Aerosol Dispenser Valve Ring for Radial Stress Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol dispenser valves face issues with excessive radial stress on the valve body during crimping, leading to deformation and potential malfunction, and existing rings are complex and costly to manufacture, while also failing to completely prevent contact between the fluid and the neck gasket, causing contamination.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece, substantially rigid ring with a deformable outer portion that absorbs radial stress and eliminates contact between the fluid and the neck gasket, featuring a smooth surface and multiple contact points with the valve body to distribute stress and facilitate assembly, ensuring a leaktight seal only after crimping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the ring is force-fitted onto the valve body with strong radial clamping, then the ring secures the valve body firmly, but the valve body deforms over time causing friction and jamming of the valve member
Solution Approach 1:
The ring transitions from a purely rigid structure to one with a deformable outer portion, changing the mechanical parameters of the ring itself. This allows the ring to adapt its clamping force dynamically - initially providing strong radial clamping for firm securing, then deforming under excessive stress to reduce clamping force and prevent valve body deformation and valve member jamming
Solution Approach 2:
The ring incorporates a deformable outer portion that transforms the static clamping structure into a dynamic one. During crimping, the deformable portion compresses elastically, and during operation, it can deform to accommodate stress variations, enabling the ring to maintain optimal clamping force without causing valve body deformation
2Reliability
If the ring is made with deformable tabs or walls to compensate for crimping forces, then the valve body deformation is reduced, but the ring shape becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire ring complex with deformable tabs or walls, the invention applies the deformable quality locally to only the outer portion of the ring that contacts the reservoir. The inner portion remains simple for easy manufacturing, while the outer portion's localized deformability sufficiently compensates for crimping forces and prevents valve body deformation
3Ease of manufacture
If the ring is force-fitted in the reservoir to simplify assembly, then manufacturing is simpler, but assembly complexity increases due to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable outer portion of the ring acts as an intermediary between the ring and the reservoir. During assembly, this deformable portion accommodates manufacturing tolerances by deforming elastically, allowing the ring to be force-fitted into the reservoir without requiring extremely tight tolerances, thus simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes
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 ring effectively limits valve body deformation, prevents fluid contamination, and simplifies assembly and manufacturing, while maximizing fluid dispensing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
said ring being made as a single piece that is substantially rigid, said outer portion being adapted to co-operate in leaktight manner, by deformation of its material, with a portion of the reservoir while the fastener element is being assembled on the reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A ring (10) for disposing around a valve body (21) of an aerosol dispenser valve (20) that is mounted by a fastener element (50), such as a crimpable capsule, on a reservoir (1) containing fluid to be dispensed. The ring (10) includes at least an outer portion (15) and an inner portion (11, 11′) that co-operates with the valve body (21). The ring (10) is made as a single piece that is substantially rigid, the outer portion (15) being adapted to co-operate in leaktight manner, by deformation of its material, with a portion of the reservoir (1) while the fastener element (50) is being assembled on the reservoir (1).