Foamer

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a foam dispensing nozzle.

From US applications 4,147,306 and 4,156,505 foam generating devices are known, which include a deformable frothing fluid and air reservoir, a discharge device, and a foam generating device that include both a foam cap or filter and a ball check valve. The foam generating device has a seat with air channels that form a mixing chamber. As the reservoir is squeezed, liquid and air are mixed in the chamber. The blend is passed through the cap to produce foam which is discharged through the outlet. There is a check valve in the fluid path that opens by squeezing and closes when pressure is released. This valve, when closed, prevents downward flow of liquid or foam that could otherwise clog or clog the dispenser. However, such units suffer from some other disadvantages.

Known devices of this type have many parts that are expensive to manufacture. Moreover, many known devices take a long time to reload the air that was discharged from the container when the foam was generated.

The object of the invention is to provide a foam dispensing nozzle at least as efficient as the prior art devices but having fewer parts, which will save assembly costs and reduce the complexity of the structure, which nozzle will be able to be refilled quickly with air between foam discharge operations.

A foam dispensing nozzle including a foam housing, which includes a mixing line for mixing fluid and steam to produce foam, having an outlet port and an inlet port, the mixing line having a mesh screen in the vicinity of the outlet port. areas of turbulence, according to the invention, is characterized in that the mesh screen is in the form of multiple spaced mesh screens, and a swirl manifold located downstream of the plurality of spaced apart mesh screens is hydraulically connected to the mixing line inlet for fluid and vapor contacting each other to produce a swirl flow pattern of fluid and vapor, the swirl manifold having a surface and creating a connecting lumen. the mixing line inlet and the fluid line outlet, the manifold surface has at least one vortex conduit connected to the lumen and the steam conduit outlet, the steam flowing through the vortex conduit and entering the lumen tangentially.

The nozzle of the invention preferably comprises a fluid conduit having an outlet and an inlet, a steam conduit having an outlet and an inlet, and a vent each provided in the foam housing, and a plurality of screens including a first screen and a second screen downstream of the first screen. sieves.

The nozzle preferably comprises a foam conduit for transporting foam produced in the mixing line, the foam conduit being located within a foam conduit housing and connected to the mixing conduit outlet, and a fitting permanently attached to the foam generating line casing, the fitting being connected to the foam conduit housing. slidably coupled to the outer surface of the foam housing for movement between an open position and a closed position; wherein the open position allows communication between the atmosphere and the liquid and vapor present in the container, and the closed position prevents communication between the atmosphere and the liquid and vapor present in the container.

The foam conduit housing has a sealing lip and at least one detent for engagement with an outer surface of the foam conduit when the foam conduit housing is moved between the closed position and the open position.

The mixing line preferably includes a check valve to prevent fluid and foam from flowing back into the container.

The swirl manifold is preferably integral with the foam generating housing, the manifold having a central opening and a manifold surface having a plurality of etched vortex lines tangentially engaging the central opening, each vortex having a major axis.

The number of vortex tubes etched into the vortex manifold surface is from 2 to about 50.

PL 199 156 B1

The number of vortex tubes connected to the lumen is preferably at least two and the major axis of the at least one vortex tube is at right angles to the major axis of the second vortex.

According to the invention, the drawbacks of the presently known foam nozzles have been overcome by the use of a molded elastic seal which allows the container to be refilled with air in a much more efficient manner. Also used is a swirl tubing to produce foam of good quality which is preferably cast as an integral component of the housing of the foam dispensing nozzle. The foam dispensing nozzle according to the invention uses fewer parts and can be assembled more easily and hence can be manufactured and sold at much lower cost.

In use, the foam generating housing is attached to the open neck of the fluid container, the fluid conduit inlet extending into the container interior to a depth below the fluid level, and the vapor conduit inlet extending into the airspace of the container. When the nozzle is in the open position and the container is compressed or compressed, the vent seal is pressed down to seal the vent tightly. Steam or air flows upward through the steam conduit and fluid flows upward through the fluid conduit. The fluid and air are mixed with each other in a swirl tubing positioned in the fluid conduit, creating a vortex of air entrained fluid. The mixture of fluid and air passes through the check valve and multiple screens and is converted to foam. The foam passes through the foam conduit that is a section of the nozzle and is discharged.

When the pressure is released, the vent seal opens and air is introduced through the vent seal and passed through the vent seal into the container to replace the air previously used to produce foam. After the pressure has been equalized, the nozzle can be placed in the closed position. The dispenser closes and no fluid can drain out, even if the dispenser is tilted or inverted.

The subject of the invention is illustrated in the drawing in which Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the nozzle according to the invention, Fig. 2 - a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the assembled state with the nozzle in the lower position, Fig. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the nozzle shown in the upper position before the crushing pressure is applied; FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the nozzle shown in the up position immediately after the crushing pressure is applied, Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the swirl tubing along line 2 - 2 of Fig. 3, Fig. 5a a bottom plan view of the swirl tubing along line 5a - 5a in Fig. Figs. 4, Figs. 6a and 6b are the exploded detailed cross-sectional views of Fig. 2 showing the handle of the foam conduit and the coupler of Fig. 6b positioned on the foam generating casing of Fig. 6a, Fig. 7a and 7b - detailed partial vertical cross sections of a preferred embodiment of the annular spring or crab claw ring receiving the collar of the vent seal shown in Figures 8, 9a and 9b, Figure 8 working partial cross section of a preferred embodiment of the vent seal allowing for external air entering the container immediately after applying the crushing pressure, Fig. 9a is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vent seal of Fig. 8 and Fig. 9b is a plan view of the vent seal of Figs. 8 and 9a.

Shown in Figs. 1-9, a collapsible plastic container 10 includes a foamable fluid 11 and an air space 13. A plastic foam housing 12 is screwed onto the open threaded neck 14 of the container 10. A fluid conduit 16 extends downward from housing 12 into the container interior to a point below the fluid level. Housing 12 includes a check valve 18, a ball check valve 20, a first screen 22, and a second screen 24. The housing 26 of the foam conduit is slidably connected to the housing 12.

The housing 12 is provided with a first vertical hollow cylinder 28 which has an open lower end 30 and a closed upper end 32. Cylinder 28 has internal threads 29 and is adapted to engage an open neck 14 of a container 10. The upper end of cylinder 28 has a centrally located mixing conduit. 34 and an air vent 36 located outside and remote from mixing line 34.

The mixing conduit 34 extends above the upper end of cylinder 28. The mixing conduit 34 has an upper section 38 which communicates with a lower section 40 at the closed upper end 32 of the first cylinder 28. The upper section 38 includes a first screen 22 and a second screen 24. A lower section 40

The ball valve 20 is adapted to receive a check valve 18 with a ball check valve 20 slidably between the point stops 42 and the valve seat 44. The ball 20 communicates normally with the valve seat 44. Foam and air may pass through the check valve 18 when the ball 20 it connects to point stops 42. Foam and air cannot pass through the check valve when ball 20 engages valve seat 44.

Below the lower run 40 and in communication therewith is an opening 46. Below opening 46 there is a vapor conduit 54 adapted to receive a fluid conduit 16 spaced from the wall 50 of the lower conduit as the fluid conduit 16 engages in a compressible connection with spacers 52 formed on the wall 50. lower section. The vapor conduit 54 extends annularly around the fluid conduit 16 and the wall 50 of the lower section and communicates at its inlet 56 with an air space 13 in the container 10.

A vortex manifold 58 is provided in the lower section 40. The swirl manifold 58 has a centrally positioned opening 46 and a plurality of vortex channels 60 etched into the swirl manifold surface 62, parallel to lines 5-5 and 5a-5a, and each channel 60 runs along major axis 61. Steam conduit 54 communicates with opening 46 via vortex manifold channels 60.

The second hollow cylinder 64 has an upper end 66 and is attached with its lower end 68 to the upper end 32 of the first cylinder 28. The second cylinder 64 is coaxially located outside the upper run 38 of the mixing conduit 34 and spaced therefrom by an annular recess 70, with the one being annular. the vent 36 is connected to the recess.

Referring to Figs. 6a and 6b, foam conduit housing 26 has a horizontal discharge tube section 74, a vertical hollow cylindrical section 76, and a coupler 86. The horizontal section has an outer discharge opening 78 and an inner discharge end 80. The vertical section 76 has an upper end. which is attached to the drawing end 80 and has a lower open opening 82. The coupler 86 is slidingly connected to the upper outer surface 88 of the mixing conduit 34 for movement between an open position (Fig. 3) and a closed position (Fig. 2). Coupler 86 has a sealing ring 89 which engages with a detent 90 on the upper outer surface 88 in the open position and, in the closed position, engages with a detent 92 on the lower outer surface 88. The coupler 86 also includes a locking ring 91 that also engages the lower end 30 of the housing 12 when the foam nozzle is in the closed position.

The upper section 38 of the mixing conduit 34 extends into the vertical cylindrical section 76 in a closed position. In the closed or down position, vertical wall 77 extends into annular region 70 and closes mixing line 34 via plug 84 and fitting 86 closes vent 36. In the open or up position, the vent 36 is exposed to outside air which may enter the interior of the first cylinder 28, and the mixing line 34 is exposed to outside air via a horizontal conduit 74 and a vertical section 76 to allow foam to escape.

Referring now to Figures 7, 9a and 9b, a conical vent seal 100 is provided in the first cylinder 28. The seal 100 has a flange 102 adjacent the lower surface 104 of the closed upper end 32 of the first cylinder 28 and its narrow lower end 106 concentrically located therein. outside and adjacent to the cylindrical outer wall 108 of the lower run 40. The flange 102 is joined by an annular or crab-like resilient gasket 110 formed on the lower surface 104. The gasket 110 presses the flange 102 against the lower surface 104 as the housing 12 is threaded onto the neck 14 of the container 10 and pressed against it.

In use, the first cylinder 28 is attached to the open neck 14 of the container 10 and the fluid conduit 16 is positioned such that it extends into the interior of the vessel to a depth below the fluid level 11, and the vapor conduit 54 can extend into the air space 13 of the vessel 10. When the housing 26 is in the raised position and the container 10 is crushed, the first annular seal 100 is closed. Air passes through steam conduit 52 and vortex steam channel 60 and fluid flows upward through fluid conduit 16. Fluid 11 and air 13 are mixed with each other in opening 46 of vortex manifold 58 and a swirling mixture of fluid and air passes through first and second screens 22. screen 24 and is converted to foam 120. Foam 120 flows through vertical section 76 and horizontal section 74 of housing 26 and is discharged.

PL 199 156 B1

At the same time, the first annular resilient seal 100 prevents air 13 from escaping from the container 10 through the vent 36 under the influence of air pressure created by the crushing of the container 10, sealingly pressing the narrow lower end 106 of the seal 100 against the outer wall 108.

After the desired amount of foam 120 has been discharged and pressure is released on the container 10, external air rapidly flows into the container 10 to equalize the pressure therein through the annular recess 70 and the vent 36 as it passes between the vent seal 100 and the outer wall 108 at the lower end 106 of the seal. 100 and into the airspace 13 of the container 10 (see Fig. 8).

Steam or air is sucked into the vortex tubing according to the invention where it mixes with the fluid. The pressure fluctuations in the vortex created in the vortex tube are believed to affect the dissolution rate of air in the fluid, and the amount of foam is at least partially determined by the force of the vortex created in the vortex tube. The force of the vortex depends on the pressure with which the container is crushed, the structure and position of the sieves and the physical properties of the dispensed liquid.

The ratio of fluid to air also affects the amount and quality of foam. The exposure time of air and fluid also affects the rate of air dissolution and hence the amount of foam. The exposure time can be controlled by dimensioning the length of the mixing tube. Factors influencing the selection of appropriate dimensions are the amount of available air sucked in and the physical properties of the liquid, for example surface tension and viscosity. The amount of air available depends on the volume of air in the container, how tightly the container is compressed and the dimensions of the steam tube. Again, these dimensions are often empirically determined. It is found that a suitably sized foam dispenser in the preferred embodiment described herein has a container having a volume ranging from about 50 to about 250 ml, and a mixing line having an overall length ranging from about 25 mm to about 150 mm. The length of the upper section of the mixing conduit may range from about 25 to about 50 mm, and the length may have a radius of from about 6.2 mm to about 13 mm. The length of the lower section of the mixing conduit can range from about 9.5 to about 13 mm, and it can have a radius of from about 3.1 to about 9.5 mm. An annular vapor conduit located concentrically about the fluid conduit has an inner radius from about 3.0 to about 7.4 mm, an outer radius from about 3.8 to about 7.6 mm, and a length from about 10.0 to about 15.3 mm. The cylindrical fluid conduit is about 25 to about 250 mm in length and a radius of about 4.0 to about 9.5 mm. The area of ​​the swirl tubing has a diameter of from about 6.2 to about 13.0 mm and an orifice diameter of from about 1.6 to about 6.2 mm. Preferably, four rectangular swirl channels are etched into the surface of the vortex tube and are perpendicular to each adjacent linear axis of the channel. The dimensions of each vortex channel are typically from about 3.1 to about 6.2 mm in length, from about 0.3 to about 0.8 mm in depth, and from about 0.3 to about 1.2 mm in width.

The foam dispenser of the invention has a plurality of mesh screens to reduce the number of air droplets entering the atmosphere while producing an acceptable quality foam that does not drip when applied to the skin and has an acceptable hanging time on the skin. The foam dispenser of the invention preferably has a pair of screens, each with a size of from about 2 to about 5 holes per running millimeter, the screens being spaced at least in one direction by a distance of from about 6 to about 8 mm to form a turbulent pair. zones when the direction of the spray particle jet is deflected as it passes through the first screen and when the direction of the spray particle jet is further deflected as it passes through the second sieve.

The container body is preferably made of such a material that allows the vessel to be compressed with the hand and to quickly resume its shape flexibly. Examples of suitable materials include thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, nylon or laminates thereof, and the like. Transparent or opaque materials can be used, but transparent or translucent, colored or colorless materials are preferred in order to allow inspection of the level of the contents of the container. With regard to the materials of the nozzle, thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene are preferably used as a tight connection must be formed between the nozzle and the container. The vent seal is preferably made of an elastomeric material, but any other type of resilient material may be used, such as rubber, soft

Plastic or other soft resilient sealing material. Preferably, the material has a Shore or Durometer A hardness of less than about 100.

While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that numerous other forms and modifications will be apparent and fall within the scope of the appended claims.