WO2012052174A1

WO2012052174A1 - Metering pump

Info

Publication number: WO2012052174A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/005290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyeck-Hee Lee; Ute Steinfeld; Frank Holzer; Markus Mahler
Original assignee: Ursapharm Arzneimittel Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-10-20
Filing date: 2011-10-20
Publication date: 2012-04-26
Also published as: KR20130128398A; CN103180051A; DE102010048986A1; AU2011317862A1; CA2813687A1; MX2013004438A; JP2013543560A; RU2013119866A; US20140301875A1; EP2629894A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering pump for a metering device for the metered dispensing of a liquid, which metering device can be connected to a supply container, the metering pump comprising a cylindrical pump body and an actuating body.

Description

metering

The invention relates to a metering pump for a metering device for metered delivery of a liquid ^¬ speed, which is connectable to a storage container, comprising a. cylindrical pump body and an actuator body.

Metering pumps for the metered dispensing of liquids which can be connected to a storage container are known from the prior art.

EP 0 473 892 A2 and EP 1 466 668 A1 disclose such a metering pump, which consists of a cylindrical pump body, an actuating body and a closure cap. An essential element of the metering pump according to the aforementioned European application is the structure in the form of a pump body ^¬ in hollow cylindrical shape, which has two sections, wherein in the interior of the hollow cylindrical pump body portion an inner hollow cylinder is fixed, in which a piston is guided. The seal against the storage container is achieved by a seal arranged on the inside.

A similar solution is known from WO 97/18902, in which a sealing ring is also provided for sealing between the storage container and the pump body in the form of a hollow cylinder.

However, it has been shown that such arrangements do not yet show sufficient safety with respect to the tightness against the ingress of air during the dosing process. There are also problems with dosing when using a reservoir with high temporary back pressure.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a metering pump for medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquid and gel preparations as well as in the food industry (eg for food supplements, spices, etc.), which is connectable to a storage vessel, in which increased security against leaks Air is achieved during dosing even under unfavorable circumstances.

The object is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1. The dependent claims show preferred developments.

According to the invention, it is thus proposed according to claim 1 that a metering pump which can be connected to a storage vessel, as is already known in the prior art, for example from EP 0 473 892 A2, EP 1 466 668 A1 or WO 97/18902 , in the Way is improved, that between the outside of the piston and the inside of the purap body on the pump body on the inside itself a sealing ring is provided for sealing. Furthermore, the metering pump according to the invention is characterized in that in the direction of the storage container at the open end, a valve section is provided, in which an inlet valve cooperates with a angeord ^¬ Neten in a valve seat ball according to the invention.

The combination of these measures it is achieved that even under ^¬ gen for adverse conditions, ie at high temperatures and back pressure extremely high density is achieved during dispensing. It has also been shown that by the inventive design also a much easier operation of the metering pump is made possible in such a way that not for the filling process, as is customary in the prior art, many times the pumping process must be performed, but that after only a few pumping operations, a safe and perfect dosing is generally possible after three to four times. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the metering pump now provides that in the interior of the valve section starting from the inside in the longitudinal direction extending support members, the upper travel limit of the ball when operating the metering pump, are provided. This will be an extremely safe

Guiding the ball in the space formed by the valve seat and by the support elements allows space. In particular, this measure obviously leads to the fact that, as already explained above, an extremely safe operation with the metering pump according to the invention is possible. For this embodiment shape it has herausge particularly favorable ^¬ is when at least one, preferably two, special ^¬ but three support elements are provided DERS preferred. These support elements are preferably so ausgebil ^¬ det that they are integrally connected (monolithic) with the inside of the inner hollow cylinder, which defines the Ventilab ^{¬ section} , in one piece. These support elements are before Trains t ^¬ thereby manufactured in one piece together with the valve seat and the inner hollow cylinder, at least the valve section, preferably by an injection molding process.

The advantage of the thin configuration of the wall in this area is a higher flexibility of this valve section.

This increased flexibility allows the "suction / restoring force" created by the inner bag (placed in the reservoir) to be counteracted after actuation of the pump (tendency of the inner bag to return to a relaxed shape rather than remaining in a folded form).

This means that the contact area of the valve wall with the ball closes even more tightly due to the increased flexibility and prevents the air from entering the direction of the bottle. With a thicker wall, there may be gaps in the area between the contact surface ball to valve, so that air can enter. In particular, this is the case with not optimally round balls or unevenly coated balls.

The support elements in and of themselves include all known in the prior art options that lead to a stabilization of the ball. Preferred supporting elements are those which are designed in wedge shape. are formed.

As a further important has been found that min ^¬ least the valve portion is formed so that the thickness of the walls of the valve portion in the range of 0.2 to 1.0 mm, preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 mm. The advantage here is the easier production by injection molding. The reproducibility of the shape of the support elements is thereby increased and thus allows a precise function and mobility of the ball. An essential element in connection with this embodiment is thus the embodiment in the form of thin walls in the specified limits. If the upper limit of 1.0 mm is exceeded, it has been found that this can lead to leaks in later use. In addition, the rigidity is so high that the flexibility of the wall is too reduced to still securely seal the ball. With smaller thicknesses than 0.2 mm, sufficient stabilization can not be achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment, it is proposed to coat the ball. The coating of the ball takes place in a thin layer, which is placed all over the ball. Suitable materials for this are in particular LD-PE (low-density polyethylene). By this measure, an improvement of the dosing effect is achieved. The coating with this material, which is approved for medical applications, allows the approval of a medical product in markets that have particularly stringent regulations. For example, the ball itself may be made of stainless steel or a silver-coated ball that is germicidal. The seal proposed according to the present invention is a sealing ring in a preferred embodiment. The sealing ring is arranged according to the present invention on the inside of the hollow cylindrical Pumpenkör- perabschnitts, which faces in the direction of the actuating body. The arrangement is to be chosen so that the highest possible sealing effect with respect to the piston is guided in the interior of the hollow cylinder, is achieved. The sealing ring may be perabschnitt as tegraler in ^¬ part in the corresponding Pumpenkör-. Conveniently, therefore, the sealing ring is formed so that it is spaced from the piston outer wall and has appropriate sealing lips. These sealing lips then the tightness is realized with respect to the piston. The sealing lips may be formed as a single separate lips, and in

Pointing direction to the actuator body. The sealing ring can have at least one, preferably 3 to 5 lips. A development of the invention proposes that for secure attachment of the sealing ring in the interior of the wood-cylindrical pump body portion of the

Sealing ring is formed in the profile in the form of a U 's and engages a U-leg in a groove on the interior of the pump body portion. The second leg of the

U's is then used for sealing effect. This second leg of the U 's can then be designed so that it is spaced apart from the outside of the piston and realizes the sealing effect via lips.

From the choice of materials are basically all Ma materials which are generally used for seals. The choice of material depends on the safety for the respective application. There are thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers in question. Examples are PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PU (polyurethane), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), LD-PE (low density polyethylene), HD-PE (high density polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene).

The metering pump of the invention can selbstverständ ^¬ Lich also equipped as in the prior art, an additional seal to ^¬ for sealing against the storage container. It is preferred that a seal is disposed on the inside between the one hand, the inner hollow cylinder and the cylindrical pump body portion and on the other hand, the reservoir not shown.

The cylindrical pump body is preferably made of a plastic, e.g. Polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) formed. Important for the choice of materials are the medical and pharmaceutical safety as well as the material safety in the food industry. The inner surface of the cylindrical pump body can therefore also have a coating for germ killing.

The invention also includes an embodiment analogous to EP 1 466 668 A1, in which the inner hollow cylinder forming the pressure chamber is interchangeable.

Of course, the metering pump according to the invention then also has an actuating body, which is connected to the piston and the cylindrical pump body. The formation of the actuator body also is guided by the state of the tech ^¬ technology. Reference is made to EP 0 473 892 A2, EP 1 466 668 A1 and WO 97/18902. As a storage container that can be connected to the metering pump, in principle, all storage containers of the prior art come into question. Reference is made to the documents mentioned in the previous paragraph. These must allow air-free operation, eg containers with flexible inner bag or drag piston. In addition to cylindrical, made of stable plastic containers are also plastic bags, which are integrated in a separate container. When using Schleppkolbenflaschen is a higher

Negative pressure expected.

The storage containers are conveniently connected via a snap closure or via a thread with the metering pump.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to figures. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment with the sealing element according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the sealing element according to the invention of Figure 1 in an enlarged form.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the

Sealing element in the form of a U 's is formed.

Figure 4 shows the sealing element according to the invention of Figure 3 in an enlarged form. Figure 5 shows in section the training of

Valve range with the figure sequence 1, 2, 3, which show the different operating states.

FIG. 6 shows the dimensioning of the valve area.

Figure 1 shows schematically the structure of a metering pump according to the invention, in which case the cylindrical pump body 1 is shown with the actuator body 20 for the metering ^¬ pump. The actuating body 20, which may preferably consist of the same material as the cylindrical pump body, ie, for example, PE, is connected to the pump body 1, for example via a snap closure or a plug connection. In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the storage container is not shown, since it is not essential to the understanding of the invention. For this, as well as for the explanation of the actuating body 20, reference is made to EP 0 473 892 A2, EP 1 466 668 A1 or WO 97/18902. In FIG. 1, the cylindrical pump body 1 is a

Dosing pump with the actuator body 20, as known from the prior art, shown. The cylindrical pump body 1 consists of a hollow cylindrical pump body section 2 open in the direction of the storage container (not shown) and a hollow cylindrical pump body section 3 open in the direction of the actuating body 20. With 15, a groove is arranged on the inner wall of the section 3 , An inner hollow cylinder 4 is fastened between the pump body sections 2, 3. The attachment of the inner hollow cylinder 4 in the pump body sections 2 and 3 is accomplished in the embodiment of Figure 1 by engagement in a groove. As is further apparent from FIG. 1, a piston 5 is guided in the inner hollow cylinder 4. The piston 5 is, as known from the prior art, supported by a spring 9 in the interior of the hollow cylinder 4. The inner hollow cylinder 4 now has here an inlet valve 6, wherein the inlet valve 6 is formed with a valve seat 7 cooperating ball 8. With 30, the valve area is designated. To ensure the airtight seal between the reservoir (not shown) and the environment is at the in the

Drawing lower side of a seal assembly 10 is provided. The sealing element 11 essential to the invention is, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, formed in the form of a ring and is fastened to the inside of the hollow-cylindrical pump body section 3 and preferably to the outer wall of the piston

5 spaced.

To improve the sealing effect, as shown in FIG. 2, sealing lips 12, 12 'are provided, which produce a secure seal against the ingress of air during the pumping process. Of course, the invention also includes embodiments in which at least one sealing lip is provided.

FIG. 3 shows, in a modification of the embodiment, as has been described in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, that the sealing element 11 is designed in the form of a U. In this embodiment, the sealing ring 11 is fixed with the one U-legs in a groove 15 on the inside of the pump body portion 3. The second U-leg acts as a sealing element against the outer wall of the piston 5. Also in the embodiment of Figure -3 are again

Sealing lips 12, 12 'provided to allow an optimal Füh ^¬ ren of the piston in the interior of the hollow cylinder 4 and a seal.

In Figure 4, a portion of the Darge in Figure 3 ^¬ presented embodiment is shown enlarged. To improve the sealing effect, the sealing lips 12, 12 'are provided. These allow a secure sealing against the ingress of air during the pumping process. The sealing ring 11 is present here in the form of a U 's.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of the embodiment of the valve region 30 with the sequence of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which represent the different operating states upon actuation.

In FIG. 5, the support elements 31 are shown in wedge shape. The support members 31 as well as the

Valve seat 7 are formed integrally with the inside of the hollow cylinder 4. Preferably, such a design is achieved in that at least the part of the inner piston, which is defined by the valve region 30, by means of a

Injection molding is made in one piece from a suitable plastic. As a result of the design of the valve region 30, as described above, it is now achieved that upon actuation of the piston a secure closing of the valve 6, as shown in the sequence of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is achieved. The sequence of figures 2 and 3 then shows upon actuation of the dosing pump, the change in the position of the ball 8 and the operation of the wedge-shaped support members 31, the safe and defined grip of the ball

8 lead. Another essential element of the invention is that, as shown in Figure 6, the valve portion 30 is formed by a relatively thin-walled inner hollow cylinder 4. The thickness of the wall of the valve section 30 of the hollow cylindrical cylinder 4 is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 1.0, particularly preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 mm. It has been shown that optimum flexibility is achieved with this thin material thickness while still providing sufficient stability to allow the valve seat to optimally adapt its shape to the ball but still hold it securely. As a result, the tightness is achieved. According to the invention, therefore, the metering pump is designed so that the above-mentioned dimensions of the walls of the inner hollow cylinder are maintained at least in the region of the valve region.

Claims

claims

Dosing pump for a metering device for do ^¬ sierten dispensing a liquid which is connectable to a storage container, comprising a cylindrical pump body (1), of a first in the direction of the storage container open hollow cylindrical pump body portion (2) and a second open in the direction of the actuating body hollow cylindrical Pump body section (3) consists and an open at both ends of the inner hollow cylinder (4) which is fixed between the two pump body sections (2, 3) and in which a piston (5) is guided, and one with the pump body (1) connected actuating body (20),

characterized in that between the outside of the piston (5) and the inside of the hollow cylindrical Pumpenkör- perabschnitts (3) on the interior of the hollow cylindrical pump body portion (3) a sealing element (11), for sealing the piston (5) is arranged and that the inner hollow cylinder (4) has at its, in the direction of the storage container, open end a valve portion (30) in which an inlet valve (6) with a in a valve seat (7) arranged ball (8) cooperates.

Dosing pump according to claim 1, characterized in that extending in the valve section (30), starting from the inside in the longitudinal direction, extending supporting elements (31) to the upper limit the ball (8) when operating the metering pump, are arranged.

Dosing pump according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one, preferably two, more preferably three, support elements (31) are provided in a wedge shape.

Dosing pump according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thickness of the walls of the valve portion (30) in the range of 0.2 to 1.0 mm, preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 mm.

Dosing pump according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the region of the valve portion (30) of the inner hollow cylinder (4) and the valve seat (7) and the support element (31) are integrally formed.

Dosing pump according to claim 5, characterized in that at least the valve portion (30) has been produced by injection molding.

Dosing pump according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the ball (8) has a coating.

Dosing pump according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sealing element (11) is a sealing ring.

Dosing pump according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sealing element (11) to the outside of the piston (5) is spaced and at least one lip, preferably two Lips (12, 12 ^λ ), which in the direction of the piston (5) show.

10. dosing pump according to claim 9, characterized marked ^¬ characterized in that the sealing element (11) has a U-profile and the one leg of U 's in a groove (15) which on the inside of the hollow ^¬ cylindrical pump body portion (3) is arranged, engages.

11. dosing pump according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the

Sealing element of polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and / or polyurethane (PU) consists or contains these materials.

12. dosing pump according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that between a part of the inner hollow cylinder (4) and the cylindrical pump body portion (2) and on the other hand, the non-illustrated reservoir inside a seal (10) is arranged.

13. Dosing pump according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a spring (9) is provided, which is fastened to the piston (5) and is supported inside the inner hollow cylinder (4).