Pressure capsule for spray can, and spray can which utilizes such a capsule

• US 5,090,595 A
• Filed: 02/22/1991
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jaico CV Cooperatieve Venootschap
• Original Assignee: Jaico CV Cooperatieve Venootschap
• Inventors: Vandoninck, Alfons
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/659,574
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 222/54, 222/61, 222/130, 222/396, 222/399, 222/394, 222/402.1, 222/510, 222/3, 222/1, 222/129, 222/145, 53/470
• US Class Current: 222/54
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/14 for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/663 at least a portion of the propellant being separated from the product and incrementally released by means of a pressure regulator

Abstract

Pressure capsule for spray can, characterized by the fact that it principally consists of at least two chambers (2, 3), the first of which (2) is intended to be filled with fluid under relatively high pressure and the second of which (3) is intended to be filled with a fluid up to a pressure equal or practically equal to the overpressure which normally exists in a spray can (19) and which is needed for expelling a liquid (18); in the wall of the second chamber (3), a membrane (5) that can control the valve (4); and a removable element (6) that, in its unremoved condition, keeps the valve (4) closed.

Claims

1. In a spray can (19) having a liquid (18) to be expelled, a pressure capsule fixedly mounted in the spray can, the capsule comprising first and second chambers (2, 3), the first chamber being filled with a first fluid under a first pressure and the second chamber being filled with a second fluid under pressure approximately equal to an overpressure present in the spray can for expelling the liquid (18), the first pressure being higher than the overpressure;

a valve (4) in a wall of the first chamber (2);

a membrane (5) forming a wall of the second chamber and controlling the valve (4);

a removable element (6) for maintaining the valve (4) in a closed position when the removable element is in its non-removed condition, wherein the capsule can be prepressurized when the removable element is in its non-removed condition.

2. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the removable element (6) forms a mechanical lock for the valve (4).

3. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, including a third (7) chamber, the second and third chambers being filled with one and the same fluid, which is under a pressure approximately equal to the overpressure for expelling a liquid (18);

the valve (4) is positioned between the first chamber (2) and the third chamber (7);

the membrane (5) is located between the second chamber (3) and the third chamber (7) for controlling the valve (4).

4. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the chambers (2, 3, 7) are filled with pressurized air.

5. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the chambers (2, 3, 7) are filled with an inert gas.

6. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber (2) is filled with a fluid that occurs in liquid form under the pressure which is applied in the first chamber (2).

7. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the valve (4) is also forced into its closed position by a spring (9).

8. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the valve has a valve stem having a free tip, the free tip of the valve stem (10) is located in the vicinity of the membrane (5) when the valve (4) is closed.

9. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein at least the first chamber (2) and the second chamber (3) have openings (12, 13) and means for sealing the openings.

10. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the chambers (2, 3, 7) are arranged on an axis, one behind the other.

11. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the valve (4) is centrally positioned with respect to the axis of the capsule.

12. Pressure capsule according the claim 1, wherein the capsule has an axial passageway, the diameter of which is larger than that of a vertical tube (20) of the spray can (19).

13. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the pressure capsule (1) are fitted with at least one fin for fixedly mounting said capsule.

14. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the first chamber (2) is on the order of 4 to 35 kg/cm².

15. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the overpressure in the second chamber (3) is on the order of 0.5 to 4.5 kg/cm².

16. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the pressure capsule is principally made of synthetic material.

17. Pressure capsule according to claim 6, wherein the synthetic material is reinforced with a filler of fiber glass.

18. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the pressure capsule comprises a reservoir (28);

a partition (8) attached to the reservoir;

a closure housing (29) that closes off the reservoir; and

a membrane (5) mounted between edges of the reservoir (28) and the closure housing (29), the valve (4) being mounted in the partition (8).

19. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the pressure capsule comprises a valve stem forming part of the valve;

a closure housing separating the first and second chambers, the closure housing having a top, bottom and side and wherein the top has a hollow, and the side has an opening, and further comprising a passageway for the valve stem and for the fluid out of the first chamber;

the second chamber comprising a lid attached to the closure housing;

a membrane mounted between the closure housing and lid; and

wherein the valve stem is attached to the membrane.

20. Pressure capsule according to claim 19, wherein the closure housing (38) is attached to the reservoir (37) by means of square-angled screw thread (44).

21. Pressure capsule according to claim 20, wherein silicon is applied between the screw threads (44).

22. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein along the membrane (5) a membrane plate (25) is provided, to which a valve stem (10) of the valve (4) is attached.

23. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the valve (4) comprises a ball bearing (35) fitted in a set (34);

the ball bearing (35) can be moved by means of a valve pusher, which works together with the membrane (5).

24. Pressure capsule according to claim 1, wherein the pressure capsule is comprised solely of the two chambers (2, 3);

the membrane (5) and the valve (4) open onto the environment of the pressure capsule (1).

25. Pressure capsule according to claim 24, wherein the pressure capsule principally comprises a cylinder (50);

placed in the cylinder, is a partition (53), which divides the cylinder (5), respectively, into the first and second chambers (2,

     3);

a first end wall (51), in which the valve (4) is mounted;

a second end wall (52), in which the membrane (5) is placed;

passing through the partition (53) is a valve stem (10), which connects the membrane (5) internally with the valve (4) and, clamped in a holder (49), is the removable element (6) which, by its presence, prevents the membrane (5) from flexing outward.

26. Pressure capsule fixedly mounted in a spray can, comprising:

first and second chambers (2,

     3), the first chamber of which (2) is intended to be filled with a fluid under a first pressure and the second chamber (3) which is intended to be filled with a fluid that is under a pressure which is up to a pressure equal or practically equal to the overpressure that is present in a spray can (19) and which is needed for expelling a liquid (18), the first pressure being higher than the overpressure;

in the wall of the first chamber (2) a valve (4);

in the wall of the second chamber (3) a membrane (5) that can control the valve (4); and

a removable element (6) which, in its non-removed condition, keeps the valve (4) closed, the removable element (6) being made of a material having a melting temperature of 30 to 50 degrees Celsius.

27. Pressure capsule according to claim 26, wherein the material utilized is wax.

28. Pressure capsule fixedly mounted in a spray can, comprising:

at least two chambers (2,

     3), the first chamber of which (2) is intended to be filled with a fluid under a first pressure and the second chamber (3) which is intended to be filled with a fluid that is under a pressure which is up to a pressure equal or practically equal to the overpressure that is present in a spray can (19) and which is needed for expelling a liquid (18), the first pressure being higher than the overpressure;

in the wall of the first chamber (2) is a valve (4);

in the wall of the second chamber (3) is a membrane (5) that can control the valve (4); and

a removable element (6) which, in its non-removed condition, keeps the vale (4) closed, the removable element (6) being produced of a material that is soluble in the liquid (19) of the spray can (19) for which the capsule (1) is intended.

29. Pressure capsule according to claim 28 wherein the removable element (6) is sugar.

30. Pressure capsule according to claim 28, wherein the removable element (6) is polyvinyl alcohol.

31. Method of making a capsule for insertion into a spray can, comprising:

a) forming a pressure capsule with first and second pressure chambers,

b) filling the first chamber with a first fluid under a first pressure higher than an overpressure present in the spray can when filled with liquid for expelling a liquid,

c) filling the second chamber with a second fluid under a pressure approximately equal to the overpressure,

(d) forming a valve in a wall of the first chamber,

(e) forming a wall of the second chamber of a membrane, the membrane cooperating with the valve,

(f) placing a removable element on the capsule,

g) after filling the chambers with fluid, placing the capsule in the spray can wherein the capsule is fixedly connected in the spray can.

32. The method of claim 31, including filling the spray can with liquid.