Air Pump Fluid Dispenser Isolating Elastomer from Product
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers, particularly those in 'pen' configurations, face contamination and deterioration issues due to elastomer materials coming into contact with the fluid product, and lack precise control over distribution, with incomplete emptying of the reservoir being a further concern.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser design incorporating an air pump with a deformable side actuation wall, using a dual-flow valve system to manage air pressure within the dispenser, which separates the actuation from the fluid distribution, allowing for precise and controlled dispensing without direct contact between elastomers and the fluid, and eliminating the need for a dip tube or follower piston.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flexible sleeve made of elastomer is used to pressurize the fluid product directly, then the dispensing mechanism can be simple and effective, but the elastomer comes into direct contact with the fluid product causing contamination and deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary substance between the elastomer flexible sleeve and the fluid product. The sleeve pressurizes air instead of directly contacting the fluid, and this pressurized air then acts on the fluid product to enable dispensing. This mediator approach eliminates direct contact between the elastomer and fluid product, preventing contamination while maintaining the simplicity of the flexible sleeve mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pressurization function into two separate stages: first the elastomer sleeve pressurizes air in an air chamber, then the pressurized air transfers force to the fluid product through a fluid conduit. This segmentation allows the elastomer to interact only with air (non-harmful) while the fluid product remains isolated from direct elastomer contact, resolving the contamination issue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air is introduced as an intermediary to prevent elastomer contact with fluid, then contamination is prevented, but the system complexity increases with additional chambers and valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air pump chamber and fluid product chamber into a single integrated pump housing structure. The elastomer flexible sleeve forms the wall between these two chambers, serving dual purposes: containing the pressurized air while also acting as the actuation mechanism. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed compared to traditional dual-chamber designs with separate walls and multiple valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer flexible sleeve performs multiple functions: it acts as the actuation wall for pressurizing air, serves as a chamber boundary, and functions as a one-way valve through its check valve element. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and system complexity while maintaining the contamination prevention benefits of the air intermediary approach.
3Reliability
If a dip tube or follower piston is used in the reservoir, then the pump can effectively draw fluid, but these components are visible through transparent reservoirs and affect aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical dip tube or follower piston system with a pressure-driven fluid delivery mechanism. Instead of mechanically pushing or pulling the fluid through a visible tube, the system uses pressurized air to force the fluid through an outlet valve and conduit. This substitution eliminates the need for visible internal components in the transparent reservoir while maintaining reliable fluid delivery through pneumatic pressure.
4Speed
If direct pressure transmission from the pump is used, then the dispensing response is immediate, but the application lacks smoothness and control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces compressible air as a cushioning medium between the user's actuation force and the fluid product. When the user compresses the flexible sleeve, the air in the air chamber compresses first, absorbing and dampening the pressure fluctuations before transmitting force to the fluid product. This beforehand cushioning effect smooths out the dispensing action, providing better control and a softer application while maintaining responsive dispensing.
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 contamination-free, precisely controllable, and complete dispensing mechanism, as the air pump's compressible air flow pressurizes the fluid, offering a soft and controlled application experience without transmitting direct pressure to the fluid product, ensuring complete emptying of the reservoir.
Implementation Method 1
The use of an air pump also creates a kind of damping effect in the distribution of the fluid, since air is compressible and acts on the fluid.
Implementation Method 2
the air pump connecting to the outside through a one-way inlet valve
Implementation Method 3
some of the pressurized fluid product in the reservoir, injected by the pressurized air, rises in the fluid product line
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 4
AI summary
Disclosed is a fluid product dispenser comprising: - a fluid product receptacle (1); - an applicator (2); and - a dispensing module (3) between the receptacle (1) and the applicator (2), characterized in that the dispensing module (3) includes an air pump (4) for delivering air into the receptacle (1) as well as a fluid product duct (54) connecting the receptacle (1) to the applicator (2).