Dropper with Cylindrical-Conical Channel for Precise Fluid Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing droppers inadequately meter dispensing quantities, leading to excessive fluid usage and potential imbalances in two-component material mixing ratios, resulting in waste and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A dropper design featuring a cylindrical channel area with a conical outlet, which reduces fluid viscosity through shearing, allowing for controlled and reproducible droplet sizes, and a conical channel area for continuous flow, enabling precise metering and optimal mixing ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional dropper design is used, then the structure is simple, but the dispensing quantity cannot be metered precisely leading to waste
Solution Approach 1:
The drip channel is divided into multiple functional segments: a cylindrical channel area for shearing and viscosity reduction, a conical channel area for flow development, and a dispensing outlet. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally, achieving precise metering through the combined effect of these structured zones
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the drip channel are designed with different geometric properties: the cylindrical section provides uniform shearing throughout its length, while the conical section provides gradually changing flow conditions. This local differentiation of channel geometry enables precise control over fluid behavior at each stage
2Manufacturing precision
If the cylindrical channel area is used to reduce fluid viscosity through shearing, then droplet size control is improved, but the channel length requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the cylindrical channel area dimensions (diameter and length) to achieve the necessary shearing effect within a compact space. By carefully selecting these parameters, the design reduces fluid viscosity sufficiently to enable uniform droplet formation without requiring an excessively long channel
3Quantity of substance
If the drip channel outlet diameter is increased to 1.2-1.8 mm, then larger droplets are produced, but the precision of dispensing quantity control may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces simple gravity-driven dripping with a controlled flow system where the cylindrical and conical channel areas create consistent shearing forces and flow patterns. This mechanical control system ensures that even with a larger outlet diameter, droplet formation remains uniform and dispensing quantity remains precisely controlled
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 dropper achieves precise control over dispensing quantities, reducing waste and ensuring accurate mixing ratios, thereby enhancing the properties of two-component materials and minimizing rejects.
Implementation Method 1
the cylindrical channel area serves to reduce the viscosity of the fluid due to its shearing effect on the fluid
Implementation Method 2
an at least largely developed, stationary, uniform and/or laminar flow is achieved after the fluid has traveled a distance within the cylindrical channel area
Implementation Method 3
The cylindrical channel area preferably serves to generate a thixotropic and/or structurally viscous behavior in a fluid conducted through the cylindrical channel area
Data Source
AI summary
A dropper (10) for dispensing drops of a fluid from a container includes a dropping channel (12), which has a dropping channel inlet (13) for introducing the fluid into the dropping channel (12) and a dropping channel outlet (14) for dispensing drops from the dropping channel (12). The dropping channel (12) has a conical channel area (16) and a cylindrical channel area (15). The dropping channel inlet (13) is designed as an end of the cylindrical channel area (15), facing away from the conical channel area (16). To make it possible to better meter the quantities of drops that can be dispensed and to markedly reduce the dispensed quantities, the dropping channel outlet (14) is designed as an end of the conical channel area (16), facing away from the cylindrical channel area (15).