Dispensing device using multiple gas cartridges

• US 20050230434A1
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Campbell, David C., Brelsford, Allen K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/389
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0146 comprising a valve in the proximity of the nozzle that is not actuated by pressure, e.g. manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/015 with pneumatically or hydraulically actuated piston or the like B05C17/00543 takes precedence

Abstract

A manifold includes a plurality of inlet passages provided in fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet passage. A housing retains a pressurized gas cartridge in sealed fluid communication with each of the inlet passages. A check valve is located in at least one of the inlet passages. The check valve is biased to a closed position that prevents gas from flowing through the check valve to the inlet of the inlet passage. Thus, gas cannot exit through the inlet when a pressurized gas cartridge is not sealed thereto. The housing retains a viscous product cartridge and forms a gas enclosure separated from a product enclosure by a movable wall. The gas from the pressurized gas cartridges passes into the gas enclosure and generates a force on the movable wall to dispense product from the product cartridge.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product that is adapted to be driven by a plurality of pressurized gas cartridges, the dispensing device comprising:

a manifold having a plurality of inlet passages, each of the plurality of inlet passages providing fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet passage;

a housing adapted to retain a pressurized gas cartridge in sealed fluid communication with each of the plurality of inlet passages; and

a check valve in at least one of the plurality of inlet passages, the check valve being biased to a closed position that prevents gas from flowing through the check valve to the inlet of the at least one of the plurality of inlet passages;

wherein the dispensing device is adapted to use gas delivered through the outlet passage from the plurality of pressurized gas cartridges to dispense the viscous product from the dispensing device.

2. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 1, wherein a check valve is located in each of the plurality of inlet passages, each check valve being biased to a closed position that prevents gas from flowing through the check valve to the inlet of the inlet passage in which the check valve is located.

3. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 1, wherein the housing is further adapted to retain a reserve gas cartridge in a non-use position, the non-use position being a position in which the gas cartridge is not sealingly engaged with any one of the inlets.

4. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 3, wherein the non-use position is located within an interior of the housing, and further comprising a viewing opening into the interior of the housing adapted to enable a visual determination of whether a reserve gas cartridge is located in the non-use position.

5. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 1, further comprising a viewing opening into an interior of the housing adapted to enable visual access to any pressurized gas cartridge located within the interior of the housing.

6. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cap that is adapted to accommodate a neck of a pressurized gas cartridge when a pressurized gas cartridge is in a non-use position.

7. A dispensing device adapted to dispense a viscous product from a viscous product cartridge, the dispensing device also being adapted to be driven by a plurality of pressurized gas cartridges, the dispensing device comprising;

a product cartridge housing component adapted to retain the viscous product cartridge and to cooperate with the viscous product cartridge to form a gas enclosure separated from a product enclosure by a movable wall;

a fluid passage having a plurality of inlets, the fluid passage providing fluid communication between the plurality of inlets and the gas enclosure;

a gas cartridge housing component adapted to retain each of the plurality of pressurized gas cartridges in sealed fluid communication with one of the plurality of inlets; and

a check valve in the passage associated with at least one of the plurality of inlets, the check valve being biased to a closed position that prevents gas from flowing through the check valve to the at least one of the plurality of inlets.

8. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 7, wherein a check valve is associated with each of the plurality of inlets, each check valve being biased to a closed position that prevents gas from flowing through the check valve to the inlet with which the check valve is associated.

9. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 7, further comprising a housing including the product cartridge housing component and the gas cartridge housing component and wherein the housing is further adapted to retain a reserve gas cartridge in a non-use position, the non-use position being a position in which the gas cartridge is not sealingly engaged with any one of the inlets.

10. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 7, further comprising a viewing opening into an interior of the gas cartridge housing component to enable visual access to any pressurized gas cartridge located within the interior of the housing.

11. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 7, further comprising a pressure regulator located along the passage and adapted to reduce a pressure level of gas exiting the pressure regulator and flowing toward the gas enclosure from that of a pressure level of gas entering the pressure regulator from the plurality of pressurized gas cartridges.

12. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 11, further comprising a product dispensing valve associated with a dispensing orifice of the viscous product cartridge and a manually operated trigger adapted to move the product dispensing valve between an open position and a closed position.

13. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 12, further comprising a gas flow control valve associated with the fluid passage, wherein the manually operated trigger is further adapted to move the gas flow control valve between an open position and a closed position.

14. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product, the dispensing device being adapted to be driven by a plurality of pressurized gas cartridges, comprising;

a movable wall separating a product enclosure from a gas enclosure, the product enclosure having a dispensing orifice;

a fluid passage having a plurality of inlets, the fluid passage providing fluid communication between the plurality of inlets and the gas enclosure, each of the plurality of inlets being adapted to seal to one of the plurality of pressurized gas cartridges;

a check valve in the fluid passage associated with at least one of the plurality of inlets and having an open position that permits gas to flow from the at least one of the plurality of inlets through the check valve and a closed position that prevents gas from flowing through the check valve and exiting the passage through the at least one of the plurality of inlets;

wherein the dispensing device is adapted to cause gas from the gas cartridges to flow through the fluid passage into the gas enclosure and to cause the movable wall to move so that the gas enclosure expands and the product enclosure contracts, to thereby cause viscous product to be dispensed through the dispensing orifice of the product enclosure.

15. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 14, wherein a check valve is associated with each of the plurality of inlets and each check valve is biased to the closed position.

16. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 14, wherein the housing is further adapted to retain a reserve gas cartridge in a non-use position, the non-use position being a position in which the reserve pressurized gas cartridge is not sealingly engaged with any one of the inlets.

17. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 14, further comprising a viewing opening into an interior of the housing to enable visual access to any pressurized gas cartridge located within the interior of the housing.

18. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 14, further comprising a pressure regulator located along the passage adapted to reduce a pressure level of gas exiting the pressure regulator and flowing toward the gas enclosure from that of a pressure level of gas entering the pressure regulator from the plurality of gas cartridges.

19. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 18, further comprising a product dispensing valve associated with a dispensing orifice of the viscous product cartridge and a manually operated trigger associated with the housing and adapted to move the product dispensing valve between an open position and a closed position.

20. A dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product according to claim 19, further comprising a gas flow control valve associated with the fluid passage, wherein the manually operated trigger is further adapted to move the gas flow control valve between an open position and a closed position.