Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PRESSURIZED FLUID
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[001] A number of portable devices for providing pressurized fluid or liquid
are known in the art.
One type comprises mechanical pressurizing means such as motor driven mini
pump. Such devices
require electrical power source which require either connection to wall socket
and involves electrical
shock hazard, or portable electrical devices requiring continuous replacement
of batteries. Other
known types of portable devices providing pressurized fluid acquire the
pressure needed for their
operation from a high-pressure gas cartridge or from an effervescent effect
created due to a
chemical reaction between two or more components, such an acidic component and
a base
component. Devices known in the art suffer from several drawbacks, such as the
need to be
permanently connected to a wall socket or the need to replace batteries often.
In other devices using
pressurized gas cartridges or where the source of pressure for the operation
is received from the
effervescence of chemical reaction suffer of unstable work conditions such as
the working pressure
and / or the working flow rate of the pressurized fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[002] A device for providing pressurized fluid according to embodiments of the
present invention
is disclosed comprising a container to contain said pressurized fluid in a
first level of pressure, a feed
tube to receive said pressurized fluid in said first level of pressure, a
pressurized fluid control
mechanism to control the provision of pressurized fluid, a fluid dispensing
tube to provide
pressurized fluid in a second level of pressure, said dispensing tube
extending from one end of said
container, a refilling cap adapted to close the second end of said container,
said refilling cap is
openable, and a flow rate regulator to provide pressurized in said second
level of pressure and in
substantially constant flow rate, when said first pressure is kept within a
high limit and a low limit of
pressure levels.
[003] A device for providing pressurized fluid according to yet other
embodiments of the present
invention is disclosed, comprising a container to contain said pressurized
fluid in a first level of
pressure, a feed tube to receive said pressurized fluid in said first level of
pressure, a pressurized
fluid control mechanism to control the provision of pressurized fluid, a fluid
dispensing tube to
provide pressurized fluid in a second level of pressure; said dispensing tube
extending from one end
of said container, a refilling cap adapted to close the second end of said
container, said refilling cap
is openable, and a dosing mechanism wherein the dosing mechanism comprising
fluid dosing
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tube made of a flexible material to connect said feed tube to said pressurized
fluid control
mechanism, and flow limiter located at the point of connection of said feed
tube to said fluid dosing
tube, wherein said flow limiter is formed as two close parallel arms adapted
to press said fluid
dosing tube so as to limit the flow rate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[004] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out
and distinctly
claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention,
however, both as to
organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and
advantages thereof, may
best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when
read with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[005] Figs. 1A and 1B depict a device for providing pressurized fluid in empty
state and filled with
operational materials, respectively;
[006] Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C depict the device of Figs. lA and 1B in three
different angles of
inclination respectively, and their respective formation of a feed tube
ensuring that the feed tube
remains submerged in the liquid in the device;
[007] Fig. 3A schematically depicts partial cross sectional view of the end of
a dispensing tube;
[008] Fig. 3B is a partial cross section, side view, of hand tool;
[009] Fig. 3C is a schematic partial cross section side view of hand tool;
[0010] Figs. 4A and 4B are schematic partial cross section top and side views,
respectively, of a
hand tool for providing pressurized fluid while vibrating;
[0011] Figs. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are schematic illustrations of a device for
providing pressurized
fluid in one dose for each activation of its trigger, according to embodiments
of the present
invention;
[0012] Figs. 5E and 5F are schematic illustrations of a device for providing
pressurized fluid in one
dose for each activation of its trigger, according to embodiments of the
present invention;
[0013] Figs. 5G, 51, 5H and 5J depict two forms of flow limiters, according to
embodiments of
the present invention;
[0014] Fig, 6 is an isometric schematic illustration of a device for providing
pressurized fluid using
pressurized gas cartridges for refilling of gas, according to embodiments of
the present invention;
[0015] Fig. 7 is a schematic isometric illustration of a device for providing
pressurized fluid,
according to embodiments of the present invention;
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[0016] Figs. 8A and 8B schematically present a device for providing
pressurized fluid and a
corresponding gas refill container, respectively, according to embodiments of
the present invention;
[0017] Figs. 9A and 9B schematically present isometric view with partial cut-
out of a device for
providing pressurized fluid and a blown view of a stirrer installed in the
device, respectively,
according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0018] Figs. 10A, 10B and 10C schematically present three embodiments of
sprinkles protectors
to be used with devices for providing pressurized fluid, according to
embodiments of the present
invention;
[0019] Figs. 11A, 11B and 11C present schematic illustration of a device for
providing pressurized
fluid, an isometric view of a filling cap equipped with tablet crashing unit
and partial cross section of
the device, respectively, according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0020] Figs. 12A and 12B depict two embodiments of filling caps formed to
accommodate and
safely keep two different designs of tablets, according to embodiments of the
present invention;
[0021] Fig. 13 presents a device for providing pressurized fluid, according to
embodiments of the
present invention; and
[0022] Figs. 14A and 14B schematically present a device for providing
pressurized fluid and a flow
rate regulator, respectively, according to embodiments of the present
invention;
[0023] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,
elements shown in the
figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions
of some of the
elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further,
where considered
appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate
corresponding or
analogous elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0024] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be
understood by those skilled
in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific
details. In other
instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been
described in detail so as
not to obscure the present invention.
[0025] US patent application No. 13/180,985, titled DENTAL TREATMENT APPARATUS
AND METHOD, co-owned by the inventor of the present invention, which is
incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety, discloses a device for providing pressurized
fluid. Reference is made now
to Figs. lA and 1B, which depict device 10 adapted for providing pressurized
fluid in its empty state
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state and when filled with operational materials, respectively as described in
details in US application
No. 13/180,985 co-owned by the inventor of the present invention. Device 10
comprising a
container 12 partitioned into a first compartment 12A and a second compartment
12B by a partition
12C adapted to allow free flow of liquid through that partition. The first
compartment is adapted to
contain liquid, the second compartment is adapted to receive a first and a
second active material, a
back cover is adapted to close the first end of the container, wherein the
first end is closer to the
second compartment, and an operation control means to control dispensing of
pressurized liquid
from that container. The operation control means is installed on a front cover
closing the second end
of the container, wherein the first active material and the second active
material are adapted to
produce a first pressure from an effervescence process when in a chemical
reaction and this
operation control means is adapted to reduce the first pressure to a second
pressure. The second
pressure is kept constant regardless of the orientation of the container with
respect to the gravity
direction. According to further embodiments of the present invention the
device comprising
dispensing tube connected at a first end to the operation control means to
receive pressurized liquid
in the second pressure and to dispense that pressurized liquid via a
dispensing orifice. The device
further comprising pulsating mechanism to provide the pressurized liquid to
the dispensing orifice in
at least one pulse. The number of said pulses in a time interval is
controllable.
[0026] Reference is made now to Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C which depict device 10 in
three different
angles of inclination and their respective formation of feed tube 17 due to
the installation of weight
17B at its distal end, to ensure that the distal end remains submerged in the
liquid in device 10, as
described in details in US application No. 13/180,985 co-owned by the inventor
of the present
invention. This way supply of pressurized liquid to regulator and open/close
assembly 14 (Fig. 1A)
or pressure regulating means 14A may be ensured until the liquid in device 10
substantially runs out.
[0027] Reference is made now to Fig. 3A which schematically depicts partial
cross sectional view
of the end of dispensing tube 310, as described in details in US application
No. 13/180,985 co-
owned by the inventor of the present invention. Dispensing tube 310 may have
installed therein a
spatial helix element 312 configured as a long-pitch thread or worm having a
longitudinal axis
coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the inner bore 313 of dispensing tube
310 and having an
outer diameter which smoothly fits the inner diameter of bore 313 to allow
smooth rotation of helix
element 312 inside bore 313. Helix element 312 may have, according to
embodiments of the present
invention, an auxiliary axis 315 made at the end of helix element 312.
[0028] Pressurized liquid entering into dispensing tube 310 via bore 313
aiming to leave via
dispensing outlet orifice 316 flows over helix element 312 and causes it to
rotate rapidly about its
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axis. As a result sections 317 of the blades of helix element 312 pass over,
and close to, the inner
end of orifice 316 thus causing intermittent break of the flow of pressurized
fluid through orifice
316. The number of such breaks in the flow of the pressurized fluid equals,
substantially, to two
times the rotational speed of helix element 312.
[0029] Reference is made now to Fig. 3B, which is a partial cross section side
view of hand tool
320, as described in details in US application No. 13/180,985 co-owned by the
inventor of the
present invention. Hand tool 320 may comprise long bore 322 made inside it
along its longitudinal
dimension to allow providing of pressurized liquid and/or pressurized gas.
Bore 322 may be formed
to provide pressurized fluid into toroidal space 324 in a tangential manner,
so to cause rotational
speedy movement of ball 326 in the plane of Fig. 3B. The rotational movement
of ball 326 may
cause two-dimensional combined vibration of hand tool 320. Accordingly, the
pressurized fluid jet
that emerges from outlet orifice 325 flows in pulsating manner.
[0030] Reference is made now to Fig. 3C, which is a schematic partial cross
section side view of
hand tool 330, as described in details in US application No. 13/180,985 co-
owned by the inventor of
the present invention. Pressurized fluid flowing via bore 332 and through
formed fluid way 334
causes wheel 336 to turn, on its way to fluid orifice 337. As a result
intermittent flow of the
pressurized fluid is caused, rendering pulsating flow of pressurized jet
through outlet orifice 337.
[0031] Reference is made now to Figs. 4A and 4B, which are schematic partial
cross section top
and side views of hand tool 400 for providing pressurized fluid while
vibrating, as described in
details in US application No. 13/180,985 co-owned by the inventor of the
present invention. Hand
tool 400 may comprise long bore 402 made inside it along its longitudinal
dimension to allow
providing of pressurized liquid and/or pressurized gas. Pressurized fluid bore
402 may end with a
narrowing fluid way 404 which may be formed to provide the pressurized fluid
into engraved
toroidal space 406 in a tangential direction via fluid outlet 404A. Toroidal
space 406 is made to fit
the size of ball 408, so that when ball 408 is urged to turn around inside
toroidal space 406 it may
turn freely but at the same time to provide good sealing between ball 408 when
it turns around and
the inner face of toroidal space 806. Hand tool 400 may further comprise
outlet orifice 410 allowing
the exit of a jet of pressurized fluid from the hand tool. When pressurized
fluid enters toroidal space
406 via bore 402 and fluid way 404 it causes a vortex movement inside toroidal
space 406 which
turns in the direction of the arrow marked in toroidal space 406 of Fig. 4A.
As a result ball 408 turns
in the same direction and substantially in the same speed of the vortex. Each
time ball 408 passes
over fluid outlet 404A it blocked it for a short while, thus causing
intermittent flow of the
pressurized fluid into and out of toroidal space 406. Accordingly, the
pressurized fluid jet that
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emerges from outlet orifice 410 in pulsating manner. Further, the speedy
turning of ball 408 cause
two-dimensional vibrations of hand tool 400 which are substantially in the
plane of Fig. 8A
[0032] According to some embodiments of the present invention pressurized
fluid may be provided
one dose per each push on an activation trigger. Reference is made now to
Figs. 5A, 5B, 5C and
5D, which are schematic illustrations of device 500 for providing pressurized
fluid in one dose for
each activation of its trigger, according to embodiments of the present
invention. Figs. 5A and 5B
depict pressurized fluid device 500 in cross section view and in partial
section isometric view,
respectively, when the mechanism of one-dose is in filled-up state. Device 500
comprise container
body 502 filled with pressurized fluid, feed tube 510, dosing mechanism 511,
activation trigger 530
and dispensing tube 530. Dosing mechanism 511 may comprise fluid dosing tube
512 and flow
limiter 514. Dosing tube 512 may be made of a flexible material, allowing it
to be filled with
pressurized fluid, or to shrink so that its cross section will form a
flattened oval shape when the
pressure outside of dosing tube 512 is higher than the pressure inside it. The
passage from feed tube
510 into dosing tube 512 via flow limiter 514 is made to allow slow flow. Flow
from dosing tube
512 towards dispensing tube 520 is controlled by activation trigger 530, so
that when the trigger is
not activated the passage is closed and when it is activated the passage is
free. Feed tube 510 may be
submerged in the fluid of container 502 during the operational term of device
500. In times when
activation trigger 530 is closed due to the pressure inside container 502
fluid fills feed tube 510 and,
trough flow limiter 514 it fills also dosing tube 512. When activation trigger
530 is activated one end
of dosing tube 512, that is connected to dispensing tube 520, faces low
pressure (about 1
atmosphere) and therefore the fluid accumulated in it flows freely towards
dispensing tube 520 and
outside from it. The pressure inside container 502 flattens dosing tube 512
and prevents it from
refilling quickly, as seen in Figs. 5C and 5D. Once trigger 530 is deactivated
and closes fluid may
slowly enter dosing tube 512 through flow limiter 514 until it refills fully
and becomes ready for
providing another one-dose of pressurized fluid. The amount of fluid contained
in each dose made
available as described above may be determined by the internal diameter of
fluid dosing tube 512 and
the distance LD from the location of fluid limiter 514 to activation trigger
530.
[0033] Reference is made now also to Figs. 5E and 5F, which are schematic
illustrations of device
550 for providing pressurized fluid in one dose for each activation of its
trigger, according to
embodiments of the present invention. Device 550 comprise container 552 for
containing
pressurized fluid, feed tube 560, dosing device 580, trigger 570 and
dispensing tube 590. Dosing
580 may comprise cylinder 582 and piston 584 slidable with small tolerance
inside cylinder 582,
portioning it into entry side and outlet side. Spring 583 is adapted to push
piston 584 towards the
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entry side of cylinder 582. Piston 584 may comprise one or more small
apertures allowing slow flow
of fluid through them. Feed tube 560 may be submerged in fluid at all time of
operation, providing
pressurized fluid into the entry side of cylinder. When trigger 570 is
deactivated the outlet side of
cylinder 582 is closed. Pressurized fluid may fill cylinder 582 fully and
spring 583 may push piston
584 towards the entry side of cylinder 582. The movement of piston 584 is
enabled because slow
passage of fluid from one side of piston 584 to the other side is enabled via
the small apertures.
When trigger 570 is activated pressurized fluid from the outlet side of
cylinder 582 flows out
through dispensing tube 590. As a result the pressure in the outlet side of
cylinder 582 drops to
substantially the ambient pressure (about 1 Atm.) and due to the fact that on
the other side of piston
there is high pressure from container 552, piston 584 is pushed against the
force of spring 583
towards the outlet side of cylinder 582 and blocks the passage of fluid
towards dispensing tube 590.
As a result a one-dose of pressurized fluid is dispensed. When trigger 570 is
deactivated the passage
from the outlet side of cylinder 582 to the ambient air is blocked,
pressurized fluid may flow slowly
via the apertures in piston 584 in refill the outlet side of cylinder 582,
preparing for another
dispensing of one-dose of pressurized fluid.
[0034] Reference is made now to Figs. 5G, 51, 511 and 5J, depicting two forms
of flow limiter
514A, 514B, respectively, according to embodiments of the present invention.
Flow limiter 514A
may initially be formed from a flat ring having a small protrusion 514C made
on its internal
circumference. Flow limiter 514B may initially be formed from a flat ring
having a small depression
514D made on its internal circumference. The ring may be flattened, as shown
in Fig. 5I to form two
close parallel arms having the protrusion 514C or the depression 514D located
substantially at the
median point of said arms. When flow limiter 514A is placed on the neck of
dosing tube 512 it may
slow down the flow through the neck yet protrusion 514C ensures that minimal
flow will be
enabled. In a similar manner flow limiter 514B may be made from a flat ring
514B having a small
depression made on its internal circumference to ensure slow flow of fluid via
flow limiter 514B.
[0035] Reference is made now to Fig, 6, which is an isometric schematic
illustration of device 600
for providing pressurized fluid using pressurized gas cartridges for refilling
of gas, according to
embodiments of the present invention. Device 600 may comprise pressurized
fluid container 602,
activation trigger 602A, dispensing tube 602B, gas refill port 604 and gas
cartridge housing 606
adapted to accommodate and firmly couple pressurized gas cartridge 700 (not
part of the device) to
refill port 604. Pressurized gas cartridge 6000 may be any known kind
available for home use. It
may be equipped with a gas valve activated when strongly depressed. Cartridge
6000 may be placed
in housing 606, which may be firmly attached to refill port 604 by, for
example, thread made on its
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neck and inside port 604. As is known in the art once gas cartridge 6000 has
been fully discharged it
may be removed from device 600.
[0036] Reference is made now also to Fig. 7, which is a schematic isometric
illustration of device
700 for providing pressurized fluid, according to embodiments of the present
invention. Device 700
may comprise container 702 for containing pressurized fluid, trigger 702A and
dispensing tube
702B. Device 700 may further comprise gas refill connection 704, adapted to be
connected to gas
supply systems as known in the art. Device 700 may further comprise gas refill
connection cap 704A
adapted to protect gas refill connection when not used.
[0037] Reference is made now to Figs. 8A and 8B which schematically present
device 800 for
providing pressurized fluid and a corresponding gas refill container 8000,
respectively, according to
embodiments of the present invention. Device 800 may comprise container 802
for containing
pressurized fluid, trigger 802A to control dispensing of the pressurized fluid
and dispensing tube
802B to provide pressurized fluid where needed. Device 800 may further
comprise refill port 804,
which may be formed, for example, in the base of container 802. Refill port
804 may comprise
fastening thread 804A and refill valve (not shown) to enable refill of gas
into container 802 from an
external refill container such as container 8000 and to prevent leakage of
pressure from container
802 when not connected to refill container. Refill container 8000 may be
equipped with fastening
thread 8002A made to suit fastening thread 804A of device 800 and refill port
8002, adapted to
provide pressurized gas into container 800 via refill port 804 when fully
threaded together.
[0038] Reference is made now to Figs. 9A and 9B, which schematically present
isometric view
with partial cut-out of device 900 for providing pressurized fluid and a blown
view of stirrer 904
installed in device 900, respectively, according to embodiments of the present
invention. Device 900
comprises container 902, operating trigger 902A and dispensing tube 902B.
Container 902 may
further comprise stirrer 904, adapted to vibrate when pressurized fluid is
dispensed from device 900,
in order to urge arrested bubbles of gas to be released, thus enriching the
dispensed pressurized fluid
with bubbles. Stirrer 904 may be installed inside container 902, for example
close to its bottom end.
Stirrer 904 may comprise roller housing 9040 having a round groove 9042 formed
inside it around
the center pin 9044 of housing 9040, fins 9040A extending radially out from
the outside surface of
housing 9040, fluid inlet opening 9048 made to allow entrance of pressurized
fluid from container
902 into housing 9040 so that the entering stream of pressurized fluid is
aimed tangentially to the
outer wall of groove 9042, and pressurized fluid outlet 9049A, made in cover
9049 of housing
9040, allowing pressurized fluid entered into roller housing via inlet opening
9048 and to be directed
into tube 9049B providing pressurized fluid to trigger 902A. Stirrer 904
further comprises roller
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roller 9046 fitted to be able to smoothly fit into and move inside groove 9042
around the center of
stirrer 904. When trigger 902A is operated to release pressurized fluid from
container 902 via
dispensing tube 902B, the pressurized fluid flows into stirrer 904 from inlet
9048 and its rush into
groove 9042 causes roller 9046 to spin around center 9044 of roller housing
9040 and as a result -
to cause it to vibrate. The vibrations of stirrer 904 may urge release of
bubbles arrested in the
pressurized fluid and thus enrich the pressurized fluid leaving device 900
with high concentration of
bubbles.
[0039] Reference is made now to Figs. 10A, 10B and 10C which schematically
present three
embodiments 1000A, 1000B and 1000C, respectively, of sprinkles protectors to
be used with
devices for providing pressurized fluid, according to embodiments of the
present invention. A device
for providing pressurized fluid, as presented, for example, in Figs. 6, 7, 8A
and 9A, may be equipped
with fluid dispensing tube 1002 having dispensing orifice 1004 made at its
distal tip to provide the
pressurized fluid to a target, such as an object, a surface, etc. when
pressurized fluid is dispensed via
orifice 1004, either in a continuous flow, intermittent flow, one-dose flow or
the like, it may spray
undesired sprinkles around the desired area. In order to prevent or minimize
the undesired spray
dispensing tube 1002 may be equipped with spray protector, such as protector
1006, 1008 and
1010, made as piece of thin material that may be formed as flat or convex
rounded object that may
be attached at the distal end of dispensing tube 1002 against dispensing
orifice 1004 and is adapted
to stop spray bouncing from a sprayed object.
[0040] When one or more of the ingredients or materials participating in the
chemical process that
produces the pressure for the pressurized fluid, or for producing one or more
of the additives to the
fluid is provided in the form of a capsule or tablet it may be required to
crash the tablet or break into
small pieces prior to, or substantially concurrently with the initiation of
the effervescence process to
enable quicker process. Reference is made now to Figs. 11A, 11B and 11C,
presenting schematic
illustration of device 1102 for providing pressurized fluid, an isometric view
of filling cap 1102A
equipped with tablet crashing unit 1114 and partial cross section of device
1102 depicting filling cap
1102A and tablet crashing unit 1114, respectively, according to embodiments of
the present
invention. Container 1102B may be equipped with fluid dispensing tube 1102C
and filling cap
1102A. When device 1102 is prepared for use filling cap is removed from
container 1102B (for
example by unscrewing it off the container) to enable refilling of container
1102B with fluid (such as
water). At this stage a tablet (required for the effervescence process and/or
chemical compound
creation) may be inserted to a dedicated location formed in the inner side of
filling cap 1102A, as
seen in Fig. 11B. The inserted tablet may be secured from sideways movements
by a plurality of
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movement limiters 1113, made and located so to fit the size and form of the
tablets recommended
for use with device 1102 so that when filling cap is returned to its place and
screwed to close
container 1102B the tablet is held in its place at the inner face of filling
cap even when the cap is
turned so the its inner face faces down, to cover the refilled container.
Tablet crashing unit 1114
__ may be located at the end of container 1102B closer to the refilling
opening. Tablet crashing unit
1114 may be made of two or more radially extending from the internal
circumference of container
1102B close to its end adapted to be covered by cap 1102A, made of thin pieces
of metal or similar
material that may stand the chemical environment of device 1102 and provide
the crashing and
cutting impact required. Tablet crashing unit 1114 depicted in Figs. 11B and
11C comprises three
__ radials of thin material meeting substantially in the center of the circle
formed by filling cap 1102A
and a small spine 1114A disposed substantially at the meeting point of the
blades of crashing unit
1114. When filling cap 1102A is screwed back onto container 1102B the tablet
is arrested in its
location at the inner face of filling cap 1102A and as filling cap 1102A gets
closer to the filling
opening of container 1102B the tablet gets closer to spine 1114A until spine
1114A touches the
__ tablet and initiates crashing process. As the screwing of filling cap 1102A
progresses the blades of
crashing unit 1114 meet the tablet and complete its crashing.
[0041] Reference is made now to Figs. 12A and 12B, depicting two embodiments
of filling caps
1204, 1214 formed to accommodate and safely keep two different designs of
tablets Tablet 1 and
Tablet2, according to embodiments of the present invention. Filling cap 1204
is formed to
__ accommodate Tablet 1 formed as a rectangle with rounded corners. Locators
1204A and 1204B are
made to locate Tablet 1 (locators 1204A) and to locate and hold (locators
1204B). Filling cap 1214
is formed to accommodate Tablet2 formed as a rounded capsule having formed
therein on at least
one of its flat faces grooves made to match centering locators 1214B. When
Tablet2 is properly
located inside filling cap 1214 its pre-prepared grooves are located on radial
locators 1214B thus
__ centering Tablet2 and locators 1214A further locate and hold Tablet2 in
place.
[0042] In some instances it may be desired to enable refilling of the
container of a device for
providing pressurized fluid from water tap that is installed close to its sink
so that it is hard or even
impossible to hold the container upright with the refilling opening facing up.
Reference is made to
Fig. 13 presenting device 1300 for providing pressurized fluid, according to
embodiments of the
__ present invention. Device 1300 may comprise container 1302 and fluid
dispensing tube 1302A
similar to embodiments presented above. However, in this embodiment container
1302 may have
refilling opening 1304 made on the sidewall of container 1302. This way
container 1302 may be
refilled with fluid when it is held with its longitudinal axis is
substantially horizontal, thus allowing
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refilling from a tap having small free space underneath it. Cap 1306 of device
1300 may be formed
similar to one of the embodiments presented above, or in a different way, as
may be required.
[0043] Devices for providing pressurized fluid employing relatively small
containers and that are not
connected to continuous source of pressure typically suffer from unstable rate
of flow of the
pressurized fluid. Typically such devices will have higher flow rate when the
internal pressure inside
the container is high and the flow rate drops gradually as the pressure inside
the container drops.
Reference is made now to Figs. 14A and 14B, schematically presenting device
1400 for providing
pressurized fluid and flow rate regulator 1450, respectively, according to
embodiments of the
present invention. Device 1400 may comprise container 1402 operating trigger
1404 and fluid
dispensing tube 1406. Device 1400 may further comprise flow rate regulator
1408, disposed inside
container 1402. Flow rate regulator 1408 may comprise housing 1408A having
inlet port 1408B
facing the pressure P1 inside container 14082, outlet port 1408E connected to
operating trigger
1404 and regulating disk 1408C. Regulating disk 1408C may be made of a semi-
flexible flat
material, such a hard rubber. An orifice 1408C may be made through disk 1408C
formed as a
tapering hole having its wider opening facing the side of P1 and its smaller
opening facing the other
side of disk 1408C. The principle of operation of flow rate regulator 1408 is
explained with regards
to flow rate regulator 1450 of Fig. 14B. Flow rate regulator 1450 may have
main housing 1450A,
inlet port 1450A that is facing the side of pressure P1 prevailing inside the
pressurized fluid
container (not shown) and outlet port 1450E that may be connected to an
operating mechanism and
to fluid dispensing tube (both not shown). Regulating disk 1450C may be
disposed inside housing
1450A forming a partition between inlet port 1450B and outlet port 1450E.
Orifice 1450D may be
made through disk 1450C having a tapered, or conical shape with its wider
opening faces the side of
P1. According to some embodiments disk 1450C may be formed so that when it is
placed in place
inside housing 1450A it is convexes a bit. Orifice 1450D is made to determine
the flow rate from
inlet port 1450B to outlet port 1450E. As the actual area of the opening of
orifice 1450D gets
bigger the flow rate of pressurized fluid through it becomes bigger, and vice
versa. The size of
orifice 1450D may be determined so that at all operation conditions it will
not fully close. When a
container of the device of the invention is under pressure (P1) and the
operating mechanism is
closed, pressure P2 prevailing at the outlet port 1450E will eventually
substantially equal to pressure
1. When the operating mechanism is opened pressure P2 drops to equal
substantially to the pressure
prevailing outside of the device. As a result, pressure P1, being much higher
than P2 causes disk
1450C to flatten a bit and as a result orifice 1450D gets smaller, thus
limiting the flow rate of
pressurized fluid through it. When, during the use of the device, pressure P1
drops gradually, the
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WO 2013/190535 PCT/1L2012/050218
difference of pressure across disk 1450C drops linearly with it and thus
causing orifice 1450D to
gradually open and maintain substantially constant flow rate of pressurized
fluid with pressure P1
changing from highest value to its lowest operational value. It shall be noted
that other types of flow
rate regulators may be used, each of which complying with the operational
requirements being the
dynamic range of pressure P1 change between Plmax to Plmin, and the required
flow rate. PR.
[0044] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and
described herein, many
modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those
of ordinary skill in the
art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended
to cover all such
modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
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