Liquid Mixer With Branched Flow Paths for Single-Device Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixers require two liquid sending devices for mixing two liquids, leading to device complexity and inefficiency when only one device is usable.
Innovation Solution
A liquid mixer design with a single liquid sending device and a merging portion having branched flow paths that form parallel flows, allowing efficient mixing of multiple liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two liquid sending devices are used to respectively send two liquids for mixing, then the mixing of multiple liquids can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of two separate liquid sending devices into a single liquid sending device. The flow path is designed with a branching structure where one liquid sending device controls both the first and second liquids through a merging portion, reducing the number of sending devices from two to one while maintaining the capability to mix multiple liquids.
Solution Approach 2:
The single liquid sending device is designed to perform multiple functions: it sends both the first liquid and the second liquid, and controls their flow into the merging portion. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate sending devices for each liquid, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving mixing capability.
2Device complexity
If only one liquid sending device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to efficiently mix multiple liquids is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into multiple branches: a first flow path for the first liquid and a second flow path for the second liquid. These segmented paths converge at the merging portion, allowing a single liquid sending device to efficiently distribute and mix multiple liquids through the segmented flow structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to the flow path design by creating a merging portion where multiple flow paths converge in three-dimensional space. This dimensional arrangement allows efficient mixing of multiple liquids through parallel flow paths that merge, maintaining high productivity while using only one liquid sending device.
3Device complexity
If a simple flow path merging structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but mixing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path design incorporates dynamic flow characteristics where liquids flow in parallel through branched paths and then merge. This dynamic flow structure, with its branching and merging portions, enhances mixing efficiency through natural flow interactions while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
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
Efficient mixing of multiple liquids using a single sending device, enhancing mixing efficiency and reducing device complexity.
Implementation Method 1
one of the flow paths that have branched off the first flow path and one of the flow paths that have branched off the second flow path are connected to each other and merge, and the other one of the flow paths that have branched off the first flow path and the other one of the flow paths that have branched off the second flow path are connected to each other and merge on a downstream side
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(d)
AI summary
Provided is a technique for efficiently mixing a plurality of liquids by using only a single liquid feeding device. This liquid mixer comprises: a first inflow flow path into which a first liquid flows; a second inflow flow path into which a second liquid flows; a liquid merging part where the first liquid and the second liquid merge; an outflow flow path which is connected to the liquid merging part and through which the first liquid and the second liquid flow out; and a single liquid feeding device. The liquid merging part has a first flow path connected to the first inflow flow path, and a second flow path connected to the second inflow flow path, the first flow path branches into at least two flow paths, and the second flow path branches into at least two flow paths. One among the flow paths branched from the first flow path and one among the flow paths branched from the second flow path are connected and merged with each other. Another one of the flow paths branched from the first flow path and another one among the flow paths branched from the second flow path are connected and merged with each other on the downstream side, and are connected to the outflow flow path.