Apparatus and methods for delivering a predetermined amount of a pressurized fluid

• Main Author: THIEL; CHARLES G
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.04.1989
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; COCKS; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; LIGHTING; MEASURING; MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUIDLEVEL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METERING BY VOLUME; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; STORING; TAPS; TESTING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VALVES; WEAPONS

The present invention relates to metering valves and methods for repeatedly delivering a precise amount of a pressurized fluid such as an aerosol. Each metering valve is configured such that the metering chamber exists only upon actuation of the valve stem to dispense a dosage. Thus, the metering chamber is created, filled with aerosol formulation, and emptied during the brief moment that the valve stem is depressed and subsequently released by the user to dispense a dosage. Alternative embodiments of the present invention also include mechanisms for pressure filling an aerosol container through such a metering valve.