This application is the national stage of international application no. PCT/IB2004/000163, filed 20 Jan. 2004, and claims priority to Dutch application no. NL1022455, filed 21 Jan. 2003, both of which applications are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a system for applying a working pressure to a content of a pressure package with the aid of a propellant, the system being provided with: a pressure package and a gas supply device comprising a pressure controller and a high-pressure chamber for storage of the propellant, the gas supply device being provided with a feed-through connecting the high-pressure chamber and the pressure controller for supplying propellant from the high-pressure chamber to the pressure controller, the pressure controller being further arranged to control the working pressure on the content of the pressure package with the aid of the propellant on the basis of a reference pressure.
Such a system is known per se. Typically, the known systems are arranged for, shortly after the manufacture of the pressure package with the content, providing a working pressure on the content with the aid of the propellant. However, after a working pressure has been provided; it may take a long time yet before the content is to be expelled from the pressure package under the influence of the working pressure. In fact, it may be that the pressure package with the content, as a product, is still to be traded, transported, possibly stored, sold, etc., before the product is eventually put to use. To prevent the initially applied working pressure from decreasing in the period between the provision of the working pressure and the use of the product, for instance as a result of diffusion of propellants through pressure package material, the pressure package material should be of a very high quality. As a consequence, the required pressure package material is of an expensive quality. The protracted exertion of the working pressure on the content and inner walls of the pressure package can moreover have adverse effects both on the content and on the pressure package.
The object of the invention is to provide a system that meets at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
The object contemplated is achieved with a system according to the invention which is characterized in that the gas supply device is further provided with a movable member which can be brought at least in a control position and in a neutral position, while the movable member in the control position clears the feed-through to enable control of the working pressure, and the movable member in the neutral position blocks the feed-through, so that control of the working pressure is then impossible.
In use, the propellant can be included in the high-pressure chamber with a relatively high main pressure when the movable member has been brought in a neutral position. The movable member then blocks the feed-through situated between the pressure chamber and the pressure controller. At any time to be chosen freely, the movable member can be brought into the control position. In that case, the feed-through situated between the pressure chamber and the pressure controller is cleared to enable the propellant to flow from the high-pressure chamber to the pressure controller. As a result of the relatively high pressure in the high-pressure chamber, at least a part of the propellant then flows from the high-pressure chamber via the feed-through to the pressure controller for controlling a working pressure on the content of the pressure package. As stated, the time at which a user decides to apply the working pressure to the content of the pressure package is to be chosen freely. This means that the working pressure can for instance be provided shortly before use of the content of the pressure package. Since in the system according to the invention it is not necessary for the working pressure to be applied to the content from the time of manufacture of the pressure package with the content, the adverse effects of the working pressure on the content and/or the pressure package can at least partly be avoided. Also, less high requirements can be imposed on the pressure package materials.
Optionally, the control of the working pressure can be set out of operation by bringing the movable member back into the neutral position. In that case, if any part of the content of the pressure package flows out, the working pressure on the content of the pressure package is not sustained by the propellant. An additional advantage is that in that case, when the working pressure decreases, a high-viscous content will not of itself readily leave the pressure package through, for instance, an outflow opening which is not closed.
A particular embodiment of the system according to the invention is characterized in that the movable member can further be brought in a filling position, while the movable member in the filling position establishes a fluid communication between the high-pressure chamber and an inlet of the system to enable the high-pressure chamber to be filled with propellant, while the movable member in the filling position in addition blocks the feed-through.
For such a system, it is not even necessary for the propellant to be included in the pressure chamber already during the manufacture of the system. In a stage after the manufacture of the system, the propellant can be included in the pressure chamber from, for instance, a supply container, by connecting the supply container to the fluid communication. It is even possible to replenish the pressure chamber if this should prove necessary during use.
Preferably, in the control position, the movable member blocks the fluid communication. This prevents the supply container from obtaining a direct fluid communication with the pressure controller.
Further, preferably, the movable member blocks the fluid communication in the neutral position as well. This means that it is possible to position the movable member such that both the feed-through and the fluid communication are blocked. This may be favorable for periods in which it is not necessary for the pressure chamber to be filled or replenished and it is not necessary for the working pressure on the content of the pressure package to be sustained. Such a period can occur, for instance, during storage and/or transport.
Preferably, the movable member comprises a rod which is movable in axial direction. The rod can comprise a first and a second end, with the first end of the rod, in the neutral position, closing off the feed-through. Preferably, furthermore, in the neutral position, a circumferential surface of the first end of the rod situated substantially parallel to the axial direction makes contact with an inner wall of the feed-through situated substantially parallel to the axial direction, and thereby closes off the feed-through. This provides the advantage that the feed-through and the first end of the rod will each have predetermined dimensions which remain at least substantially constant during the use of the system. Tearing of the feed-through and/or wear of the first end of the rod is highly unlikely and therefore the closure will possess an at least virtually constant quality. As a consequence, the position of the rod relative to the feed-through in the neutral position will hardly change, if at all, during use, which will facilitate the use of the system as regards placing the movable member in the neutral position and possibly also in the filling position, compared with a situation where the feed-through can vary in dimensions and the closure is dependent on the exact position of the movable member. In fact, the exact position does not need to be the same when the dimensions of the feed-through can increase during use as a result of, for instance, tearing, indentation and the like.
The invention further relates to a gas supply device for use in such a system.
The invention is presently elucidated with reference to a drawing. In the drawing:
The system works as follows. As a starting point, the movable member 5, 6 is in the neutral position, as drawn in
When with the aid of the propellant a working pressure is to be applied to the content of the pressure package, the movable member is brought into the control position. To that end, the pull element 11 is pulled in the direction of arrow R. In the control position, the movable member 5, 6 clears the feed-through 4 to enable control of the working pressure. In other words, it is then possible for the propellant contained in the high-pressure chamber 3 to flow through the feed-through 4 to the pressure controller 2. The pressure controller 2 is described at length in WO 99/62791, shown in detail in
The pressure controller 2 controls as follows. When the pressure in the pressure package A is lower than the reference pressure in the reference pressure chamber 16, the pressure in the space 21 will also be lower than the reference pressure in the reference pressure chamber 16. As a consequence, the plunger 17 moves in the direction of arrow R, at least when the reference pressure in the reference pressure chamber 16 is higher than the pressure in the space 21. It should be noted that a high pressure of the gas in the high-pressure chamber 3 as exerted on a subsurface 27 will hardly make any contribution to the position of the plunger 17 since this subsurface 27 is very small. As said, when plunger 17 with the stem 24 moves in the direction of arrow R, a gas communication between the space 21 and the high-pressure chamber 3 is effected in the pressure control passage 23 via the annular recess 25. The propellant operatively contained in the high-pressure chamber will flow via this gas communication to the space 21. Via the through-going recess 20 provided in the cap 19, the propellant will flow via inlet opening 13 to the pressure package A. When in the pressure package A the pressure is slightly higher than the reference pressure in the reference pressure chamber 16, the plunger 17 will move in the direction of arrow “a”. The gas communication between the space 21 and the high-pressure chamber 3 is thereby closed off by the contact between the sealing ring 26 and the stem 24. The operating pressure prevailing in the pressure package A is therefore slightly higher than the reference pressure in the reference pressure chamber 16. It is now possible to bring the movable member 5, 6 in the neutral position again by pushing the handle 11 in the direction of arrow “a”. The first end 7 of the rod 6 will then project through the feed-through 4 again, and thereby close off the feed-through 4. It is then no longer possible to control the working pressure in the pressure package A when, for instance, owing to a user, a part of the content has flowed from the pressure package and the pressure in the pressure package has thereby been lowered. In other words, when the movable member is in the neutral position, then, upon opening of the pressure package, the operating pressure will not be controlled. Should a user, after having closed the pressure package A again, wish to apply the working pressure to the remainder of the content of the pressure package A again after all, the user should bring the movable member in the control position by pulling the handle 11 in the direction of arrow R. The rod 6 then moves in the axial direction of the rod, in the direction of arrow R, and thereby clears the feed-through 4. It is then possible again for propellant to flow from the high-pressure chamber 3 through the feed-through 4 to the pressure controller 2. The pressure controller 2 can then control the working pressure on the content of the pressure package A again in the manner described above.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown by way of example in
The spring 63 and at least a part of the movable member 5, 6 are surrounded by the housing 8. The ring 54, mentioned earlier, is accommodated in the housing 8. The spring 63 sits around the rod 6, and the inner side of the housing 8 is provided with a collar K against which the spring 63 sits. Housing 8 is further provided with a first opening O.1 and a second opening O.2. The first end 7 of the rod 6 extends through the first opening O.1. The second opening O.2 links up with the passage 10. Rod 6 is further provided with a thickening D situated between the first end 7 and a second end 9, such that the rod is confined in the housing 8. The thickening D is such as to fit neither through the first opening O.1 nor through the second opening O.2 of the housing 8. It will be clear that the feed-through 4 is provided with a suitable sealing ring 4.1. It will further be clear that the passage 10 is provided with a suitable sealing ring 10.1.
The system may be of two-part design. A first part can then comprise the pressure package and a second part can comprise the gas supply device B. As shown in
In the example according to
The cap 19 is provided with a recess (not shown) which extends through the cap from a position contiguous to the channel 81 as far as the outflow opening 13. Between the space 21 and the outflow opening 13, therefore, a continuous gas communication is present.
Through movement of movable member 5 in the direction of arrow “a”, the movable member is brought in the neutral position, since a fluid communication between the pressure controller 2 and the high-pressure chamber 3 is then closed off. In
Naturally, it is also possible for the system to comprise a supply container with propellant. In that case, this supply container can be connected to a portion situated outside the high-pressure chamber 3 of a movable member 5, 6 which can be brought into a filling position. The supply container is then connected to the inlet I.
The pressure package may be provided with a content which is expelled under pressure from the pressure package A through an outlet opening (not shown), situated, for instance, opposite the pressure controller opening 13. Thus, the pressure package A can, for instance, have a viscous liquid as content. This viscous liquid can for instance comprise a cement. To be considered here, for instance, is a silicone cement or an acrylic cement. The gas supply device B, for instance such as it is shown in
The invention is not limited in any way to the exemplary embodiment shown. Thus, the movable member 5 can also comprise a part of the pressure chamber wall. The gas supply device B can for instance be designed such that the rod, in the filling position, through depression with the aid of a supply container outlet, ends up entirely within the pressure chamber, no longer closes off passage 10 and in this way establishes the second fluid communication. The spring and the housing may be arranged to keep the movable member in the neutral position with the spring relaxed. The flexible parts 53 may then also be designed to spring.
The fixation of the movable member, incidentally, will preferably be temporary. However, embodiments in which the movable member is fixed a single time and definitively are also conceivable and are also understood to belong to the invention.
A lock for one or all possible positions of the movable member can also be situated outside the pressure chamber, so that a user can operate such lock by hand. In that case, the position of the movable member can be clearly visible to a user.
The system may further be provided with a chamber which is openable prior to a first use, which chamber is included in the feed-through. Use is now understood to mean the provision of the working pressure from the gas supply device for the first time. The first end of the rod can in that case be provided with an opener facing the openable wall, for opening the openable wall before the system is brought into the control position for the first time. The openable wall can be an additional sealing capable of preventing leakage of propellant from the gas supply device before the gas supply device is taken into use. The opener referred to can comprise a pointed part and the openable wall can be designed to be pierceable with the pointed part.
All such variants are understood to fall within the framework of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1022455 | Jan 2003 | NL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2004/000163 | 1/20/2004 | WO | 00 | 9/23/2005 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2004/065260 | 8/5/2004 | WO | A |
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