US20130220482A1 - Refillable dispensing container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filling device (1) for filling a dispensing container with a fluid (7) with a filling nozzle (9), which has a non-return valve (16), the non-return valve (16) having an actuating portion (22, 36) for opening the non-return valve (16) by an actuating element (23, 42) of a filling valve (11) of the dispensing container (6). In order to provide a filling device and a combination of a dispensing container and a filling device, which permit reliable refilling of a dispensing container partially filled with fluid, it is proposed according to the invention that the filling nozzle (9) has an actuating element (23, 42) for opening the filling valve (11) of the dispensing container (6) on connecting the dispensing container (6) to the filling nozzle (9).

Description

• The present invention relates to a filling device for filling a dispensing container with a fluid with a filling nozzle which has a non-return valve and the non-return valve has an actuating portion for opening the non-return valve by an actuating element of a filling valve of the dispensing container.
• The present invention further relates to a combination of a refillable dispensing container for a fluid with a dispensing valve for dispensing the fluid and a filling valve for filling the dispensing container with the fluid and a filling device for filling the dispensing container with the fluid with a filling nozzle which has a non-return valve.
• Most dispensing containers for fluids, in particular spray cans and aerosol cans, are intended to be used once and are discarded after dispensing the fluid. Despite extensive efforts to create closed cycles for these disposable dispensing containers as well, they account for a considerable volume of waste.
• Therefore there are dispensing containers for fluids which are refillable. Refilling can either be done by the manufacturer or preferably by the end user. An example is aerosol cans which are used in craft businesses, in particular in motor vehicle workshops, with the most varied of fillings, for example brake cleaners. When a dispensing container has been emptied, it can be refilled by the craftsman himself or by support personnel on site, and can be used again.
• European patent document EP 0 662 431 B1 proposes, for this purpose, a dispensing container with a dispensing valve for dispensing the fluid and a filling valve for filling the dispensing container with the fluid as well as a suitable filling device with a filling nozzle complementary to the filling valve of the dispensing container.
• When filling the refillable dispensing containers, these are filled with the substance to be sprayed, i.e. a fluid, and simultaneously charged with a gas, preferably compressed air, so that after the filling operation the filled fluid can be sprayed through the dispensing valve.
• It is found to be a disadvantage that dispensing containers that are not completely pressure-free, i.e. their internal pressure is greater than the ambient atmospheric pressure, can only be partially refilled, if at all.
• Such a situation arises in particular after replacing the storage tank for the fluid connected to the filling device. On initial use, the filling device sucks the fluid to be filled into the dispensing container through a hose from the storage tank. The reduced pressure required for this is produced by the movement of a piston in a metering cylinder. The metering cylinder has a defined metering volume, but in the initial suction operation after changing the storage tank it is only partially filled, because at first the volume of air in the suction line also goes into the metering cylinder. If this first metering volume of the metering cylinder is released into the dispensing container by charging with compressed air, then during this filling the dispensing container will only be filled with a smaller amount of fluid than is in principle possible. Simultaneously, however, it is charged with a maximum pressure of compressed air. On attempting to refill such a dispensing container which is partially filled, but fully charged with compressed air, this fails, as the dispensing container and the metering volume of the metering cylinder have the same pressure, namely that of the compressed air used for charging.
• Therefore the object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a filling device and a combination of a dispensing container and a filling device, which reliably makes possible refilling of a dispensing container partially filled with fluid.
• This object is achieved according to the invention with a filling device for filling a dispensing container with a fluid, with a filling nozzle which has a non-return valve, the non-return valve having an actuating portion for opening the non-return valve by an actuating element of a filling valve of the dispensing container, and the filling nozzle having an actuating element for opening the filling valve of the dispensing container on connecting the dispensing container to the filling nozzle.
• The object is further achieved with a combination of a refillable dispensing container for a fluid with a dispensing valve for dispensing the fluid and a filling valve for filling the dispensing container with the fluid and a filling device for filling the dispensing container with the fluid with a filling nozzle which has a non-return valve, the filling valve of the dispensing container and the filling nozzle of the filling device being arranged so that on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle, first the filling valve is opened by an actuating element of the filling nozzle, so that the dispensing container undergoes pressure equalization, and then the non-return valve of the filling nozzle is opened by an actuating element of the filling valve.
• This configuration of the filling device on the one hand and of the dispensing container on the other hand makes it possible to refill dispensing containers that are not completely emptied, as the configuration of the filling nozzle on the device side and of the filling valve on the dispensing container side ensures that before fluid is filled, the dispensing container is made pressure-free, i.e. its internal pressure is made equal to the ambient atmospheric pressure.
• For this, on connecting the dispensing container to the filling device, first the filling valve is opened through engagement of an actuating element of the filling nozzle with an actuating portion of the filling valve. After the filling valve has been opened, the necessary pressure equalization of the dispensing container with the surroundings can take place. During further connection of the dispensing container to the filling device, the non-return valve of the filling device is then opened through engagement of an actuating element on the dispensing container side with an actuating portion of the non-return valve of the filling nozzle, thus providing fluid communication between the filling device and the dispensing container.
• In order to permit pressure equalization of the dispensing container, without fluid which is to be dispensed from the dispensing container escaping from the dispensing container, in one embodiment of the invention the filling nozzle is arranged so that a dispensing container with a filling valve arranged at the bottom must be connected to the filling nozzle upside down, i.e. with the dispensing valve downwards.
• In one embodiment of the invention, the actuating element of the filling nozzle is a pin which can be engaged with the actuating portion of the filling valve of a dispensing container.
• If this pin as actuating element is a portion of the closing body or is connected thereto, it is expedient for the spring force of the spring of the filling nozzle to be greater than the spring force of the spring of the filling valve.
• In one embodiment the non-return valve has a valve seat, a closing body, which is movable relative to the valve seat from a position closing the non-return valve into a position opening the non-return valve, and a spring element, the spring element biasing the closing body into its position closing the non-return valve, the closing body having an actuating portion, which can be engaged with the actuating element of the filling valve of the dispensing container, so that the actuating element moves the closing body against the spring force of the spring element from the position closing the non-return valve into the position opening the non-return valve.
• In one embodiment of the invention, the actuating portion of the non-return valve is a portion of the closing body forming a ring around the pin.
• Similarly, the filling valve of the dispensing container has, in one embodiment, a valve seat, a closing body, which is movable relative to the valve seat from a position closing the filling valve into a position opening the filling valve, and a spring element, the spring element biasing the closing body into its position closing the filling valve, the closing body having an actuating portion which can be engaged with the actuating element of the filling nozzle, so that the actuating element moves the closing body against the spring force of the spring element from the position closing the filling valve into the position opening the filling valve.
• Moreover, in particular, the filling valve and the dispensing valve of the dispensing container are two separate valves. Preferably the dispensing valve is arranged at the top of the container and the filling valve is arranged at the bottom of the container. A typical dispensing container is a spray can or an aerosol can.
• In one embodiment the actuating element of the filling valve is an annular portion of the valve housing of the filling valve.
• It is advantageous if in the connected state the actuating element of the filling valve and the actuating portion of the non-return valve surround the actuating element of the filling nozzle and the actuating portion of the non-return valve concentrically.
• In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filling valve of the dispensing container and the filling nozzle of the filling device are configured so that on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle, after opening the filling valve and before opening the non-return valve of the filling nozzle, an annular sealing surface of the filling valve and an annular sealing surface of the filling nozzle closely engage with one another, so that a sealed fluid connection is provided between the filling nozzle and the filling valve.
• In this way, on connecting the dispensing container to the filling device, first pressure equalization of the dispensing container can take place, and then a fluid-tight connection is provided between the filling nozzle and the filling valve, before finally the non-return valve of the filling nozzle of the filling device is opened and fluid is forced into the dispensing container.
• Moreover, an embodiment is preferred in which the filling valve and filling nozzle are configured to be complementary to one another.
• In one embodiment of the invention, this is achieved in that the filling valve has a substantially hollow cylindrical valve housing projecting opposite the external wall of the dispensing container, the closing body being arranged inside the valve housing, and on the outside of the valve housing, a sealing surface being provided for sealing engagement with the filling nozzle.
• In one embodiment, the filling nozzle complementary to said filling valve forms a bush, which can receive the hollow cylindrical valve housing of the filling valve. Preferably the bush has, internally, a sealing surface which can be brought into sealing engagement with the sealing surface of the filling valve.
• In a preferred embodiment the sealing surface of the filling valve is formed by an O-ring formed into the outside wall of the hollow cylindrical valve housing.
• Providing an O-ring on the filling valve on the dispensing container side allows easy replacement of this sealing element, which in operation is subjected to severe stressing, in particular by embrittlement.
• Furthermore, damage to the external O-ring, in particular swelling of the O-ring, can easily be recognized by the user.
• Moreover, arrangement of the O-ring on the dispensing container side greatly increases the life of any seal between dispensing container and filling nozzle, as a large number of seals (one on each dispensing container) are used. Moreover, the filling nozzle is maintenance-free owing to arrangement of the O-ring seal on the filling valve.
• However, alternative embodiments are also conceivable, in which the bush of the filling nozzle has, internally, an O-ring as sealing element, formed into the inside wall of the bush, which can be engaged with a corresponding sealing surface on the outside wall of the hollow cylindrical filling valve.
• In a preferred embodiment, the bush of the filling nozzle and the hollow cylindrical valve housing of the filling valve are dimensioned so that on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle, after opening the filling valve and before opening the non-return valve, an annular gap is formed between the valve housing of the filling valve and the bush of the filling nozzle, forming a fluid connection to the surroundings. This allows simple and effective pressure equalization of the dispensing container.
• In an alternative embodiment to this, the bush of the filling nozzle and the hollow cylindrical valve housing of the filling valve are dimensioned so that on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle, the valve housing of the filling valve or its seal and the bush of the filling nozzle or its seal come into sealing engagement with each other before the filling valve is opened. In such an embodiment it is expedient if the bush of the filling nozzle has at least one venting channel, which connects the interior space of the filling nozzle to the surroundings.
• The venting channel is preferably arranged, and the filling valve and the filling nozzle are configured, so that on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle, after opening the filling valve and before opening the non-return valve, the venting channel is opened, whereas on further connection of the filling valve to the filling nozzle, in particular before and during opening of the non-return valve, it is sealed by the filling valve or its seal, to prevent escape of fluid from the filling nozzle.
• In one embodiment of the invention, a vent pipe with a first and a second end is provided in the dispensing container, the first end of the vent pipe being connected to the filling valve, so that a sealed fluid connection is provided from the filling valve to the second end of the vent pipe.
• In this way it is possible for the filling device with the filling nozzle to be configured so that a dispensing container, which has a filling valve at its bottom and a dispensing valve on a side of the dispensing container opposite the filling valve, is fitted on the non-return valve so that the dispensing container is upright. “Upright” means that the dispensing valve is located at the top and the filling valve at the bottom. In this arrangement, without the vent pipe, any fluid remaining in the dispensing container would, on opening the filling valve, escape from the filling valve and cause contamination of the filling valve, of the non-return valve and in particular of the environment. The vent pipe, however, provides fluid-tight connection of the filling valve to an upper, fluid-free volume of the dispensing container at least in the partially emptied state of the dispensing container, so that during venting, no fluid escapes from the dispensing container via the filling valve.
• The vent pipe is preferably long enough so that, measured on the total height of the dispensing container between filling valve and dispensing valve, it ends in the uppermost third of the dispensing container, i.e. its second, free end is arranged there. This is also advantageous because the maximum liquid level in typical dispensing containers is about two thirds of the total volume.
• Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will become clear from the following description of one embodiment and the associated drawings.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the filling device according to the invention with a dispensing container.
• FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through a filling nozzle of a filling device according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 shows a broken-away cross-sectional view through a refillable dispensing container for a fluid with a filling valve.
• FIG. 4 shows a broken-away cross-sectional view through a refillable dispensing container and the filling nozzle of a filling device on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle and after opening the filling valve.
• FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the filling valve fromFIG. 4 fully connected to the filling nozzle.
• FIG. 6 shows a broken-away cross-sectional view through an alternative embodiment of a refillable dispensing container and a filling nozzle of a filling device on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle and after opening the filling valve.
• FIG. 7 shows a broken-away cross-sectional view through another embodiment of a refillable dispensing container and a filling nozzle of a filling device on connecting the filling valve to the filling nozzle and after opening the filling valve.
• In the figures, identical or similar elements are identified with identical reference symbols.
• FIG. 1 shows the construction of afilling device1 according to the invention and a dispensingcontainer6. The representation inFIG. 1 is schematic and is only intended for describing the functioning of the filling device in the overall context and the arrangement of the elements belonging to the invention.
• The fillingdevice1 has ametering cylinder2 with ametering piston3 that moves therein. Themetering cylinder2 is connected via asuction line4 to areplaceable storage tank5 for thefluid7 for filling the dispensingcontainer6. Themetering cylinder2 is in its turn connected via afilling line8 to a fillingnozzle9.
• For filling areusable dispensing container6, the fillingnozzle9 of thefilling device1 must be connected to the fillingvalve11 arranged at thebase10 of the dispensingcontainer6. In the embodiment shown, the dispensingcontainer6 is an aluminum can, which, in addition to the fillingvalve11 at the bottom of the can, has a dispensingvalve12 for dispensing an aerosol of compressed air and thefluid7, for example a brake cleaner.
• For filling the dispensingcontainer6, its fillingvalve11 is connected to the fillingnozzle9 of the filling device. After the connection has been made between the fillingnozzle9 and the fillingvalve11, the filling operation takes place as follows. To draw in a defined volume of thefluid7 for filling the dispensingcontainer6, themetering piston3 is retracted from thecylinder2, so thatfluid7 is sucked from thestorage tank5 into themetering cylinder2 via thesuction line4. When themetering cylinder2 has been filled with fluid, a valve (not shown) in thesuction line4 is closed and themetering cylinder2 is charged with compressed air via acompressed air line13. As a result of charging with compressed air, not only the fluid is forced via thefilling line8 into the dispensingcontainer6, but also the compressed air itself, so that the dispensing container filled with thefluid7 is also under pressure. In the embodiment shown, the pressure is about 6 bar.
• The object on which the invention is based can also easily be understood from the schematic representation inFIG. 1. If anew storage tank5 has been connected to thesuction line4, when filling themetering cylinder2 for the first time by raising thepiston3, first the volume of air in thesuction line4 is drawn into themetering cylinder2, and thefluid7 only after complete emptying of the air from thesuction line4. As a result, in the first filling operation after connecting anew storage tank5 themetering cylinder2 is not filled with the defined amount offluid7 and therefore the dispensingcontainer6 is only partially filled. At the same time, however, the dispensingcontainer6 is charged with the full pressure of the compressed air. If an attempt is then made to fill the dispensingcontainer6 again, this is unsuccessful, as the dispensingcontainer6 has roughly the same internal pressure as themetering cylinder2 charged with compressed air.
• This problem can be solved with a special, mutually complementary configuration of the fillingnozzle9 of the filling device and of the fillingvalve11 of the dispensingcontainer6. The precise construction of the fillingnozzle9 and of the fillingvalve11 can be seen inFIGS. 2 to 5.
• FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the fillingnozzle9 of a filling device according to the invention. For simplicity, the complete filling device is not shown.
• Theinlet channel14 of the fillingnozzle9 forms the end of the fillingline8 at the dispensing container side. The fillingnozzle9 has a substantially hollowcylindrical housing15, which is configured as a bush, so that it can accommodate a complementary filling valve (11, shown inFIG. 3) within it.
• The filling nozzle forms within it anon-return valve16. This has a closingbody17, which is arranged movably relative to thehousing15 of the fillingnozzle9. The closingbody17 can be moved against the biasing by ahelical spring18 from a position closing the filling nozzle (shown inFIG. 2) into a position releasing the fillingnozzle9. For sealing the fillingnozzle9, the closingbody17 has a circumferentially arranged O-ring seal19, which engages with a sealingsurface20 of thevalve seat21. To open thenon-return valve16 it is necessary to exert a force on the closingbody17 against the spring force of thespring18. For this purpose, the closingbody17 has an actuatingportion22, in this case anannular element22, which can be engaged with a complementary actuating element of the fillingvalve11.
• Furthermore, the closingbody17 of thenon-return valve16 has in its turn an actuating element in the form of apin23, with which the fillingnozzle9 can act upon the fillingvalve11 on the dispensing container side or its closing body.
• Thefluid outlet24 of the fillingnozzle9 is of stepwise tapering configuration.
• The fillingvalve11 complementary to the fillingnozzle9 inFIG. 2 is provided at thebase10 of aspray can6. The fillingvalve11 has a hollowcylindrical housing27, which passes through thebase10 of thespray can6 and is sealed by means of an O-ring seal28 against thebase10. The filling valve has a closingbody29, which can be moved relative to thehousing27 from a position closing the filling valve (shown inFIG. 3) into a position opening the fillingvalve11. The closingbody29 is biased by ahelical spring30, so that the O-ring seal31 of the closingbody29 is pressed against the sealingsurface32 of thevalve seat33 of the fillingvalve11, so that the fillingvalve11 is closed in its position of rest.
• The closingbody29 of the fillingvalve11 is of elongated shape, so that it extends through theinternal space34 of thevalve housing27 and is accessible from theinlet side35 of the fillingvalve11. Therefore the pin-shapedactuating element23 of the fillingnozzle9 of thefilling device1 can be engaged with an actuatingportion36 of the closingbody29 of the fillingvalve11.
• The hollowcylindrical housing27 of the fillingvalve11 has an O-ring38 formed into itsexternal surface37. The purpose of this is to seal, in the connected state, the fillingnozzle9 against the fillingvalve11, so that a fluid-tight channel is provided from the fillingdevice1 into thespray can6.
• FIG. 3 is a broken-away view, in which the dispensingvalve12 of the spray can6 is not visible. However, ariser39 is indicated, which connects the internal space of the spray can6 to the dispensingvalve12.
• The functionality of the fillingnozzle9 according to the invention inFIG. 2 and of thecomplementary filling valve11 of the spray can6 inFIG. 3 will now be described, referring to the diagrams inFIGS. 4 and 5.
• FIG. 4 shows the fillingnozzle9 and the fillingvalve11 when the fillingdevice1 is connected to thespray can6, whereasFIG. 5 shows the fully connected state of fillingnozzle9 and fillingvalve11, an open fluid channel being formed between the fillingdevice1 and thespray can6.
• The individual elements of the fillingnozzle9 and of the fillingvalve11 are dimensioned and arranged so that on connecting the two together, the pin-shapedactuating element23 first engages with the actuatingportion36 of the closingbody29 of the fillingvalve11. During this, the closingbody29 is moved against the biasing of thehelical spring30 so that the sealingring31 disengages from thevalve seat33 of thevalve housing27 of the filling valve. That is, the fillingvalve11 is opened. At this time point, thenon-return valve16 of the fillingnozzle9 is still closed and the O-ring38 or its sealing surface is still not engaged with the complementary sealing surface of the filling nozzle. In this way, through the opened fillingvalve11, pressure equalization can take place between the interior of thespray can6 and the surroundings, i.e. the atmospheric pressure. Any excess volume of gas escapes through theannular gap40 formed between the fillingvalve11 and the outlet end24 of the fillingnozzle9.
• As connecting of the fillingnozzle9 to the fillingvalve11 proceeds further, i.e. with movement of the two elements relative to one another in the axial direction, the O-ring seal38 on the outside of thevalve housing27 of the fillingvalve11 engages with theinside wall41 of thehousing15 of the fillingnozzle9. This forms the sealing surface of the fillingnozzle9 complementary to the O-ring seal38.
• Only then, through further axial displacement of the twoelements9,11 relative to one another, thenon-return valve16 is opened. This situation is shown inFIG. 5. Theannular actuating element42 engages with theannular actuating portion22 of thenon-return valve16 and moves the closingbody17 connected to the actuatingportion22 against the spring force of thehelical spring18 from its position closing thenon-return valve16 into a position releasing thenon-return valve16.
• In this way, on connecting the fillingnozzle9 to the fillingvalve11, successively first the fillingvalve11 is opened, then the fillingnozzle9 is sealed against the fillingvalve11 and then thenon-return valve16 is opened, therefore the connecting of the twoelements9,11 automatically provides a sealed fluid connection between the filling nozzle and thus thefilling device1 and thespray can6.
• Theactuating element23 of the fillingnozzle9, which opens the fillingvalve11, is integral with the closingbody17 of the non-return valve. Therefore for the functioning of the embodiments of the invention shown inFIGS. 2 through 5 it is important that the spring force of thehelical spring18 biasing the closingbody17 of thenon-return valve16 of the fillingnozzle9 is far greater than the spring force of the opposinghelical spring30 of the fillingvalve11.
• FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the dispensingcontainer6′, the dispensingcontainer6′ with its fillingvalve11 being fitted so far on the fillingnozzle9 of the filling device that the fillingvalve11 is already opened. In this case the fillingnozzle9 is arranged on thefilling device1 in such a way that the spray can6′ as dispensing container must be placed upright on the fillingnozzle9. In this way, during the filling operation the dispensingvalve12 is at the top and the fillingvalve11 is at the bottom. In this arrangement, any fluid remaining in the spray can6′ flows under the action of gravity downwards towards the fillingvalve11 and collects there above thebase10 of the spray can6′. So that no fluid remaining in the spray can6′ during filling of the spray can6′ in this orientation can escape via the filling valve, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 5 the fillingvalve11 is connected to avent pipe50. For this purpose, afirst end51 of thevent pipe50 is fitted fluid-tight on thevalve housing27 of the fillingvalve11. Thesecond end52 of thevent pipe50 ends in the upper region of the spray can6′ near the dispensingvalve12, so that even in the least favorable case of a spray can6′ that is filled completely, i.e. to about two thirds of its volume, no fluid can pass via thevent pipe50 into the fillingvalve11 and escape through this.
• FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention that is identical in many respects to the embodiment inFIG. 6. This embodiment also shows a spray can6′ for filling in the upright state, i.e. with the dispensingvalve12 at the top and the fillingvalve11 at the bottom. The embodiment inFIG. 7 also has avent pipe50 for this purpose.
• The embodiment inFIG. 7 differs from the other embodiments shown by the configuration of the fillingnozzle9′. The hollowcylindrical housing15′ of the fillingnozzle9′ has two ventingchannels53 on its end opposite the filling valve. Via these, the internal space of the hollowcylindrical housing15′ communicates with the surroundings, to permit venting of the interior of the spray can6′ after the fillingvalve11 is opened.
• In this embodiment, the bush of the fillingnozzle9′, i.e. in particular the inside diameter of the hollowcylindrical housing15′ and thehousing27 of the fillingvalve11 or the sealingring38 formed into the outside wall of thehousing27 of the fillingvalve11 are dimensioned so that the sealingring38, on connecting the fillingvalve11 to the fillingnozzle9′, engages hermetically together even before one of the two valves is opened. The volume thus enclosed between thehousing27 of the fillingvalve11 and thehousing15′ of the fillingnozzle9′ is connected via thevent channels53 to the surroundings.
• If now, with further connecting together of the fillingvalve11 and of the fillingnozzle9′, the closingbody29 of the fillingvalve11 is moved so that it opens the filling valve, any overpressure still present in the spray can6′ can be released via the fillingvalve11, the fillingnozzle9′ or itshousing15′ and the ventingchannels53. This state of the arrangement is shown inFIG. 7.
• With further connecting together of the twoelements11,9′, theseal38 of the fillingvalve11 itself seals off the ventingchannels53, so that in the subsequent opening of the closingbody17 of thenon-return valve16 of the fillingnozzle9′, fluid can flow from the fillingnozzle9′ through the fillingvalve11 into the spray can6′.
• For purposes of the original disclosure, it is pointed out that all features, as they become clear to a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the claims, even if they have only been described concretely in connection with certain further features, can be combined both individually and in any associations with other features or groups of features disclosed here, unless this has been expressly excluded or technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless. Comprehensive, explicit presentation of all conceivable combinations of features is omitted here purely for the sake of brevity and readability of the description.
• Although the invention has been presented and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, this presentation and description are only provided as examples and are not intended as a restriction of the scope of protection, as defined by the claims. The invention is not limited to the embodiments that have been disclosed.
• Modifications of the disclosed embodiments are obvious to a person skilled in the art from the drawings, the description and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “have” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are claimed in different claims does not exclude their combination. Reference symbols in the claims are not intended as a restriction of the scope of protection.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
• 1 filling device
• 2 metering cylinder
• 3 metering piston
• 4 suction line
• 5 storage tank
• 6,6′ spray can or dispensing container
• 7 fluid
• 8 filling line
• 9,9′ filling nozzle
• 10 base
• 11 filling valve
• 12 dispensing valve
• 13 compressed air line
• 14 inlet channel
• 15,15′,27 hollow cylindrical housing
• 16 non-return valve
• 17,29 closing body
• 18,30,31 helical spring
• 19,28,38 O-ring seal
• 20,32 sealing surface
• 21,33 valve seat
• 22,36 actuating portion
• 23 pin-shaped actuating element
• 24 fluid outlet/outlet end
• 31 O-ring
• 34 internal space
• 35 inlet side
• 37 external surface
• 39 riser
• 40 annular gap
• 41 inside wall
• 42 annular actuating element
• 50 vent pipe
• 51 first end ofvent pipe50
• 52 second end ofvent pipe50
• 53 venting channel

Claims (15)

1. Filling device (1) for filling a dispensing container with a fluid (7) with a filling nozzle (9), which has a non-return valve (16), the non-return valve (16) having an actuating portion (22,36) for opening the non-return valve (16) by an actuating element (23,42) of a filling valve (11) of the dispensing container (6),

wherein

the filling nozzle (9) has an actuating element (23,42) for opening the filling valve (11) of the dispensing container (6) on connecting the dispensing container (6) to the filling nozzle (9).

2. The filling device (1) as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the actuating element (23,42) of the filling nozzle (9) is a pin that can be engaged with an actuating portion (22,36) of the filling valve (11).

3. The filling device (1) as claimed inclaim 1 or2, wherein the non-return valve (16) has a valve seat (21,33), a closing body (17,29), which is movable relative to the valve seat (21,33) from a position closing the non-return valve (16) into a position opening the non-return valve (16), and a spring element, the spring element biasing the closing body (17,29) into its position closing the non-return valve (16), the closing body (17,29) having an actuating portion (22,36), which can be engaged with the actuating element (23,42) of the filling valve (11) of the dispensing container (6), so that the actuating element (23,42) moves the closing body (17,29) against the spring force of the spring element from the position closing the non-return valve (16) into the position opening the non-return valve (16).

4. The filling device (1) as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the actuating portion (22,36) of the filling nozzle (9) is a portion of the closing body (17,29) of the non-return valve (16) forming a ring around the pin.

5. A combination of

a refillable dispensing container (6) for a fluid (7) with

a dispensing valve (12) for dispensing the fluid (7) and

a filling valve (11) for filling the dispensing container (6) with the fluid (7) and a filling device (1) for filling the dispensing container (6) with the fluid (7) with

a filling nozzle (9), which has a non-return valve (16),

wherein

the filling valve (11) of the dispensing container (6) and the filling nozzle (9) of the filling device (1) are arranged so that on connecting the filling valve (11) to the filling nozzle (9) first the filling valve (11) is opened by an actuating element (23,42) of the filling nozzle (9), so that the dispensing container (6) undergoes pressure equalization, and then the non-return valve (16) of the filling nozzle (9) is opened by an actuating element (23,42) of the filling valve (11).

6. The combination as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the filling valve (11) has a valve seat (21,33), a closing body (17,29), which is movable relative to the valve seat (21,33) from a position closing the filling valve (11) into a position opening the filling valve (11), and a spring element, the spring element biasing the closing body (17,29) into its position closing the filling valve (11), the closing body (17,29) having an actuating portion (22,36), which can be engaged with the actuating element (23,42) of the filling nozzle (9), so that the actuating element (23,42) moves the closing body (17,29) against the spring force of the spring element from the position closing the filling valve (11) into the position opening the filling valve (11).

7. The combination as claimed inclaim 5 or6, wherein the actuating element (23,42) of the filling valve (11) is an annular portion of a valve housing (15,27) of the filling valve (11).

8. The combination as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 through6, wherein in the connected state the actuating element (23,42) of the filling valve (11) and the actuating portion (22,36) of the non-return valve (16) concentrically surround the actuating element (23,42) of the filling nozzle (9) and the actuating portion (22,36) of the non-return valve (16).

9. The combination as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 through6, wherein the filling valve (11) and the filling nozzle (9) are arranged so that on connecting the filling valve (11) to the filling nozzle (9) after opening the filling valve (11) and before opening the non-return valve (16) of the filling nozzle (9), an annular sealing surface (20,32) of the filling valve (11) and an annular sealing surface (20,32) of the filling nozzle (9) come into sealing engagement with each other, so that a sealed fluid connection is provided between the filling nozzle (9) and the filling valve (11).

10. The combination as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 through6, wherein the filling valve (11) has a substantially hollow cylindrical valve housing (15,27) projecting relative to an external wall of the dispensing container (6), the closing body (17,29) being arranged inside the valve housing (15,27) and a sealing surface (20,32) being provided on the outside of the valve housing (15,27) for sealing engagement with the filling nozzle (9).

11. The combination as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 through6, wherein the filling valve (11) has a sealing ring, which can be engaged with an annular sealing surface (20,32) of the filling nozzle (9) so that a sealed fluid connection is provided between the filling nozzle (9) and the filling valve (11).

12. The combination as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 through6, wherein the filling nozzle (9) has a bush, which can receive the hollow cylindrical valve housing (15,27) of the filling valve (11).

13. The combination as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the bush of the filling nozzle (9) and the hollow cylindrical valve housing (15,27) of the filling valve (11) are dimensioned so that on connecting the filling valve (11) to the filling nozzle (9), after opening the filling valve (11) and before opening the non-return valve (16), an annular gap (40) is formed between the valve housing of the filling valve (11) and the bush of the filling nozzle (9), forming a fluid connection to the surroundings.

14. The combination as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 through6, wherein a vent pipe (50) with a first and a second end (51,52) is arranged in the dispensing container (6), the first end (51) of the vent pipe (50) being connected to the filling valve (11), so that a sealed fluid connection is provided from the filling valve (11) to the second end of the vent pipe (50).

15. The combination as claimed in any one ofclaims 5 through6, wherein the bush of the filling nozzle (9) has at least one venting channel, which connects the interior space of the filling nozzle to the surroundings.

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