Claims
- 1. A product dispensing system comprising:
- a gas generating chamber;
- a first reactant disposed in said gas generating chamber;
- a first enclosure for storing the product, said first enclosure disposed within said gas generating chamber; and
- a second enclosure storing a second reactant, said second enclosure being disposed in said gas generating chamber and comprising,
- a hollow member; and
- a plurality of permeable areas responsive to a pressure differential existing between a pressure within said hollow member and a pressure in said gas generating chamber;
- wherein at least one of the permeable areas passes gas therethrough from the gas generating chamber to an internal chamber of said hollow member whenever a pressure in said gas generating chamber exceeds a pressure in said hollow member, and
- wherein at least one of the permeable areas passes said second reactant therethrough whenever said pressure in said tubular member exceeds said pressure in said gas generating chamber, said second reactant passes from said tubular member mixing with said first reactant and creating additional pressure in said gas generating chamber.
- 2. A product dispensing system, in which the product introduction activates a generation mechanism which comprises:
- a gas generating chamber;
- a bag for containing product having a valve connected thereto and being disposed in said gas generating chamber;
- a first reactant disposed in said gas generating chamber; and
- a pressure generation mechanism means containing a volume of gas and a second reactant having an initial pressure therein;
- said pressure generation mechanism means comprising,
- a hollow enclosure;
- a gas permeable opening;
- an opening permeable by said second reactant; and
- wherein a pressure within said generation mechanism increases to a starting dispensing pressure upon filling of said bag with product via said valve and wherein said pressure generation mechanism discharges a quantity of said second reactant into said gas generating chamber when said pressure in said gas generating chamber falls below said starting dispensing pressure and said quantity of said second reactant discharged is proportional to a pressure differential between a pressure in said discharge means and a pressure in said gas generating chamber.
- 3. A method for producing a product dispenser for dispensing a product at a substantially constant pressure, comprising the steps of:
- inserting an empty bag for containing product into a container;
- inserting a first reactant into said container; inserting a dispensing pressure regulator into said container;
- sealing said container; and
- charging said dispensing pressure regulator to a starting dispensing pressure, said step of charging comprising the step of filling said bag with product.
- 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:
- providing a second reactant in said pressure regulator; and
- providing a permeable opening for discharging a quantity of said second reactant into said container when a pressure in said container drops below said starting dispensing pressure and wherein said quantity of said second reactant is proportional to a difference between a pressure in said pressure regulator and a pressure in said container.
- 5. A pressure regulating mechanism for insertion into a gas generating chamber that includes a first reactant, the mechanism comprising:
- a hollow tubular member having a first and a second end;
- a second reactant disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a gas disposed in said hollow tubular member; a charging mechanism for enabling an initial pressure in said hollow tubular member; and
- an outlet discharging said second reactant from said hollow tubular member when a pressure in said hollow tubular member exceeds a pressure outside said hollow tubular member.
- 6. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said charging mechanism comprises a first one way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing gas to pass into said member only if a pressure outside said member exceeds a pressure inside said member.
- 7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein said outlet comprises a second one-way valve disposed at said second end of said tubular member and allowing said second reactant to be discharged from said member only if a pressure inside of said member exceeds a pressure outside of said member.
- 8. A pressure regulating mechanism for insertion into a gas generating chamber that includes a first reactant, the mechanism comprising:
- a hollow tubular member having a first and a second end;
- a second reactant disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a gas disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a charging mechanism for enabling an initial pressure in said hollow tubular member;
- an outlet discharging said second reactant from said hollow tubular member when a pressure in said hollow tubular member exceeds a pressure outside said hollow tubular member;
- wherein said charging mechanism comprises a first one way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing gas to pass into said member only if a pressure outside said member exceeds a pressure inside said member; wherein said outlet comprises a second one-way valve disposed at said second end of said tubular member and allowing said second reactant to be discharged from said member only if a pressure inside of said member exceeds a pressure outside of said member; and
- wherein said first and second one way valves comprise elastomeric plugs arranged at said first and second ends of said hollow tubular member respectively.
- 9. A pressure regulating mechanism for insertion into a gas generating chamber that includes a first reactant, the mechanism comprising:
- a hollow tubular member having a first and a second end;
- a second reactant disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a gas disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a charging mechanism for enabling an initial pressure in said hollow tubular member;
- an outlet discharging said second reactant from said hollow tubular member when a pressure in said hollow tubular member exceeds a pressure outside said hollow tubular member;
- wherein said charging mechanism comprises a first one way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing gas to pass into said member only if a pressure outside said member exceeds a pressure inside said member; wherein said outlet comprises a second one-way valve disposed at said second end of said tubular member and allowing said second reactant to be discharged from said member only if a pressure inside of said member exceeds a pressure outside of said member; and
- wherein said first one-way valve comprises a plurality of films having a plurality of pierced holes where a first elastomeric film is disposed over said first end of said tube and a semi-rigid film is disposed over said first elastomeric film.
- 10. The mechanism of claim 9 wherein said second one way valve comprises a second plurality of films each having a second set of pierced holes where a second semi-rigid film is disposed over said second end of said member and a second elastomeric film is disposed over said second semi-rigid film.
- 11. A pressure regulating mechanism for insertion into a gas generating chamber that includes a first reactant, the mechanism comprising:
- a hollow tubular member having a first and a second end;
- a second reactant disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a gas disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a charging mechanism for enabling an initial pressure in said hollow tubular member;
- an outlet discharging said second reactant from said hollow tubular member when a pressure in said hollow tubular member exceeds a pressure outside said hollow tubular member;
- wherein said charging mechanism comprises a first one-way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing gas to pass into said member only if a pressure outside said member exceeds a pressure inside said member;
- wherein said outlet comprises a second one-way valve disposed at said second end of said tubular member and allowing said second reactant to be discharged from said member only if a pressure inside of said member exceeds a pressure outside of said member; and
- wherein said second one-way valve comprises a plurality of films, each having a set of pierced holes where a first semi-rigid film is disposed over said second end of said member and a first elastomeric film is disposed over said first semirigid film.
- 12. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said first end of said member is sealed impervious to gas and said second reactant and said charging mechanism and said outlet both comprise a plurality of apertures along said second end of said member.
- 13. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein said apertures are formed in a body constituting said member.
- 14. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein said apertures are formed as pierced holes in an elastomeric film over said second end of said member.
- 15. The mechanism of claim 5 further comprising means of maintaining said second reactant in contact with said second end of said member despite changes in orientation of said mechanism.
- 16. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said means for maintaining comprises an immiscible liquid disposed between said second reactant and said gas.
- 17. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said means for maintaining comprises a plurality of protrusions extending along an inner circumference of said member between said second reactant and said gas whereby a surface tension of said second reactant along said protrusions prevents said second reactant from interchanging positions in said member with said gas.
- 18. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said means for maintaining comprises a spherical plug disposed in said member providing a movable seal between said gas and said second reactant.
- 19. A product dispensing system having a regulated dispensing pressure, comprising:
- a container;
- a first reactant disposed in said container;
- a product bag disposed in said container, wherein
- a space between said product bag and a sidewall of said container defines a gas generating chamber; and
- a pressure regulating mechanism disposed in said gas generating chamber, said pressure regulating mechanism comprising,
- a hollow tubular member having a first end and a second end;
- a second reactant disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a gas disposed in said hollow tubular member;
- a charging mechanism enabling the establishment of an initial pressure in said hollow tubular member; and
- an outlet discharging said second reactant from said hollow tubular member when a pressure inside said hollow tubular member exceeds a pressure outside said hollow tubular member.
- 20. The system of claim 19 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member establishes an initial dispensing pressure for the system.
- 21. The system of claim 20 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member is established by an amount of product in said product bag.
- 22. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein said charging mechanism comprises a first one-way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing gas to pass into said member only if a pressure outside said member exceeds a pressure inside said member.
- 23. The mechanism of claim 22 wherein said outlet comprises a second one-way valve disposed at said second end of said tubular member and allowing said second reactant to be discharged from said member only if a pressure inside of said member exceeds a pressure outside of said member.
- 24. The system of claim 23 wherein said first and second one-way valves comprise elastomeric plugs arranged at said first and second ends of said hollow tubular member respectively.
- 25. The system of claim 23 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member establishes an initial dispensing pressure for the system.
- 26. The system of claim 25 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member is established by an amount of product in said product bag.
- 27. The system of claim 24 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member establishes an initial dispensing pressure for the system.
- 28. The system of claim 27 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member is established by an amount of product in said product bag.
- 29. The system of claim 19 wherein:
- said charging mechanism comprises a first one-way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing gas to pass into said member only if a pressure outside said member exceeds a pressure inside said member, said first one-way valve comprising a plurality of films having a plurality of pierced holes, where a first elastomeric film is disposed over said first end of said tube and a first semi-rigid film is disposed over said first elastomeric film; and said outlet comprises a second one-way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing said second reactant to be discharged from said member only if a pressure inside of said member exceeds a pressure outside of said member, said second one-way valve comprising a second plurality of films, each having a second set of pierced holes, where a second semi-rigid film is disposed over said second end of said member and a second elastomeric film is disposed over said second semi-rigid film.
- 30. The system of claim 29 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member establishes an initial dispensing pressure for the system.
- 31. The system of claim 30 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member is established by an amount of product in said product bag.
- 32. The system of claim 19 wherein said first end of said hollow tubular member is sealed to be impervious to gas and said second reactant and said charging mechanism and said outlet both comprise a plurality of apertures disposed along said second end of said member.
- 33. The system of claim 32 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member establishes an initial dispensing pressure for the system.
- 34. The system of claim 33 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member is established by an amount of product in said product bag.
- 35. The mechanism of claim 32 wherein said apertures are formed in a body constituting said member.
- 36. The system of claim 35 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member establishes an initial dispensing pressure for the system.
- 37. The system of claim 36 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member is established by an amount of product in said product bag.
- 38. The mechanism of claim 32 wherein said apertures are formed as pierced holes in an elastomeric film over said second end of said member.
- 39. The system of claim 38 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member establishes an initial dispensing pressure for the system.
- 40. The system of claim 39 wherein said initial pressure in said hollow tubular member is established by an amount of product in said product bag.
- 41. A product dispensing system comprising:
- a container having sidewalls and a bottom portion;
- a first reactant disposed in said container;
- a product bag, having a gusset at a first and thereof, wherein a seam of said gusset is in contact with said bottom of said container, said product bag also having a fin seal along a sidewall of said bag, disposed away from a top end of said container and from said bottom of said container;
- a gas generating chamber defined in part by a space between said product bag and the sidewalls and bottom of said container; and
- a pressure regulating mechanism, disposed in said gas generating chamber and having a second reactant disposed therein, wherein said second reactant is metered out of said pressure regulating mechanism into said gas generating chamber in accordance with a pressure differential between a pressure inside of said mechanism and a pressure in said gas generating chamber.
- 42. The system of claim 41 wherein said pressure regulating system further comprises:
- a hollow tubular member;
- a charging mechanism enabling establishment of an initial pressure in said hollow tubular member; and
- an outlet discharging said second reactant from said hollow tubular member when a pressure inside said hollow tubular member exceeds a pressure in said gas generating chamber.
- 43. The system of claim 42 wherein said charging mechanism comprises a first one-way valve disposed at said first end of said hollow tubular member and allowing gas to pass into said member only if a pressure in said gas generating chamber exceeds a pressure inside said member.
- 44. The system of claim 43 wherein said outlet comprises a second one-way valve disposed at said second end of said member and metering said second reactant into said gas generating chamber if a pressure inside of said member exceeds a pressure in said gas generating chamber.
- 45. The system of claim 44 wherein said first and second one-way valves comprise elastomeric plugs arranged at said first and second ends of said hollow tubular member respectively.
- 46. The system of claim 44 wherein,
- said first one-way valve comprises a plurality of films having a plurality of pierced holes where a first elastomeric film is disposed over said first end of said tube and a first semi-rigid film is disposed over said first elastomeric film; and said second one-way valve comprises a plurality of films having a second set of pierced holes, where a second semi-rigid film is disposed over said second end of said member and a second elastomeric film is disposed over said second semi-rigid film.
- 47. The system of claim 42 wherein said first end of said member is sealed impervious to gas and said second reactant, and wherein said charging mechanism and said outlet both comprise a plurality of apertures along said second end of said member.
- 48. The mechanism of claim 47 wherein said apertures are formed in a body constituting said member.
- 49. The mechanism of claim 47 wherein said apertures are formed as pierced holes in an elastomeric film over said second end of said member.
- 50. A method for forming an insert for a pressure regulated dispensing container, comprising the steps of:
- providing a product bag;
- disposing a pressure regulating mechanism along a side edge of said product bag;
- rolling said product bag in a first direction around said pressure regulating mechanism; and sealing said product bag in a rolled up state around said pressure regulating mechanism with said seal being responsive to pressure generated within said product bag to release and allow said product bag to unroll.
- 51. A method for assembling a pressure regulated dispensing system; comprising the steps of:
- providing a container;
- inserting a first reactant in said container;
- inserting a special insert assembly into said container, said special insert assembly comprising,
- a pressure regulating mechanism;
- a product bag rolled around said pressure regulating mechanism;
- pressure responsive tags maintaining said product bag rolled around said pressure regulating mechanism; and
- a dispensing valve connected to said product bag; and
- sealing said container while allowing a portion of said dispensing valve to protrude outside of said container.
- 52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the steps of initializing a pressure in said pressure regulating mechanism and releasing said pressure responsive tags by introducing product into said product bag.
- 53. The method of claim 52 wherein said product is introduced into said product bag via said dispensing valve.
Parent Case Info
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 470,911 filed on Jan. 26, 1990 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A PRESSURE WITHIN A PRODUCT DISPENSER.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0098476 |
Jun 1983 |
EPX |
0105537 |
Aug 1983 |
EPX |
0132511 |
Apr 1984 |
EPX |
639913 |
Dec 1983 |
CHX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
470911 |
Jan 1990 |
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