Aerosol Time-Delay Actuator With Nested Guide Track
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol dispensing systems lack reliable and inexpensive time delay mechanisms between activation and chemical release, with external structures prone to disturbance during shipping and use.
Innovation Solution
A time-delay actuator assembly featuring an inner and outer cap with a biasing member and time-delay member, where rotating the outer cap relative to the inner cap aligns a guide member with a guide track, causing a resistance that delays the actuator's engagement with the release valve, providing a specified time before chemical dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external cap-stem interaction structure is used for time delay, then the operator can leave the dispense area to avoid exposure, but the structure is prone to disturbance during shipping or prior to use
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is positioned within the hollow cylindrical body, and the biasing member is nested within the guide member, creating a compact internal structure that is protected from external disturbances during shipping and handling while maintaining the time delay function
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: the hollow cylindrical body containing the guide track, the guide member with circumferential and axial sections, the biasing member, and the plunger, allowing each component to perform its specific function while contributing to overall reliability
2Extent of automation
If a total release automated dispensing system is used, then the contents are dispersed automatically, but the structure lacks desirable time delay feature and has complex construction
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track incorporates both a circumferential section and an axial section, allowing the guide member to dynamically transition from rotational movement to linear movement, enabling automated time delay without complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member is pre-compressed during the rotational phase and automatically converts this stored energy into linear motion when the guide member reaches the axial section, providing automated dispensing action without complex control systems
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 solution provides a reliable and inexpensive time delay mechanism that is resistant to external disturbances, allowing a specified period for the operator to leave the area before chemical release, enhancing safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing member is positioned within the hollow cylindrical body and is compressed upon rotation of the outer cap relative to the inner cap. The biasing member is then released to propel the actuator essentially axially toward the release valve.
Data Source
AI summary
A time-delay actuator assembly is disclosed that can dispense chemicals from an aerosol container. The time-delay actuator assembly is mountable to the aerosol container and includes an inner cap, an outer cap adjacent the inner cap, a retainer coupled to the outer cap, a biasing member, and a time-delay member that resists essentially axial relative movement between the inner cap and the outer cap when the outer cap has been rotated to align a guide member with an essentially axial section of a guide track, thereby causing a time delay between when the guide member is aligned with the essentially axial section and when chemicals are dispensed from the aerosol container.