Diaphragm Metering Nozzle With Friction-Coupled Ejector

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing systems for viscous metering agents face issues with increased wear, complex design, and reduced service life due to frictional seals and rigid connections between the diaphragm and ejector element, leading to higher maintenance costs and slower cycle times.

Innovation Solution

A dosing system with a separate, frictionally coupled ejector element and diaphragm actuator unit, where the ejector element is not rigidly connected to the diaphragm, allowing for a lightweight and efficient actuator design that minimizes diaphragm weakening and eliminates the need for frictional seals, enabling high cycle frequencies and precise dosing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the ejector element is rigidly connected to the diaphragm, then the force transmission is efficient, but the wear increases and service life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmission efficiencyVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector element is separated from the diaphragm, with the diaphragm serving only to close the nozzle opening and the ejector element being moved by a separate actuating device. This segmentation eliminates wear at the connection interface while maintaining effective force transmission through direct actuation of the ejector element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful frictional connection between the ejector element and diaphragm is removed entirely. The diaphragm is extracted from the force transmission function, leaving only the sealing function, while the actuating device directly moves the ejector element without intermediate mechanical connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If frictional seals are used in pneumatic or hydraulic actuators, then the actuator can be implemented with simple design, but wear increases and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuator design simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A pneumatic or hydraulic actuating device is used to move the ejector element, replacing mechanical frictional connections with fluid pressure actuation. This eliminates wear from frictional seals while maintaining relatively simple design through the use of standard pneumatic or hydraulic components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If a lightweight and low-volume actuator chamber is used, then cycle frequency increases, but force transmission capability may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle frequencyVSAvoidforce transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Fluid pressure actuation enables a compact actuator chamber design that achieves high cycle frequencies. The pneumatic or hydraulic system provides sufficient force transmission capability within a reduced volume, allowing rapid actuation cycles while maintaining the necessary ejection force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 achieves high dynamic performance, extended operating time, and improved dosing accuracy by reducing the mass moved during operation, avoiding diaphragm weakening, and eliminating frictional seals, thus supporting continuous and precise dispensing of viscous substances.

Implementation Method 1

The actuator can be pressurized with a pressure medium in such a way that the ejector element is moved or deflected in an ejection direction towards a nozzle opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure medium pressurization: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 2

a force acts on the ejector element for coupling such that, by means of the force, the ejector element is pressed against a side surface of the diaphragm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFrictional coupling: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3894093B1Metering system and method for controlling a metering system
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 VERMES MICRODISPENSING GMBH
  • EP3894093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3894093B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3894093B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a metering system (1) for metering a metering material. The metering system (1) comprises a housing (11), having a nozzle (70) and a supply channel (62) for metering material, and a discharge element (80) moveably mounted in the housing (11), as well as an actuator unit (10) coupled to the discharge element. The actuator unit (10) comprises an actuator (12) having a membrane (13) which can be applied with a pressure medium in order to move the discharge element (80) in a discharge direction (RA). The discharge element (80) is designed to be separate and is pressed against a lateral surface (19) of the membrane (13) pointing in the direction of the discharge element (80) by means of a force acting on the discharge element (80) for the purpose of coupling to the actuator unit. The invention also relates to a method for controlling a metering system (1).