Buffered Sprayer Design for Consistent Output Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprayers and foamers require continuous pumping or actuation to maintain a spray or foam, limiting user mobility and often result in non-uniform droplet sizes due to pressure fluctuations, which can lead to inefficiencies and safety issues with droplet size variability.
Innovation Solution
The development of novel sprayer and foamer systems incorporating buffers, such as spring-loaded, elastomeric, or gas buffers, that allow for continuous spray or elongated spray without constant user input, by storing overflow liquid and releasing it through a controlled valve system to maintain a consistent output pressure range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If continuous pumping or actuation is required to maintain spray, then spray continuity is improved, but user mobility and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber pre-stores liquid before it is needed for spraying. When the user activates the sprayer, the buffer chamber immediately releases the pre-stored liquid through the pump and nozzle system, eliminating the need for continuous pumping while maintaining spray continuity. This preliminary storage of liquid resolves the contradiction between spray duration and user convenience.
2Speed
If pressure fluctuations occur during spraying, then spray responsiveness is improved, but droplet size uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber pre-stores liquid and releases it in a controlled manner through the pump system. This preliminary preparation of liquid flow smooths out pressure fluctuations that would otherwise occur during activation and deactivation, maintaining both spray responsiveness and droplet size uniformity by providing a steady liquid supply to the nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer chamber acts as a cushioning element that absorbs pressure fluctuations before they reach the nozzle system. By storing excess liquid during high-pressure phases and releasing it during low-pressure phases, the buffer chamber cushions the pressure variations, ensuring uniform droplet size while maintaining spray responsiveness.
3Force
If pre-compression is applied to control minimum output pressure, then spray strength is improved, but maximum output pressure control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber creates a feedback mechanism where pressure changes in the system are automatically compensated. When pressure rises above the desired maximum, the buffer absorbs excess liquid; when pressure drops below the minimum, the buffer releases stored liquid. This feedback loop maintains both spray strength through pre-compression and maximum pressure control through automatic regulation.
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
This solution enables hands-free operation during spraying or foaming, reduces droplet size variability, and enhances user safety by maintaining a consistent pressure range, improving the performance and efficiency of liquid dispensing across various applications, including floor and surface cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
spring-loaded, elastomeric, or gas buffers
Implementation Method 2
spring-loaded, elastomeric, or gas buffers
Implementation Method 3
spring-loaded, elastomeric, or gas buffers
Data Source
AI summary
Dispensing devices can include buffers. This obviates the need for continually pumping the device to dispense spray or foam. A buffer can be spring loaded, spring loaded combination, elastomeric or gas, and can be in line or adjacent to a piston chamber. Such sprayers and foamers can be mounted upside down. With a buffer, a piston chamber can deliver a greater amount of liquid per unit time than can be dispensed through the nozzle(s). The fraction of liquid that cannot be dispensed can be sent to the buffer for dispensing after the piston downstroke has completed. Volume of the piston chamber and buffer, pressure response of the buffer, throughput of the nozzle, and the minimum opening pressure of the outlet valve can be arranged to restrict the outlet pressures of liquid droplets exiting the nozzle within a defined range.