Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser Conduit Puncturing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water dispensers face challenges with heavy five-gallon water bottles, leakage issues with water retaining bags, and difficulty in replacing bags in bottom-loading systems, as well as inefficiencies in puncturing and dispensing from liquid retaining bags.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a liquid transport conduit oriented at an acute angle and a guide and retaining member that facilitates puncturing of the liquid retaining bag adjacent its sidewall, allowing for easy removal and replacement of bags while maintaining the conduit's position, using a storage container with a collapsible bag and a spike with uniformly spaced openings for secure dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spike is used to puncture the water retaining bag from above, then the bag can be secured for dispensing, but the spike cannot be readily removed and replaced with another bag
Solution Approach 1:
The puncturing function is segmented from the dispensing function. The spike is used only for initial puncturing, then removed, allowing the conduit to be repositioned for subsequent dispensing operations without requiring spike removal and reinstallation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag is punctured in advance using the spike before the conduit is installed. This preliminary puncturing action allows the conduit to be positioned optimally for dispensing without the constraint of having to accommodate the spike's position throughout the entire dispensing cycle.
2Ease of manufacture
If the liquid transport conduit is positioned vertically, then installation is simple, but puncturing adjacent to the sidewall is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is designed with flexibility to change its position and orientation. It can be positioned at an angle during installation to facilitate sidewall puncturing, then adjusted to a vertical orientation for optimal dispensing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit's angular parameter is changed during the installation process. It is initially positioned at an angle to enable effective sidewall puncturing, then repositioned to a vertical orientation for the dispensing phase, optimizing both puncturing and dispensing functions.
3Ease of operation
If pumps are used to dispense water from below, then heavy bottles can be stored at the bottom, but the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is extracted from the system entirely. Instead of using mechanical pumping to move water from below, the system uses gravity flow by positioning the conduit to draw water downward from the bag, eliminating the need for complex pumping mechanisms while maintaining bottom-loading functionality.
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 apparatus effectively dispenses liquid from a liquid retaining bag without leakage, allows for easy bag replacement, and ensures secure puncturing, enhancing the usability and efficiency of bottom-loading water dispensers.
Implementation Method 1
the present invention is directed to an apparatus that dispenses liquid from a position above the liquid retaining bag
Implementation Method 2
an upstanding spike is located in such a manner that the water retaining bag is lowered onto the spike and the weight of the water retaining bag serves to cause the spike to puncture the water retaining bag
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
An apparatus configured to store and dispense liquid from a liquid retaining bag (B). The apparatus preferably includes a storage container (24) for storing the liquid retaining bag (B). The liquid storage container (24) and the liquid retaining bag (B) are preferably housed in the bottom of a water cooler. The storage container (24) includes a base (26), an upper opening and at least one wall (28) extending upwardly from the base (26) and defining a hollow cavity (8). The hollow cavity (8) is sized to receive a liquid retaining bag (B). The apparatus further includes a liquid transport conduit (4, 6) for transporting liquid from the liquid retaining bag (B) to a dispensing location. A guide and retaining member (34) is operably associated with the storage container (B). The guide and retaining member (B) is configured to guide the liquid transport conduit (4, 6) from a first location to a second location. The second location is an operating position in which at least a portion of the liquid transport conduit (4, 6) extends into the liquid retaining bag and the first location is a location where no portion of the liquid transport conduit is within the liquid retaining bag.