Auto-vented Pouring Spout with Segmented Air and Liquid Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pouring spouts do not effectively minimize spillage and evaporation while allowing for efficient liquid transfer, especially in smaller containers, and often require complex mechanisms that increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A pouring spout with a valve system that separates the liquid and air ducts, allowing independent control of their opening and closing, and utilizing a spring mechanism to maintain the tubes' position unless pressure is applied, facilitating faster flow and reducing evaporation risks through minimized material contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single combined duct is used for both liquid and air flow, then the structure is simpler, but the liquid flow speed is reduced and vacuum formation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single combined duct into two separate ducts: a liquid duct for liquid flow and an air duct for air flow. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each duct's function, preventing vacuum formation in the liquid duct while maintaining simple overall structure. The separate air duct can open independently to supply air without interfering with liquid flow speed.
2Ease of operation
If the air duct opens before the liquid duct, then air can enter freely, but liquid flow is blocked and vacuum forms
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ducts into separate liquid and air pathways with independent valve controls, the system allows the air duct to open independently for air entry while the liquid duct remains blocked to prevent vacuum formation. This eliminates the conflict between air entry and liquid flow that occurs in combined duct systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces separate valve mechanisms as intermediaries between the user input and the duct openings. These valves act as mediators that can independently control the opening of the air duct and liquid duct, ensuring air can enter freely while liquid flow is maintained without vacuum formation.
3Productivity
If a complex valve system is used to control separate ducts, then liquid transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of the air duct and liquid duct into a single integrated valve system that operates with one input mechanism. This combining approach maintains the benefits of separate duct control for efficient liquid transfer while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent control mechanisms. The unified valve system coordinates both duct openings simultaneously or independently as needed.
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 efficient, spill-proof, and evaporation-reduced liquid transfer, even with smaller outlets, making it suitable for filling cars or small tanks, while being cost-effective and easy to assemble.
Implementation Method 1
an internal spring to keep the inlet and outlet tubes in such a position with respect to each other as to keep the valve system closed unless a pressure is applied to the outlet tube
Implementation Method 2
an air duct that is also part of both of said inlet tube and outlet tube and through which air can come freely inside the container, such considerably reducing vacuum formation within the container
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Disclosed is a pouring spout of the type comprising an inlet tube devised to be detachably connectable to the container for receiving the liquid stored therein and an outlet tube slideably connected to the inlet tube for guiding the liquid from the inlet tube to a receiving container. A liquid duct through which the liquid stored in the container can flow, is part of both the inlet tube and outlet tube. An air duct through which air can come freely inside the container, is also part of both the inlet tube and outlet tube. Such considerably reduces vacuum formation within the container and allows faster liquid transfer through the liquid duct. A valve system is provided for simultaneously opening the liquid duct and the air duct when the outlet tube is slideably moved relative to the inlet tube. An internal spring is also provided to keep the inlet and outlet tubes in such a position with respect to each other as to keep the valve system closed unless a pressure is applied to the outlet tube in order to slideably move it relative to the inlet tube. In accordance with the invention, the valve system is devised so as to cause the liquid duct and the air duct to open separately into the storing container. Such allows the liquid stored in the container to flow out freely out of the same through the liquid duct, and air to separately enter into the container via the air duct, thereby preventing any interference.