Bellows Pump Structure for Low-Part Product Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump devices in personal and beauty care markets often have complex designs with many parts, leading to increased costs and reduced aesthetic appeal, while also failing to efficiently evacuate products from containers.
Innovation Solution
A pump design utilizing a bellow mechanism with a base and bellow chamber that includes a valve system to create a pump chamber, allowing for efficient product delivery through actuation and de-actuation of the bellow, which seals and unseals passages to draw in and dispense products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pump mechanisms with multiple parts are used, then reliability and sealing are improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple traditional pump components into an integrated base structure. The base integrates the pump chamber, valve mechanisms, and sealing surfaces into a single molded piece, eliminating the need for separate valve bodies, gaskets, and assembly fasteners. This merging maintains sealing reliability while dramatically reducing part count and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the pump chamber housing, contains the inlet and outlet valve mechanisms, provides sealing surfaces for the bellows, and integrates the product reservoir attachment. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed while maintaining reliable operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If fewer parts are used in pump design, then production cost and aesthetic value are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
While the base is molded as a single piece, the patent segments the internal features into distinct functional zones: the pump chamber cavity, the valve recesses, the bellows mounting area, and the product reservoir attachment features. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function during molding, maintaining precision requirements for each area while benefiting from the overall simplification of having fewer external parts.
3Ease of operation
If complex valve systems are used, then product delivery control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-actuating valves that respond automatically to pressure differential changes during bellows operation. The inlet valve opens automatically when negative pressure is applied during bellows expansion, and the outlet valve opens automatically when positive pressure is applied during bellows compression. This self-service mechanism provides precise product delivery control without requiring complex external actuation systems or additional control 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 bellow mechanism enables efficient product evacuation and delivery with fewer parts, reducing production costs and enhancing aesthetic value by simplifying the pump design while ensuring effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
Actuation of the bellow dome may disperse product from the pump and de-actuation of the bellow dome may draw product into the pump chamber
Implementation Method 2
A bellow having a bellow dome, bellow walls, a bellow rim, and a bellow chamber defined by the shape of the bellow dome and bellow walls
Implementation Method 3
The bellow walls may seal against a portion of the base to close or otherwise valve the inlet passage and a portion of the bellow rim contacting the base rim may close or otherwise valve the discharge passage
Data Source
AI summary
Bellow actuated pump devices for dispensing a product from a container may include a bellow and a base or a bellow, a base, and a valve wherein actuation of the bellow dispenses a product and the de-actuation of the bellow refills the pump for the next actuation.