Discharge Container Valve with Hinge and Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Discharge containers with check valves struggle to prevent ambient air from entering and spoiling highly viscous contents containing solids, as solid particles get caught in the valve, and the three-point support structure requires excessive force for opening, leading to spoilage and deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A double-walled container with a deformable inner layer and an outer layer, featuring a valve member with a single swing structure and a valve retaining member that forms a check valve to prevent backflow and ambient air entry, allowing for reliable discharge of viscous contents without exposing them to air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a three-point support structure check valve is used to prevent backflow and ambient air entry, then reliability of sealing is improved, but device complexity increases and the valve requires excessive force to open
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion that can rotate relative to each other about a hinge axis. This segmentation allows the valve to open by rotating the upper portion, reducing the force required compared to lifting a rigid three-point support structure, while maintaining effective sealing when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve transitions from a static three-point support structure to a dynamic hinge-based rotation mechanism. The upper portion can rotate dynamically to open the discharge outlet when squeezing force is applied, and automatically returns to the closed sealing position when squeezing stops, improving both ease of operation and sealing reliability.
2Ease of operation
If a check valve with clearance is used to allow content flow, then ease of operation is improved, but solid particles get caught in the valve causing spoilage and deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
A seal member is introduced as an intermediary element between the upper and lower valve portions. This seal member contacts the inner wall of the discharge cap to prevent ambient air from entering through the hinge clearance, while still allowing viscous content with solid particles to flow through the valve during discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member provides localized sealing at the critical hinge clearance area where ambient air could enter, without obstructing the overall flow path for content discharge. This localized sealing approach maintains ease of operation while preventing spoilage at the specific vulnerability point.
3Reliability
If the valve body is made rigid to maintain seal integrity, then reliability of sealing is improved, but force required for squeezing increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is made dynamic by allowing the upper portion to rotate relative to the lower portion about a hinge axis. This rotational movement requires significantly less force to open compared to deforming or lifting a rigid structure, while the seal member maintains seal integrity during the rotation and closed positions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying force to deform or lift a rigid valve body, the invention uses a hinge mechanism where the valve opens by rotating in the opposite direction of conventional valve operation. The upper portion rotates away from the lower portion to open, and spring force or gravity assists the closing motion, reducing the required squeezing force.
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 solution effectively prevents spoilage and deterioration by ensuring the check valve structure functions correctly with highly viscous contents, maintaining a seal even when solid particles are present, and reduces the force required for squeezing, ensuring reliable liquid sealing and content protection.
Implementation Method 1
an inner layer body which defines a containment space for containing the content and which is deformable in a volume-reducing manner and an outer layer body surrounding the inner layer body
Implementation Method 2
a check valve (valve body) having a three-point support structure that opens and closes a flow path of the content
Implementation Method 3
preventing a flow of ambient air from the discharge outlet side into the container body
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A discharge container includes: a double-walled container body (2) including an inner layer body (21) and an outer layer body (22); a discharge cap (3) having a discharge outlet (33a), the discharge cap (3) being attached to a mouth (22a) of the double-walled container body (2); and a check valve structure. The check valve structure has a tubular partition wall (43) defining a flow path of the content and a valve body (45) which is provided on the partition wall (43) with a hinge portion (44) and has a single swing structure, and space inside the partition wall (43) rather on the discharge outlet (33a) side than on the valve body (45) side serves as a liquid reservoir space (L) where part of remaining content is stored after the discharge of the content.