Bellows Pump Inlet Valve Chimney Design for Viscous Product Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing bottles for viscous products, such as cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, face challenges with insufficient compression rate and suction force, particularly in sample distribution bottles with small volumes, leading to inefficient dispensing of relatively viscous products.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a ring with an upper chimney for the inlet valve, an annular membrane exhaust valve, and an axial finger to optimize compression and decompression, along with improved fixing and sealing of the bellows using attachment rings and a cap to enhance the dispensing system's performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a bellows pump is used for dispensing viscous products, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the compression rate and suction force are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The metering chamber is divided into an upper metering chamber and a lower dispensing chamber by the exhaust valve membrane. This segmentation allows the pump to efficiently draw viscous product into the upper chamber and then force it through the membrane into the lower chamber for dispensing, thereby increasing suction force while maintaining simple operation
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust valve uses a flexible membrane that dynamically responds to pressure changes. During compression, the membrane flexes to allow product passage; during decompression, it returns to seal the chamber. This dynamic behavior optimizes the compression rate and suction force for viscous products while keeping the structure simple
2Volume of moving object
If the metering chamber volume is small for sample distribution, then the bottle is compact and suitable for samples, but the suction force is further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust valve membrane is a flexible thin film that actively pushes the viscous product during the compression stroke. This active pushing mechanism compensates for the small chamber volume, generating sufficient suction force to draw viscous samples into the compact metering chamber and then force them through the dispensing orifice
3Productivity
If the inlet valve is housed in the lower part of the chimney extending into the metering chamber, then the product supply is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet valve is integrated directly into the lower part of the chimney structure, merging the valve function with the existing chimney component. This integration optimizes product supply from the reservoir through the chimney into the metering chamber while avoiding the need for separate valve housing, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
4Productivity
If the bellows is tightly fixed and sealed in the body, then the dispensing efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is fixed to the ring structure using flexible sealing elements that create tight seals between the bellows and the rigid body components. These flexible seals provide effective sealing and fixing to improve dispensing efficiency while requiring minimal additional structural complexity compared to rigid sealing mechanisms
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 optimized design increases the suction force and efficiency of dispensing viscous products by optimizing the compression ratio and sealing, ensuring effective distribution of products with improved fixing and sealing of the bellows, enhancing the dispensing process for both compression and decompression strokes.
Implementation Method 1
a bellows made of elastically deformable material which comprises a base mounted on said ring, said base being surmounted by an elastically compressible head so as to define a variable volume inside said head
Implementation Method 2
the exhaust valve comprises an annular membrane having a free end, said membrane being movable in bending by compression of the product in the metering chamber
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
The bottle has a body defining a fluid product reservoir and a fluid product dispensing system. The system has bellows (4) made of elastically deformable material, and a ring (3) that is integrated to the body. The ring is provided with an upper vent (20) in which a downstream part of a fluid product supply channel (19) is emerged. The upper vent has a tapered lower part (20a) in which an inlet valve (21) is housed. The lower part is arranged in a dosage chamber (22) such that the upper vent is extended axially from the dosage chamber.