Dispensing Member Venting Lip Design for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing members, particularly those used upside down, face issues with fluid leakage due to ineffective venting systems, as seen in prior art designs like the deformable cylindrical skirt and venting lip configurations, which fail to prevent leaks under pressure and assembly deformation.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing member with a venting lip that extends outward, forming a seal with a fixed element like the fastening ring or fluid reservoir, decoupled from the body's sealing sheath, ensuring venting occurs between the lip and another part, not the body, and utilizing a flexible sleeve with axial ribs for stability and reduced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical venting skirt is used to allow air entry into the reservoir, then venting function is achieved, but fluid leakage occurs between the skirt and pump body under pressure and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the sealing function from the venting function by using two distinct sealing locations: a first sealing element between the pump body and reservoir, and a second sealing element between the venting lip and the reservoir neck or collar. This segmentation prevents fluid leakage while maintaining venting reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a collar as an intermediary component between the reservoir neck and the pump body assembly. The collar provides a stable mounting surface for the venting lip sealing, decoupling the venting function from direct contact with the pump body and preventing leakage paths.
2Device complexity
If the venting lip is integrated with the pump body, then structure is simplified, but deformation of the pump body causes venting failure and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the venting system into separate functional components: the venting lip is positioned on the collar or reservoir neck rather than being integrated with the pump body. This separation ensures that pump body deformation does not affect venting function, maintaining reliability while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent relocates the venting lip from the pump body (one dimension) to the collar or reservoir neck (another dimension), creating spatial separation between the venting function and the pump body. This dimensional change isolates the venting system from deformation effects.
3Ease of operation
If the venting lip points outwards to allow air entry, then venting is enabled, but fluid can leak through the same path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different sealing qualities to different locations: the first sealing element provides a primary seal at the pump body-reservoir interface, while the second sealing element at the venting lip provides a localized seal specifically for the venting path. This local differentiation allows air entry while preventing fluid leakage through the venting path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the outward-pointing venting lip configuration (which could potentially cause leakage) as a beneficial feature by positioning it to seal against the reservoir neck or collar. The same geometric feature that allows air entry is configured to prevent fluid leakage, converting a potential harm into a benefit.
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 configuration effectively prevents fluid leakage by ensuring the venting lip's operation is independent of the sealing sheath's deformation, allowing safe upside-down use without fluid loss, even under pressure and during actuation or rest states.
Implementation Method 1
The venting lip is formed by a sleeve engaged axially around the body... The venting lip points downwards in the direction of the inlet pipe which forms the fluid inlet. This orientation is explained by the fact that the air comes from outside and must deform the venting lip.
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve forms a sealing sheath sealingly engaged around the inlet pipe of the body. It is in fact easier to create a seal at the inlet pipe of the body which has a diameter much smaller than that of the main part of the body.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Dispensing member, such as a pump or valve, comprising a body (11) defining an inlet tube (12) and in which a valve stem (14) is axially movable back and forth, the body (11) being provided with a venting lip (31) which extends around the body (11), pointing outwards and downwards in the direction of the inlet tube (12), thus defining an exterior edge (32) which is not in contact with the body (11), the venting lip (31) being formed by a sleeve (3) engaged axially around the body (11), and causing there to be sealing between these, the sleeve (3) forming a sealing sheath (33) engaged fluidtightly around the inlet tube (12) of the body (11), characterized in that the venting lip (31) is situated axially above the sealing sheath (33).