Fluid dispensing apparatus with prestressed bladder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid dispenser comprisinga container body;
- a resilient bladder of generally tubular shape having an open end; and
an internal prestressing mandrel comprising a first end, a second end, at least three fins joined at a common longitudinal edge to form a plurality of passages therealong, and a flange on the first end connectable to a valve means, said resilient bladder being stretched around the mandrel and sealed around the first end and the second end of the mandrel, the resilient bladder being subjected to both radial and axial stresses,wherein the valve means comprises a ferrule having a gasket surface on one side thereof;
a spring;
a cup member positioned within the first end of the mandrel, the cup member having a shoulder therein and biased by the spring against the gasket surface to form a seal against the gasket surface; and
a hollow stem inserted through the ferrule and the gasket surface and into the cup member contacting the shoulder therein, the gasket surface sealing against an outer surface of the hollow steim, the cup member being movable away from the gasket surface by depression of the hollow stem forming a communication channel from the passages, past the gasket surface into the cup member, and into the hollow stem,wherein the ferrule secures the valve means to the flange.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing for fluids. The apparatus generates its own positive pressure from a prestressed elastomeric material. The dispenser includes a resiliant bladder of generally tubular shape having an open end into which an internal prestressing mandrel is inserted to prestress the bladder in both the radial and axial directions. The mandrel has at least three fins joined along longitudinal edges to form a plurality of passages, the bladder being joined or otherwise secured to the mandrel at both ends, and the passages being in communication with a valve means. A simplified valve means for filling and dispensing is also included
141 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A fluid dispenser comprising
a container body; -
a resilient bladder of generally tubular shape having an open end; and an internal prestressing mandrel comprising a first end, a second end, at least three fins joined at a common longitudinal edge to form a plurality of passages therealong, and a flange on the first end connectable to a valve means, said resilient bladder being stretched around the mandrel and sealed around the first end and the second end of the mandrel, the resilient bladder being subjected to both radial and axial stresses, wherein the valve means comprises a ferrule having a gasket surface on one side thereof;
a spring;
a cup member positioned within the first end of the mandrel, the cup member having a shoulder therein and biased by the spring against the gasket surface to form a seal against the gasket surface; and
a hollow stem inserted through the ferrule and the gasket surface and into the cup member contacting the shoulder therein, the gasket surface sealing against an outer surface of the hollow steim, the cup member being movable away from the gasket surface by depression of the hollow stem forming a communication channel from the passages, past the gasket surface into the cup member, and into the hollow stem,wherein the ferrule secures the valve means to the flange. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A dispensing apparatus comprising
(a) a mandrel comprised of: -
a first end portion including a flange, the flange being connectable to a valve means, a second end portion, and a middle portion between the first and second end portions, the middle portion comprised of at least three fins joined longitudinally along a common inner edge, the fins extending radially outward from the common inner edge and being angularly spaced from each other forming passages therebetween; (b) a resilient bladder stretched both axially and radially over the mandrel, the resilient bladder having a first open end connected to the first end portion and a second end connected to the second end portion; and (c) a valve means connected to the flange on the first end of the mandrel, the passages extending through the first end of the mandrel providing fluid communication between the passages and the valve means, wherein the valve means comprises a ferrule having a gasket surface on one side thereof;
a spring;
a cup member positioned within the first end of the mandrel, the cup member having a shoulder therein and biassed by the spring against the gasket surface to form a seal against the gasket surface; and
a hollow stem inserted through the ferrule and the gasket surface and into the cup member contacting the shoulder therein, the gasket surface sealing against an outer surface of the hollow stem, the cup member being movable away from the gasket surface by depression of the hollow stem forming a communication channel from the passages, past the gasket surface into the cup member, and into the hollow stem,and wherein the ferrule secures the valve means to the flange. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 17, 18)
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10. A fluid dispenser comprising
a container body; -
a resilient bladder of generally tubular shape having and open end; and an internal prestressing mandrel comprising a first end, a second end, at least three fins joined at a common longitudinal edge to form a plurality of passages therealong, and a flange on the first end connectable to a valve means, said resilient bladder being stretched around the mandrel and sealed around the first end and the second end of the mandrel, the resilient bladder being subjected to both radial and axial stresses, wherein the fins have arcuate extension means along outer edges thereof for reducing volume of the passages. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A fluid dispenser comprising
a container body; -
a resilient bladder of generally tubular shape having and open end; and an internal prestressing mandrel comprising a first end, a second end, at least three fins joined at a common longitudinal edge to form a plurality of passages therealong, and a flange on the first end connectable to a valve means, said resilient bladder being stretched around the mandrel and sealed around the first end and the second end of the mandrel, the resilient bladder being subjected to both radial and axial stresses, wherein the mandrel has inner arcuate segment means between the fins for reducing volume of the passages.
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13. A dispensing apparatus comprising
(a) a mandrel comprised of: -
a first end portion including a flange, the flange being connectable to a valve means, a second end portion, and a middle portion between the first and second end portions, the middle portion comprised of at least three fins joined longitudinally along a common inner edge, the fins extending radially outward from the common inner egde and being angularly spaced from each other forming passages therebetween; (b) a resilient bladder stretched both axially and radially over the mandrel, the resilient bladder having a first open and connected to the first end portion and a second end connected to the second end portion; and (c) a valve means connected to the flange on the first end of the mandrel, the passages extending through the first end of the mandrel providing fluid communication between the passages and the valve means; wherein the fins have arcuate extension means along outer edges thereof for reducing volume of the passages. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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14. A dispensing apparatus comprising
(a) a mandrel comprised of: -
a first end portion including a flange, the flange being connectable to a valve means, a second end portion, and a middle portion between the first and second end portions, the middle portion comprised of at least three fins joined longitudinally along a common inner edge, the fins extending radially outward from the common inner edge and being angularly spaced from each other forming passages therebetween; (b) a resilient bladder stretched both axially and radially over the mandrel, the resilient bladder having a first open end connected to the first end portion and a second end connected to the second end portion; and (c) a valve means connected to the flange on the first end of the mandrel, the passages extending through the first end of the mandrel providing fluid communication between the passages and the valve means; wherein the mandrel has inner arcuate segment means between the fins for reducing volume of the passages.
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16. A dispensing apparatus comprising
(a) a mandrel comprised of: -
a first end portion including a flange, the flange being connectable to a valve means, a second end portion, and a middle portion between the first and second end portions, the middle portion having passage therein; (b) a resilient bladder stretched over the mandrel, the resilient bladder having a first open end connected to the first end portion; and (c) a valve means connected to the flange on the first end of the mandrel, the passages extending through the first end of the mandrel providing fluid communication from inside the mandrel to the valve means, wherein the valve means comprises a ferrule having a gasket surface on one side thereof;
a spring;
a cup member positioned within the first end of the mandrel, the cup member having a shoulder therein and biassed by the spring against the gasket surface to form a seal against the gasket surface; and
a hollow stem inserted through the ferrule and the gasket surface and into the cup member contacting the shoulder therein, the gasket surface sealing against an outer surface of the hollow stem, the cup member being movable away from the gasket surface by depression of the hollow stem forming a communication channel from the passages, past the gasket surface into the cup member, and into the hollow stem,and wherein the ferrule secures the valve means to the flange.
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19. A fluid dispenser having an inlet end and an outlet end with a flow restrictor and flow tube associated with the outlet end, comprising
a container body, a mandrel comprising a first end comprising a fill end, a second end comprising an exit end, the exit end providing an exit connection, an elongated middle portion between the first and second end portions, the middle portion comprising at least three fins joined longitudinally along a common inner edge, the fins extending radially outward from the common inner edge and being angularaly spaced from each other forming substantilly equal flow passages therebetween, the first and second ends being in fluid communication with the passages between the fins and the first and second ends having outer sealing surfaces, a fill valve mechanism connected with the fill end of a mandrel, a resilient bladder of generally tubular shape having a first open end providing a fill opening therethrough, and the bladder having a second open end configured to allow the bladder to be slid over the mandrel with the first end of the bladder disposed about the sealing surface of the first end of the mandrel and the second end of the bladder being disposed about the sealing surface of the second end of the mandrel, and the bladder having dimension of at least one of its length and diameter less than that of the mandrel to cause the mandrel to exert at least one of axial and longitudinal stresses on the bladder when the bladder is in an empty condition, means for securing the first and second ends of the bladder to the respective sealing surface of the first and second ends of the mandrel, and means attached to the second end of the mandrel for enabling fluid to be dispensed from the fluid dispenser..Iaddend. .Iadd.
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23. particles from entering the first valve means..Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The fluid dispenser according to claim 28 further comprising a filter means disposed in the first end of the mandrel for preventing udesirable
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24. particles from exiting the first valve means..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The fluid dispenser according to claim 28 further comprising a filter means disposed in the second end of the mandrel for preventing undesirable particles from entering the second valve means..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The fluid dispenser according to claim 28 further comprising a filter means disposed in the second end of the mandrel for preventing undesirable particles from exiting the second valve means..Iaddend. .Iadd.33. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid under pressure at a predetermined substantially constant flow rate over a period of time comprising
a container body having a chamber, an elongated support member disposed in and extending through said chamber, said support member including first and second ends, a resilient bladder mounted on said support member in surface contact and sealingly secured at fixed spaced longitudinal positions thereon in said chamber for defining a pressure reservoir for holding a liquid in a pressurized state for dispensing therefrom, inlet means in the first end of said support member for introducing a liquid into said resilient bladder, and outlet means in the second end of said support member for conveying a
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25. liquid from said pressure chamber to a selected site..Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the resilient bladder is mounted on the
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26. support member in a pre-stressed surface contact..Iaddend. .Iadd.35. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid under pressure at a predetermined substantilly constant flow rate over a period of time comprising
a container body having a chamber, an elongated support member disposed in and extending through said chamber, said support member including a first portion and a second portion, a resilient bladder mounted on said support member in surface contact and sealingly secured at fixed spaced longitudinal positions thereon in said chamber for defining a pressure reservoir for holding a liquid in a pressurized state for dispensing therefrom, an inlet in said first portion of said support member for introducing a liquid into said resilient bladder, said first portion being proximal to an end of said support member, and an outlet in said second portion of said support member for conveying a liquid from said pressure chamber to a selected site, said second portion being other than proximal to said end of said support member..Iaddend. .Iadd.36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the resilient bladder is mounted on the support member in a pre-stressed surface contact..Iaddend.
Specification