Pressure generating apparatus

• US 4,360,131 A
• Filed: 01/08/1981
• Issued: 11/23/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CCL Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enviro-Spray Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Reyner, Ellis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Application Number:
  US06/223,422
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 222/394, 222/386.4, 222/94, 222/190, 222/399, 222/55, 222/61, 222/52
• US Class Current: 222/386.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/625 the propellant being generated by a chemical or electrochemical reaction for pressure gas in portable fire extinguishers A62C13/02

Abstract

A flexible enclosed plastic bag disposable in a product container for supplying dispensing pressure therein. The bag contains an envelope having its outer sides permanently attached to the respective inside walls of the bag. One of the sides of the envelope has one of a two component gas generating system disposed in a plurality of aligned pocket members formed therein with their openings facing the other side of the envelope, the latter being releasably adhered to the first mentioned side to enclose one component in the pockets. The bag contains the second component and a starting means to initially generate gas and expand the bag and develop product dispensing pressure within the container. As the product is dispensed, expansion of the bag causes sequential separation of the sides of the envelope and serial opening of the pockets to add aliquots of the first component to the second component and further generate gas and maintain pressure in the container until substantially all of the product is dispensed from the container.

Claims

1. In an aerosol type dispenser, internal expulsion means for developing and maintaining relatively constant gaseous dispensing pressure for the product being dispensed, said means comprising an enclosed, fluid impermeable flexible pouch disposed within said dispenser, and having a pair of facing wall members, a plurality of pocket members disposed within said pouch in spaced relation to one another and affixed to the interior of a first of said wall members, closure members associated with the interior of the other said wall member and releasably closing each of said pocket members, a first component of a two-component gas generation mixture disposed within each pocket member, the second component of said two-component gas generation mixture disposed within said pouch and externally of said enclosed pocket members, starting delay means disposed within said pouch in contact with said second component for causing the initial generation of gas after a prescribed period of time, said pocket members being sequentially severable from said closure members to empty their contents into admixture with said second component to generate more gas as said pouch expands due to the dispensing of said product.

2. In an aerosol type dispenser, internal expulsion means for developing and maintaining relatively constant gaseous dispensing pressure for the product being dispensed, said means comprising an enclosed, fluid impermeable flexible pouch disposed within said dispenser, and having a pair of facing wall members, a plurality of interconnected pocket members disposed within said pouch in spaced relation to one another and affixed to the interior of a first of said wall members, a common closure member associated with the interior of the other said wall member and releasably closing each of said pocket members, a first component of a two-component gas generation mixture disposed within each pocket member, the second component of said two-component component gas generation mixture disposed within said pouch and externally of said enclosed pocket members, starting delay means disposed within said pouch in contact with said second component for causing the initial generation of gas after a prescribed period of time, each said pocket member being sequentially severable from said closure member to empty their contents into admixture with said second component to generate more gas as said pouch expands due to the dispensing of said product.

3. In an aerosol type dispenser, internal expulsion means for developing and maintaining relatively constant gaseous dispensing pressure for the product being dispensed, said means comprising an enclosed, fluid impermeable flexible pouch disposed within said dispenser, and having a pair of facing wall members, a plurality of interconnected pocket members disposed within said pouch in spaced relation to one another and affixed to the interior of a first of said wall members, a common closure member associated with the interior of the other said wall members and releasably closing each of said pocket members, a first component of a two-component gas generation mixture disposed within each pocket member, the second component of said two-component gas generation mixture disposed within said pouch and externally of said enclosed pocket members, starting delay means carrying a portion of said first component and disposed within said pouch in contact with said second component for causing the initial generation of gas after a prescribed period of time, said pocket members being sequentially severable from said closure member to empty their contents into admixture with said second component to generate more gas as said pouch expands due to the dispensing of said product.

4. In the apparatus of claim 3, said pouch comprised of plastic, being generally elongated and completely enclosed, and said pocket members being disposed at spaced positions generally longitudinally of said pouch.

5. In the apparatus of claim 4, said pocket members being formed in a first plastic sheet adhered to said first wall member and said common closure member comprised of a second plastic sheet adhered to said other wall member.

6. In the apparatus of claim 5, each said pocket member containing citric acid solution as said first component and said pouch containing sodium bicarbonate powder and water as said second component, and said gas being carbon dioxide.

25. In the apparatus of claim 5 a plurality of relatively short heat sealed portions, each adjacent and laterally spaced from a respective one of said pocket members, said heat sealed portions permanently joining said first wall member and said first sheet and said second wall member and said second sheet, and releasably joining said second sheet relative to said first sheet, said heat sealed portions being staggered diagonally longitudinally relative to said pocket members to accommodate sequential expansion of said pouch during use.

7. In a self-pressuring dispensing apparatus of the type having an outer container, a manually actuatable atomizing and dispensing valve on said container, a dispensible medium within said container and means within said container for providing dispensing pressure for said medium, the improvement comprising a liquid impermeable expansible envelope disposed within said container, said dispensible medium disposed externally of said envelope, a first component of a two-component gas generating composition disposed within said envelope, and a pair of sheets permanently attached on their outer surfaces to the inner facing surfaces of said envelope and releasably adhered to one another, at least one of said sheets having a plurality of depressions in its surface each carrying an aliquot of the second component of said composition, the other sheet closing and encapsulating the second component in said depressions and being adapted, upon outward expansion of said envelope due to the pressure of carbon dioxide generated therein and the dispensing of said medium through said valve, to gradually separate from said first sheet and to sequentially open the enclosed depressions thereby permitting said aliquots of said second component to contact said first component and generate additional carbon dioxide within said envelope.

9. In the apparatus of claim 7, said first component comprised of a compound selected from the class consisting of barium carbonate, calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate and said second component being a water soluble acid.

10. In the apparatus of claim 7, said first component comprised of sodium bicarbonate and said second component being a water soluble carboxylic acid.

11. In the apparatus of claim 7, said first component comprised of sodium bicarbonate and said second component being citric acid.

12. In the apparatus of claim 11, said envelope comprised of a three layer laminated plastic, the external layer being mylar polyester 0.5 to 3.00 mils in thickness, the inner layer being low density polyethylene 0.5 to 20 mils in thickness, and the middle layer being saran deposited by spraying at least one of the inner surfaces of said mylar and polyethylene layers.

13. In the apparatus of claim 12, the sheet of said pair carrying said depressions comprised of a two-layer plastic lamination having an outer layer of low density polyethylene about 0.5 to 10.00 mils thick attached to said envelope and an inner layer of polypropylene 0.1 to 8 mils thick.

14. In the apparatus of claim 13, the other said sheet of said pair comprised of a three layer plastic sandwich lamination having an inner Mylar layer of 0.3 to 3.00 mils thickness, the outer layers of the sandwich having low density polyethylene of 0.3 to 20 mils thick each.

8. In a self-pressuring dispensing apparatus of the type having an outer container, a manually actuatable atomizing and dispensing valve on said container, a dispensible medium within said container and means within said container for providing dispensing pressure for said medium, the improvement comprising a liquid impermeable expansible envelope disposed within said container, said dispensible medium disposed externally of said envelope, a first component of a two-component gas generating composition disposed within said envelope, and a pair of sheets permanently attached on their outer surfaces to the inner facing surfaces of said envelope and releasably adhered to one another over substantially their entire contacting surfaces, at least one of said sheets having a plurality of depressions in its surface each carrying an aliquot of the second component of said composition, the other sheet closing and encapsulating the second component in said depressions and being adapted, upon outward expansion of said envelope due to the pressure of carbon dioxide gas generated therein and the dispensing of said medium through said valve, to gradually separate from said first sheet and to sequentially open the enclosed depressions thereby permitting said aliquots of said second component to contact said first component and generate additional carbon dioxide within said envelope.

15. In a self-pressuring dispensing apparatus of the type having an outer container, a manually actuatable atomizing and dispensing valve on said container, a dispensible medium within said container and means within said container for providing dispensing pressure for said medium, the improvement comprising a liquid impermeable expansible envelope disposed within said container, said dispensible medium disposed externally of said envelope, a first component of a two-component gas generating composition disposed within said envelope, and an enfoldment of two sheets permanently adhered on their outer surfaces to the inner facing surfaces of said envelope and releasably adhered to one another, at least one of said sheets having a plurality of depressions in its surface each carrying an aliquot of the second component of said composition, the other sheet enclosing and encapsulating the second component in said depressions and being adapted, upon outward expansion of said envelope due to the pressure of carbon dioxide generated therein and the dispensing of said medium through said valve, to gradually separate from said first sheet and to sequentially open the enclosed depressions thereby permitting said aliquots of said second component to contact said first component and generate additional carbon dioxide within said envelope.

16. In a self-pressuring dispensing apparatus of the type having an outer container, a manually actuatable atomizing and dispensing valve on said container, a liquid medium within said container to be dispensed, and means within said container for providing dispensing pressure for said medium, the improvement comprising a liquid impermeable expansible envelope disposed within said container, said liquid medium disposed externally of said envelope, a first component of a two-component carbon dioxide generating composition disposed within said envelope, and a pair of two generally congruent sheets permanently adhered on their outer surfaces to the inner facing surfaces of said envelope and releasably adhered along at least portions of their respective margins to one another, at least one of said sheets having a plurality of cup-shaped depressions in its surface at longitudinally spaced positions each carrying an aliquot of the second component of said composition, the other sheet enclosing and encapsulating the second component in said depressions and being adapted, upon outward expansion of of said envelope due to the pressure of carbon dioxide generated therein and the dispensing of said medium through said valve, to gradually separate from said first sheet and to sequentially open the enclosed cups thereby permitting said aliquots of said second component to contact said first component and generate additional carbon dioxide within said envelope.

18. In the apparatus of claim 16, said first component being sodium bicarbonate solution, said second component being citric acid solution, and said apparatus including delaying means within said envelope encapsulating citric acid for introducing said sodium bicarbonate into said citric acid solution to initiate the generation of carbon dioxide gas within said envelope after a predetermined time delay.

17. In a self-pressuring dispensing apparatus of the type having an outer container, a manually actuatable atomizing and dispensing valve on said container, a liquid medium within said container to be dispensed, and means within said container for providing dispensing pressure for said medium, the improvement comprising a liquid impermeable expansible envelope disposed within said container, said liquid medium disposed externally of said envelope, a first component of a two-component carbon dioxide generating composition disposed within said envelope, and an enfoldment of two generally congruent sheets permanently adhered on their outer surfaces to the inner facing surfaces of said envelope and releasably adhered along at least portions of their respective margins to one another, at least one of said sheets having a plurality of cup-shaped depressions in its surface at longitudinally spaced positions each carrying an aliquot of the second component of said composition, the other sheet enclosing and encapsulating the second component in said depressions and being adapted, upon outward expansion of said envelope due to the pressure of carbon dioxide generated therein and the dispensing of said medium through said valve, to gradually separate from said first sheet and to sequentially open the enclosed cups thereby permitting said aliquots of said second component to contact said first component and generate additional carbon dioxide within said envelope.

19. Expulsion means for developing and maintaining relatively constant gaseous dispensing pressure in a container for a product being disposed from said container, said means comprising an enclosed, fluid impermeable flexible pouch adapted to be disposed within said container and having a pair of facing wall members, a plurality of pocket members disposed within said pouch in spaced relation to one another and each affixed to the interior of a respective one of said wall members, a closure member for each pocket member associated with the interior of the other said wall member and releasably enclosing said pocket member, a first component of a two-component gas generation mixture disposed within each pocket member, the second component of said two-component gas generation mixture disposed within said pouch and externally of said enclosed pocket members, starting delay means carrying a portion of said first component and disposed within said pouch in contact with said second component for causing the initial generation of gas after a prescribed period of time, said pocket members being sequentially severable from their closure members to empty their contents into admixture with said second component to generate more gas as said pouch expands.

22. In the apparatus of claim 19, said pouch comprised of laminated plastic film having an interior layer of low density polyethylene, said pocket members comprised of laminated plastic film having an exterior layer of low density polyethylene from about 0.5 to about 20 mils thick and an interior layer of polypropylene from about 0.1 to about 10.00 mils thick, and said polyethylene layers of said pouch and said pocket members being permanently heat sealed together.

23. In the apparatus of claim 22, each said closure member having at least one surface comprised of low density polyethylene of from about 0.1 to 20 mils thick and being permanently adhered to the interior of its associated wall member at that surface.

24. In the apparatus of claim 23, each said pocket member and its closure member being releasably heat sealed together.

20. Expulsion means for developing and maintaining relatively constant gaseous dispensing pressure in a container for a product being dispensed from the container, said means comprising an enclosed, fluid impermeable flexible pouch adapted to be disposed within said container and having a pair of facing wall members, a plurality of pocket members disposed within said pouch in spaced relation to one another and affixed to the interior of a first of said wall members, a common closure member associated with the interior of the other side wall member and releasably enclosing each of said pocket members, a first component of a two-component gas generation mixture disposed within each pocket member, the second component of said two-component gas generation mixture disposed within said pouch and externally of said enclosed pocket members, starting delay means carrying a portion of said first component and disposed within said pouch in contact with said second component for causing the initial generation of gas after a prescribed period of time, said pocket members being sequentially severable from said closure member to empty their contents into admixture with said second component to generate more gas as said pouch expands.

21. Expulsion means for developing and maintaining relatively constant gaseous dispensing pressure in an aerosol type dispenser for the product being dispensed, said means comprising an enclosed, elongated fluid impermeable flexible pouch adapted to be disposed within said dispenser, and having a pair of facing wall members, a plurality of pocket members disposed within said pouch in spaced relation to one another and generally longitudinally of said pouch and affixed to the interior of a first of said wall members, a common closure member associated with the interior of the other said wall member and releasably enclosing each of said pocket members, a first component of a two-component gas generation mixture disposed within each pocket member, the second component of said two-component gas generation mixture disposed within said pouch and externally of said enclosed pocket members, starting delay means carrying a third component and disposed within said pouch in contact with said second component for causing the initial generation of gas after a prescribed period of time, said pocket members being sequentially severable from said closure member to empty their contents into admixture with said second component to generate more gas as said pouch expands.