Doubled Seal Disk for Piston Pump Air Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable plastic pump assemblies require multiple designs to accommodate fluids of different viscosities, leading to inefficiencies in fluid dispensing and air evacuation, particularly for thick creams and pastes where air becomes entrapped, necessitating high vacuum pressures for sealing and evacuation.
Innovation Solution
A piston pump assembly with multiple radially extending disks that can deflect to allow fluid flow while preventing backflow, allowing for efficient dispensing across a range of viscosities and reducing the need for high vacuum pressures by using duplicated disks for enhanced sealing and air evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single seal disk is used to prevent fluid leakage, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but air evacuation becomes difficult requiring high vacuum pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The single seal disk is divided into multiple seal disks (first seal disk and second seal disk) arranged in sequence. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both effective sealing and easy air evacuation, as each disk creates its own seal zone while collectively providing the desired functionality without requiring high vacuum pressures.
2Reliability
If a pump is designed for low viscosity fluids with good sealing, then leakage is prevented, but air evacuation requires high vacuum pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The pump incorporates multiple seal disks that create separate sealing zones. This segmentation enables effective leakage prevention for low viscosity fluids while allowing air to be evacuated more easily through the segmented structure, reducing the complexity and requirements of the vacuum system.
3Productivity
If multiple pump designs are manufactured for different fluid viscosities, then fluid dispensing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing and storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly with multiple seal disks is designed to be universally applicable to fluids of different viscosities. The first and second seal disks work together to provide effective sealing and dispensing for both low viscosity fluids (where leakage prevention is critical) and high viscosity fluids (where air evacuation is critical), eliminating the need for multiple specialized pump designs.
4Reliability
If a seal disk engages strongly with the chamber wall to prevent fluid leakage, then sealing is improved, but air evacuation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented across multiple disks. The first seal disk provides strong engagement with the chamber wall for effective fluid leakage prevention, while the second seal disk provides additional sealing. This segmentation allows air to be evacuated efficiently through the spaces between the segmented disks without requiring excessively strong engagement that would impede air flow.
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 pump assembly effectively dispenses fluids of varying viscosities with reduced leakage and air entrapment, allowing for efficient air evacuation at lower vacuum pressures, eliminating the need for multiple pump designs and reducing manufacturing and storage costs.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible disk which must deflect away from a chamber wall to permit fluid to flow therepast
Implementation Method 2
using a vacuum to evacuate air from the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum can be applied to the container across a seal disk
Data Source
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AI summary
A pump assembly (10) in the context of a piston pump having a piston (14) carrying a disk (40) which extends radially outwardly to engage a wall (28) of a chamber (18) to substantially prevent fluid flow in one direction and yet permit deflection of the disk (40) away from the wall (28) of the chamber to permit flow in the other direction; the improvement in which two or more of similar such disks (40,42) are provided spaced axially adjacent one another.