Dual-Chamber Piston Pump for Coordinated Foam Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensers are inefficient in dispensing liquids as foam or mist, as they require more liquid and can run off surfaces, and lack effective mechanisms for simultaneous liquid and air dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly with two interconnected pumps, where one pump draws liquid from a reservoir and the other combines it with air, using a piston mechanism and one-way valves to create a foam or mist by passing through a foam generator or nozzle, allowing for efficient dispensing of liquid and air in a coordinated stroke.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If liquid is dispensed in liquid form, then the dispensing mechanism is simple, but more liquid is required and it runs off surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the dispensed liquid by introducing air to transform it from liquid form to foam form. This parameter change allows the same liquid to provide better coverage and adherence to surfaces, reducing the quantity of liquid required while maintaining dispensing mechanism simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system by combining liquid soap with air to produce foam. This composite approach allows the liquid to be delivered in a form that reduces runoff and improves surface coverage, effectively reducing the quantity of liquid needed per application
2Productivity
If liquid and air are dispensed simultaneously, then foam or mist is produced efficiently, but the pump mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two pump functions into a single integrated pump assembly. The first pump draws liquid from the reservoir while the second pump draws air, and both are coordinated through a shared piston mechanism and valve system to discharge liquid and air simultaneously, producing foam or mist efficiently without requiring separate pump systems
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly is designed with multi-functionality where a single piston mechanism serves multiple purposes: it operates both the first pump for liquid delivery and the second pump for air delivery. The valve system also serves dual functions by controlling both liquid and air flow, reducing overall system complexity while achieving simultaneous dispensing
3Device complexity
If a single piston operates both pumps, then the mechanism is simplified, but coordination of liquid and air discharge timing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the pump chambers into distinct first and second chambers, each with dedicated one-way valves for liquid and air respectively. This segmentation allows the single piston to independently control liquid intake/discharge and air intake/discharge through separate valve mechanisms, ensuring reliable timing coordination while maintaining mechanism simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The one-way valves act as intermediaries between the piston and the liquid/air discharge paths. These valves automatically control the timing of liquid and air flow based on pressure differentials created by piston movement, eliminating the need for complex timing mechanisms while ensuring reliable coordinated discharge
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 enables efficient dispensing of liquids as foam or mist, reducing the amount of liquid required and preventing runoff, while effectively combining liquid and air for optimal application.
Implementation Method 1
a piston movable in a first inner chamber and the second pump utilizes the same piston movable in a second outer chamber
Implementation Method 2
Preferably, a one-way valve is provided between the first chamber and the reservoir to provide flow outwardly only from the reservoir to the first chamber
Implementation Method 3
simultaneously discharged air and liquid may preferably produce foam by passing through a foam generator, such as a porous member, or be atomized as by passing through a nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A pump assembly with a first pump which draws liquid from a reservoir and dispenses it to a second pump. The second pump receives the discharge from the first pump and air such that the second pump discharges both liquid and air. The first pump preferably has a piston movable in a first inner chamber and the second pump utilizes the same piston movable in a second outer chamber. Preferably, the second pump discharges in the withdrawal stroke, that is while moving from a retracted position to a withdrawn position.