Valve Filling Head With Radial Sealing and Ejector Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filling heads for fluid product dispensing devices with metering valves suffer from variability in valve position during filling, leading to seal deformation and potential valve malfunctions due to stress exertion, which complicates the filling process and increases manufacturing and assembly costs.

Innovation Solution

A filling head design featuring a control member with dynamic and static seals, an ejector system, and a receiving space that minimizes contact zones with the valve, ensuring precise control over valve position and reducing stress on the valve body by applying pressure only to the radially external parts of the fixing element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a seal is located on the upper axial edge of the valve to ensure sealing during filling, then sealing reliability is improved, but variability in valve position increases due to seal compression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidvalve position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the seal from an axial position (upper axial edge) to a radial position (external lateral side wall). This dimensional change allows the seal to contact the valve in a different orientation, eliminating the compression-induced position variability while maintaining sealing effectiveness during the filling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the filling head exerts stress on the valve body to secure the valve during filling, then valve stability is improved, but valve body deformation may occur causing malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve stabilityVSAvoidvalve functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies stress locally to the radially external parts of the fixing element rather than distributing stress across the entire valve body. The seal contacts only the external lateral side wall, and the ejector acts only on the fixing element, leaving the valve body's metering chamber and internal structures free from deforming stresses that could cause malfunctions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the functions of different components: the seal handles sealing, the ejector handles positioning and ejection, and the filling head handles fluid delivery. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function without imposing unwanted stresses on the valve body, maintaining both stability and functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the valve spring is tightly wound to define the fully actuated position, then dose dispensing precision is improved, but variability in bottom dead center position increases during filling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose dispensing precisionVSAvoidbottom dead center position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the ejector as an intermediary component that actively controls the valve's position during filling. The ejector pushes the fixing element to precisely position the valve at the desired bottom dead center location, independent of spring tension variations. This intermediary mechanism decouples the dose dispensing precision (maintained by spring tension) from the filling position precision (controlled by the ejector).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design stabilizes the valve position during filling, reduces seal variability, and protects the valve body from stress, enhancing filling reliability and simplifying assembly while maintaining operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a first spring disposed between said support ring and said body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a second spring disposed between said ejector sleeve and said upper plate and urging said at least one ejector towards its ejection position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

a third sealing gasket between said receiving plate and said valve, said third gasket cooperating with an external side wall of said valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 4

said control member comprising a filling channel through which, in the filling position, the pressurized fluid product is supplied to said valve to fill said tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure increase: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4399153B1Filling head for a device for dispensing a fluid product having a valve
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 APTAR FRANCE SAS
  • EP4399153B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4399153B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4399153B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

The invention relates to a filling head for a device having a valve (100) comprising a valve shutter (120), said head having: - a body (50) having a receiving space (55), - a control member (10) that slides in the body (50) between rest and filling positions, said member (10) having a channel (15) that opens into the receiving space (55), - a ring (30) that is fixed to the member (10) and cooperates with a spring (7) disposed between the ring (30) and the body (50), and - a plate (70) that is fixed to the body (50) and has a housing (71) for receiving the valve (100), such that, in the filling position, the valve shutter (120) opens into the receiving space (55), wherein, in the filling position, the receiving space (55) is sealed off, having a first seal (4) between the control member (10) and the body (50), a second seal (5) between the body (50) and the receiving plate (70), and a third seal (6) between the receiving plate (70) and the valve shutter (120), said third seal (6) cooperating with an external lateral wall of the valve shutter (120).