Aerosol Valve System Segmentation for Residue Purging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol valve systems struggle to effectively clean and purge multicomponent products that require mixing before use, leading to residue buildup, clogging, and contamination, especially when using formulations that dry out or oxidize, which limits their reuse and poses economic and environmental challenges.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol valve system incorporates a second valve with a connected cleaning agent reservoir, allowing for on-demand cleaning and purging of all dispensing and mixing chambers, using a cleaning agent that flows through the system to remove residues and prevent clogging, while maintaining a simple structure and reducing propellant gas depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional aerosol valve system is used to dispense multicomponent products, then the system structure remains simple, but residue buildup and clogging occur in the dispensing chambers and channels
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into multiple functional chambers: a first chamber for storing the main product, a second chamber for storing cleaning agent, and a mixing chamber. This segmentation allows the cleaning agent to be separately stored and then introduced into the dispensing channels to prevent and remove residues, thereby preventing clogging without requiring complete redesign of the entire valve system.
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning agent is introduced as an intermediary substance to mediate between the main product and the dispensing channels. The cleaning agent flows through the dispensing channels and mixing chamber to remove residues of the main product, preventing clogging and damage to the valve system components.
2Reliability
If cleaning is performed frequently to remove residues, then the valve system reliability improves, but propellant gas depletes faster
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is extracted from the main dispensing operation. Instead of cleaning during every dispensing cycle, the system allows the main product to be dispensed first, and then the cleaning agent is introduced separately to clean the dispensing channels. This separation reduces the frequency of cleaning operations and conserves propellant gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning agent is stored in advance in a separate second chamber, prepared and ready for use. This preliminary preparation allows cleaning to be performed on-demand without requiring frequent propellant-driven flushing operations, thereby reducing propellant consumption while maintaining valve system reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multicomponent products are stored and mixed before dispensing, then product versatility improves, but residue oxidation and spoilage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple components are stored in separate sealed chambers (first chamber for main product, second chamber for cleaning agent) before dispensing. This segmentation prevents premature mixing and oxidation of residues in the storage chambers. The components are only mixed in the dispensing channels immediately before use, minimizing the time residues are exposed to oxidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning agent acts as an intermediary that flows through the dispensing channels after product dispensing to remove and neutralize residues. This prevents residues from remaining in contact with oxygen and undergoing oxidation or spoilage, thereby extending the usable life of the multicomponent product system.
4Device complexity
If a single valve system is used for both product dispensing and cleaning, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is designed with multi-functionality: the same valve mechanism controls both the dispensing of the main product from the first chamber and the introduction of the cleaning agent from the second chamber. This universal valve structure reduces device complexity while maintaining effective cleaning capability through the separate chamber design.
Solution Approach 2:
While the valve mechanism is unified, the storage and delivery paths are segmented into separate chambers. The first chamber stores the main product and the second chamber stores the cleaning agent, with separate outlets leading to the mixing chamber. This segmentation ensures that the cleaning agent can effectively reach and clean all dispensing channels without being contaminated by the main product, maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
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
This solution ensures thorough residue removal, prevents clogging and damage to the valve system, allows for the use of environmentally neutral cleaning agents, and supports the dispensing of multicomponent products, enhancing the durability and economic viability of the system while promoting environmentally friendly formulations.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning (or washing, disinfecting) agent, which, upon releasing the second valve, flows to the dispensing and mixing chambers and outside the container through the outlet channel, thereby cleaning and purging the valve system
Implementation Method 2
Triggering the aerosol valve causes opening of the valve and pushing the sprayed agent by the pressurised propellant towards the outlet, usually ended with a dispensing head, creating a finely dispersed stream
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an aerosol valve system for storing and dispensing a one- or multicomponent formulation, comprising a casing (8), at least two valves (1,1a, 4, 4a), connected to at least a first reservoir (2, 2a) and/or at least a second reservoir (17), respectively, wherein the first valve (1,1a) comprises a stem (7), an outlet channel (3) for discharging the formulation, and a mixing chamber (3a), and wherein between the at least two valves (1,1a, 4, 4a) extends a cleaning channel (6, 6a), connecting the second reservoir (17) to the mixing chamber (3a) of the first valve (1,1a). The invention also relates to a container containing such an aerosol valve system.