Dispensing Head Radial Medium Path for Bubble-Free Valve Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing discharge heads for tubes face challenges in achieving a compact design while preventing air bubbles and sudden medium discharge due to central medium feeding, which is aesthetically and functionally undesirable, especially for cosmetic products.

Innovation Solution

The discharge head design features a pressure chamber with a medium path that deflects radially from the inlet opening to the pressure chamber, allowing the medium to flow past a counter surface, reducing axial flow and enabling a flat design with sufficient space for the outlet valve, and incorporates a spring for precise valve adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the medium is fed centrally into the pressure chamber, then the valve operation is simplified, but air bubbles remain in the outer areas of the pressure chamber and cause sudden medium discharge when the valve opens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve operation complexityVSAvoidcontrolled medium discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the medium flow direction from axial (central feeding) to radial flow. The medium path extends radially outward from the inlet opening in the front wall to the pressure chamber, allowing medium to enter from the outer edge region and flow toward the center. This radial dimensionality change ensures complete air evacuation while maintaining reliable controlled discharge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If a compact design is achieved, then aesthetic requirements are met and space is optimized, but it becomes difficult to accommodate the pressure chamber and valve components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge head volumeVSAvoidcomponent accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs radial arrangement of components around the central receiving shaft. The pressure chamber is positioned in the annular space between the receiving shaft and the outer housing wall, utilizing the radial dimension. The medium path extends radially outward, and the outlet valve is arranged radially in this annular region, achieving compact integration without compromising component functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests the pressure chamber within the annular space formed by the receiving shaft and outer housing. The outlet connection piece with receiving shaft is positioned centrally, with the pressure chamber nested around it in the annular region. The outlet valve is integrated within this nested structure, allowing multiple components to occupy overlapping spatial zones efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If the medium path extends radially outward from the inlet opening, then air bubbles are eliminated from the pressure chamber, but the medium flow path becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair bubble eliminationVSAvoidmedium path configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The medium path is configured to extend radially outward from the inlet opening in the front wall to the pressure chamber, utilizing the radial dimension rather than axial flow. This radial configuration naturally directs medium flow from the periphery toward the center, ensuring complete air evacuation from the pressure chamber while maintaining a straightforward flow path that does not significantly increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design achieves a compact, aesthetically pleasing discharge head that prevents air bubbles and ensures controlled medium discharge, allowing for efficient use in cosmetic products by minimizing dead volumes and optimizing valve operation.

Implementation Method 1

a spring for applying force to the valve body in the direction of the valve seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

pressurization of the medium contained therein, the valve body and the valve seat can be spaced from one another from a closed position into an open position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP2697131B1Closure with valve for a pliable tubular container
Publication Date: 2016.06.29 APTAR RADOLFZELL
  • EP2697131B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2697131B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2697131B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a dispensing head (30) for a tube (20), comprising a flat outer housing (40) having an accommodating shaft (32) for the insertion of an outlet port (22) of the tube (20) and an outlet opening (44a) having an interior (48) surrounded by walls of the outer housing (40), wherein an annular wall section (42a) of the outer housing (40) separates the accommodating shaft (32) from an annular area (49) of the interior (48) of the outer housing (40) that surrounds the annular wall section (42a) on the outside, comprising an outlet valve (54d, 44b) provided in the interior (48), the outlet valve having a valve body (54d) and a valve seat (44b) and a pressure chamber (70), which is designed in such a way that the valve body (54d) and the valve seat (44b) can be spaced from each other from a closed position to an open position by pressurization of the medium contained in the pressure chamber, in order to allow the medium to escape from the pressure chamber (70) through the discharge opening (44a), and comprising a medium path (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) within the housing (40), by means of which an inlet opening (42c) on the accommodating shaft is connected to the pressure chamber (70) in such a way that the medium flows on the path from the inlet opening (42c) to the pressure chamber (70) into the accommodating shaft (32) opposite an insertion direction (2) of the outlet port (22) in some sections.