Concentric Liquid Dispenser Valve Minimizes Dead Volume
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing discharge devices for liquids, including pharmaceuticals, face challenges in reliably dispensing a reproducible quantity of liquid with each actuation due to issues with dead volume and air compression, which prevents reliable pressure increase and valve opening.
Innovation Solution
A compact discharge device design featuring a volumetrically variable pump chamber with concentrically arranged inlet and outlet channel ends, a one-piece elastic valve body component made from two different plastic materials, and a modular housing structure that minimizes dead volume and ensures reliable valve operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pump chamber is reduced to minimize dead volume, then liquid dispensing reliability is improved, but air compression during startup prevents reliable pressure increase and valve opening
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet channel end is positioned concentrically within the outlet channel end, creating a nested arrangement where the smaller inlet channel is effectively nested within the larger outlet channel structure. This nesting minimizes the dead volume in the pump chamber while maintaining reliable liquid dispensing by reducing air compression effects during startup.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate valve body components are used for inlet and outlet valves, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet valve body and outlet valve body are merged into a single integrated valve body component with concentrically arranged inlet and outlet channel ends. This merging reduces the number of separate parts, simplifies assembly, and lowers manufacturing cost while maintaining the functional flexibility needed for reliable liquid dispensing.
3Volume of moving object
If the device is designed to be compact, then portability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet channels are arranged asymmetrically in a concentric configuration rather than symmetrically opposite each other. This asymmetric concentric arrangement allows for a more compact device volume while the concentric geometry itself provides inherent alignment tolerance, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements compared to symmetric arrangements.
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 design achieves a compact, easy-to-assemble device with minimal dead volume, allowing for reliable liquid dispensing by ensuring the valve body components operate effectively under pressure conditions, reducing air interference and enhancing the device's operational characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The valve body component is made as a whole from a single elastic plastic
Implementation Method 2
the pump chamber-side ends of the inlet channel and the outlet channel are arranged concentrically with one another
Implementation Method 3
the pump chamber still contains air during start-up, which due to its compressibility can oppose a desired pressure increase
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates primarily to a discharging device (10) for liquids. Said device has a pump chamber (64) which is delimited by two valves (62, 66), each valve having a valve body section and a valve seat. The corresponding channels (60, 80) are concentrically arranged, and a fixing region of a valve body (80) of one or both valves is fixed to a partition (24b) between the channels.