Dispensing Head Flexible Differential Membrane Controlled Fluid Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing heads mounted on tanks with crushable walls often require hard pressure to disengage the stopper needle, leading to rapid and uncontrollable dispensing of fluid products, which is undesirable for viscous or pasty products, as it results in sudden release and potential spraying, compromising both leak-tight closure and controlled distribution.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing head with a flexible differential membrane that creates a multiplier effect by having a larger upper surface area subjected to pressure compared to a smaller lower surface area, allowing for powerful elastic means to ensure airtight closure while enabling gentle and controlled dispensing, using the pressure difference to overcome the elastic forces and disengage the needle from the orifice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stiffness of the elastic means is reduced to enable gentle and controlled dispensing, then the distribution becomes more consistent and controlled, but the force with which the stopper needle presses against the dispensing orifice to close it in a sealed manner is reduced, compromising leak-tight closure
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into two distinct surfaces: a first surface subjected to fluid pressure and a second surface subjected to elastic force. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its specific function - the first surface area is designed to generate sufficient force to overcome the elastic means, while the second surface provides the necessary elastic bias for leak-tight closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane exhibits asymmetric geometry where the first surface area is deliberately made larger than the second surface area. This asymmetry creates a force multiplication effect, allowing the fluid pressure acting on the larger first surface to generate greater force than the elastic force acting on the smaller second surface, thus enabling controlled dispensing while maintaining reliable closure.
2Ease of operation
If hard pressure is applied to the reservoir to disengage the stopper needle, then the needle can be forced open, but the fluid product is then dispensed very quickly and often uncontrollably, and the product tends to be projected or sprayed
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane transitions dynamically between two states: a closed state where the needle seals the orifice, and an open state where the needle is disengaged and fluid flows. This dynamic transition, controlled by the balance between fluid pressure on the first surface and elastic force on the second surface, enables smooth, controlled dispensing without sudden projections or spraying.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary element between the fluid pressure source and the needle valve. It mediates the force transmission by converting the relatively small force from the user on the reservoir into sufficient force to open the needle through the area ratio, while also providing elastic feedback to control the opening process and prevent runaway dispensing.
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 for both perfect sealing and controlled dispensing of fluid products, ensuring that the product is dispensed in a consistent, cord-like form without exposing it to air or contaminants, addressing the challenge of combining leak-tight closure with pleasant and controlled distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible differential membrane defining a lower face facing the inlet and an upper face facing the dispensing orifice, as well as at least one passage connecting the two faces of the membrane, the lower and upper faces respectively defining lower and upper surfaces simultaneously subjected to opposite pressure forces exerted by the fluid under pressure on the two faces of the membrane
Implementation Method 2
the dispensing head also comprises elastic means for biasing the closure needle against the dispensing orifice
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3b
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a dispensing head for a fluid material, to be mounted onto a store for a fluid material (R), the volume of which is variable and which has a mobile wall (P), the head including: a dispensing port (12); a sealing tip (22) which seals off the dispensing port (12); a resilient means (21, 27, 35, 4) for urging the tip (22) against the port (12), a fluid-material intake (32) communicating with the store (R), the head also including a differential flexible membrane (21) defining bottom (Si) and top (Ss) surfaces that are subjected to forces having opposite pressures, respectively, said forces being exerted by the pressurised fluid material, wherein the bottom surface (Si) is substantially lower than the top surface (Ss), and the sealing tip (22) is formed by the flexible membrane.