Docking Station Cam Actuator for Liquid Container Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of a convenient and secure means to support liquid containers with corrosive chemicals during use, and existing systems often allow the wrong bottles to be connected to dispensing equipment, leading to incorrect chemical dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A docking station designed to receive liquid containers of specific height and diameter, featuring a throat plug assembly with a movable valve and a manually operated actuator that ensures only the proper bottle is used, with a cam mechanism to control the valve's open and closed positions, and is securely attachable to a vertical surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a docking station is designed to receive bottles of specific height and diameter, then the reliability of correct chemical dispensing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station is divided into distinct functional segments: a support surface for positioning bottles, a throat plug assembly with valve mechanism for chemical dispensing, and a cam assembly for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall reliability through standardized interfaces that ensure correct bottle placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The throat plug assembly acts as an intermediary between the bottle and the dispensing system. It includes a valve that is normally closed and only opens when the correct bottle is properly positioned in the docking station, preventing incorrect chemical dispensing while maintaining system reliability without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a valve mechanism is added to control liquid flow, then the safety of chemical dispensing is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is pre-configured in a normally closed state within the throat plug assembly. The docking station geometry is designed so that inserting the correct bottle automatically positions it to trigger valve opening. This preliminary setup ensures safety through the closed valve state while maintaining ease of operation through automatic actuation, eliminating the need for separate manual valve control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to automatically control the valve opening through the mechanical interaction between the correctly positioned bottle and the cam assembly. The user simply needs to place the bottle in the docking station; the system then self-actuates the valve through the cam mechanism, combining safety automation with operational simplicity.
3Productivity
If a cam assembly is used to actuate the valve, then the productivity of the dispensing system is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam assembly provides periodic actuation of the valve through rotational or reciprocating motion, enabling rapid open-close cycles that increase dispensing productivity. The cam's predetermined profile ensures consistent timing and speed control, allowing high-speed operation while the mechanical nature of the cam mechanism keeps the added complexity relatively simple compared to electronic control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A docking station for use with a liquid container which supports the container in a convenient fixed location. The docking station is designed to accept a liquid container having a predetermined height and diameter. The docking station includes a cam operated actuator which is movable between an upper “open” position to a lower “closed” position. When the actuator is moved to its lower closed position, the actuator opens a valve in the liquid container to permit liquid to be drawn from the container. When the actuator is in its upper position, the valve in the container is closed.