Dispensing Container Asymmetric Rolling for Liquid Level Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressurized liquid dispensing containers, particularly in the medical field, pose a challenge in determining the liquid level due to opaque materials, making it difficult for users to assess the quantity of medicinal products, leading to potential shortages or wastage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional formation, such as a circumferential band or tyre, on the vessel to create instability and allow the container to roll, enabling the liquid level to be determined by the groove's position relative to the surface, which can be retrofitted or integrated during manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the vessel is made from opaque materials (aluminium or steel), then the structural strength and durability are improved, but the ability to determine liquid quantity visually is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic indicator element is introduced as an intermediary between the opaque vessel wall and the liquid level. This indicator responds to magnetic fields and provides visual information about liquid quantity without requiring the vessel material itself to be transparent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct visual observation through transparent materials with a magnetic field-based detection system. The magnetic indicator element interacts with the magnetic field generated by the liquid (or a separate magnet) to provide indirect visual information about liquid level.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the container is placed on a flat surface, then stability is improved, but the ability to roll and determine liquid level through orientation changes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
An asymmetric formation is provided on the container that creates a preferred orientation when the container is laid on its side. This asymmetric feature allows the container to naturally roll to a specific position where the liquid level can be determined, combining stability with operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric formation creates a gravitational equilibrium position when the container is laid on its side. The container naturally rolls to this equilibrium position where the liquid level indicator aligns in a readable position, making liquid level determination easy without requiring active manipulation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the container encounters debris (food crumbs, grit, hair), then contamination risk is improved, but the ability to roll and self-correct orientation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric formation acts as a counterbalancing feature that provides sufficient gravitational force to overcome the resistance created by small amounts of debris. This allows the container to still roll to its equilibrium position even when encountering minor contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric formation provides more than enough gravitational force to overcome typical debris resistance. This excessive gravitational action ensures the container will roll past minor obstacles and debris to reach its equilibrium position for accurate liquid level determination.
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
This solution allows accurate determination of the liquid level by altering the container's orientation based on the groove's position, preventing over-dispensing or under-ordering of medicinal products, thus optimizing inventory management and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
allows the container to roll under the influence of the centre of gravity of the container and/or any content therein
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~4b
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The present invention provides a dispensing container comprising a vessel, the vessel having: a formation and/or discrete element in or on the vessel which causes the centre of gravity of contents of the vessel to be positioned differently, when oriented in a lain-on- side attitude, from its notional position, in the absence of the formation or element in or on the vessel; an additional formation or discrete element in or on the vessel which, when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude, lifts at least a portion of the container away from a surface, wherein, when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude and has a first volume of content, the centre of gravity of the content biases the container to a first orientation, and when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude and has a second volume of content, the centre of gravity of the container biases the container to a second orientation, different to the first.