequently through at least a recess (7) in the ring-shaped raised edge (6).2.A bag-on-valve dispensing mechanism according to claim 1 and characterised by the fact that the flexible hose (7) is slid over at least a ring-shaped raised edge (6) in order to be placed onto the hollow shaft (1) and to be fastened between the cylinder (3) and the ring-shaped raised edge (6).3.A bag-on-valve dispensing mechanism according to claims 1 and 2 and characterised by the fact that the flexible hose(9) consists of an elastic plastic.4.A bag-on-valve dispensing mechanism according to claim 1 and characterised by the fact that the product under the flexible hose (9) flows out through at least one opening(8) in the tubular body(5) andsubsequently through at least one recess(7) in the ring-shaped raised edge(6), as a result of pressure build-up in the product.5.A bag-on-valve dispensing mechanism according to at least one of the claims above and characterised by the fact that the seal(11) near the outflow causes pressure build-up in the hollow shaft(1).6.A bag-on-valve dispensing mechanism according to claim 5 and characterised by the fact that the seal (11) is a ball.

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