Fluid Dispenser Head With Composite Elastic Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid dispenser members using metal coil springs can interact detrimentally with pharmaceutical products, have suboptimal elasticity, and are prone to creep under stress, requiring large sizes and potential malfunctions, especially in high-dose applications.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser member featuring a synthetic elastic member with multiple parallel levels of elasticity, comprising upper and lower wavy rings with offset contact points, and potentially reinforced with materials like glass fibers or carbon nanotubes, which reduces interaction risks, optimizes elasticity, and enhances creep resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal spiral springs are used as return springs, then the elastic properties are sufficient for reliable operation, but the metallic material can interact with the fluid product and the dimensions are large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of a thermoplastic matrix reinforced with fibers (glass, carbon, or aromatic polyamide). This composite structure provides both the necessary mechanical elasticity for reliable spring operation and chemical inertness to prevent interaction with pharmaceutical fluids, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by transitioning from metal to fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. This material substitution maintains the elastic functional parameters (through optimized fiber orientation and composition) while fundamentally changing the chemical interaction parameters to eliminate fluid contamination risks.
2Reliability
If metal spiral springs are used, then the elastic properties are sufficient, but the dimensions of the elastic element must be sufficiently large
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite material provides superior specific mechanical properties (strength-to-weight ratio and stiffness-to-weight ratio) compared to metal springs. The directional reinforcement allows the spring to achieve the necessary elastic force in a more compact form, reducing the dimensions while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a conical spiral geometry for the spring, utilizing curved surfaces to optimize the distribution of elastic stresses. This geometric optimization, combined with the composite material, allows for reduced dimensions while maintaining the necessary elastic performance for safe and reliable operation.
3Force
If spiral springs with multiple coils are used, then the elastic capacity is sufficient, but the creep resistance under stress is not optimal
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite provides superior creep resistance compared to metal springs. The rigid fiber network within the matrix structure resists time-dependent deformation under sustained load, while the conical spiral geometry optimizes the force distribution to further minimize creep effects, ensuring stable elastic capacity over time.
4Length of moving object
If plastic springs with deformable rings and rigid bridges are used, then the dimensions are reduced, but the resilience is not guaranteed over time due to highly variable stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The conical spiral spring design ensures uniform stress distribution throughout the entire structure. Unlike plastic springs with rigid bridges that create stress concentrations, the continuous conical spiral geometry with fiber reinforcement distributes elastic stresses evenly, preventing localized fatigue and ensuring consistent resilience over time while maintaining compact dimensions.
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 achieves reduced interaction risks with fluid products, improved elasticity, and enhanced creep resistance, allowing for compact designs and reliable operation with adjustable load and deformation characteristics, ensuring safe and efficient dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element, such as a spring, is generally used to return the dispensing means to their rest position
Implementation Method 2
said synthetic material is loaded with materials enhancing elasticity and/or creep resistance, such as glass fibers and/or carbon nanotubes
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a unit for dispensing a fluid product (10), comprising a body (11) and manually actuated dispensing means (20) which can be moved in said body (11) between a rest position and a dispensing position, said distribution means (20) being resiliently biased towards the rest position thereof by a resilient unit (100), said resilient unit (100) comprising a plurality of resilient cells (C) arranged in parallel about a longitudinal axis (X) of said resilient unit (100), forming a resilient level (N), and said resilient unit (100) comprises a plurality of resilience levels (..., N-1, N, N+1,...) vertically stacked along said longitudinal axis (X), characterized in that a resilience level (N) comprises an upper corrugated ring (110) having multiple corrugations and a lower corrugated ring (120) having multiple corrugations, arranged with respect to each other in such a manner that said upper and lower corrugated rings (110, 120) are in contact at several contact points (P) distributed about said longitudinal axis (X), a resilient cell (C) being defined between two contact points (P) adjacent to said resilience level (N), said resilient unit being produced, in particular by injection, from a synthetic material, such as polyoxymethylene (POM).