KR20230014601A - Pump assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A pump assembly is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pump assembly comprises: a cylinder having a suction port formed on a lower end thereof; a piston ascending or descending in the cylinder and having an introduction port formed on one side thereof; a seal cap for opening or closing the introduction port while ascending or descending in the cylinder in a state of being in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder; a stem coupled to the piston, ascending or descending together with the piston, and having a discharge port formed on the upper end thereof; a cylinder cap coupled to the upper side of the cylinder so as to surround the outside of the stem; a first elastic member disposed between the seal cap and the stem in the cylinder; and a second elastic member disposed between the cylinder cap and the stem outside the cylinder. The present invention simplifies the assembly structure of the pump assembly.

Description

Pump assembly {PUMP ASSEMBLY}

The present invention relates to a pump assembly.

In general, a spray container sprays liquid contents stored in the container in a spray state when a user presses a spray button, and is widely used in liquid cosmetics or pharmaceuticals.

In the case of a conventional spray container, it includes a pump assembly and an orifice for spraying. In the case of such a conventional pump assembly, including a cylinder, a piston, a seal cap, and a stem, an elastic member is disposed between the seal cap and the cylinder, and two elastic members are disposed inside the cylinder as the elastic member is disposed between the seal cap and the stem. It is common to configure so that the seal cap selectively opens and closes the inlet of the piston according to the elastic force of the two elastic members. However, in this case, there is a problem in that design and assembly of the pump structure are difficult because several elastic members must be disposed inside the cylinder, and there is a problem that the elastic member is not properly supported inside the cylinder.

In addition, the pump assembly is usually made of plastic such as PP or PE, but since the spring inside the pump assembly is generally made of a metal material, it is very difficult to separate and discard it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pump assembly for solving the above problems.

The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

A pump assembly is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pump assembly, a cylinder having a suction port formed at the bottom; A piston that moves up and down inside the cylinder and has an inlet at one side; a seal cap that moves up and down inside the cylinder while being in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder and opens and closes the inlet; a stem that is coupled to the piston, moves up and down together with the piston, and has a discharge port formed at an upper end; a cylinder cap coupled to an upper side of the cylinder to surround the outside of the stem; a first elastic member disposed between the seal cap and the stem inside the cylinder; and a second elastic member disposed outside the cylinder between the cylinder cap and the stem.

In addition, the first elastic member may be a columnar elastic body in which a hollow is formed to surround at least one of the piston and the stem from the outside.

In addition, when pressurizing the pump assembly, the piston and the stem descend while the second elastic member is compressed, and the seal cap rises with respect to the piston while the first elastic member is compressed, thereby exposing the inlet. there is.

In addition, the first elastic member may be made of at least one of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

In addition, the second elastic member may be a plastic spring formed through injection molding.

In addition, the second elastic member, the upper support; a lower supporter provided below the upper supporter; and at least one elastic part that connects the upper support body and the lower support body with a predetermined inclination and bends and deforms when the upper support body is pressed.

In addition, the second elastic member may be of a bellows type in which peaks and valleys are repeatedly formed along the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the stem may include a stem body coupled to the cylinder and having the outlet formed at an upper end; and a support body coupled to the outside of the stem body and having a stem wing portion extending outward to support an upper end of the second elastic member.

In addition, at least one air inlet may be formed in the stem wing portion to allow air to pass when the second elastic member is compressed and decompressed.

In addition, a first support groove for supporting the upper end of the second elastic member is formed along the circumference of the lower surface of the stem wing portion, and a second support groove for supporting the lower end of the first elastic member along the circumference of the upper surface of the cylinder cap. can be formed.

In addition, the valve unit may further include a blocking ball disposed at the inlet to selectively communicate with the outside of the inlet.

The valve unit further includes a valve shaft extending upward from the blocking ball, and at a lower end of the piston, at least a part of a guide penetrating in a longitudinal direction so that the valve shaft is inserted when the piston or the valve unit moves up and down. The portion may extend downward.

The valve unit may further include at least one valve wing unit protruding outward from the valve shaft to support a side surface of the valve unit while in contact with an inner wall of the cylinder.

In addition, a plurality of valve wings are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the valve shaft, and contents may move through a space between the plurality of valve wings.

According to the present invention, the operation for spraying the pump assembly can be easily performed while disposing only one elastic member inside the cylinder, so that the assembly structure of the pump assembly can be simplified and disassembly and recycling can be easily performed. can

In addition, according to the present invention, the material of the elastic member disposed inside the cylinder is made of at least one of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), without adding a separate physical structure for facilitating deformation. It can easily generate elastic force while being deformed, and since it does not have a metal material, it is environmentally friendly by solving the problem of separation and disposal from other components.

In addition, according to the present invention, by guiding the elevation of the piston or valve unit through the guide unit, it is possible to improve the operation structure of the pump assembly.

In addition, according to the present invention, by forming a valve wing part in the valve part, it is possible to maintain a constant posture of the valve part and guide the elevation of the valve part, thereby improving the operating structure of the valve part.

In addition, according to the present invention, the pump assembly can be easily assembled by configuring the stem with the assembly structure of the stem body and the support body.

In order to more fully understand the drawings cited in the detailed description of the present invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.
1 is a perspective view of a pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of a pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an exploded perspective view of a pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view of a valve unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a stem according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view for explaining the operation of the pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view for explaining the operation of a piston and a seal cap according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view of a pump assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a cross-sectional view of a pump assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a perspective view of a second elastic member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the contents described in the accompanying drawings. In addition, a method of configuring and using a device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the contents described in the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals or numerals in each drawing indicate parts or components that perform substantially the same function. For convenience described below, directions of up, down, left, and right are based on the drawings, and the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the corresponding directions.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by the terms. Terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first element may be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The terms and/or include a combination of a plurality of related items or any one of a plurality of related items.

Terms used in this specification are used to describe embodiments, and are not intended to limit and/or limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, the terms include or have are intended to designate that a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification exists, but one or more other features, numbers, or steps However, it should be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of existence or addition of operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only the case where it is directly connected but also the case where it is indirectly connected through another component in the middle. In addition, when a part includes a certain component, this means that it may further include other components without excluding other components unless otherwise stated.

The present invention relates to a pump assembly. The pump assembly is coupled to one side of the container body where the contents are accommodated, and when pressurized, the contents can be sucked in and then discharged to the outside. In an embodiment, when the contents are discharged by the operation of the pump assembly, the contents may be sprayed. However, it is not limited thereto.

1 is a perspective view of a pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, 4 is a perspective view of a valve unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a stem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 5, the pump assembly 1000 includes a cylinder 100, a piston 200, a seal cap 300, a stem 400, a cylinder cap 500, a first elastic member 600, A second elastic member 700 and a valve unit 800 may be included.

Cylinder 100 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with top and bottom open. A suction port 110 may be formed at the lower end of the cylinder 100 . The inside of the cylinder 100 may communicate with the container body in which the contents are accommodated through the suction port 110 . During operation of the pump assembly 1000 , contents may be sucked into the cylinder 100 through the suction port 110 .

In an embodiment, the inner diameter of the cylinder 100 may gradually decrease from the upper side to the lower side. The seal cap 300 and the stem 400 can move up and down in the upper part of the cylinder 100 having a large inner diameter, and the piston 200 can move up and down in the lower part of the cylinder 100 with a small inner diameter. At this time, for example, a step is formed at each point where the inner diameter decreases step by step in the cylinder 100, and the step may limit the lifting range of the piston 200, the seal cap 300, and/or the stem 400. can However, it is not limited thereto.

In the embodiment, a first air hole 120 and a second air hole 130 may be formed on one side of the cylinder 100 . The first air hole 120 may pass through the upper side of the side of the cylinder 100, and the second air hole 130 may pass through the side of the cylinder 100 from the lower side of the first air hole 120. there is. The first air hole 120 and the second air hole 130 may offset an excessive change in pressure inside the cylinder 100 when the piston 200, seal cap 300, and/or stem 400 descend. However, it is not limited thereto.

In the embodiment, a tube may be coupled to the lower end of the inlet 110. The tube extends downward from the suction port 110 to suck in the contents stored on the bottom of the container body. However, it is not limited thereto.

The piston 200 may be formed in a longitudinal direction, and an inlet 210 may be formed on one side. For example, the inlet 210 may be formed by penetrating the side of the piston 200 . Contents inside the cylinder 100 may flow into the piston 200 through the inlet 210 . At least a part of the piston 200 is penetrated in the longitudinal direction, and contents introduced into the piston 200 through the inlet 210 may be discharged upward.

The piston 200 may move up and down inside the cylinder 100 . At this time, the upper side of the piston 200 is coupled to the stem 400 so that the piston 200 can move up and down integrally with the stem 400 . That is, when the stem 400 is pressed downward, the stem 400 and the piston 200 move downward together, and the stem 400 is pressed upward (in particular, by the second elastic member 700). In this case, the stem 400 and the piston 200 may move upward together. As the piston 200 moves up and down, the volume of the inner space of the cylinder 100 changes, and the pressure inside the cylinder 100 may change according to the change in the inner volume of the cylinder 100.

In the embodiment, the guide part 220 may extend downward at the lower end of the piston 200 . At least a portion of the guide portion 220 may be penetrated in the longitudinal direction. When the piston 200 and/or the valve unit 800 ascends or descends, the valve unit 800 (particularly, the valve shaft 820) may be inserted into the guide unit 220 . That is, since the guide part 220 supports the side of the valve part 800 (particularly, the valve shaft 820), the posture of the valve part 800 can be maintained and the valve part 800 can ascend and descend. can be guided. However, it is not limited thereto.

The seal cap 300 can move up and down inside the cylinder 100 while being in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 100 . Specifically, when the stem 400 is pressed downward and moves downward, the seal cap 300 may also move downward. In addition, when the stem 400 is pushed upward (by the second elastic member 700) and moves upward, the seal cap 300 may also move upward. As the seal cap 300 moves up and down, the volume of the inner space of the cylinder 100 changes, and the pressure inside the cylinder 100 may change according to the change of the inner volume of the cylinder 100.

The upper end of the seal cap 300 may support the lower end of the first elastic member 600 . When the stem 400 moves downward, the first elastic member 600 moves downward together with the stem 400, and the seal cap 300 can move downward by the first elastic member 600. At this time, since the seal cap 300 indirectly receives pressing force through the first elastic member 600 when the stem 400 moves downward, it can move downward by a distance different from that of the stem 400 . For example, as the first elastic member 600 is compressed when the stem 400 moves downward, the thread cap 300 may move downward by a shorter distance than the stem 400 .

The seal cap 300 is in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 100, and a valve may be provided around it to move up and down. However, it is not limited thereto.

When the stem 400 moves upward, at least a part of the lower end of the seal cap 300 may be supported by at least a part of the piston 200 so that it rises together with the stem 400 . Accordingly, when the stem 400 moves upward by the second elastic member 700, the piston 200 coupled with the stem 400 moves upward, and the seal cap 300 is moved by the rise of the piston 200. You can move upwards.

In the embodiment, the rim portion 230 may protrude outward from the lower circumference of the piston 200 . The lower end of the seal cap 300 is supported by the rim portion 230, and when the piston 200 moves upward, the rim portion 230 can move the seal cap 300 upward. However, it is not limited thereto.

In the embodiment, the rim portion 230 includes a base portion 231 extending outward from the lower circumference of the piston 200; and a pressure protrusion 232 extending upward from the base portion 231 and inserted into the seal cap 300 (in particular, the inner side of the valve of the seal cap 300). At this time, the pressure protrusion 232 is not structurally coupled with the seal cap 300, so that the seal cap 300 is raised by pressing the seal cap 300 upward when the piston 200 rises, but the piston 200 raises the seal cap 300. When descending, it may not descend integrally with the seal cap 300. However, it is not limited thereto.

The seal cap 300 may open and close the inlet 210 of the piston 200. Specifically, the seal cap 300 may adhere to at least a portion of the outer wall of the piston 200 in an initial state and seal the inlet 210 . When the stem 400 is pressed downward and moves downward, the seal cap 300 and the piston 200 also move downward by the stem 400. At this time, the seal cap ( 300) may be shorter than the moving distance of the piston 200. That is, the seal cap 300 may rise relatively compared to the piston 200 . The inlet 210 may be exposed to the outside according to the relative elevation of the seal cap 300 . When the inlet 210 is exposed to the outside, contents may flow from the cylinder 100 into the piston 200 due to the internal pressure of the cylinder 100, which is increased by the descent of the piston 200 and/or the seal cap 300. there is.

The stem 400 is formed in the longitudinal direction, and at least a portion thereof is inserted into the cylinder 100, but extends upward so that at least a portion thereof may be disposed outside the cylinder 100. A second elastic member 700 may be disposed in a space between the stem 400 disposed outside the cylinder 100 and the cylinder 100 .

The lower end of the stem 400 is coupled to the piston 200 so that it can move up and down together with the piston 200 inside the cylinder. Specifically, the stem 400 may move downward when pressurized, and may move the piston 200 downward, and at this time, the second elastic member 700 may be compressed between the cylinder 100 and the stem 400. there is. When the pressure of the stem 400 is released, the stem 400 moves upward by the second elastic member 700, and at this time, the piston 200 can also move upward.

The stem 400 may have upper and lower portions opened and penetrated in the longitudinal direction to form a hollow inside. At this time, an outlet 411 may be formed at an upper end of the stem 400 . Contents discharged from the piston 200 may be introduced through the open lower end of the stem 400 , and the contents may pass through the inside of the stem 400 and be discharged through the outlet 411 .

The stem 400 may move up and down while being in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 100 . To this end, a valve is provided on the outer surface of the stem 400, and such a valve may adhere to the inner wall of the cylinder 100. For example, the valve may be formed so as to obliquely protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the stem 400 so that its end faces downward. An upper end of the first elastic member 600 may be supported inside the valve (ie, a space between the valve and the outer surface of the stem 400).

According to the embodiment, the stem 400 includes a stem body 410 coupled to the cylinder 100 and having a discharge port 411 formed thereon; and a support body 420 coupled to the outside of the stem body 410 and extending the stem wing portion 421 outward to support the upper end of the second elastic member 700 . This is for the convenience of assembling the pump assembly 1000. Specifically, after assembling and disposing the piston 200, the seal cap 300, the first elastic member 600, and the stem body 410 in the cylinder 100, respectively, the cylinder cap 500 is attached to the cylinder 100. Then, the pump assembly 1000 may be assembled by disposing the second elastic member 700 on top of the cylinder cap 500 and coupling the support 420 to the outside of the stem body 410. That is, when the stem body 410 and the support body 420 are integrally formed, it may be difficult to arrange the second elastic member 700 between the stem wing portion 421 and the cylinder cap 500, but the stem body The above problem can be solved by having a structure in which the 410 and the support 420 are assembled. At this time, various known coupling structures such as screw coupling and fitting coupling may be applied to the coupling between the stem body 410 and the support body 420 .

In an embodiment, at least one air inlet 422 may be formed in the stem wing portion 421 to allow air to pass through when the second elastic member 700 is compressed and released. Air may be discharged to the outside through the air inlet 422 when the second elastic member 700 is compressed, and air may be introduced into the inside through the air inlet 422 when the compression of the second elastic member 700 is released. . Accordingly, (particularly, when the second elastic member 700 is a bellows-type spring whose side surface is closed), the pressure inside the second elastic member 700 can be kept constant.

The cylinder cap 500 may be coupled to an upper side of the cylinder 100 so as to surround the outside of the stem 400 . The cylinder cap 500 may prevent foreign substances from entering between the stem 400 and the cylinder 100 . In addition, the cylinder cap 500 may support the second elastic member 700 as an upper end.

The first elastic member 600 may be disposed between the seal cap 300 and the stem 400 inside the cylinder 100 . The first elastic member 600 is compressed when pressed against the stem 400 and may generate an elastic restoring force to be restored to its original state. When the stem 400 moves downward due to pressurization, the first elastic member 600 is compressed upward based on the lower end of the stem 400, and thus applies elastic force to recover downward to the seal cap 300. can do.

In an embodiment, the first elastic member 600 may be a columnar elastic body. Specifically, the first elastic member 600 may be penetrated in the longitudinal direction such that a hollow is formed therein, and may surround the piston 200 and/or the stem 400 from the outside. In this case, as the first elastic member 600 is compressed, the inner diameters of the upper and lower ends of the first elastic member 600 are kept constant, but may be deformed so that the inner diameter of the middle part increases, and the inner diameter of the middle part decreases. An elastic restoring force may occur in the direction. In this case, the space occupied by the first elastic member 600 inside the cylinder 100 is reduced, making product design and assembly easy, and the simple structure makes injection molding relatively easy. It can exhibit elastic recovery. However, it is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the first elastic member 600 may be made of an elastic plastic material. For example, the material of the first elastic member 600 may be at least one of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). In this case, even if a separate physical structure for facilitating deformation is not added to the first elastic member 600, an elastic force can be easily generated while being easily deformed, and since it does not have a metal material, it is separated from other components. It is environmentally friendly by solving the disposal problem.

The second elastic member 700 may be disposed between the cylinder cap 500 and the stem 400 outside the cylinder 100 . The second elastic member 700 is compressed when pressurized and may generate elastic restoring force to be restored to its original state. When the stem 400 moves downward due to pressurization, the second elastic member 700 is compressed downward with respect to the cylinder cap 500, and accordingly, an elastic force for recovering upward is applied to the stem 400. can

When the pump assembly 1000 is pressed, the second elastic member 700 is compressed, and the stem 400, the seal cap 300, and/or the piston 200 may descend. As the stem 400, the seal cap 300, and/or the piston 200 descend, the pressure in the inner space of the cylinder 100 may increase.

In an embodiment, the second elastic member 700 may be a bellows type spring in which peaks and valleys are repeatedly formed in the longitudinal direction. Also, for example, the side of the second elastic member 700 may be sealed. When the second elastic member 700 is compressed, it may be deformed to reduce the distance between crests and between troughs, and an elastic restoring force may be generated in a direction for restoring the gap to its original state. However, it is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the second elastic member 700 is made of a soft plastic material and may be manufactured through injection molding. For example, the material of the second elastic member 700 is polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polycarbonate (PC), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyketone (POK), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), It may include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyoxypropylene (POP), polyolefin elastomer (POE), ethylene octene/butene copolymers, and the like. However, it is not limited thereto. In this way, by configuring the second elastic member 700 with a soft plastic material, it is possible to facilitate manufacturing and at the same time reduce production costs compared to conventional springs made of metal. In addition, since it is lighter in weight than a conventional metal spring, it is possible to reduce the weight of the pump assembly and container having the second elastic member 700, so that it is easy to carry and provide convenience in use. In addition, it is environmentally friendly by solving the problem of separation and disposal of the pump assembly 1000 from other components.

In the embodiment, the first support groove 423 may be formed along the circumference of the lower surface of the stem wing portion 421, and the second support groove 510 may be formed along the circumference of the upper surface of the cylinder cap 500. . The upper end of the second elastic member 700 is supported by the first support groove 423 and the lower end of the second elastic member 700 is supported by the second support groove 510, so that the second elastic member 700 ) can be stably disposed between the stem wing portion 421 and the cylinder cap 500.

According to the present invention, while disposing the second elastic member 700 on the outside of the cylinder 100 and disposing only the first elastic member 600 on the inside of the cylinder 100, the pump assembly 1000 for spray injection By making the operation easy, disassembly and recycling can be made easy while simplifying the assembly structure of the pump assembly 1000 .

When the pump assembly 1000 is pressed, the second elastic member 700 is compressed, and the stem 400, the seal cap 300, and/or the piston 200 may descend. At this time, while the first elastic member 600 is also compressed, a difference may occur between the descending distance of the seal cap 300 and the descending distance of the piston 200. As a difference occurs between the descending distance of the seal cap 300 and the descending distance of the piston 200, the inlet of the piston 200 may be exposed.

In the present invention, by the operation of the second elastic member 700 and the first elastic member 600, the contents may be discharged upward at a flow rate fast enough to be sprayed. Specifically, if the contents flow into the piston 200 at the same time as the pressurization of the stem 400, the flow rate of the contents is slow and it may be difficult to spray. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the inlet 210 of the piston 200 is sealed when the stem 400 is pressurized, the contents do not flow into the piston 200 immediately, and the compression of the second elastic member 700 Since the contents flow into the piston 200 while the inlet 210 is exposed by the compression of the first elastic member 600 in a state where the pressure inside the cylinder 100 is sufficiently increased, the flow rate is high due to the pressure inside the cylinder 100. As a result, the contents may flow into the piston 200.

The valve unit 800 may selectively communicate the inlet 110 with the outside. Specifically, the valve unit 800 blocks communication between the inlet 110 and the outside. When negative pressure is formed in the cylinder 100, the suction port 110 may communicate with the outside. When the inlet 110 communicates with the outside, contents stored in the container body may flow into the inlet 110 .

In the embodiment, the valve unit 800 includes a blocking ball 810 disposed in the inlet 110; and a valve shaft 820 extending upward from the blocking ball 810 .

The blocking ball 810 may move up and down according to the pressure inside the cylinder 100 . When the blocking ball 810 rises, the inside and outside of the cylinder 100 communicate, and when the blocking ball 810 descends, communication between the inside and outside of the cylinder 100 may be blocked.

In an embodiment, the material of the blocking ball 810 may include polypropylene (PP). However, it is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the blocking ball 810 may be vertically penetrated so that a hollow is formed therein. When a hollow is formed inside the blocking ball 810, even if the diameter of the blocking ball 810 is greater than or equal to a predetermined size, the thickness of the blocking ball 810 may be maintained below a predetermined size. Polypropylene (PP) may cause shrinkage when injected to a predetermined thickness or more. By maintaining the thickness of the blocking ball 810 below a predetermined size through the hollow, the shrinkage during injection can be suppressed.

In an embodiment, the blocking ball 810 may have a thickness of 1 mm or less, and preferably may have a thickness of 0.8 mm to 1 mm. When the thickness of the blocking ball 810 exceeds 1 mm, shrinkage may occur during injection, but in the present invention, the shrinkage phenomenon can be suppressed by setting the thickness of the blocking ball 810 to less than 1 mm. In particular, in the present invention, even if the diameter of the blocking ball 810 exceeds 1 mm, the thickness of the blocking ball 810 can be maintained at 1 mm or less through the hollow. However, it is not limited thereto.

The valve shaft 820 extends upward from the blocking ball 810, and at least a portion thereof may be inserted into the guide part 220. The guide unit 220 may support the side of the valve shaft 820, and thus the posture of the valve unit 800 may be maintained constant.

When the blocking ball 810 moves up and down and/or when the piston 200 moves up and down, the valve shaft 820 may move up and down inside the guide part 220 . That is, an elevation path of the piston 200 and/or the valve unit 800 may be guided by the guide unit 220 .

In an embodiment, the valve unit 800 may further include a valve wing unit 830 protruding outward from the valve shaft 820 . The valve wing portion 830 may support the side surface of the valve portion 800 while being in contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 100 . In addition, when the valve unit 800 moves up and down, the valve wing unit 830 may guide an elevation path of the valve unit 800 while moving up and down along the inner wall of the cylinder 100 .

In the embodiment, a plurality of valve wings 830 may be spaced apart along the circumference of the valve shaft 820 . Contents may move through the space between the plurality of valve wings 830 .

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the valve wing portion 830 may decrease in thickness toward the lower side and form a predetermined inclination. Accordingly, the lower end of the valve wing 830 and the upper end of the suction port 110 may not come into contact, and when the valve unit 800 moves up and down, the valve wing 830 is attached to the suction port 110 of the cylinder 100. It can be easily moved up and down without being caught.

The pump assembly 1000 according to FIGS. 1 to 5 is exemplary, and various configurations may be applied according to embodiments to which the present invention is applied.

6 is a view for explaining the operation of a pump assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation of a piston and a seal cap according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 6 (a) to (e) sequentially show cross-sectional views of the pump assembly until the pump assembly is pressurized and then pressurized, and FIG. 7 (a) is in a state in which the inlet is closed. It is a front view of the piston and the seal cap, and FIG. 7 (b) is a front view of the piston and the seal cap in a state in which the inlet is exposed.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , when the pump assembly 1000 is pressed, the stem 400 may move downward. As the stem 400 moves downward, the piston 200 coupled to the stem 400 and the first elastic member 600 supported by the lower end of the stem 400 may also move downward. At this time, the second elastic member 700 is compressed between the stem 400 and the cylinder cap 500, and an elastic force may be applied upward.

In addition, while the first elastic member 600 moves downward, the seal cap 300 positioned at the lower end of the first elastic member 600 may be pressed downward. Accordingly, the seal cap 300 may also move downward. At this time, the first elastic member 600 is compressed by a repulsive force caused by pressing the seal cap 300 downward, an increase in pressure inside the cylinder 100, and/or a frictional force between the seal cap 300 and the inner wall of the cylinder 100. can

As the stem 400 descends, the piston 200, the seal cap 300, and the first elastic member 600 descend together, and accordingly, the volume of the internal space of the cylinder 100 decreases and pressure may rise.

At this time, the stem 400 and the piston 200 move integrally because they are structurally coupled, but the stem 400 and the seal cap 300 may not move integrally because they are not structurally coupled. That is, the piston 200 descends by the same distance as the distance the stem 400 moves, but the seal cap 300 moves by a distance smaller than the distance the stem 400 moves due to the compression of the first elastic member 600. can descend Due to the difference in the descending distance between the piston 200 and the seal cap 300, the seal cap 300 may rise relative to the piston 200.

The seal cap 300 seals the inlet 210 in an initial state, and then exposes the inlet 210 as the seal cap 300 rises relative to the piston 200. When the inlet 210 is exposed, the contents inside the cylinder 100 flow into the piston 200 through the inlet 210 due to the increased internal pressure of the cylinder 100, and then the inside of the piston 200 and the stem 400 They may pass through and be discharged to the outlet 411 of the stem 400.

Thereafter, the first elastic member 600 applies elastic restoring force to the seal cap 300 downward, so that the seal cap 300 descends with respect to the stem 400, and the inlet 210 may be sealed again.

Then, when the pressure on the pump assembly 1000 is released, the second elastic member 700 applies an elastic restoring force to the stem 400 in an upward direction, so that the stem 400 can rise. As the stem 400 rises, the piston 200, the seal cap 300, and the first elastic member 600 may also rise together.

When the piston 200, the seal cap 300, the stem 400, and the first elastic member 600 rise, the volume of the internal space of the cylinder 100 increases, and accordingly, negative pressure is generated inside the cylinder 100 and the valve As the portion 800 rises, contents may flow into the cylinder 100 from the container body.

The operation of the pump assembly 1000 according to FIGS. 6 and 7 is exemplary, and various operation methods may be applied according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of a pump assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the valve unit 800-1 of the pump assembly 2000 may be configured as a spherical blocking ball. In this case, the valve unit 800-1 may not include a valve shaft extending from the blocking ball and a valve wing. The blocking ball is disposed in the inlet 110 of the cylinder 100 and moves up and down according to the pressure change inside the cylinder 100 so that the inlet 110 can be selectively communicated with or blocked from the outside.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment, the blocking ball may be made of a plastic material such as polypropylene (PP), and may be manufactured into a spherical shape through injection molding. However, this is illustrative and not limited thereto, and the material and manufacturing method of the blocking ball may be variously modified, such as the blocking ball being made of a metal material.

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 9 , the second elastic member 700-1 of the pump assembly 3000 may be replaced with a metal spring. For example, the second elastic member 700-1 may be made of stainless steel, but is not limited thereto, and various metal materials may be applied.

10 is a perspective view of a second elastic member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the second elastic member 700-2 may include an upper support body 710, a lower support body 720, and an elastic part 730.

The upper support 710 may support an upper end of the elastic part 730 . When the second elastic member 700-2 is pressed, the upper support 710 descends and transfers the pressure to the elastic part 730. When the pressure is released, the elastic force of the elastic part 730 lowers the upper support 710. (710) can be restored while moving up and down.

A lower support 720 may be provided below the upper support 710 . The lower support 720 may support a lower end of the elastic part 730 . The lower support 720 is seated on top of the cylinder cap 500 and does not move up and down, and supports the elastic part 730 so that the elastic force of the elastic part 730 is directed toward the upper support 710 .

A hollow is formed in the upper support 710 and the lower support 720 so that components such as the stem 400 of the pump assembly are positioned inside the upper support 710 and the lower support 720. For example, the upper support 710 and the lower support 720 may have a circular ring shape.

The elastic part 730 may connect the upper support body 710 and the lower support body 720 . When the elastic member 100 is pressed, the elastic part 730 may generate elastic force while being bent and deformed (ie, elastic compression). When the pressure on the elastic member 100 is released, the elastic part 730 may recover to its original state while the bending deformation is also released. In an embodiment, at least one elastic part 730 may be configured.

In an embodiment, the second elastic member 700-2 may be made of a soft plastic material. For example, the material may include polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polycarbonate (PC), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyketone (POK), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and the like. In addition, according to the embodiment, the upper support body 710, the lower support body 720, and the elastic part 730 of the second elastic member 700-2 are integrally formed through injection molding, or a plurality of components may be assembled. can

In an embodiment, the second elastic member 700-2 may further include a connecting portion 740. The connecting portion 740 extends downward from the inner circumference of the upper supporter 710 by a predetermined length, and the upper and lower portions may be penetrated so that a hollow is formed therein. In this case, the stem 400 does not include the support 420, and the connecting portion 740 may be directly coupled to the stem body 410. For example, when the end of the stem body 410 exposed to the outside of the cylinder cap 500 is inserted into the connecting portion 740, the stem body 410 is fitted into the connecting portion 740 and the lower support 720 ) is seated on the top of the cylinder cap 500, and the elastic part 730 may wrap the stem body 410 from the outside.

Also, in the embodiment, the connection part 740 may be made of the same material as the upper support body 710, the lower support body 720 and the elastic part 730, and may be integrally formed through injection molding.

As described above, the optimum embodiment has been disclosed in the drawings and specifications. Although specific terms have been used herein, they are only used for the purpose of describing the present invention and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention described in the claims or defining the meaning. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

100: cylinder 110: inlet
120: first air hole 130: second air hole
200: piston 210: inlet
220: guide part 230: rim part
231: base 232: pressure protrusion
300: seal cap 400: stem
410: stem body 411: outlet
420: support 421: stem wing
422: air entrance 423: first support groove
500: cylinder cap 510: second support groove
600: first elastic member 700, 700-1, 700-2: second elastic member
710: upper support 720: lower support
730: elastic part 740: connection part
800, 800-1: valve part 810: blocking ball
820: valve shaft 830: valve wing
1000, 2000, 3000: pump assembly

Claims (14)

As a pump assembly,
A cylinder with a suction port formed at the bottom;
A piston that moves up and down inside the cylinder and has an inlet at one side;
a seal cap that moves up and down inside the cylinder while being in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder and opens and closes the inlet;
a stem that is coupled to the piston, moves up and down together with the piston, and has a discharge port formed at an upper end;
a cylinder cap coupled to an upper side of the cylinder to surround the outside of the stem;
a first elastic member disposed between the seal cap and the stem inside the cylinder; and
A pump assembly comprising a second elastic member disposed between the cylinder cap and the stem at the outside of the cylinder. According to claim 1,
The first elastic member is a columnar elastic body in which a hollow is formed to surround at least one of the piston and the stem from the outside, the pump assembly. According to claim 2,
When pressurizing the pump assembly, the piston and the stem descend while the second elastic member is compressed, and the seal cap rises with respect to the piston while the first elastic member is compressed, thereby exposing the inlet. . According to claim 2,
The first elastic member is composed of at least one material of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), pump assembly. According to claim 1,
The second elastic member is a spring of a plastic material formed through injection molding, the pump assembly. According to claim 5,
The second elastic member may include an upper support; a lower supporter provided below the upper supporter; and at least one elastic part that connects the upper support body and the lower support body with a predetermined inclination and is bent and deformed when the upper support body is pressed. According to claim 5,
The second elastic member is a bellows type in which peaks and valleys are repeatedly formed along the longitudinal direction, the pump assembly. According to claim 7,
The stem may include a stem body coupled to the cylinder and having the outlet formed at an upper end; and a support coupled to the outside of the stem body and having a stem wing extending outward to support an upper end of the second elastic member. According to claim 8,
At least one air inlet is formed in the stem wing portion to allow air to pass during compression and release of the second elastic member, the pump assembly. According to claim 8,
A first support groove supporting an upper end of the second elastic member is formed along a circumference of a lower surface of the stem wing portion, and a second support groove supporting a lower end of the first elastic member is formed along a circumference of an upper surface of the cylinder cap. , the pump assembly. According to claim 1,
The pump assembly further comprises a valve portion including a blocking ball disposed on the inlet to selectively communicate the inlet with the outside. According to claim 11,
The valve unit further includes a valve shaft extending upward from the blocking ball,
At the lower end of the piston, at least a part of the guide portion penetrating in the longitudinal direction extends downward so that the valve shaft is inserted when the piston or the valve unit ascends and descends. According to claim 12,
The valve unit further includes at least one valve wing portion protruding outward from the valve shaft and supporting a side surface of the valve unit while in contact with an inner wall of the cylinder. According to claim 13,
The pump assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of valve wing parts are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the valve shaft, and contents move through a space between the plurality of valve wing parts.

Images