Aerosol Canister Pressure Regulating Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aerosol canisters using compressed gas propellants face challenges in maintaining a steady flow rate and delivering a consistent metered dose, due to the decrease in pressure as the product is dispensed.
Innovation Solution
The aerosol canister is designed with a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber separated by a pressure regulating valve, allowing the use of non-flammable compressed gases like carbon dioxide, which maintains constant pressure in the low pressure chamber, ensuring consistent product delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If compressed gas propellants (air or nitrogen) are used, then flammability is reduced, but spray characteristics and atomizing energy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The canister is divided into two separate chambers: a high pressure chamber containing compressed gas propellant and a low pressure chamber containing product. This segmentation allows the use of safe compressed gases while maintaining proper spray characteristics through controlled pressure differentials.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure regulating valve acts as an intermediary between the high pressure chamber and low pressure chamber, controlling the flow of propellant gas to maintain constant pressure in the low pressure chamber, thereby ensuring consistent spray characteristics throughout product dispensing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If compressed gas propellants are used, then safety is improved, but pressure stability deteriorates as product is dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulating valve provides feedback control by automatically adjusting the flow of propellant gas from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber based on pressure differential, maintaining constant pressure in the low pressure chamber throughout product dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure regulating valve serves as an intermediary mechanism that decouples the pressure instability of compressed gas consumption from the product dispensing system, absorbing pressure variations while maintaining stable delivery conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If liquefied gas propellants are used, then spray characteristics are improved, but flammability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates an inert atmospheric environment within the canister by using non-flammable compressed gases (air or nitrogen) as propellants, eliminating fire hazards while maintaining functional spray performance through the two-chamber pressure differential system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the propellant system by using compressed gas at high pressure instead of liquefied gas, and employs a pressure regulating valve to maintain optimal pressure conditions for spray generation without requiring flammable materials.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a pressure regulating valve is added to maintain constant pressure, then product delivery consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulating valve is designed to automatically self-regulate the pressure differential between chambers without external control, using the inherent pressure differences to control propellant gas flow and maintain constant pressure in the low pressure chamber throughout product dispensing.
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 configuration ensures a consistent delivery of the product throughout the life of the canister, maintaining a steady flow rate and allowing for the use of safer, less flammable propellants.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure regulating valve which maintains a constant pressure differential between the high pressure chamber and the low pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
a liquid or compressed gas propellant is contained within the canister along with the product. In order to force the product up the dip tube and to propel the product from the canister in the form of an aerosol
Implementation Method 3
These hydrocarbon propellants flash-vaporise on leaving the aerosol canister and are capable of producing very fine sprays
Implementation Method 4
The hydrocarbon propellant forms a two-phase (liquid and saturated vapour) system within the canister and a dynamic equilibrium exists between the two phases giving a near constant vapour pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
The propellants used in aerosol canisters can be harmful to the environment. The present invention relates to an aerosol canister (1') for dispensing a product and propellant, and to a product metering valve for use with the aerosol canister (1'). The canister (1') includes a high pressure chamber (3) for containing a liquefied or compressed gas propellant, a low pressure chamber (52) for containing a gas propellant, and a product reservoir (54) for containing a gas propellant. A pressure regulating valve (9) is interposed between the high pressure chamber (3) and the low pressure chamber (52), the pressure regulating valve (9) adapted to provide a fluid flow path from the high pressure chamber (3) to the low pressure chamber (52) when the pressure in the low pressure chamber (52) drops below a predetermined pressure. The canister further comprises a partition wall (56) interposed between the low pressure chamber (52) and the product reservoir (54).