Collapsible Liner Dispense Head for Sensitive Liquids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liner-based pressure dispense containers for oxygen- and moisture-sensitive liquids face challenges in minimizing exposure to ambient air and moisture during filling, shipping, and use, leading to contamination and reduced shelf life.
Innovation Solution
A shippable container system with a rigid container and a collapsible liner, where the dispense head is installed and sealed at a chemical facility, minimizing exposure to ambient air, and featuring a design with a protective chime and quick connect fittings to reduce contamination risks during handling and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liner-based pressure dispense container is used for oxygen- and moisture-sensitive liquids, then the liquids can be contained and dispensed, but exposure to ambient air and moisture during filling, shipping, and use leads to contamination and reduced shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by filling the headspace above the liquid in the liner with inert gas (nitrogen or argon) to create a protective environment that prevents oxygen and moisture from contaminating the sensitive liquids during storage and dispensing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a nested structure where a flexible liner containing the liquid is placed inside a rigid outer container, creating multiple barriers against environmental contamination and enabling protected transport and storage of sensitive chemicals
2Reliability
If the dispense head is installed and sealed at a chemical facility, then contamination risks are minimized, but the complexity of the filling and sealing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispense head is pre-installed and sealed to the rigid container at the chemical facility before the liner is inserted and filled, allowing the sealing process to be completed in a controlled environment and simplifying subsequent handling and transport operations
3Strength
If a rigid container with collapsible liner is used, then protection during shipping is improved, but the device complexity increases compared to simple containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested container system where a collapsible flexible liner is placed within a rigid protective outer container, providing both mechanical protection during shipping and containment for the liquid while allowing the inner liner to collapse as liquid is dispensed
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 system effectively minimizes air and moisture contamination, reduces personnel exposure, and enhances the durability and cleanliness of the dispense head, thereby extending the shelf life and maintaining the purity of sensitive liquids.
Implementation Method 1
Fluid (e.g., gas) pressure is applied to the exterior surface of the liner (i.e., in the space between the liner and a surrounding container) to progressively collapse the liner and thereby force liquid through the dispensing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A shippable liquid storage and dispensing apparatus includes a collapsible liner arranged within a container, with a dispense head coupled to the container, suitable for handling oxygen- and moisture-sensitive materials. The dispense head includes a pressurization gas passage, a pressurization gas valve, a liquid passage, a liquid valve, a liner gas passage, and a liner gas valve, wherein each valve may have an associated quick connect fitting. The dispense head remains attached to the container during inert gas purging, liner filling, container shipment, and liquid dispensing. Pressurized inert gas may be maintained in the liner overlying liquid-containing material during shipment of the coupled dispense head and container. The container may have an extended chime to provide a protective zone that contains the entirety of the dispense head.