Stationary stem pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump assemblies struggle to effectively dispense high viscosity flowable materials, such as toothpaste and viscous skin creams, especially those containing particulate solid matter, due to difficulties in handling their thick consistency and abrasive components.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly featuring a piston chamber-forming member with an annular chamber and an annular piston that reciprocally slides to dispense flowable materials outwardly, utilizing one-way valves and flexible discs to manage pressure differentials and prevent backflow, ensuring efficient dispensing of viscous substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pump assemblies are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but they cannot effectively dispense high viscosity flowable materials containing particulate matter
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a piston chamber-forming member with an annular chamber, a piston-forming member that reciprocates within the chamber, a center post providing structural support, and one-way valves for controlled flow. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling reliable dispensing of high viscosity materials while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
The piston-forming member is nested within the annular chamber formed by the piston chamber-forming member, which itself is structured around the central center post. This nested configuration allows the piston to reciprocate within the annular space, creating effective pumping action for high viscosity materials while maintaining a compact overall structure that does not significantly increase device complexity
2Reliability
If pump assemblies are designed to handle high viscosity materials, then dispensing capability improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the pumping chamber from a conventional single-chamber design to an annular chamber configuration with a central post. This parameter change allows the piston to displace a larger volume of high viscosity material during each reciprocation cycle, improving dispensing capability while the annular geometry can be efficiently manufactured using standard molding techniques, thereby controlling manufacturing costs
3Reliability
If conventional pumping mechanisms are used, then the device is simple to operate, but they create insufficient vacuum for intake and pressurization for discharge of viscous materials
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and separates the intake and discharge valve functions from the main piston mechanism by implementing dedicated one-way valves positioned at specific locations in the annular chamber. This extraction allows the piston-forming member to focus solely on creating vacuum during retraction and pressurization during advancement, while the separate valves autonomously manage flow direction, thereby achieving reliable vacuum creation and pressurization without significantly increasing operational complexity
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 enables reliable and efficient dispensing of high viscosity flowable materials, including those with particulate matter, by creating a vacuum for intake and pressurizing for discharge, effectively addressing the challenges faced by conventional pumps.
Implementation Method 1
creating a vacuum for intake and pressurizing for discharge
Implementation Method 2
creating a vacuum for intake and pressurizing for discharge
Implementation Method 3
utilizing one-way valves and flexible discs to manage pressure differentials and prevent backflow
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A pump assembly for dispensing flowable materials including a piston chamber-forming member providing an annular chamber about a center post and an annular piston-forming member reciprocally slidable in the annular chamber to dispense flowable material outwardly annularly about the center post.