Dosing Piston Valve Seat Inversion for Air Cushion Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for dosing viscous and paste-like fill products into containers face challenges in achieving high accuracy due to air cushions in dosing cylinders and incomplete emptying of product reservoirs, leading to inaccuracies and waste.

Innovation Solution

A dosing device with a dosing unit featuring a dosing piston and an intake valve with a horizontally disposed valve seat above the dosing piston's lower center, allowing air cushions to be eliminated and enabling precise filling by ventilating the dosing cylinder and preventing air intake during product exhaustion, along with a modular design for easy maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a radially actuated seat valve connects the product reservoir with the dosing cylinder, then the dosing unit can operate, but air cushion ventilation is inadequate and filling accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling accuracyVSAvoidvalve arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional radial valve arrangement by positioning the seat valve horizontally at the base of the dosing cylinder instead of radially. This inversion allows the valve to be positioned below the dosing piston, enabling effective air cushion ventilation and eliminating the air cushion problem that plagues radial valve designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a radial valve arrangement (one-dimensional positioning) to a horizontal valve arrangement at the base (two-dimensional positioning). This dimensional change allows the valve to access the space below the dosing piston, creating a ventilation path that was impossible with radial positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the valve seat is positioned at or below the dosing piston base level, then the structure is compact, but air cushion ventilation is blocked and filling accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling accuracyVSAvoidvalve seat position

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the valve seat at or below the piston base level (conventional approach), the patent inverts this by positioning it horizontally at the base, creating a ventilation path that extends below the piston base to the product reservoir.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The horizontal valve seat arrangement acts as an intermediary structure that connects the dosing cylinder base to the product reservoir, creating a ventilation channel that allows air cushion evacuation without requiring the valve to be positioned directly at the piston base level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of substance

If the product reservoir is emptied completely, then product utilization is maximized, but air may be sucked in through conventional radial intake valves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct wasteVSAvoidair intake

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional radial intake valve arrangement by using a horizontal seat valve positioned at the base. This inversion ensures that the valve remains submerged in product until the very end of the reservoir, preventing air intake while maximizing product extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The horizontal valve seat arrangement is designed to remain covered by product throughout the emptying process, providing preliminary protection against air intake before the reservoir is truly empty. This design ensures air-tight operation until maximum product extraction is achieved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The solution enhances filling accuracy and reduces waste by eliminating air cushions and ensuring complete product usage, with improved ventilation and modular replacement for efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

the fill product held in the product reservoir is sucked into the dosing cylinder by means of the dosing piston

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

any air cushion that may be present below the base of the dosing piston can flow back into the product reservoir via the intake valve above

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10443589B2Device for dosing a fill product into a container to be filled

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 KRONES AG

AI summary

A device for dosing a fill product into a container is described. The device includes a dosing unit with a dosing cylinder, a dosing piston displaceably disposed in the dosing cylinder between an upper center and a lower center of the dosing cylinder, and an intake valve with a valve seat for sucking the fill product from a rotatable product reservoir. The valve seat is disposed above a level formed by a base of the dosing piston at the lower center.