Deformable Ball Valve Cap for Cartridge Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cartridges for automatic dosing machines suffer from leakage issues due to simple check valves, leading to wastage and inconvenience, and often have complex structures with costly metallic parts and springs that are difficult to recycle.
Innovation Solution
A cap for a cartridge featuring a deformable ball valve that covers flow openings in a non-deformed state and deforms to allow flow under negative pressure, minimizing leakage and enabling easy dispensing of contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a simple check valve is used for air exchange, then air exchange efficiency is improved, but liquid leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element has different properties in different regions: the upper portion is hydrophobic for air exchange, while the lower portion is hydrophilic for liquid sealing. This local differentiation allows the same component to perform both air exchange and liquid leakage prevention functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element combines multiple material properties in a single component - both hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics are integrated into one valve element, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing leakage while maintaining air exchange efficiency.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If complex outlet valves with metallic parts and springs are used, then leakage control is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex metallic parts and springs from the valve system, replacing them with a simple deformable ball valve made of elastomeric material that achieves effective leakage control through its elastic deformation capability alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve uses a simple, inexpensive elastomeric ball that can be easily manufactured and replaced, eliminating the need for costly metallic components and springs while maintaining effective leakage prevention through the ball's elastic properties.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If complex outlet valves with metallic parts and springs are used, then leakage control is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve employs a simple elastomeric ball made from inexpensive materials that can be easily molded and manufactured, replacing costly metallic parts and springs while achieving effective leakage control through the ball's elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metallic to elastomeric, allowing the valve to function effectively through elastic deformation rather than requiring complex mechanical structures, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining leakage control.
4Device complexity
If simple check valves are used, then structure simplicity is improved, but liquid leakage occurs causing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element incorporates local quality differentiation with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, enabling it to prevent liquid leakage while maintaining structural simplicity and allowing air exchange, thus eliminating waste without complicating the overall 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
The deformable ball valve effectively prevents leakage and allows for controlled dispensing of liquid from the cartridge, reducing waste and simplifying the cartridge design to be more cost-effective and easier to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
a valve configured to control liquid flow from inside the cartridge through the cartridge opening and the cap under negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
The valve is a deformable ball which covers one or more flow openings in a non-deformed state (NS) and deforms to allow flow through the one or more flow openings in the deformed state (DS)
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2~3C
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A cap (50) for a cartridge (10) comprises fastening means (52) for fastening the cap (50) to a cartridge opening (36) and a valve (60) configured to control liquid flow from inside the cartridge(10) through the cartridge opening (36) and the cap (50) under negative pressure wherein the valve (60) is a deformable ball (90) which covers one or more flow openings (92) in a non-deformed state (NS) and deforms to allow flow through the one or more flow openings (92) in the deformed state (DS). A cartridge comprising a rigid outer body, a flexible inner body at least partially inside the outer body, a cartridge opening, and a cap for the cartridge comprising fastening means for fastening the cap to the cartridge opening; and a valve configured to control liquid flow from inside the cartridge through the cartridge opening and the cap under negative pressure, wherein the valve consists of one of the following: i) a silicon cross piece, ii) a duckbill valve, iii) a deformable ball which covers one or more flow openings in a non-deformed state (NS) and deforms to allow flow through the one or more flow openings in the deformed state (DS).