EP0486378A1 - Spraying or delivering apparatus for fluid product with suction of the product contained in the outlet pipe at the end of the actuation - Google Patents

Abstract

Pump for delivering or spraying a fluid product, comprising a pump body (201) delimiting a pump chamber (206) in which a piston (203) slides, the said pump comprising a hollow push rod (207, 208) provided with an outlet passage (241), the said push rod being connected to the piston in order to actuate the said piston and to permit the output of the product, the said pump furthermore comprising a suction chamber (219) which communicates with the hollow push rod and which reduces in volume when the push rod is pressed and increases in volume when the push rod is no longer being pressed, characterised in that the said suction chamber (219) is delimited by the piston (203) and the push rod (207, 208) and the volume of the said chamber varies by relative sliding of the push rod and the piston. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for spraying or distributing a fluid product, with suction of the product contained in the outlet channel at the end of actuation.

Many fluid products are packaged in the form of pump or valve distributors which spray the product, or dispense it without spraying it when a user presses a button. The product is emitted through an outlet channel, generally incorporated into the pusher.

At the end of the emission of the product, a certain quantity of product remains in the outlet channel. If the end part of the outlet channel is horizontal, the product contained in this part of the outlet channel can then seep outside the channel during the periods when the device is unused. In the case of a product which is not very volatile, such as a paste or a cream, the product thus leaving the outlet channel does not evaporate, but on the contrary drools or drops in the form of drops on the reserve bottle of the product. or in its vicinity, by soiling said bottle or said vicinity.

In addition, the end part of said outlet channel is generally of small diameter, so that part of the product remaining in this end part for a long period of non-use can dry out by obstructing said end part.

The present invention aims to avoid these drawbacks.

The subject of the present invention is a pump for dispensing or spraying a fluid product comprising a pump body delimiting a pump chamber in which a piston slides, said pump comprising a hollow push rod having an outlet passage, said push rod being connected to the piston to actuate said piston and allow the product to exit, said pump further comprising a suction chamber which communicates with the hollow push rod and which decreases in volume when the rod is pressed pusher and increases in volume when the pressure on the push rod is stopped, characterized in that said suction chamber is delimited by the piston and the push rod, and the volume of said chamber varies by relative sliding of the push rod and piston.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the push rod has a crown extended towards the pump chamber by a skirt inside which slides an upper annular part of the piston, in sealed contact with said skirt, and said push rod further comprises a solid cylindrical part on which a lower tubular part of the piston can slide while cutting the communication between the pump chamber and the outlet passage, said pump chamber being placed in communication with said outlet passage when said lower tubular part of the piston is located above said solid cylindrical part of the push rod.

As a variant, an upper annular part of the piston slides in sealed contact on a complementary part of the push rod, and said push rod further comprises a solid cylindrical part on which a lower tubular part of the piston can slide by cutting the communication between the pump chamber and the outlet passage, said pump chamber being placed in communication with said outlet passage of the pusher, when said lower tubular part of the piston is above said full cylindrical part of the push rod. A return spring arranged in the pump chamber can urge the push rod towards the outside of the pump. In addition, advantageously, a precompression spring is mounted between the push rod and the piston and biases the piston towards a position where said tubular lower part of the piston slides on said solid cylindrical part of the push rod.

In another embodiment of the invention, the push rod has a narrowed lower part provided with a lateral orifice communicating with the outlet passage and the piston has an inner tubular part sliding in sealed contact with the push rod, said inner tubular part being extended by a sliding lower narrowing in sealed contact with the narrowed lower part of the push rod, said suction chamber being delimited by the push rod, its narrowed lower part, the internal part of the piston and its lower shrinkage. The narrowed lower portion of the push rod has at least one groove extending from the side port axially away from the pump chamber. Advantageously, a first spring disposed in the pump chamber biases the piston towards the outside of the pump, and a second spring is mounted between the push rod and the piston and biases the push rod so as to move it away from the piston. to the outside of the pump.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en coupe axiale d'une pompe doseuse réalisée selon une première forme de réalisation de l'invention, en position de repos ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue en coupe axiale de la pompe de la figure 1, en position d'actionnement ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue de détail d'une partie de la pompe de la figure 1 ;
• - la figure 4 est une vue en coupe partielle d'un dispositif de distribution ou de pulvérisation réalisé selon la première forme de réalisation de l'invention ;
• - la figure 5 est une vue en coupe axiale d'une pompe doseuse selon une seconde forme de réalisation de l'invention ;
• - la figure 6 est une vue en coupe axiale de la pompe de la figure 5, en position d'actionnement ;
• - la figure 7 est une vue en coupe axiale d'une pompe doseuse selon une troisième forme de réalisation de l'invention ;
• - la figure 7a est une vue en coupe axiale d'une variante de la pompe de la figure 7 ;
• - la figure 7b est une vue en coupe axiale d'une autre variante de la pompe de la figure 7,
• - la figure 8 est une vue en coupe axiale de la pompe de la figure 7, en position d'actionnement ;
• - la figure 9 est une vue de détail de la pompe de la figure 7 ;
• - la figure 10 est une vue en coupe axiale d'une pompe doseuse selon une quatrième forme de réalisation de l'invention ;
• - la figure 11 est une vue de détail de la pompe de la figure 10, au repos, et
• - la figure 12 est une vue des mêmes éléments que la figure 11, mais pendant la distribution ou la pulvérisation du produit.

In the drawings:

• - Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of a metering pump produced according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the rest position;
• - Figure 2 is an axial sectional view of the pump of Figure 1, in the actuating position;
• - Figure 3 is a detail view of part of the pump of Figure 1;
• - Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of a dispensing or spraying device produced according to the first embodiment of the invention;
• - Figure 5 is an axial sectional view of a metering pump according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• - Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of the pump of Figure 5, in the actuating position;
• - Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of a metering pump according to a third embodiment of the invention;
• - Figure 7a is an axial sectional view of a variant of the pump of Figure 7;
• FIG. 7b is a view in axial section of another variant of the pump in FIG. 7,
• - Figure 8 is an axial sectional view of the pump of Figure 7, in the actuating position;
• - Figure 9 is a detail view of the pump of Figure 7;
• - Figure 10 is an axial sectional view of a metering pump according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the pump of FIG. 10, at rest, and
• - Figure 12 is a view of the same elements as Figure 11, but during the distribution or spraying of the product.

First embodiment:

Figure 1 shows a metering pump according to a first embodiment of the invention. The pump comprises a hollow cylindrical pump body 1, having an axis of revolution 2 and delimiting a pump chamber 6 which normally contains a fluid product to be dispensed. The pump body 1 has an open upper end 1c and a lower throttle 1a, itself extended downwards by an inlet duct 1b. The inlet conduit 1b communicates with a reservoir of product to be dispensed (not shown), directly or via a dip tube (not shown). The inlet conduit 1b is further equipped with an inlet valve which opens when a vacuum is created in the pump chamber 6, and closes when an overpressure is created in said pump chamber 6 The inlet valve can take any known form. For example, it may consist of a ball 15 which can be applied in a sealed manner on a valve seat 16 by closing the inlet duct 1 b when an overpressure is created in the pump chamber 6, and several arm 17 extending above the valve seat 16, which hold the ball 15 in the vicinity of the valve seat 16 when said ball 15 is detached from said valve seat 16 by a vacuum created in the pump chamber 6.

The pump body 1 can be snapped onto a spinner 9, for example screwed onto the neck of the product tank (not shown). An annular seal 30 can be interposed between the spinner 9 and the neck of the reservoir. However, the pump body 1 could be fixed to the reservoir by any other known means, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 1, the turret 9 has an inner ring 9a which extends vertically over a certain distance, on an inner periphery of the pump body 1 from the open upper end 1 of said body pump.

A piston 3 slides in the pump body 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the piston 3 is of revolution around the axis 2, and has a tubular central part 4 extending between a lower end 4a and an upper end 4b. The piston 3 further comprises two peripheral outer lips 5a and 5b respectively lower and upper, adapted to provide a seal between the pump body 1 and the piston 3, at least when said sealing lips 5a and 5b are in a part 1c of the pump body.

Referring to Figure 3, the piston 3 is slidably mounted with lost movement on a push rod 7, 8 consisting of a sleeve 7 nested tight on an inner core 8. The sleeve 7 and the inner core 8 are therefore integral. The piston 3 slides on the sleeve 7, so that the contact between the piston and the sleeve is sealed. The sleeve 7 comprises at least one ring 7a, forming an upper stop for the upper end 4b of the tubular central part 4 of the piston. The inner core has a lower widening 8a provided with a peripheral seat 8b forming a lower stop for the lower end 4a of the tubular central part 4 of the piston, and on which said lower end 4a can be applied in leaktight manner.

The inner core 8 also has at least one longitudinal groove 8f at its periphery, which communicates the pump chamber 6 with the outside when said lower end 4a of the central tubular part 4 of the piston is not applied in a sealed manner on the peripheral seat 8b of the inner core 8.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 3, the lower enlargement 8a of the inner core 8 is further extended downwards by a skirt 8c sliding in the pump body 1, which in particular participates in guiding the push rod 7,8 and the piston in the pump body 1. The skirt 8c also serves to limit the movement of the push rod downwards when it comes into abutment against the lower throttle 1a of the pump body 1. In addition, the skirt 8c has one or more recesses 8d, allowing communication between the pump chamber 6 and the groove 8c when the lower end 4a is not in sealed contact on the peripheral seat 8b.

Alternatively, it would be possible to replace the skirt 8c by vertical arms of the same height, distributed around the periphery of the lower enlargement 8a of the core 8. Optionally, the skirt 8c could even be completely omitted, if the guiding of the moving parts of the pump can be sufficiently ensured by elsewhere.

In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve 7 has an internal relief 7b, which allows precise relative positioning of the sleeve 7 and of the internal core 8: during their assembly, these two parts are fitted together. one inside the other, by trapping the piston 3, until the interior relief 7b of the sleeve 7 comes to abut against the interior core 8.

In addition, the sleeve 7 has an outer skirt 7c which extends from the crown 7a towards the pump chamber 6 and surrounds the tubular part 4 of the piston and slides inside the inner ring 9a of the turret 9 , thus participating in guiding the push rod 7, 8 in the body of the pump 1. Advantageously, the outer skirt 7c of the sleeve 7 has a height such that it abuts against the piston 3 when the upper end 4b of the tubular central part 4 of the piston abuts against the crown 7a of the sleeve. The outer skirt 7c may optionally include an outer collar 7d at the bottom, which participates in guiding the piston 3 relative to the push rod 7, 8.

Alternatively, the outer skirt 7c could be replaced by several arms of the same height as the skirt 7c, each externally having a lug replacing the outer collar 7d of the ring.

Finally, the sleeve 7 comprises a tubular upper part 7e which is fitted into an axial duct 10, of revolution about the axis 2, of a pusher 11 (see FIG. 1). The tubular upper part 7e of the sleeve 7 and the axial duct 10 of the pusher 11 therefore delimit a chamber 19, which we will hereinafter call the suction chamber. The fitting of the upper tubular part 7e in the axial duct 10 is such that the upper tubular part 7e can slide with significant friction in the axial duct 10. The axial duct 10 communicates with an outlet channel 12, for example horizontal, which opens laterally out of the pusher 11. The pusher 11 can have any known shape. It may optionally include a spray nozzle.

A spring 13 is supported on the one hand on the pusher 11, and on the other hand on the spinner 9, so as to urge the pusher 11 upwards. In order to limit the upward stroke of the pusher 11, said pusher 11 has a skirt 11 a comprising at the bottom an external collar 11 b which abuts against a metal cup 14 crimped around the spinner 9. The external collar 11 b could possibly be replaced by pins pointing outwards.

• 1.- Lorsqu'un utilisateur appuie sur le poussoir 11, en comprimant le ressort 13, la partie tubulaire supérieure 7e du manchon 7 commence par rester fixe par rapport au condu it axial 10 du poussoir 11, du fait des frottements importants entre ladite partie tubulaire 7e et ledit conduit axial 10. L'ensemble solidaire formé par le manchon 7 et le noyau intérieur 8 est donc entrainé vers le bas par le poussoir 11, ce qui sollicite aussi le piston 3 vers le bas du fait des frottements entre ledit piston et le manchon 7. Ce mouvement de descente a tendance à diminuer le volume de la chambre de pompe 6, et donc y crée une surpression qui ferme le clapet d'entrée 15, 16, 17. La chambre de pompe 6 est alors isolée : comme le produit contenu dans ladite chambre de pompe 6 est incompressible, le piston 3 reste immobile tandis que la tige-poussoir 6, 7 descend dans le corps de pompe. Au cours de ce mouvement, le piston 3 coulisse donc sur le manchon 7 et le noyau intérieur 8, jusqu'à ce que l'extrémité supérieure 4b de la partie centrale tubulaire 4 du piston bute contre la couronne 7a du manchon. L'extrémité inférieure 4a de la partie centrale tubulaire 4 du piston se décolle donc du siège périphérique 8b, en mettant en communication la chambre de pompe 6 et avec la rainure longitudinale 8f du noyau central 8.

The previously described pump works as follows:

• 1.- When a user presses the pusher 11, by compressing the spring 13, the upper tubular part 7e of the sleeve 7 begins by remaining fixed relative to the axial duct 10 of the pusher 11, due to the high friction between said part tubular 7e and said axial duct 10. The integral assembly formed by the sleeve 7 and the inner core 8 is therefore driven downwards by the pusher 11, which also urges the piston 3 downwards due to the friction between said piston and the sleeve 7. This downward movement tends to decrease the volume of the pump chamber 6, and therefore creates an overpressure there which closes the inlet valve 15, 16, 17. The pump chamber 6 is then isolated: as the product contained in said pump chamber 6 is incompressible, the piston 3 remains stationary while the push rod 6, 7 descends into the pump body. During this movement, the piston 3 therefore slides on the sleeve 7 and the inner core 8, until the upper end 4b of the tubular central part 4 of the piston abuts against the crown 7a of the sleeve. The lower end 4a of the tubular central part 4 of the piston therefore comes off from the peripheral seat 8b, by placing the pump chamber 6 and with the longitudinal groove 8f of the central core 8 in communication.

As soon as the upper end 4b of the tubular central part 4 of the piston is in abutment against the crown 7a, the piston 3 is in turn driven downwards.

As the piston descends into the pump chamber 6, the product contained therein is ejected through the groove 8f of the inner core 8, the vertical conduit 10 of the pusher and the lateral channel 12 of the pusher.

When the skirt 8c abuts against the lower throttle 1a of the pump body, the downward movement of the push rod 7, 8 and of the piston 3 stops: due to the force exerted by the user on the plunger 11, the axial duct 10 slides down parallel to the axis 2, on the tubular upper part 7e of the sleeve 7, as shown in FIG. 2. This sliding movement decreases the interior volume of the suction chamber 19.

2.- When the user releases the plunger 11, it is pushed upwards by the spring 13. Due to said significant friction between the vertical duct 10 of the plunger and the upper tubular part 7e of the sleeve 7, said sleeve 7 first remains fixed relative to the pusher 11: the push rod 7, 8 is therefore pulled upwards by the pusher 11.

Initially, the piston 3 remains stationary, due to the friction between said piston 3 and the pump body 1, during the upward movement of the push rod 7, 8, until the lower end 4a of the tubular central part 4 of the piston comes to bear against the peripheral seat 8b of the inner core 8, interrupting the communication between the pump chamber 6 and the groove 8f of the inner core 8. The pump chamber 6 is then isolated.

Because it is in abutment against the peripheral seat 8b, the piston 3 is then driven upwards by the push rod 7, 8. The volume of the pump chamber 6 therefore increases, which creates a vacuum which opens the inlet valve 15, 16, 17, and allows the fluid contained in the reservoir to enter the pump chamber 6 as the piston 3 rises.

When the upper lip 5b of the piston 3 abuts against the inner ring 9a of the spinner 9, this upward movement stops.

The pusher 11 then continues only its upward movement under the action of the spring 13; it therefore slides upwards, parallel to the axis 2, on the upper tubular part 7e of the sleeve 7. This has the effect of increasing the volume of the suction chamber 19. As the suction chamber 19 is isolated of the pump chamber 6 by the contact of the lower end 4a on the peripheral seat 8b, this increase in volume results in suction in the outlet channel 12: the product which was in said outlet channel 12 is therefore sucked into the suction chamber 19. Preferably, the increase in volume of the suction chamber 19 is such that after this suction, the level of the product in the vertical duct 10 is located below the outlet channel 12 , so that said outlet channel 12 no longer contains any product.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump body 1 has a well-known lateral air intake opening 18, which allows air to enter the product reservoir as and when the product it contains is consumed by the pump. It is obvious that this orifice 18 could be eliminated, which would make the pump operate without air intake, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Similarly, the pump shown does not have an internal spring which pushes the actuating assembly 7, 8 and the piston 3 upwards, since the return to the high position is ensured by the spring 13, the thrust of which is upwards. is transmitted to the assembly 7, 8 by the fitting with friction of the vertical conduit 10 of the pusher on the upper tubular part 7e of the sleeve 7. Thus an advantage of this device is that it does not include a spring, or any other metal part, in contact with the product to be distributed: this can avoid pollution of the product by the elements contained in the spring steel, or by the oxidation of the spring.

However, it goes without saying that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a spring could possibly be provided in the pump chamber 6, in addition to the external spring 13, to facilitate the raising of the push rod 7, 8.

It should also be noted that this first embodiment of the invention can be applied to any type of metering pump, or valve for dispensing or spraying product under gas pressure, as shown in FIG. 4. Indeed , such dispensing or spraying devices 21 always have a hollow push rod 20 having an axis of symmetry 2, onto which an axial duct 10 of a push button 11 can be fitted, which here opens out laterally outside the push button 11 via an outlet channel 12, for example horizontal. It goes without saying that the pusher 11 could have any other shape without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The hollow push rod 20 allows the product to exit when it is pressed. The axial conduit 10 of the pusher 11 is slidably mounted on the pusher rod 20: the axial conduit 10 and the pusher rod 20 thus delimit a suction chamber 19. The relative stroke of the pusher 11 relative to the pusher rod 20 is limited downwards by a lower stop on the rod 20, for example an external shoulder 20a of the rod 20.

In addition, the pusher 11 is biased upwards by a spring 13 resting on the one hand on the pusher 11 and on the other hand directly or indirectly on the device 21 for dispensing or spraying.

In FIG. 4, the support of the spring 13 on the device 21 is done indirectly, by means of a turner 9 in which the device 21 is snapped on, and which can be screwed onto the neck of a product reservoir (not shown): it goes without saying that the device 21 could be mounted differently on the product tank, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The stroke of the pusher 11 is limited upwards by any known means: For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the pusher 11 has a skirt 11a comprising in the lower part an external collar 11b, possibly replaced by external lugs, which abuts against a metal cup 14 crimped around the spinner 9, and therefore secured to the device 21 for spraying or dispensing.

When a user presses the push-button 11, he pushes the push-rod 20, which causes the emission of the product, and during this movement, the axial duct 10 of the push-rod sinks fully onto the push-rod 20 , up to the stop of the outer shoulder 20a of said push rod 20: this decreases the internal volume of the suction chamber 19. When the user releases the push button 11, the latter is urged upward by the spring 13. The push rod 20 rises to a high position, either by the action of an elastic means internal to the device 21, or by the action of the spring 13 transmitted to said push rod 20 by friction between the axial duct 10 and said push rod 20. During this movement, the push rod 11 rises relative to the push rod 20, by sliding of the axial duct 10 on said push rod 20, which has the effect of increasing the interior volume of the suction chamber 19 and causes suction in the outlet channel 12, by sucking the product contained in said outlet channel 12 towards the suction chamber 19.

Second embodiment:

The second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 5 and 6, consists of a metering pump, the different parts of which have substantially the same shapes as in the pump of Figures 1 to 3. They will therefore not be described again. in detail here. In the following description of the second embodiment of the invention, the references of identical or similar parts of the pump will therefore be the same as in the pump of FIGS. 1 to 3.

Unlike the pump in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sleeve 7 is not secured to the inner core 8, but mounted to slide on said inner core 8. On the other hand, the axial duct 10 of the pusher 11 is fitted tight onto the upper part upper tubular 7e of the sleeve 7, so that the pusher 11 is integral with the sleeve 7.

In addition, the pump chamber 6 contains a spring 100 which rests on the one hand on the lower constriction 1a of the pump body, and on the other hand on the lower enlargement 8a of the inner core 8 of the rod- pusher 7, 8, so as to bias upward said inner core 8a.

Finally, the outer collar 11b of the pusher 11 and the metal cup 14 set on the tourette 9 are no longer necessary, unlike the first embodiment.

When a user presses the pusher 11, he drives down the sleeve 7 integral with the pusher 11 until the inner relief 7b abuts against the inner core 8. The inner core 8 is then in turn driven downwards, while the piston 3 is also biased downwards due to the friction between the sleeve 7 and said piston 3. This downward movement tends to decrease the volume of the pump chamber 6, and therefore creates there an overpressure which closes the inlet valve 15, 16, 17. The pump chamber 6 is then isolated. As the product contained in said pump chamber 6 is incompressible, the piston 3 remains stationary while the push rod 7, 8 descends into the pump body 1. This relative movement of the piston 3 relative to the rod- pusher 7, 8, takes off the lower end 4a of the tubular part of the piston from its seat 8b, which puts the pump chamber 6 into communication with the groove 8f of the core 8. When the upper end 4b of the central part tubular piston comes into abutment against the crown 7a of the sleeve 7, the piston 3 is in turn are driven down.

As the piston 3 descends into the pump chamber 6, the product contained in the said pump chamber is therefore ejected from the said pump chamber by the groove 8f of the inner core 8, the axial duct 10 and the output channel 12.

This downward movement stops when the skirt 8c of the inner core 8 comes into abutment against the lower constriction 1a of the pump body 1, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the user releases the plunger 11, the inner core 8 of the push rod 7, 8 is pushed up by the spring 100, while the piston 3 remains initially immobile due to the friction between said piston 3 and the pump body 1. The lower end 4a of the tubular part 4 of the piston therefore applies on its seat 8b, on the lower enlargement 8a of the core 8, thereby isolating the pump chamber 6.

The piston 3 is then in turn driven upwards, which tends to increase the volume of the pump chamber 6 and therefore to create a vacuum in said pump chamber. Due to this depression, the inlet valve 15, 16, 17 opens, and product can enter the pump chamber 6 at fureta as the piston 3 and the push rod 7, 8 rise below the action of the spring 100.

When the upper lip 5b of the piston 3 comes into abutment against the inner ring 9a of the spinner 9, the movement of the piston 3 stops. Therefore, the inner core 8 of the push rod 7, 8 also stops in abutment against the lower end 4a of the tubular central part 4 of the piston 3. The peripheral seat 8b of the core 8 is kept pressed against the 'lower end 4a by the action of the spring 100: the communication between the pump chamber 6 and the groove 8f of the core therefore remains cut.

The sleeve 7, integral with the pusher 11, then continues its upward movement, under the stress of the spring 13, until the outer collar 7d, in the lower part of the outer skirt 7c of the sleeve 7, comes to abut against the inner ring 9a of the tourette 9.

Due to the sealed contact between the central tubular part 4 of the piston and the sleeve 7, as well as between the lower end 4a of said central tubular part 4 of the piston and the core 8, the push rod 7, 8 and the piston 3 define a suction chamber 119 which communicates with the outside only through the axial duct 10 and the outlet channel 12: during the upward movement of the sleeve 7 relative to the inner core 8 and to the piston 3 , the volume of the suction chamber 119 increases, which causes suction in the outlet channel 12. The product contained in the outlet channel 12 is therefore drawn into the axial duct 10.

Preferably, the increase in the volume of the suction chamber 119 is such that after this suction, the level of the product in the axial duct 10 is located below the outlet channel 12, so that said outlet channel 12 no longer contains a pro duit.

Third embodiment

The pump shown in Figures 7 to 9 consists of a hollow cylindrical pump body 201 similar to that of Figures 1 to 3, having an axis 202 of revolution. The pump body 201 has an open upper end 201 c and a lower throttle 201 a, itself extended downwards by an inlet duct 201b, which communicates with a reservoir of product to be dispensed (not shown), directly or by a dip tube (not shown).

The pump body 1 defines a pump chamber 206 which normally contains product to be dispensed. The inlet duct 201 b is fitted with an inlet valve, which may for example include a ball 215 adapted to be applied in a sealed manner on a valve seat 216, by closing the inlet duct 201 b, when an overpressure is created in the pump chamber 206. When a vacuum is created in the pump chamber 206, on the contrary, the ball 215 comes off from its seat 216 by opening the inlet duct 201 b, while being held in the vicinity of its seat 216 by arms 217 which extend from the lower constriction 201a of the pump body. The inlet valve could have any other known shape, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pump body 201 can be snapped into a turner 209, a central part 209a of which, pierced with a central hole 209b, covers the upper end 201c of the pump body. The tourette 209 can for example be screwed onto the neck of the product reservoir (not shown) and an annular seal 230 can be interposed between the tourette 209 and the neck of the reservoir. It goes without saying that the pump body 201 could be fixed by any other known means to the reservoir, for example by crimping a metal cup.

A piston 203 slides in the pump body 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the piston 203 is of revolution about the axis 202, and advantageously has at least one outer peripheral sealing lip 205 and a lower tubular part and interior 204. The piston 203 is further extended upwards by an upper annular part 203a, up to an upper end comprising an outer peripheral sealing lip 203b.

The piston 203 is mounted sliding with lost movement on a push rod 207, 208, consisting of a sleeve 207 fitted tightly onto an inner core 208, so that said sleeve 207 and said inner core 208 are integral. The sleeve 207 comprises a crown 207a which defines a lower shoulder 207f and an upper shoulder 207d. The crown 207a is extended outwardly downwards by a skirt 207c, which surrounds the sleeve 207. The upper annular part 203a of the piston slides inside the skirt 207c, the peripheral sealing lip 203b being in leaktight contact with the skirt 207c.

From the crown 207a, the sleeve 207 is extended vertically upwards by an upper tubular part 207e. In addition, the sleeve 207 has an inner relief 207b, which allows precise relative positioning of the sleeve 207 and the inner core 208 during their assembly, by fitting the inner core 208 into the sleeve 207 until the inner relief 207b stops.

The inner core 208 has a lower enlargement 208a, provided with a peripheral seat 208b forming a lower stop for the lower tubular part 204 of the piston 203: the piston 203 is therefore trapped between an upper stop formed by the lower shoulder 207f of the sleeve 207 and a lower stop formed by the peripheral seat 208b of the inner core 208, so that the piston 203 can slide with lost movement between these two stops.

Above the peripheral seat 208b, the inner core 208 has a cylindrical part 208g, on which slides the lower tubular part 204 of the piston 203. An axial groove 208f is hollowed out in the solid cylindrical part 208g of the core 208 from a certain distance above the peripheral seat 208b, and extends upwards over the entire length of the inner core 208, to open into the upper tubular part 207c of the sleeve 207. Thus, when the tubular lower part 204 of the piston 3 slides on a part full cylindrical 208h of the core, included between the peripheral seat 208b and the groove 208f, said lower tubular part 204 isolates the pump chamber 206 from the groove 208f. On the contrary, when said lower tubular part 204 is located above the solid cylindrical part 208h of the core, the groove 208f is in communication with the pump chamber 206.

Optionally, the inner core 208 may further comprise a skirt 208c which extends the lower widening 208a downwards and slides in the pump body 1. Thus, the skirt 208c participates in guiding the push rod 207, 208 in the pump body 1, and limits the downward movement of the push rod 207, 208, abutting against the lower throttle 201 a of the pump body 1. The skirt 208c has one or more recesses 208d which allow communication between the pump chamber 206 and the groove 208f of the core 208 when the lower tubular part 204 of the piston is located above the part 208h of the core 208.

As shown in FIG. 7, an axial conduit 210, of revolution about the axis 202, of a pusher 211 is fitted tight onto the tubular end upper 207e of the sleeve, in abutment against the upper shoulder 207d. The axial duct 10 is extended by an outlet channel 212, for example horizontal, which opens laterally out of the pusher 211. The pusher 211 could have any other known shape, and may optionally include a spray nozzle.

A spring 200 is supported on the one hand on the lower constriction 201a, and on the other hand on the lower enlargement 208a of the core 208, so as to urge upward the push rod 207,208. The movement of the push rod 207, 208, is limited upwards by the abutment of the skirt 207c of the sleeve 207 against the central part 209a of the spinner 209. Advantageously, an annular seal 231 is provided under the part central 209a of the tourette 209, sandwiched at its outer periphery between said central part 209a of the tourette 209 and the upper end 201 c of the pump body 201. Under the bias of the spring 200, the skirt 207c is therefore applied elastically against the seal 231, thereby isolating the interior of the pump body 201 when the pump is not actuated,

When a user presses the push-button 211, he drives the push-rod 207, 208 downwards by compressing the spring 200. This downward movement tends to drive the piston 203 downwards, and therefore to reduce the volume of the chamber 206: this creates an overpressure in the pump chamber 206, which closes the inlet valve 215, 216, 217. The pump chamber 206 is therefore initially isolated. As the product contained in the pump chamber 206 is incompressible, the piston 203 first remains stationary while the push rod 207, 208 descends in the pump body, until the upper annular part 203a of the piston comes abut against the lower shoulder 207f of the sleeve 207. During this sliding movement, as soon as the lower tubular part 204 of the piston 203 is above the part 208h of the core 208, the pump chamber 206 communicates with the groove 208f of the core 208, which itself communicates with the outside via the upper tubular part 207e of the sleeve 207, the axial duct 210 and the outlet channel 212. The product contained in the pump chamber 206 therefore leaves of the pump by this path, while the piston 203 descends into the pump body with the push rod 207, 208, until the skirt 208c abuts against the lower throttle 201a of the pump body 201, as shown in figure 8.

When the user releases his push, the push rod 207, 208, rises under the effect of the push of the spring 200. Due to the friction between the sealing lip 205 and the pump body 201, the piston 203 remains first motionless. The core 208 therefore slides upward relative to the lower tubular part 204 of the piston, which first brings said lower tubular part 204 to the part 208h of the core 208, where it interrupts the communication between the pump chamber 206 and the groove 208f of the core 208. Then the part 208h of the core 208 continues to slide upwards in the lower tubular part 204 of the piston, which has the effect of increasing the volume of an annular suction chamber 219 , delimited by the sleeve 7, the core 208 and the piston 207, which communicates only with the groove 208f since the outer sealing lip 203b of the upper annular part 203 of the piston is in sealed contact with the skirt 207c of the sleeve and the tubular lower part 204 of the piston is in leaktight contact with the solid part 208h of the core 208. The increase in volume of the annular suction chamber 219 causes a suction of prod uit in said chamber 219. The product contained in the outlet channel 212 is therefore sucked towards said chamber 219.

Preferably, the increase in volume of the annular chamber 219 and such that after this aspiration, the level of the product in the axial duct 210 is located below the outlet channel 212, so that said outlet channel 12 does not contain more product.

When the tubular lower part 204 of the piston abuts against the seat 208b of the core 208, the piston 203 is in turn driven upwards, which creates a vacuum in the pump chamber 206. The inlet valve 215, 216, 217 therefore opens, which allows the entry of product into the pump chamber 206 through the inlet duct 201 b, as the push rod 207, 208 and the piston 203 go up in the body pump 201, until the skirt 207c of the sleeve abuts against the seal 231 located under the central part 209a of the turner 209.

As in the first two embodiments of the invention, the pump body 201 may possibly include an air intake orifice 218, located here above the rest position of the sealing lip 205 of the piston 203, in order to put the interior of the product reservoir into communication with the atmosphere via the central hole 209b of the tourette 209, when the skirt 207c of the sleeve is not in leaktight contact with the seal 231. The orifice air intake 218 thus makes it possible to bring air into the product reservoir when the pump sucks product in said reservoir, during the piston 203 rising phase.

FIG. 7a presents an alternative embodiment of the pump of FIG. 7, in which the upper annular part 203a of the piston slides outside the skirt 207c and not inside. The operation of this pump is the same as that of the pump of FIG. 7, but also has the advantage that if the friction between the piston 203 and the pump body 201 is not enough to bring the lower tubular part 204 into stop against its seat 208b, this is achieved by the stop of the annular part upper 203a of the piston against the annular seal 231 at the end of the ascent of the push rod 207,208, which pushes the piston 203 downwards and applies it against its seat 208b. The pump of FIG. 7a therefore has great reliability and guarantees correct operation of the suction chamber 219. Furthermore, the pump of FIG. 7a differs from that of FIG. 7 by the absence of the internal relief 207b of the sleeve , which is replaced by a shoulder 208i of the inner core, which serves as a stop for the sleeve 207 fitted on said inner core 208.

Figure 7b shows another variant of the pump of Figures 1 to 9, which operates on a very similar principle. The pump of FIG. 7b has a structure similar to the pump of FIGS. 7 to 9, which will not be described again in detail here, the parts identical or similar to the pump of FIGS. 7 to 9 bearing the same references.

As before, the pump of FIG. 7b comprises a pump body 201 in which slides a piston 203 similar to that of FIGS. 7 to 9. In the example of FIG. 7b, the pump body 1 is mounted on the neck d '' a reservoir by means of a classic crimped metal cup 246.

The piston 203 is mounted with lost movement on a push rod 207, 208, formed of an inner core 208 fitted tight in a sleeve 207 which projects out of the pump body and receives an actuating push button 211 which in this example comprises a spray nozzle 211a.

The sleeve 207 comprises, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9, a lower outer skirt 207c, in which slides an upper annular part 203a of the piston, with sealing, by defining an annular suction chamber 219 disposed around the core 208 of the push rod. The sleeve 207 further comprises an outer flange 207g, on which a spring 204 mounted between said flange 207g and the piston 203 rests, and working in compression.

Unlike Figures 7 to 9, the core 208 does not have an axial groove for the outlet of the product, but a central outlet channel 241, which opens laterally at the bottom by one or more orifices 242 formed above the part 208h of the core on which the lower tubular part 204 of the piston can slide with sealing.

Above said part 208h, the piston 203 is not in leaktight contact on the core 208, so that the suction chamber 219 communicates permanently with the orifice 242 and the outlet channel 241.

The operation of the pump of FIG. 7b differs from that of the pump of FIGS. 7 to 9 only by the effect of the spring 240, which performs precompression. In fact, when the pump is actuated, the piston does not move relative to the sleeve 208 until the pressure in the pump chamber has reached a determined value, sufficient to overcome the force of said spring 240. The spring 240 has in addition, the effect of returning the piston 203 to the sealing position, that is to say to a position where the tubular lower part 204 is in sealed contact with the part 208h of the core, as soon as the pressure drops in the chamber pump.

Unlike the previous embodiments, the pump of FIG. 7b is equipped with a nozzle for spraying a liquid product and operates with pre-compression. That is to say, the product is expelled only if a sufficient, predetermined pressure is exerted on the pusher 211. However, the following difference will be noted, compared with ordinary precompression pumps. After actuation of a precompression pump, liquid remains in the small chamber 250, behind the spray nozzle 251. During the next actuation, this drop of liquid is generally sprayed without being sprayed, which forms a bad start to spray. With the application of the re-aspiration obtained by increasing the volume of the chamber 219, the volume of the chamber 250 is emptied. Under these conditions, upon actuation, the liquid will arrive in this chamber with a pressure and kinetic energy, and will divide from the start by striking against the periphery of the nozzle 251. Spraying is immediate, there is no drop projected at the start of spraying.

Fourth embodiment:

The pump shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 comprises a hollow cylindrical pump body 301, having an axis of revolution 302. The pump body 301 has an upper end 301 covered and a narrowed lower part 301 e extending between an internal shoulder 301d of the pump body and a lower throttle 301a extended downwards by an inlet duct 301 which communicates with a reservoir of product to be dispensed (not shown), directly or by a dip tube 333.

The pump body 301 delimits a pump chamber 306 which normally contains product to be dispensed, and which communicates with the inlet duct 301 b via an inlet valve, which may for example include a flat seal 315 adapted to apply tightly to a seat 316, by closing the inlet duct 301 b, when an overpressure is created in the pump chamber 306. When a depression is created in the pump chamber 306, on the contrary, the seal 315 comes off from its seat 316 by opening the inlet duct 301 b, while being held in the vicinity of its seat 316 by a valve holder 317 which allows communication between the dip tube 333 and the chamber pump 306. The inlet valve could have any other known shape, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 10, the pump body 301 can be crimped using a metal cup 309 on the neck of the tank. It goes without saying that the pump body 301 could be fixed by any other known means to the reservoir.

A hollow piston 303, of revolution about the axis 302, slides in the pump body 301. As shown in FIG. 11, the piston 301 has an outer ring 305, at least one periphery of which is in sealed contact with the body pump 301, and a cylindrical tubular inner part 304, provided with a lower constriction 304a. The outer ring 305 and the tubular inner part 304 of the piston 303 are molded in one piece and connected to each other by an annular part 303a.

A push rod 307, substantially cylindrical and centered on the axis 302, of external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the internal tubular part 304 of the piston, slides in said internal tubular part 304. The push rod 307 has a narrowed lower part 307d, of outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the lower narrowing 304a of said tubular part 304 of the piston. Thus, the inner tubular part 304 of the piston and the push rod 307 delimit an annular chamber 319, which we will hereinafter call the suction chamber, the volume of which is maximum when the push rod 307 is in a raised position with respect to to piston 303, as shown in FIG. 11, and whose volume decreases when said push rod 307 is depressed relative to said piston 303, as shown in FIG. 12.

Referring to Figure 11, the push rod 307 is pierced with a blind axial channel 307a, which opens laterally through at least one orifice 307b, pierced in the narrowed lower part 307d of the push rod. A groove 307c parallel to the axis 302 extends upwards, outside the narrowed lower part 307d, from the lateral orifice 307b.

The push rod 307 finally has a collar 307e. A spring 334 and disposed between the collar 307e and the annular part 303a of the piston 303.

An annular gland 308 is disposed under the lower narrowing 304a of the inner tubular part 304 of the piston, and urged upwards by a spring 300, of stiffness less than the stiffness of the spring 334, which rests on the valve holder 317 , as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, the gland 308 is pushed against the lower constriction 304a and resiliently applies said lower constriction 304a against the narrowed lower part 307d, while pushing the piston 303 upwards. The stroke of the piston 303 is limited upwards by the crimped metal cup 309. Likewise, the push rod 307 is biased upwards by the spring 334, and its stroke is limited upwards by the collar stop 307e against the cup 309. Advantageously, an annular seal 331 is disposed between the upper end 301c of the pump body and the cup 309. At rest, that is to say when no external action is exerted on the push rod 307 by a user, the collar 307e of the push rod is therefore applied in leaktight manner against the seal 331 by the action of the spring 334. Similarly, the outer ring 305 of the piston abuts against the seal 331, under the action of spring 300.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the rest position, the orifice 307b of the push rod 307 opens laterally inside the suction chamber 319: it is therefore isolated from the pump chamber 306 by the sealed contact between the narrowed lower part 307d of the push rod and the lower narrowing 304a of the inner tubular part 304 of the piston.

When a user presses on the push rod 307, generally by means of a push button (not shown) which can have any known shape, for example the shape shown in FIG. 5 for the second embodiment of the invention, it lowers said push rod 307 in the pump chamber 306, which compresses the spring 334, which in turn biases the piston 303 downwards. This tends to decrease the volume of the pump chamber 306, and therefore creates an overpressure there which closes the inlet valve 315, 316, 317. The pump chamber 306 is then isolated. As the product it contains is incompressible, the piston 303 cannot descend into the pump chamber: only the push rod 307 therefore descends, compressing the spring 334. During this relative movement of the push rod 307 and of the piston 303, the volume of the suction chamber 319 decreases. However, there does not occur in said suction chamber 319 any overpressure such as to hinder the descent of the push rod 307 relative to the piston 303: in fact, the chamber 319 is never isolated since it is at rest in communication with the outside via the orifice 307b, as shown in FIG. 11, then in communication with the outside via the groove 307c and the orifice 307b, as long as the lower narrowing 304a isolates the orifice 307b from the pump chamber 306, then in communication with the pump chamber 306 via the groove 307c when the lower narrowing 304a is located above the orifice 307b, as shown in the figure 12. As soon as the orifice 307b is lowered below the lower narrowing 304a of the tubular part 304 of the piston 303 as shown in FIG. 12, the product under pressure in the pump chamber exits outwards through the gold ifice 307b and the axial channel 307a of the push rod. The piston 303 then descends into the pump body 301 as the volume of product contained in the pump chamber 306 decreases, by compressing the spring 300, until the gland 308 comes into abutment against the shoulder 301d, where the downward movement of the push rod 307 and the udder your 303 stops.

When the user releases the push rod 307, the stiffer spring 334 first returns to its initial shape, by pushing the push rod 307 upwards relative to the piston 303. During this movement, the volume of the annular suction chamber 319 increases. When the push rod 307 is sufficiently raised so that the lower narrowing 304a of the internal tubular part of the piston isolates the orifice 307b from the chamber 306, this increase in volume therefore results in a suction in the axial channel 307a, by the 'Intermediate orifice 307b and, optionally during part of the movement, the groove 307c. Part of the product contained in the axial channel 307a and in the outlet channel of the pusher (12 in FIG. 5) is therefore sucked towards the annular chamber 319. The volume of product thus sucked up is adapted so that said outlet channel 12 no longer contains any product after aspiration.

After the relaxation of the spring 334, the spring 300 relaxes in turn, pushing the piston 303 and the gland 308 upwards. This movement creates a vacuum in the pump chamber 306, and therefore opens the inlet valve 315, 316, 317, allowing the product contained in the reservoir to return to the pump chamber 306 as the piston 303 rises until it reaches the rest position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the pump body 1 is pierced with an air intake orifice 318, located in the vicinity of the upper end 301 c of said pump body, and said upper end 301c of the pump body has an enlarged internal diameter, so that the outer ring 305 of the piston 303 is not in leaktight contact with the pump body above and at the air intake orifice 318. In addition, when the push rod is pushed in, the collar 307e is no longer in contact with the seal 331, so that air can pass between the push rod 307 and the seal 331. Thus, in the phase of raising the piston 303, when product is sucked from the reservoir to the pump chamber 306, a volume of air equal to the volume of product sucked into the pump chamber can pass into the reservoir via the air intake orifice 318.

However, the pump could not include an air intake orifice 318, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the foregoing description, reference has been made to a pump or a valve being in the vertical position, the pusher directed upwards, which is the most common position of these devices: of course, this does not not limit their use to this particular position.

Claims (8)

1.- Pump for dispensing or spraying a fluid product comprising a pump body (201-301) delimiting a pump chamber (206; 306) in which a piston (203, 303) slides, said pump comprising a rod hollow plunger (207, 208; 307) with an outlet passage (207f; 241; 307a), said push rod being connected to the piston to actuate said piston and allow the product to exit, said pump further comprising a chamber suction (219; 319) which communicates with the hollow push rod and which decreases in volume when the push rod is pressed and increases in volume when the pressure on the push rod is stopped, characterized in that that said suction chamber (219; 319) is delimited by the piston (203; 303) and the push rod (207, 208; 307), and the volume of said chamber varies by relative sliding of the push rod and piston. 2.- Device according to claim 1 further characterized in that the push rod (207, 208) comprises a crown (207a) extended towards the pump chamber (206) by a skirt (207c) inside which slides an upper annular part (203a) of the piston (203), in sealed contact with said skirt (207c), and in that said push rod further comprises a solid cylindrical part (208h) on which a lower tubular part can slide (204) of the piston (203) by cutting off the communication between the pump chamber (206) and the outlet passage (207f; 241), said pump chamber (206) being placed in communication with said outlet passage (207f; 241), when said lower tubular part (204) of the piston is above said solid cylindrical part (208h) of the push rod (207,208). 3.- Device according to claim 1, further characterized in that an upper annular part (203a) of the piston (203) slides in sealed contact on a complementary part (207c) of the push rod (207, 208), and in that said push rod further comprises a solid cylindrical part (208h) on which can slide a lower tubular part (204) of the piston (203) cutting the communication between the pump chamber (206) and the outlet passage (207f), said pump chamber (206) being placed in communication with said outlet passage (207f), when said lower tubular part (204) of the piston is above said solid cylindrical part (208h) of the rod -pusher (207, 208). 4.- Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, further characterized in that a return spring (200) disposed in the pump chamber (206) biases the push rod (207, 208) outwardly from the pump. 5. A pump according to claim 4, further characterized in that a precompression spring (240) is mounted between the push rod (207, 208) and the piston (203) and biases the piston (203) towards a position where said tubular lower part (204) of the piston slides on said solid cylindrical part (208h) of the push rod. 6.- Pump according to claim 1, further characterized in that the push rod (307) comprises a narrowed lower part (307d) provided with a lateral orifice (307b) communicating with the outlet passage (207f) and the piston (303) has an inner tubular part (304) sliding in tight contact with the push rod (307), said inner tubular part (304) being extended by a lower narrowing (304a) sliding in tight contact with the narrowed lower part (307d) of the push rod (307), said suction chamber (319) being delimited by the push rod (307), its narrowed lower part (307d), the internal part (304) of the piston and its narrowing lower (304a). 7.- Pump according to claim 6, further characterized in that the narrowed lower part of the push rod (307) comprises at least one groove (307c) extending from the lateral orifice (307b), axially away from the pump chamber. 8. - Pump according to claim 6 or claim 7, further characterized in that a first spring (300) disposed in the pump chamber (306) biases the piston (303) towards the outside of the pump, and a second spring (334) and mounted between the push rod (307) and the piston (303) and urges the push rod (307) so as to move it away from the piston (303) towards the outside of the pump.

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