Manufacture of Metered Dose Valve Components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017197247-A1
Application number	US-201715435399-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	May 10, 2007
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Use of metal powder injection molding for the manufacture of a metal valve component, such as a valve stem or a valve body, of a metered dose dispensing valve for use in a medicinal pressurized metered dose dispenser, such as an inhaler.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . A method of manufacturing a metal valve component of a medicinal metered dose dispensing valve for use in a medicinal pressurized metered dose dispenser, said method comprising the steps of
a) providing an mold for the valve component, b) injecting into the mold a feedstock of metal particles and/or metal-containing precursor particles in a binder to provide a green part; c) removing binder to provide a brown part; and e) sintering the brown part.

7 . A method according to claim 6 in which in which the density of the manufactured valve component has a density of at least 98% of the bulk density of the metal.

8 . A method according to claim 6 in which the metal particles and/or metal-containing precursor particles are selected such that the manufactured valve component is made of stainless steel, tool steel, high alloy steel or aluminum alloy.

9 . A method according to claim 8 in which the metal particles and/or metal-containing precursor particles are selected such that the manufactured valve component is made of stainless steel, said stainless steel being a grade of stainless steel selected from the group consisting of 316-grade, 316L-grade, 304-grade, 17-4PH-grade, 410-grade and 420-grade stainless steel.

10 . (canceled)

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13 . A method according to claim 6 in which the valve component is a valve component that in its use in the pressurized metered dose dispenser, is in contact with pressurized, liquefied propellant.

14 . (canceled)

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17 . A method according to claim 6 in which the median particle size of the metal particles and/or metal-containing precursor particles of the feedstock is about 25 microns or less.

18 . A method according to claim 6 in which the particle size distribution of the metal particles and/metal-containing precursor particles of the feedstock is 80% or more by mass in the size range of about 25 microns or less.

19 . A method according to claim 18 in which the particle size distribution of the metal particles and/or metal-containing precursor particles of the feedstock is 80% or more by mass in the size range of about 0.5 microns or more.

20 . A method according to claim 6 in which the metal particles and/or metal-containing precursor particles of the feedstock are spherical and/or substantially spherical.

21 . A method according to claim 6 in which the feedstock comprises 60% or more by mass of metal particles and/or metal-containing precursor particles.

22 . (canceled)

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Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Sivigny Michael B
• Hodson Peter D

Classifications

• B22F2301/35

  Iron · CPC title

• A61M15/009

  using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08) · CPC title

• B22F3/004

  Filling molds with powder (feeding material to presses in general B30B15/302) · CPC title

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title

• B22F3/1021 Primary

  Removal of binder or filler (removal of binder from ceramics C04B35/638) · CPC title