US4754897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas pressurized dispensing containers
Assignee: Consort Medical Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-02-11
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Granted: 1988-07-05
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Expires: 2007-02-11
Abstract
Abstract Dispensing apparatus 1 for a pressurized dispensing container has a valve, a valve actuator and a flow regulator comprising a washer 13 located in a housing 11 such that an aperture 14 of the washer forms a constriction presenting an impedance to the flow. The washer is resiliently deformable to vary the impedance presented by the constriction in response to variation in the pressure differential across the washer such that in use with a pressurized container having a finite resource of pressurizing gas the tendency for the flow rate to decrease with depletion of the gas pressure is compensated by a tendency for the flow rate to increase due to decreased impedance of the flow regulator. The washer has a recessed downstream face 16 which co-operates with a planar seat 15 of the housing such that the washer deforms towards the seat. The apparatus enables containers to be pressurized with nitrogen while maintaining a constant flow rate throughout the dispensing life of the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey Brace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:13
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/14; B65D83/44; G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/01; G05D7/0106; G05D7/012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
Dispensing apparatus for a gas pressurized dispensing container comprising a valve, a valve actuator and a flow regulator wherein the flow regulator comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a seat in the housing surrounding the outlet, compensation means for decreasing the impedence of the flow regulator in response to decreases in the gas pressure in the container; said compensation means including a diaphragm located within the housing and having at least a downstream face, a peripheral surface portion extending upstream from the downstream face and an aperture defining a flow path, which aperture forms a constriction presenting an impedence to the flow through the regulator, the housing having interior walls which are spaced form the diaphragm in directions which are axial and radial with respect to the flow path so as to provide a loose fit of the diaphragm in the housing, the diaphragm being resiliently deformable to change the geometry of the aperture being operable to vary the impedance presented by the constriction in response to variation in the pressure differential across the diaphragm, the downstream face of the diaphragm cooperating in use with the seat, one of the face and the seat being recessed such that a seal line is formed between the downstream face of the diaphragm and the seat adjacent the peripheral surface portion and wherein the diaphragm is deformable under sufficient pressure differential into conformal contact between the face and the seat, such that in use to dispense a product from a container having a finite resource of pressurising gas the tendency for the flow rate to decrease with depletion of the gas pressure is at least partially compensated by a tendency for the flow rate to increase due to decreased impedance of the flow regulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
Dispensing apparatus for a gas pressurized dispensing container comprising a valve, a valve actuator and a flow regulator wherein the flow regulator comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a seat in the housing surrounding the outlet, compensation means for decreasing the impedence of the flow regulator in response to decreases in the gas pressure in the container; said compensation means including a diaphragm located within the housing and having at least a downstream face, a peripheral surface portion extending upstream from the downstream face and an aperture defining a flow path, which aperture forms a constriction presenting an impedence to the flow through the regulator, the housing having interior walls which are spaced form the diaphragm in directions which are axial and radial with respect to the flow path so as to provide a loose fit of the diaphragm in the housing, the diaphragm being resiliently deformable to change the geometry of the aperture being operable to vary the impedance presented by the constriction in response to variation in the pressure differential across the diaphragm, the downstream face of the diaphragm cooperating in use with the seat, one of the face and the seat being recessed such that a seal line is formed between the downstream face of the diaphragm and the seat adjacent the peripheral surface portion and wherein the diaphragm is deformable under sufficient pressure differential into conformal contact between the face and the seat, such that in use to dispense a product from a container having a finite resource of pressurising gas the tendency for the flow rate to decrease with depletion of the gas pressure is at least partially compensated by a tendency for the flow rate to increase due to decreased impedance of the flow regulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the minimum impedance of the regulator is greater than the combined impedance of the remainder of the apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seat is planar and the downstream face of the diaphragm is recessed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a chamber immediately upstream of the diaphragm such that the flow path is locally enlarged in cross section to expose a substantial part of the upstream face of the diaphragm to the flow pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is formed integrally with the actuator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is formed integrally with the valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a dip tube the lower end of which tube in use is immersed in the product to be dispensed and wherein the housing is located at the lower end of the dip tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a dip tube having a first portion depending from the valve with the housign located at the lower end thereof and a second portion depending from the housing which portion in use is immersed in the product to be dispensed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm includes an annular flange adjacent its upstream face extending radially with respect to the flow path axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the diaphragm has an upstream face having a planar portion and includes an axially extending protrusion such that when the upstream face of the diaphragm is presented in abutment with a planar supporting surface the planar portion is spaced therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the protrusion is an annular flange.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the downstream face of the undeformed diaphragm has a recess such that when the downstream face of the diaphragm is presented in abutment with a planar supporting surface an annular surface portion of the downstream face is in contact with the supporting surface and wherein the area of contact between the diaphragm and the supporting surface is substantially the same whether the upstream or downstream face is so presented.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the housing includes a radially extending annular recess for accommodating the annular flange of the diaphragm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the diaphragm includes a downstream face having an annular surface portion and the housing includes a co-operating annular seat, the flow path axis extending through both the annular surface portion and the seat, whereby the diaphragm is urged into sealing engagement with the seat of the housing when a flow is established such that the flow passes solely through the aperture of the diaphragm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing includes bypass means for allowing the flow to bypass the diaphragm when the direction of flow is reversed during filling of the container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the bypass means comprises axially extending channels between the radially outer surface of the diaphragm and the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the or at least one of the channels is formed between axially extending ribs projecting inwardly from the housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the diaphragm includes an annular flange adjacent its upstream face extending radially with respect to the flow path axis, and wherein at least one of the channels is provided by an indentation in the flange of the diaphragm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
A pressurised dispensing container including apparatus as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
A pressurised dispensing container including apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is of the compartmented or multi-compartmented type in which the pressurising gas is separated from the product or products respectively to be dispensed such that any such product is pressurised to the gas pressure but is not mixed therewith.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
A dispenser as claimed in claim 19 wherein the gas is nitrogen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
283 words
Dispensing apparatus for a gas pressurized dispensing container comprising a valve, a valve actuator and a flow regulator wherein the flow regulator has a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a seat in the housing surrounding the outlet, compensation means for decreasing the impedance of the flow regulator in response to decreases in the gas pressure in the container; said compensation means including a resiliently deformable diaphragm located within the housing, the diaphragm having an aperture defining a flow path, which aperture forms a constriction presention an impedance to the flow, the diaphragm having at least a downstream face and a peripheral surface portion which extends upstream from the downstream face, the housing having interior walls which are spaced from the diaphragm in directions which are axial and radial with respect to the flow path so as to provide a loose fit of the diaphragm in the housing to change the geometry of the aperture to an extent which s dependent on the pressure differential across the diaphragm, said change in geometry of the aperture being operable to vary the impedance of the regulator in response to variation in the pressure differential across the diaphragm such that in use the flow rate varies by not more than 10% for dispensing face of the through the range 30 to 150 psi., the downstream face of the diaphragm cooperating in use with the seat, one of the face and the seat being recessed such that a seal line is formed between the downstream face of the diaphragm and the seat adjacent the peripheral surface portion and wherein the diaphragm is deformable under sufficient pressure differential into conformal contact between the face and the seat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
283 words
Dispensing apparatus for a gas pressurized dispensing container comprising a valve, a valve actuator and a flow regulator wherein the flow regulator has a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a seat in the housing surrounding the outlet, compensation means for decreasing the impedance of the flow regulator in response to decreases in the gas pressure in the container; said compensation means including a resiliently deformable diaphragm located within the housing, the diaphragm having an aperture defining a flow path, which aperture forms a constriction presention an impedance to the flow, the diaphragm having at least a downstream face and a peripheral surface portion which extends upstream from the downstream face, the housing having interior walls which are spaced from the diaphragm in directions which are axial and radial with respect to the flow path so as to provide a loose fit of the diaphragm in the housing to change the geometry of the aperture to an extent which s dependent on the pressure differential across the diaphragm, said change in geometry of the aperture being operable to vary the impedance of the regulator in response to variation in the pressure differential across the diaphragm such that in use the flow rate varies by not more than 10% for dispensing face of the through the range 30 to 150 psi., the downstream face of the diaphragm cooperating in use with the seat, one of the face and the seat being recessed such that a seal line is formed between the downstream face of the diaphragm and the seat adjacent the peripheral surface portion and wherein the diaphragm is deformable under sufficient pressure differential into conformal contact between the face and the seat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the diaphragm further comprises a generally planar upstream face, the peripheral surface portion being cylindrical and extending between said upstream and downstream faces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm further comprises a generally planar upstream face, the peripheral surface portion being cylindrical and extending between said upstream and downstream faces.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-05 | 1992-01-04 | 1992-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-05 | 1996-01-04 | 1996-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-05 | 2000-01-04 | 2000-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |