Device for dispensing fluid at very low flow rates from a contai

Details Device for dispensing fluid at very low flow rates from a contai Device for dispensing fluid at very low flow rates from a contai

1995-09-06

1998-05-26

Derakshani, Philippe

Dispensing

With interior material guide or restrictor

B67D 506

Patent

active

057553645

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing fluid at very low flow rates from a container.
Containers for storing liquid or gaseous substances, deodorizers, antiseptics, or the like, and generally used in a household or an industrial environment, enable these substances to be dispensed in the form of aerosols in response to voluntary actions by the user during a limited period of time. The action generally consists in pressing on a mechanism for opening a spring-loaded valve.
It would be advantageous to be able to dispense some of these fluid substances continuously and in very small quantities. This applies, for example, to deodorizers, to insecticides, or to air fresheners. Existing methods for performing this function, e.g. textile wicks, have flow rates that are difficult to control and, in general, they are difficult to implement.
Further, in numerous practical applications, in particular for deodorizers, fresheners, antiseptics, and insecticides, it is desirable for the slow and continuous diffusion to be accompanied by selective injections of substance into the atmosphere in the form of aerosols.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a device enabling liquid to be dispensed at very low flow rates, typically less than 20 cm.sup.3 per hour, while also ensuring that the flow rate is stable and constant, and by using static means. Preferably, the device is of low cost so as to be suitable for use in dispensing substances of low value such as deodorizers or air fresheners.
To achieve this object, the device for dispensing a liquid at very low flow rates is characterized in that it comprises: loss means comprising first and second mechanical parts in mutual contact that are fixed relative to each other, said mechanical parts defining at their interface a channel of small section and of great length, said channel section being less than 1 mm.sup.2.
Preferably, the section of said channel is less than 0.2 mm.sup.2.
It will thus be understood that by using means that are entirely static it is possible to dispense a liquid or a gas contained in a container at very low flow rates because of the presence of capillary head loss means.
In a first embodiment, the device is characterized in that said head loss means are disposed at the outlet from said container, and in that said channel is connected firstly to said outlet and secondly to said container whereby said fluid can flow along said channel.
It will be understood that in this case it is the outflow of fluid from the container that is controlled directly. The fluid is preferably pressurized in the container.
In a second embodiment, the device is characterized in that said channel is connected firstly to the outside of said container and secondly to the inside of said container, whereby the fluid outside said container can flow along said channel into said container, thereby causing the fluid to be dispensed to flow out from said container.
In this second case, the external fluid may be the surrounding air. In which case the channel is directly connected to an air intake secured to the container. This fluid may also be pressurized. The capillary head loss device is then connected via its channel to an external container of fluid under pressure.
In an improved variant of the first embodiment, a device for dispensing the fluid intermittently may be interposed between the outlet end of the channel and the outlet of the device for dispensing fluid.
In another improved variant of the first embodiment, it is possible to adjust the fluid flow rate with great accuracy over a large range.
To do this, the capillary head loss means has n separate channels each preferably corresponding to a different flow rate, and the device further comprises control means for selectively connecting a first end of at least one of said channels to a first stationary duct and stationary means for connecting the second ends of all of the channels to a second stationary duct.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T

REFERENCES:
patent: 3951174 (1976-04-01), Conant
patent: 3980110 (1976-09-01), Cain et al.
patent: 4739901 (1988-04-01), Dorfman et al.
patent: 5119970 (1992-06-01), Arieh et al.

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