Bellows Pump Force Control via Variable Wall Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bellows-based pumps have uncontrolled force development after initial compression, limiting their application to dispensing specific amounts of foam, liquid, or gas, and lack versatility in force characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A bellows assembly with a flexible wall of predetermined shape and thickness, cooperating with a stiff outer wall, allows for controlled force development by varying diameter and thickness, enabling customizable spring characteristics and force profiles, including constant, increasing, decreasing, or peak forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a bellows with spring force is used in a known pump construction, then the bellows can provide compression force, but the force development becomes uncontrolled after initial compression and the structure requires minimum four parts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the bellows and the force control mechanism into a single integrated component. The bellows wall itself is formed with varying thickness to provide the desired force development characteristic, eliminating the need for separate spring mechanisms or multiple parts. This integration reduces the pump structure to essentially two main parts (housing and plunger) while maintaining controlled force development.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows wall is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, where different sections have different thicknesses to create specific force characteristics at different compression stages. This local variation in wall thickness allows precise control of force development without requiring additional components, directly addressing both the complexity and force control requirements.
2Force
If the flexible wall of the bellows moves in free space during compression, then the bellows can compress, but the force development is uncontrolled
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible wall is designed with spatially varying thickness, where thinner sections provide greater flexibility and thicker sections provide structural support and force control. This local quality variation enables the bellows to provide controlled force development while maintaining the ability to adapt to different compression distances and force requirements, thereby expanding application versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the flexible wall (thickness) to control force development. By varying the thickness parameter across different sections of the bellows wall, the system can achieve different force characteristics (increasing, decreasing, or constant force) to suit different applications, thereby enhancing adaptability without requiring multiple bellows designs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a bellows pump is designed for dispensing a predetermined amount, then the pump can deliver specific quantities, but the application scope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables versatile applications by allowing changes in the bellows wall thickness parameter during manufacturing. By adjusting the thickness distribution in the molding process, different force development profiles can be achieved for different applications (dispensing, pumping, actuation). This parameter flexibility expands application scope while the manufacturing process maintains sufficient precision through standard plastic molding techniques.
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 versatile and cost-effective pump assembly capable of achieving desired force profiles, enhancing the applicability of bellows-based pumps across various applications by allowing precise control over force development, including indication peaks for easier dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible wall (5) of a predetermined shape and thickness which co-operates with the unrolling part (4), wherein the flexible wall (5) can unroll over the unrolling part (4)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an assembly of bellows part and a part against which unrolling takes place (the unrolling part), comprising a bellows part with a flexible wall of a predetermined shape and thickness variation which co-operates with an unrolling part with a stiff outer wall along which the flexible wall is movable, wherein the unrolling part has a predetermined diameter variation and/or the flexible wall has a predetermined thickness variation so as to cause a desired development of force.