Bag Insert With Valve Mechanism for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible liquid bags used for shipping inoculants often leak during transport and experience difficulties in dispensing the liquid, leading to spillage during inoculation.
Innovation Solution
A bag insert with a cylindrical body, a hollow receiver, a retainer, a valve stem, and an actuator cap that securely attaches to the bag, allowing for controlled dispensing of the liquid contents by moving the valve stem between positions to open and close fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple flexible bag structure is used, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but leakage during shipment occurs and dispensing control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bag system is divided into two functional segments: the flexible bag itself and a separate insert assembly containing the valve mechanism. This segmentation allows the simple flexible bag to maintain its low complexity while the insert assembly provides the reliability needed to prevent leakage during shipment and enable controlled dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert assembly acts as an intermediary component between the flexible bag and the dispensing system. It includes a valve body with a valve member that controls fluid flow, providing both leakage prevention during transport and controlled dispensing when needed, without requiring the flexible bag itself to be complex.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bag structure is simplified, then ease of manufacture increases, but dispensing control becomes difficult resulting in spillage
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the bag from the valve assembly, the bag can be manufactured simply and easily, while the valve assembly provides the necessary dispensing control. The valve member with its actuator allows precise control of liquid flow, preventing spillage during inoculation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body and valve member assembly serves as an intermediary that provides controlled dispensing functionality. The valve member can be moved between open and closed positions to control liquid flow, making dispensing easy and controlled without complicating the bag manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If a valve mechanism is added to prevent leakage and enable controlled dispensing, then reliability and ease of operation improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body, valve member, spring, and actuator are merged into a single integrated insert assembly that fits within the flexible bag. This consolidation provides complete leakage prevention and controlled dispensing functionality while keeping the overall structure manageable and relatively simple compared to separate components.
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 bag insert prevents leakage during shipment and facilitates easy, spill-free dispensing of the liquid inoculant at the point of use, ensuring effective and efficient use of the contents.
Implementation Method 1
A spring, having upper and lower ends, embraces the valve body between the disc member and the annular shoulder on the valve stem for yieldably urging the valve stem to its upper position.
Implementation Method 2
The lower end of the body member is configured to be frictionally inserted into the upper end of the hollow support structure to attach the body member to the hollow support structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An insert for use with a flexible liquid bag, having upper and lower ends, with the upper end of the bag having a hollow support structure with open upper and lower ends, mounted in an opening formed in the bag adjacent the upper end of the bag. The insert has open upper and lower ends with the lower end of the insert being received by the open upper end of the hollow support structure. A normally closed valve structure is positioned in the insert to prevent liquid from flowing therethrough. An actuator cap is threadably mounted on the upper end of the insert. The actuator cap includes structure to open the normally closed valve so that liquid in the bag may flow through the insert. The bag with the insert secured thereto will be inverted in use so that the liquid will flow downwardly from the bag.