System comprising a nozzle and a fixing means therefor

• US 20050077392A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Hochrainer, Dieter, Geser, Johannes, Wachtel, Herbert, Dunne, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,284,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/398
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/26 with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1091 being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released B05B11/1092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/65 Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits

Abstract

The invention relates to a nozzle system for a delivery device for liquids, wherein the nozzle system comprises a nozzle and a device which fixes the nozzle in the delivery device. The delivery device, an atomiser, has a liquid reservoir from which a liquid is forced through the nozzle under pressure. The nozzle fixing means may itself be secured by a second fixing, e.g., in the form of a check nut, or the fixing may itself be a check nut. According to the invention the fixing means on the nozzle outlet side has a specific geometry which minimises the proportion of dispensed liquid deposited on the fixing means. Preferably, the present invention is part of a propellant-free device for nebulising pharmaceutical liquids.

Claims

1. Nozzle system (1) which consists of a nozzle (3) having at least two nozzle apertures (11) and a nozzle holder (4) and optionally a check nut (2), wherein

the nozzle apertures (11) or the nozzle channels (9) opening into the nozzle apertures (11) are arranged so that the jets leaving the nozzle apertures (11) are aimed towards one another at an angle α

,

the nozzle (3) is arranged in the nozzle holder (4) and this is optionally fixed by a check nut (2),

in the assembled state the nozzle holder (4) or the check nut (2) or both extend at least partially into the area in front of the nozzle apertures (11),

characterised in that

in the assembled state the nozzle holder (4) or, if the nozzle system (1) has a check nut (2), the nozzle holder (4) together with the check nut (2) has an inner recess,

which begins on the side adjacent to the end face of the nozzle (3) and extends as far as the outside of the nozzle holder (4) parallel thereto or, in the case of a check nut (2), as far as the outside thereof parallel to the end face of the nozzle,

which, viewed from the end face of the nozzle (3), widens out steadily and continuously in the direction of the outside of the nozzle holder (4) parallel thereto or, in the case of a check nut (2), the outside of said check nut parallel thereto.

2. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that a check nut (2) is provided.

3. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the recess (5) is funnel-shaped or conical.

4. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the recess (5) of conical construction has a cone angle 2θ

in the range between 55° and

155°

.

5. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the recess (5) of conical construction has a cone angle 2θ

in the range between 70° and

140°

.

6. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the recess (5) of conical construction has a cone angle 2θ

in the range between 70° and

85°

.

7. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the recess (5) of conical construction has a cone angle 2θ

in the range between 95° and

140°

.

8. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the recess (5) of conical construction has a cone angle 2θ

in the range between 105° and

125°

.

9. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the point of collision (10) where the jets meet has a height of impact h above the nozzle apertures (11) which is in the range between 20 μ

m and 85 μ

m.

10. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that the point of collision (10) where the jets meet has a height of impact h above the nozzle apertures (11) which is in the range between 25 μ

m and 75 μ

m.

11. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that the point of collision (10) where the jets meet has a height of impact h above the nozzle apertures (11) which is in the range between 35 μ

m and 75 μ

m.

12. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the angle α

is in the range between 50° and

110°

.

13. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that the angle α

is in the range between 65° and

95°

.

14. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 13, characterised in that the angle α

is in the range between 75° and

90°

.

15. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the spacing a of the nozzle apertures (11) is in the range between 40 μ

m and 125 μ

m.

16. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 15, characterised in that the spacing a of the nozzle apertures (11) is in the range between 50 μ

m and 115 μ

m.

17. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 15, characterised in that the spacing a of the nozzle apertures (11) is in the range between 60 μ

m and 105 μ

m.

18. Nozzle system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that in the assembled state only the nozzle holder (4) extends into the area in front of the nozzle apertures (11).

19. Nozzle system according to claim 1, characterised in that the nozzle is formed from at least two construction units.

20. Nozzle system according to claim 1, characterised in that the nozzle is formed from at least two superimposed plates, at least one of the plates having a second microstructure so that the plates lying one on top of the other define, on one side, a liquid inlet connected to a channel system and/or a filter system which then opens into one or more liquid outlets.

21. Delivery device for liquids, characterised in that it comprises a nozzle system according to one of claim 1.

22. Delivery device according to claim 21, characterised in that it is an atomiser for pharmaceutical liquids.

23. Delivery device according to claim 21, characterised in that the device comprises a lower and an upper housing part mounted to be rotatable relative to one another, the upper part of the housing containing a spring housing with spring which is tensioned by rotating the two housing parts by means of a locking clamping mechanism preferably in the form of a screw thread or gear and is released by pressing a release button on the upper part of the housing, the spring meanwhile moving a power take-off flange connected to a hollow piston on the lower end of which a container can be fitted and at the upper end of which are found a valve and a pressure chamber which is connected for fluid transmission to the nozzle or the nozzle system formed in the upwardly open part of the upper housing part.

24. Delivery device according to claim 23, characterised in that the device is an inhaler or some other atomiser for medicinal liquids.