Simplified valve actuating device for dental equipment

Abstract: The invention refers to a pneumatically operated, simplified valve actuating device for dental equipment, capable of avoiding the undesirable dripping of dental instruments at the end of the work. Said device comprises a valve actuating element (10) identified in a four-way valve (27, 28, 29, 32), whose body (20) includes a housing (21, 21a) for a piston (23) connected to a bobbin (22, 22a), wherein said casing is on one side connected to a selector unit (50) and on the other side to a one-way retention valve (34), capable of receiving pressurized air from a reducer unit (14) and passing it from said selector unit (50) to a constantly pressurized air line (40) coming directly from said reducer unit (14) and to at least one dental instrument (17).

Description: This invention refers to a simplified valve actuating device for dental equipment. Dental equipment presently in use are provided with a device that prevents the dental instruments from dripping at the end of the work. This device is based on a technique of aspirating the last drop by creating a suction effect. The suction effect occurs by using a membrane-type valve, which aspirates the last drop inside the last section of the flow duct provided in the instrument. This action suffices to prevent, by capillary action, any loss of fluids from the instrument itself. A device as described above is presently no longer allowed, as the aspiration outlined above may lead to a contamination of the water network as well as of the equipment, instruments and accessories by bacteria or viruses. A number of alternative systems have been provided, which consist in removing this last drop to the outside by an impulse or blow of timed and controlled compressed air. To achieve this, some complex electronic equipment has been developed, capable of applying such a control by eliminating the last water drop by a compressed air blow. A pinch valve assembly is described in US 4,450, 862 for location between the manifold assembly and the flow adjustment valves of a dental handpiece system, comprising an air to air control block actuated by foot control. EP 0293342 discloses an apparatus preventing the return of atomized spray into dental surgery instruments incorporating an air reservoir. However, it is in any case necessary to prevent the dripping or loss of liquids from such dental instruments at the end of the work, even in the case of using some totally pneumatic, non-electronic dental equipment. The general scope of this invention is to solve the technical problem evidenced in the field by purely pneumatic means, by eliminating the mentioned drawbacks of the known art, in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional manner. Another scope is to produce a general solution capable of being advantageously used in any type of dental instrument or assembly. In view of the mentioned purposes it was planned, in accordance with this invention, to produce a simplified valve actuating device for dental equipment, possessing the characteristics best described in the accompanying claims. The structural and functional characteristics of this invention and its evident advantages in relation to the known art will become even clearer and more evident from an examination of the following description, referred to the accompanying drawings, which show a simplified valve actuating device for dental equipment according to this invention. In these drawings: Figure 1 is a general functional diagram of a dental equipment operated by a pedal, in which a simplified valve actuating device according to this invention is inserted in a first operating position; Figure 1a shows the position, in a side elevation view, that the pedal in Figure 1 may assume; Figure 2 is a diagram similar to that in Figure 1, in a different operating position; Figure 2a shows the position, in a side elevation view, that the pedal in Figure 2 may assume; Figure 3 is an enlarged section of the valve element as part of the simplified valve actuating device of the invention, in a resting position or delivering position of a controlled volume of cleaning air; Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sections similar to that of Figure 3, showing the valve element in a spray-actuating and in a closed position while eliminating the last produced drop, thanks to the previous closing of the spray. With reference to the drawings, it can be noted that the simplified valve actuating device for dental equipment object of this invention can be inserted and become part of a dental equipment unit or of a so-called "dental assembly". In the example shown, the valve actuating system inserted in a dental equipment comprises a valve element 10, a control pedal 11, as shown in the general functional diagram of the Figures 1, 1a and 2, 2a, as well as the various sources and utilities. The drawing of the equipment in fact shows that the same is served by such sources as a water feed 12 at 2 bar and an air feed 13 at 6 bar, such as a compressor, capable of supplying the equipment as required. The air feed 13 at 6 bar is connected by a reducer unit 14 to fit the various utilities and needs to the pressures required by the mentioned valve element 10, the pedal 11, the piloting system of a water-opening valve 15, a preselecting control 16 and various instruments, shown in a simplified manner and exemplified in 17. The reducer unit 14 provides for a reduction to 3 bar 14a, a reduction to 5 bar 14b and a proportional valve 14c. The valve element 10 of the device is actuated, as mentioned, by the pedal 11 which determines, in its various positions, a different feed of air with the consequent piloting of even the feed of water used in the entire dental equipment. The pedal 11 can both be shifted and lowered (Figures 1a and 2a), while a selector unit 50 connected to the reducer unit 14 and to the various utilities 10, 15, 16 is provided in the example with at least 5 control selectors indicated by A, B, C, D and E. Figure 3 shows the resting position, in a cross-sectional view, of the valve element 10 according to the invention, set into a first arrangement. In this position, the valve element 10, which can be like to a four-way valve, consists of a body 20 containing a housing 21 with a bobbin 22 which is rigidly connected to an actuating piston 23, thus forming a pneumatic piston-type valve. The bobbin 22 rigidly connected to the piston 23 is pushed by a spring 38 to an extremity of the chamber 30, thus separating the conduits 25 and 26 from a conduit 24 which can be connected to an equal number of openings 27, 28 and 29, shown as simplified fittings for quick couplings. This chamber 30 is in turn opened toward the outside of the body 20 by a conduit 31, a one-way valve 36 and its relative opening 32 or quick coupling. The bobbin 22 is appropriately contoured so as to achieve a sealed closing action in its seat 21, provided with O-type sealing elements 33, in a first resting position and while delivering a controlled volume of cleaning air (chip), and in a second spray-actuating position as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The body of the bobbin 22 further provides for a section of smaller diameter 22a which allows to eliminate the produced drop, while actuating the closing, thanks to a previous closing of the spray-actuating control. A one-way retention valve 34 is also provided at the conduit 26 of the opening 29, which is normally kept open by gravity or by the action of a spring, not shown. The operation of such a simplified valve element 10 inserted into any dental equipment and controlled by the pedal 11 is described at this point, so as to also provide a better understanding of the whole structure of the valve actuating device. As already mentioned, in the position shown in Figure 3 this valve element 10 is always connected by the opening 27 and a relative line 40 to the reducer unit 14 of the air feed 13 at the proportional valve 14c. This line 40 always holds air at a pressure of 5 bar. It should also be kept in mind that the reducer unit is always connected by a line 41 at 5 bar and a line 42 at 3 bar to the selector unit 50 of the pedal 11, all this of course only after the dental equipment has been switched on. Figure 3 shows a second condition or delivering position for the controlled dosage of cleaning air, the so-called "chip". In this position, from the reducer unit 14, a pressure on the pedal 11 as shown in Figure 1a, in addition to injecting the air of the line 40 at a pressure of 5 bar, also actuates further connections. A control selector B actuated by the pedal 11 in fact connects the line 41, by the same selector unit 50 and a further control selector D, to a line 43 connected to the opening 29 of the valve element 10. Because the piston 23 and the bobbin 22 are in the previously indicated position, the air entering from the opening 29 and freely crossing the retention valve 34 passes into the conduit 26 and moves on from the terminal area or extremity 21a of the housing 21 to the conduit 25 and from there to the opening 28. This opening 28 leads through a line 44 to the instruments 17. This generates the feed of a controlled volume of cleaning air to the instrument 17. The release of the pedal 11 determines the stoppage of this flow of cleaning air. Figures 1 and 3 show that in a resting position, after delivering the controlled volume and the closing of this controlled feed, the valve element 10 of the invention is always in the same position, identical to the original or to the closed position. This resting position may also be one which comes into being at any instant during the use of the equipment, if the operator has not held it necessary to use any water in the instruments. The operator now shifts the pedal 11 into the position of Figures 2, 2a, thus achieving a position of the valve element 10 as shown in Figure 4. It must immediately be emphasized that in this position the selector group 50 activates all its control selectors by connecting the line 41 at 5 bar using the control B to a control A. The control A activates a line 45 that returns to the reducer unit 14, and from there moves the air at 5 bar, through a line 46, directly to the instrument 17. Moreover, the control C connects the line 42 at 3 bar to both the controls D and E. The control D activates a connection identical to that previously described, using the line 43 and the openings 29 and 28 to reach the instrument 17. Other than in the previous phase, this control does not feed air at 5 bar, but at 3 bar, and actuates the spraying function for the instrument. On the other hand, the control E connects a line 47 which actuates the water-opening valve 15, thus allowing the flow of water at 2 bar to the instrument 17 through a line 48. Moreover, the air at 3 bar enters through the opening 32 into the valve element 10, so as to push the piston 23 toward the opposite end of the chamber 30. This shifting of the piston 23 involves a simultaneous shifting of the rigidly connected bobbin 22 toward the extremity 21a of the housing 21. Before this operating phase and during the actuating and setting-up phase of the equipment, a plug valve 35 facing toward the outside of the chamber 30 has been adjusted. In this manner the volume of the air discharged from the chamber at the return motion of the piston can be adjusted, thus regulating the time needed to return the valve to its resting position. Once the spray has been effected by releasing the pedal 11 in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow 37 in Figure 2a, a few other controls are released by the selector unit 50 of the pedal 11, i.e. the controls D and E. The opening of the water valve 15 ends, thus instantly blocking the water without generating suction. This also stops the feed of air at 3 bar toward the opening 32 in the valve element 10 acting against the piston 23. The only continuing action is the flow of air at 5 bar from the opening 27 of the valve element 10, while the spring 38 restarts the return motion of the piston 23 and tends to push it toward its resting position (Figure 3). This shifting motion allows the air arriving from the opening 27 to enter the extremity 21a of the housing 21. Moreover, the air also moves toward the conduit 26 and closes the retention valve 34. Figure 5 illustrates this constantly evolving and moving situation. The air also pushes the bobbin 22 by acting on its extremity and on the portion of a smaller diameter 22a. In this manner the one-way valve 36 keeps the air inside the chamber 30 and the adjustable vent governs the return time of the piston 23 by keeping the opening 27, which is connected by the housing 21 to the opening 28, connected to the instrument 17. This achieves the feeding of pressurized air at 5 bar toward the instrument 17, thus cleaning out, aspirating and expelling the last drop of residual water that cannot be left inside the equipment. The elimination of the residual water can be carried out by the final air nozzle or in the same way by using a second nozzle provided for the purpose in the dental equipment. This produces the emission of a flow of air at 5 bar capable of being regulated both in volume and in expulsion time. This is in fact made possible both in the operating phase of the valve element 10 of this invention by acting on the adjustment of valve 35, and in the construction phase by appropriately enlarging the extremities 21a of the housing. In this second case it is in fact possible to establish a certain capability depending on the dental equipment to be used and to build valve elements of a different type, suitable for different types of equipment. The valve element 10 is then brought to the position shown in Figure 3, which also corresponds to the resting position after a spray-type actuating phase. This, like the resting position after an injection of a controlled volume of cleaning air (chip), is also a normal position in which the equipment may find itself during operation, and in which the user may encounter the equipment. The type of technical solution proposed by the invention is evident from the foregoing description referring to the figures. In this way, the scopes mentioned in the premise of this description are achieved. Of course, the embodiments of the device may differ from those shown only for exemplifying and non-limiting purposes in the drawings. The scope of the protection of this invention is in any case outlined by the accompanying claims.

Claims: Valve actuating device for dental equipment served by an air feed (13) and by a water feed (12), the valve actuating device comprising a valve element (10) connected to at least one dental instrument (17), said valve element (10) being a four-way pneumatic valve comprising: an opening A (27) for receiving air from a line A (40), an opening B (29) for receiving air from a line B (43) an opening C (28) for supplying air to the dental instrument (17) through a line C (44), an opening D (32) for receiving air from a line D (47); a body (20) comprising a chamber (30) and a housing (21) connected to the chamber (30) and acting as a seat for a bobbin (22) rigidly connected to an actuating piston (23) movable inside the chamber (30), the bobbin (22) being appropriately contoured so as to achieve a sealed closing action in the housing (21), said housing (21) being connected: to a conduit A (24) connected to the opening A (27) to a conduit B (26) connected to the opening B (29), and to a conduit C (25) connected to the opening C (28), the bobbin (22) being arranged to allow, in a first resting position and in a second position in which the piston is pushed toward the opposed extremities of the chamber (30), the connection between the conduit B (26) and the conduit C (25) thus separating the conduit A (24), wherein the opening D (32) of the chamber (30) is provided for receiving the air needed to push the piston (23) and the bobbin (22) from their first resting position toward the second position, the bobbin (22) presents a section (22a) of smaller diameter and during the return motion of the piston (23) toward the first resting position, the smaller diameter section (22a) of the bobbin (22) is arranged for connecting the conduit A (24) to the conduit C (25) thus separating the conduit B (26) for allowing the air flow needed to eliminate a water drop from the instrument (17), a plug valve (35) adjustable being further provided for regulating the return motion of the piston (23). Valve actuating device according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing (21) presents, at the opposite side of the connection with the chamber (30), an extremity (21a) through which the air entering from the opening B (29) and the conduit B (26), can pass into the conduit C (25) and the opening C (28) to be lead to the dental instrument (17). Valve actuating device according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises a reducer unit (14) connected to said valve element (10) for the reduction of the air feed (13) to a first pressure and to a second pressure, said second pressure being lower than said first pressure. Valve actuating device according to claim 3, characterised in that it further comprises a control pedal (11) actuating control selectors (A-E), provided in a selector unit (50) of the pedal (11) for feeding air, from the reducer unit (14), to: the valve element (10): a water-opening valve (15) for actuating a piloting system; a preselecting control (16); and the dental instrument (17), the control pedal (11) being shiftable between a position in which no water flow is allowed to the dental instrument (17) and a position in which water can flow to the dental instrument (17). Valve actuating device for dental equipment according to claim 4, characterised in that the control pedal (11) is as well arranged to be raised in order to end the openings of the water valve (15) and to stop the feed of air toward the opening D (32), for allowing the return motion of the piston (23). Valve actuating device for dental equipment according to claim 5, characterised in that the air line (47) feeding air to the opening D (32) for pushing said piston (23) is further connected to the water valve (15) for piloting it and actuating the flow of water toward the dental instruments (17). Valve actuating device for dental equipment according to claim 4, characterised in that with the pedal lowered and shifted in the position in which water can flow to the dental instrument (17), the selector unit (50) of said pedal (11) by means of its control selectors (A-E) presents connected: a lineE(41) of air at the first pressure from the reducer unit (14), to a line F (45) that returns to the reducer unit (14), and through a line G (46), directly to the instrument (17); a line H (42) of air at the second pressure from the reducer unit (14), to the line B (43) and to the line D (47). Valve actuating device for dental equipment according to claim 4, characterised in that with the pedal shifted in the position in which water is not allowed to flow toward the dental instrument (17), the selector unit (50) of said pedal (11) by means of its control selectors (A-E) presents in connection the line E (41) of air at the first pressure from the reducer unit (14), to the line B (43) for feeding the opening B (29) of the valve element (10). Valve actuating device for dental equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that said openings (27, 28, 29, 32) are provided by fittings for quick couplings. Valve actuating device for dental equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that said pressurised air source (13) is a compressor.

Inventors: FAVONIO ANGELO, FAVONIO, ANGELO
Applicants: FARO FABBRICA APPARECCHIATURER, FARO FABBRICA APPARECCHIATURERAZIONALI ODONTOIATRICHE S.P.A.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61C1
IPC codes: A61C1