Deformable Tube Pump With Flexible Conical Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional airless distribution system pumps are complex, fragile, and costly to manufacture, with risks of retrocontamination due to the use of sliding pistons and multiple components, and struggle to maintain airtightness under overpressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pump design featuring deformable conduits with flexible, conical inlet and outlet valves that use elastic deformation for sealing, eliminating the need for sliding components and ensuring airtightness even under overpressure, made from shape-memory polymers for simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional valves with movable balls or flaps, guides, spring-type supports are used, then airtightness is ensured when the distribution system is at rest, but the pump becomes complex, fragile, and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical valve components with a flexible diaphragm that has a memory effect. The diaphragm can deform elastically to open and close the valve passage, eliminating the need for movable balls, flaps, guides, and spring-type supports. The diaphragm's flexibility allows it to seal against the valve seat while its memory effect enables automatic opening and closing based on pressure differential alone
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes traditional mechanical valve mechanisms (movable parts, springs, guides) with a passive flexible membrane system. The valve operation is achieved through elastic deformation of the diaphragm rather than mechanical actuation, significantly simplifying the structure while maintaining airtightness functionality
2Productivity
If traditional pumps with sliding pistons are used, then pumping action is achieved, but risks of back-contamination occur due to surfaces successively contacting air and cream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the piston and cylinder components from the pump system entirely. Instead of a reciprocating piston that contacts both product and air, the invention uses a deformable conduit with integrated valves that eliminates the need for a sliding piston, thereby eliminating the contamination pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a deformable conduit as an intermediary element that replaces the traditional piston-cylinder arrangement. The conduit deforms to create pumping action while the integrated valves control fluid flow, eliminating direct contact between the pumping mechanism and the product, thus preventing back-contamination
3Reliability
If the container is sealed to prevent air contact, then product protection is achieved, but overpressure occurs due to water evaporation above 0°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the pressure differential created by container overpressure as a control parameter for valve operation. When the pressure inside the sealed container exceeds the external pressure by a certain threshold, the diaphragm deforms to open the inlet valve, allowing product flow. This converts the harmful overpressure into a useful control mechanism for automatic valve actuation
4Reliability
If valves remain closed under overpressure conditions, then airtightness is maintained, but the pump structure becomes more complex to withstand the pressure differential
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible diaphragm with memory effect that can withstand pressure differentials through elastic deformation. The diaphragm remains sealed against the valve seat under overpressure conditions while its flexibility allows it to deform and open the valve when the pressure differential exceeds the threshold, eliminating the need for complex rigid pressure-resistant structures
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 pump is reliable, inexpensive to manufacture, and completely airtight, preventing retrocontamination while maintaining sealing under varying pressure conditions, ensuring the product remains protected from air exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The peripheral zone exhibits a deformation resulting from the bearing of the inner face of the large base on the first support wall in the assembled position
Implementation Method 2
The deformable conduit is compressed and then returns to its initial position when a push button connected to it is pressed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pump (1) made up of a deformable tube (6) having an inlet orifice (61) closed off by an inlet valve, an outlet orifice (62) and an outlet valve. According to the invention, the pump comprises the following: - the inlet valve is made up of a support wall (23) and an inlet flap (7), said inlet flap has a flexible and deformable peripheral region (70) that is not perforated and is located opposite the support wall (23), - the support wall (23) is perforated by at least one orifice (24) situated opposite the peripheral region (70), the inlet flap (7) is connected to the support wall (23) by a non-deformable fixed connection, - the peripheral region (70) has a substantially conical shape before assembly with a large base and a small base and an inner face on the inner side of the cone, said peripheral region (70) exhibits a deformation after the inner face of the large base has been pressed against the support face (23) in the assembled position.