Translucent Pipe Dispensing with Variable Inner Diameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid dispensing systems using light barriers are limited in their ability to accurately dispense a wide range of volumes due to spatial constraints and require multiple light barriers, which restricts the ratio of smallest to largest dispensing volumes.
Innovation Solution
A vertically arranged translucent pipe with an upper and lower section of different inner diameters, equipped with at least two light barriers, one at each section, to detect liquid levels, allowing for precise measurement of varying volumes without the need for multiple components or complex assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple light barriers are used to detect different liquid levels, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe is divided into multiple sections with different inner diameters (narrow section, intermediate section, wide section), allowing a single light barrier to detect multiple liquid levels at different positions. This segmentation enables volume measurement of different magnitudes without requiring multiple light barriers, thus improving measurement precision while avoiding increased device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the pipe has a constant inner diameter, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe is segmented into sections with different inner diameters (narrow, intermediate, wide), which enables the system to adapt to measuring different volume ranges. The narrow section is suitable for small volumes, the intermediate section for medium volumes, and the wide section for large volumes, thus improving adaptability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized section designs.
3Measurement precision
If the light barrier is positioned far from the pipe end, then measurement precision is improved, but spatial requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the vertical distance between the light barrier and pipe end to improve detection accuracy, the invention uses the radial dimension by creating sections with different inner diameters. This allows the light barrier to be positioned close to the pipe end while still achieving accurate detection at multiple levels, thus improving measurement precision without increasing spatial requirements.
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
Enables the accurate dispensing of very different volumes using a simple, cost-effective design that minimizes the influence of foam formation and reduces spatial requirements, allowing for efficient use of light barriers and pipe components.
Implementation Method 1
one takes advantage of the fact that the refractive index of the liquid to be dispensed is very different from the refractive index of air. Therefore, a filled pipe will refract the light of the light barrier differently than an unfilled pipe.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a device for dispensing a liquid, including a vertically arranged, translucent pipe for guiding the liquid, wherein the pipe has an upper section and a lower section, wherein an inner diameter of the upper section is greater than an inner diameter of the lower section, at least two light barriers for detecting a rise in the liquid over two defined levels in the pipe, wherein a first light barrier detects a rise in the liquid in the upper section of the pipe, and wherein a second light barrier detects a rise in the liquid in the lower section of the pipe.