Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Processes – Plural materials
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-20
2003-05-13
Maust, Timothy L. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Processes
Plural materials
C141S005000, C141S067000, C141S100000, C141S112000, C141S330000, C141S364000, C141S363000, C206S222000, C220S501000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06561232
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to apparatus for introducing an additive in the form of a liquid or granulated solid into a liquid and more particularly to a container which automatically adds the additive to the liquid on opening of the container.
In a wide number of applications, such as pharmaceuticals for both human and animal use, agrochemicals and other more general applications it may be necessary to release and mix a liquid catalyst or reagent into a liquid before the liquid may be used. Conventional methods involve a user measuring out the liquid catalyst or reagent and then adding it to the main liquid. This may cause problems in that it is prone to human error in the measuring of the amount of liquid catalyst or reagent and may also be hazardous if the catalyst or reagent is toxic.
International Patent Application No PCT/GB96/01803 discloses an apparatus for introducing a fluid into a first liquid comprising a first container (for example a bottle) which contains the first liquid, a bottle top and a second container attached to the underside of the bottle top to form a cap assembly. The second container contains a fluid under pressure. When the bottle top is placed on the bottle the fluid in the second container expands and drives a membrane onto a rupturing spike. The fluid is then released from the second container to the liquid in the bottle.
A disadvantage of the known apparatus is that if the fluid is a dye, for example, there remain residues of the dye on the underside of the cap assembly, since the propellant gas in the second container does not drive out every drop of fluid. Some fluid remains behind the ruptured foil. This means that care must be taken with the cap assembly so that dye is not transferred to clothing, table tops etc.
A further disadvantage of the known apparatus is that the dose of fluid delivered by the apparatus is inaccurate. The second container is filled with the fluid under pressure, and after release an unknown volume of fluid remains in the container and in the dip tube connector, as well as in the dip tube if a dip tube is used.
A further disadvantage of the known apparatus is that it can only be used with fluids and liquids which can be readily expelled through the small ruptured aperture.
A further disadvantage of the known apparatus is that it can only be used to add one component to the liquid.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which overcomes one or more of the above disadvantages.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for introducing a component into a first liquid, the apparatus comprising:
a first container for holding the first liquid having an opening closed by a releasable closure, a second container located in the first container, and a conduit having a first end communicating with the second container and a second end communicating with the first container;
wherein the conduit contains an additive which is expelled from the conduit into the first liquid by the entry of the propellant fluid into the conduit on release of the releasable closure.
The conduit forms a dip tube, which serves the purpose of storing the additive product until it is fired by pressure of propellant from the tank or second container into the first liquid in the first container.
Preferably the second container comprises an outer housing and an inner container containing a propellant fluid, the inner container being movably mounted in the housing for movement between a closed position in which the inner container is sealed by the housing when the releasable closure closes the opening, and an open position in which the propellant fluid within the inner container is released from the inner container into the conduit on release of the releasable closure.
Preferably the second container is located adjacent to the opening in the first container.
Preferably the inner container includes a rupturable member and the housing includes a rupturing member to rupture the rupturable member on the inner container.
Preferably on closing of the first container by the closure, the inner container is moved to the closed position and the second container includes a sealing device and when the inner container is in the closed position, the rupturable member is ruptured by he rupturing member and the contents of the inner container prevented from being released from the inner container by the sealing member.
Preferably the sealing member is mounted on the inner container and seals against the rupturing member on the housing.
Preferably the rupturable member includes a fluid port is through which the fluid passes when the second container moves to the open position.
Preferably the conduit extends below the surface of the first liquid in the first container. Alternatively the conduit may extend to a position close to the wall of the first container above the surface of the first liquid, to avoid foaming of the liquid and the creation of pressure waves in the liquid. The first container may be a bottle having a neck, and the conduit may extend to a position adjacent to the wall of the neck.
The propellant fluid may comprise a gas or a gas/liquid mixture. Preferably the propellant fluid is pressurized, to aid expulsion of the fluid from the second container on release of the closure. Typically, where the second container comprises an outer housing and an inner container, pressurized gas is located in the inner container with the second liquid.
An advantage of the invention is that it is possible to introduce the additive into the first liquid without requiring direct handling of the propellant fluid or the additive by a user.
The conduit may contain a number of additives arranged at different positions along the length of the conduit. The additives may be liquid or solid in pourable form, such as powders or granules. The additives may be coloring agents, flavoring agents, fragrances, pharmaceutical components, chemicals, nutrients, liquids containing gases in solution etc.
The apparatus may comprise two or more conduits, each having a first end communicating with the second container and a second end communicating with the first container. Each conduit may contain a corresponding additive. The conduits may be of different lengths and/or cross-sectional areas. In this way a number of additives in different doses may be added to the liquid. If the dimensions of the conduit are accurately known, then the doses will be accurate.
The or each conduit may be provided with a one-way valve at the end of the conduit remote from the second container.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for introducing a component into a first liquid, the apparatus comprising:
a first container for holding the first liquid having an opening closed by a releasable closure;
a releasable closure adapted to close said opening; and an insert located adjacent to said opening;
wherein said first chamber is provided with openings to allow the passage of said first liquid through said insert;
wherein the releasable closure comprises an integral closure container containing a propellant fluid;
wherein said insert comprises a first chamber for receiving said integral closure container and a hollow rupturing member extending into said first chamber and defining a second chamber inside said rupturing member;
wherein said closure container includes a rupturable member adapted to be ruptured by said rupturing member; and wherein
the apparatus further comprises a conduit having a first end communicating with the second chamber and a second end communicating with the first container, the conduit containing an additive which is expelled from the conduit into the first liquid by the entry of the propellant fluid into the conduit on release of the releasable closure.
The conduit or dip tube stores the additive product until it is fired by pressure of the propellant in the integral closure container or tank, and is forced out of the dip tube into the first liquid in the first container.
Preferably said closure
Maust Timothy L.
Rocep Lusol Holdings Limited
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