3D Printing Head Injector That Prevents Admixture Backflow

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional three-dimensional printing heads face increased manufacturing and maintenance costs due to the use of check valves to prevent flow of cementitious composition into the building material admixture supply line, while limiting the admixture flow rate, which affects the physical properties and efficiency of the produced building material.

Innovation Solution

A three-dimensional printing head with a flexible and elastically deformable tubular injecting member that allows or prevents the flow of building material admixture without a check valve, ensuring a high flow rate and reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a check valve is provided in the building material admixture supply line or injector, then the flow of cementitious composition into the admixture supply line is prevented, but the manufacturing and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of cementitious composition flow into admixture supply lineVSAvoidmanufacturing and maintenance costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the check valve component from the system by using the flexible tubular injecting member itself to perform the flow prevention function, thereby reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible tubular injecting member serves dual functions: it prevents backflow of cementitious composition (like a check valve) and allows controlled injection of building material admixture. The member's elasticity enables it to automatically close under pressure differential, making the system self-regulating without additional components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If an injection needle with a small flow section outlet is used, then the risk of cementitious composition flowing into the injection needle is reduced, but the building material admixture flow rate is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of cementitious composition flow into injection needleVSAvoidbuilding material admixture flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a static injection needle with fixed small outlet to a dynamic flexible tubular member whose effective flow section can vary. The tube's flexibility allows it to deform under pressure, dynamically adjusting the flow characteristics to maintain high flow rates while preventing backflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the injection system by using a flexible tube with large cross-sectional area instead of a rigid needle with small outlet. The tube's elastic properties allow it to change shape and flow characteristics based on pressure conditions, enabling both high flow rates and backflow prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a conventional check valve is used to prevent backflow, then the structure becomes more complex, but the flow rate of building material admixture is reduced without a check valve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidbuilding material admixture flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible tubular injecting member performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the injection conduit, the check valve for preventing backflow, and the flow rate control element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing structural complexity while maintaining high flow rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flexible tubular injecting member maintains efficient building material flow rates while eliminating the need for check valves, thus enhancing the printing head's efficiency and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

the tubular injecting member being elastically deformable between a first state in which the tubular injecting member is configured to allow a flow of the at least one building material admixture through the tubular injecting member and towards the injection outlet, and a second state in which the tubular injecting member is configured to prevent a flow of the at least one building material admixture and/or of the mineral composition from the mixing chamber and through the tubular injecting member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12539643B2Three-dimensional printing head for printing a three-dimensional structure

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 VICAT

AI summary

A three-dimensional printing head including a dynamic mixer comprising a mixer casing, which delimits a mixing chamber, a supply inlet configured to supply the mixing chamber with a mineral composition and a discharge outlet; and an injector for injecting a building material admixture in the mixing chamber. The injector includes a tubular injecting member being flexible and having an injection outlet, the tubular injecting member being elastically deformable between a first state in which the tubular injecting member is configured to allow a flow of the building material admixture through the tubular injecting member and towards the injection outlet, and a second state in which the tubular injecting member is configured to prevent a flow of the mineral composition from the mixing chamber and through the tubular injecting member.