Apparatus for dispensing liquids

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing a fluid comprising a vessel having an outlet and flow regulating means within said vessel defining the flow path for said fluid from the body of said vessel to said outlet, said flow regulating means including a resiliently moveable element subject to the pressure within said body of said vessel whereby, at least over a range of pressure differences between the pressure in said body of said vessel and the pressure at said outlet, an increase in said pressure difference causes movement of said element so as to provide an increased resistance to flow of said fluid through said flow path.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 intended for the dispensing of a fluid at a specified maximum flow rate under normal conditions of use wherein said moveable element is such that, over a range of pressure differences embracing the pressure difference at which said flow rate is at said maximum value, a 5% increase in the pressure difference effects sufficient movement of said moveable element to increase the resistance to flow of said fluid through said conduct by at least 1%.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the moveable element is a resiliently walled section of a conduit between the outlet of the vessel and the body of said vessel, so that over a range of pressure differences between the pressure in said body of said vessel and the pressure at said outlet, an increase in said pressure difference causes an increase in the degree of collapse of said resiliently walled section.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said vessel is an aerosol canister.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said aerosol is of the barrier pack configuration.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said vessel contains said fluid under pressure.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the fluid to be dispensed is a liquid pressurised by a compressed gas.

Claim 9

A regulator for mounting within a vessel for regulating the flow of a fluid from the body of said vessel to the outlet thereof comprising at least one non-deformable member and a resiliently moveable member disposed such that, when mounted within said vessel, said resiliently moveable member and said at least one non-deformable member define the flow path for said fluid from said body of said vessel to said outlet with said resilient member subject to the pressure within said body of said vessel whereby, at least over a range of pressure differences between the pressure in said body of said vessel and the pressure at said outlet, an increase in said pressure difference causes movement of said resiliently moveable member so as to provide an increased resistance to the flow of said fluid through said flow path.

Claim 10

A regulator for mounting within a vessel for regulating the flow of a fluid from the body of said vessel to the outlet thereof comprising at least one non-deformable member and a resiliently moveable member disposed such that, when mounted within said vessel, said resiliently moveable member and said at least one non-deformable member define the flow path for said fluid from said body of said vessel to said outlet with said resilient member subject to the pressure within said body of said vessel whereby, at least over a range of pressure differences between the pressure in said body of said vessel and the pressure at said outlet, an increase in said pressure difference causes movement of said resiliently moveable member so as to provide an increased resistance to the flow of said fluid through said flow path.

Claim 11

A regulator according to claim 8 said resiliently moveable member comprises the walls of a resiliently walled section of a conduit.

Claim 12

A regulator according to claim 9 wherein said resiliently walled section of the conduit comprises a tube of elastomeric material.

Claim 13

A regulator according to claim 10 wherein said at least one non-deformable member comprises a core member within said tube.

Claim 14

A regulator according to claim 11 wherein said core member has at least one longitudinal groove or ridge to define one or more channels for the passage of fluid between said tube and said core member,

Claim 15

A regulator acoording to any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein said conduit comprises a section having resilient walls and one or more sections having non-deformable walls, one section having non-deformable walls constituting a flow restrictor positioned such that, when said regulator is mounted in said vessel, said flow restrictor is upstream of said resiliently walled section.

Claim 16

A regulator according to claim 13 wherein said flow restrictor comprises a length of capillary tubing.

Claim 17

An assembly for fitting to a vessel to provide a flow path for a fluid from within the body of said vessel to the exterior thereof comprising a closure member adapted to be fastened to said vessel body to close an opening in said vessel, said closure member having a passage therethrough, a flow regulator communicating with the inlet of said passage of said closure member, said regulator and said passage defining said flow path for the fluid from within said body of said vessel to the exterior thereof, said regulator including a resiliently moveable member disposed such that when said closure member is fastened to said vessel body, said resiliently moveable member is within said vessel body and subject to the pressure therein, whereby at least over a. range of pressure differences between the pressure within said body of said vessel and the pressure at the outlet of said passage, an increase in said pressure difference causes movement of, said element so as to provide an increased resistance to flow of said fluid through said flow path.

Claim 18

An assembly for fitting to a vessel to provide a flow path for a fluid from within the body of said vessel to the exterior thereof comprising a closure member adapted to be fastened to said vessel body to close an opening in said vessel, said closure member having a passage therethrough, a flow regulator communicating with the inlet of said passage of said closure member, said regulator and said passage defining said flow path for the fluid from within said body of said vessel to the exterior thereof, said regulator including a resiliently moveable member disposed such that when said closure member is fastened to said vessel body, said resiliently moveable member is within said vessel body and subject to the pressure therein, whereby at least over a. range of pressure differences between the pressure within said body of said vessel and the pressure at the outlet of said passage, an increase in said pressure difference causes movement of, said element so as to provide an increased resistance to flow of said fluid through said flow path.

Claim 19

An assembly according to claim 15 incorporating an on/off valve actuatable from the exterior of said vessel to open and close said flow path for said fluid.

Claim 20

An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said valve is positioned to open and close said passage through said closure member.