Dispensing Device Dividing Wall Turbulence Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for dispensing substances via air lack efficient mechanisms for breaking down substances into small, inhalable particles, and often fail to provide effective sealing and turbulence at the discharge nozzle.

Innovation Solution

A device with a dividing wall in the emptying area, made of hard material with a soft end face, creates a bypass air flow path and favorable turbulence at the discharge nozzle, utilizing a connecting duct and a piercing device with projections to ensure sealing and efficient substance dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a hard dividing wall is used in the emptying area, then structural strength and sealing stability are improved, but sealing effectiveness against the foil cover deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidsealing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dividing wall is constructed as a composite structure with a hard material body providing structural strength and a soft material coating on the foil-contact surface providing sealing effectiveness. This composite design resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties - the hard portion maintains structural integrity while the soft portion conforms to the foil cover for reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If air flow path is simplified, then device complexity is reduced, but turbulence and substance breakdown effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair duct structureVSAvoidsubstance breakdown efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The air duct system is segmented into multiple pathways including a first air duct for substance-laden air, a second air duct for clean air, and connecting channels that create controlled turbulence zones. This segmentation allows the system to maintain relatively simple overall structure while incorporating specific turbulence-generating sections that enhance substance breakdown efficiency without requiring complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If chamber emptying is made complete, then substance delivery is improved, but risk of substance residue and contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechamber emptying completenessVSAvoidsubstance residue
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses controlled air flow through specifically designed ducts and channels to create pneumatic cleaning action. Air flows through the chamber cavity and emptying area to吹扫 any residual substance, ensuring complete emptying while simultaneously removing contaminants. The pneumatic flow pattern is designed to reach all chamber surfaces and carry residues out through the discharge nozzle.

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 device effectively breaks down substances into small, easily inhalable particles by creating turbulence and ensures complete emptying of the chamber, with the soft material sealing against the foil cover for efficient air flow and substance release.

Implementation Method 1

a soft material, which in an overlap to a substance-containing chamber cavity has a foil cover and the partition by means of this soft material rests sealingly on the foil cover

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

An inflow direction of air flowing through an inflow opening in the first air duct is perpendicular to a flow direction of the air laden with substance in the first air duct in the area of the inflow opening. Due to the air streams meeting in the area of the inflow opening, favorable turbulence occurs in the area of the discharge nozzle. This achieves a further breakdown of the substance, so that the desired very small particles, which are easy to inhale, can occur.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP3478349B1Device for dispensing an air-dischargeable substance
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 VON SCHUCKMANN ALFRED
  • EP3478349B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3478349B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3478349B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for dispensing an air-dischargeable substance, comprising an air inlet (3), a discharge nozzle (2) through which air loaded with a substance can escape, an outflow region (4) in which a chamber (5) which comprises the substance to be discharged can be positioned, a first air guide duct (6) that leads from said outflow region to the discharge nozzle, and a second air guide duct (7) that leads from the air inlet (3) to the outflow region (4), said second air guide duct (7) also being fluidically connected, via a connection channel (8), to the first air guide duct (6) and there being an inflow direction (R) of air flowing through an inflow opening (9), through the connection channel (8) and into said first air guide duct (6), which direction is oriented perpendicularly to a direction of flow (S) of the air loaded with the substance into the first air guide duct (6) in the region of the inflow opening (9). A separating wall (10) is designed in the outflow region (4) between the first and the second air guide ducts (6, 7), and said separating wall (10) consists of a hard material. A free end face (11) of said separating wall (10), which faces the chamber (5), is additionally provided with a soft material, wherein the chamber (5) comprises a foil cover in an overlap with a chamber cavity (12) that contains the substance, and the separating wall (10) lies against this foil cover forming a seal by means of said soft material, said chamber receiving portion being formed in a first housing part (15), and a second housing part (16) being provided which is pivotally connected to the first housing part (15), wherein the air guide duct (6, 7) is subdivided along one portion of its length, with subregions (T1, T2, T3, T4) formed on the first and the second housing parts (15, 16). The chamber (5) comprises a pierceable chamber covering (13) and a piercing device (E) for forming a piercing opening in the chamber device, a separating wall (10) is designed in the outflow region (4) for diverting air into the chamber (5), and said piercing device (E) additionally comprises two piercing projections (17) one of which is associated with one side of the separating wall (10), and the other of which is associated with the other side of said separating wall (10).