All plastic hand foam pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-operated dispensing pumps for personal care products, which include metal compression springs, cause rust contamination and are difficult to recycle due to the need for disassembly to remove metal components.
Innovation Solution
A hand foam pump designed entirely from plastic components, featuring a plastic return spring and other plastic parts, eliminating the need for disassembly and ensuring recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal compression springs are used in hand operated dispensing pumps, then the pumps operate effectively and are of relatively low cost to make, but the steel compression springs may cause rust contamination of the product to be dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the return spring from metal to plastic, specifically using a plastic material that is elastic and capable of functioning as a return spring while eliminating rust contamination. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining the mechanical function while eliminating the harmful rust contamination.
2Reliability
If metal components are used in hand pumps, then the pumps operate effectively, but the pumps are difficult to recycle and require disassembly to remove metal components prior to recycling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the entire pump construction homogeneous by using plastic material for all components including the return spring, actuator, body, and other parts. This homogeneity allows the entire pump to be recycled together as a single material type without requiring disassembly to separate metal components, thus resolving the recycling difficulty while maintaining operational effectiveness.
3Reliability
If metal return springs are used in hand pumps, then the pumps function properly, but the need to disassemble used hand pumps to remove metal components increases costs and decreases the desirability of used hand pumps as a source of recycled plastic
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the return spring from metal to plastic, enabling the entire pump to be processed as a single material type. This eliminates the need for disassembly operations to separate metal components, reducing both time and cost associated with recycling processing while maintaining the functional requirements of the pump.
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 all-plastic design prevents rust contamination and simplifies recycling by allowing the pump to be ground and reused as recycled plastic without disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic, dome shaped, plastic return spring is disposed between the actuator and the pump closure to return the actuator to its rest position after actuation.
Implementation Method 2
The air piston and liquid piston are reciprocally mounted within the cylinder bores of the housing wherein reciprocation of the air piston and liquid piston compresses air and liquid, respectively
Implementation Method 3
compresses air and liquid, respectively to foam a liquid and dispense the foamed liquid
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A hand foam pump fabricated entirely from plastic components for dispensing foamable liquids, is provided. The hand foam pump includes an actuator, a closure, a housing, cylinder bores for an air piston and a liquid piston within the housing and an air piston and a liquid piston fixed to a stem, wherein the air and liquid pistons are reciprocally mounted within the cylinder bores, and check valves, among other components. An elastic, dome shaped, plastic return spring is utilized to return the actuator to its rest position after actuation. The plastic return spring is positioned over the closure and below the actuator. The all plastic hand foam pump is suitable for dispensing foamable liquids from a dispenser bottle. Used pumps do not require disassembly to be recycled.