Duration Spray Pump with Escapement Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mechanically operated aerosol dispensers are bulky, costly, and require multiple steps for operation, making them inconvenient and expensive, while chemically driven systems face environmental and safety concerns, lacking a compact and cost-effective alternative for duration spray mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A mechanically operated spray dispenser with a one-turn actuated duration spray pump system that eliminates the need for charging chambers, using a rotatable actuating collar connected through an escapement mechanism with a drive screw and energy storage means like springs or pneumatic pressure to achieve a duration spray without multiple strokes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional mechanically operated aerosol dispensers use storage chambers and multiple steps for operation, then product can be dispensed over a certain duration, but the device becomes bulky, complex, and difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration sprayVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the storage chamber component from conventional mechanically operated dispensers. Instead of storing product in a separate chamber and transferring it, the system draws product directly from the main container through a valve mechanism activated by a single turn of the actuating collar, eliminating the intermediate storage and transfer steps that caused complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating collar is designed to perform the product transfer action in advance during a single rotational movement. This preliminary action of drawing the metered amount of product into the dispensing chamber during the actuation stroke eliminates the need for separate charging and dispensing steps, reducing operational complexity while maintaining duration spray capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of moving object

If conventional mechanically operated aerosol dispensers incorporate storage chambers and multiple操作步骤, then product can be dispensed over a certain duration, but the number of parts and material increases making them expensive to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration sprayVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting and eliminating the storage chamber component, the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. The direct draw system uses fewer materials and simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing production costs while maintaining the duration spray function through the valve control mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the product storage, transfer, and dispensing functions into a more integrated system. The actuating collar mechanism performs both the metering and transfer functions in a single motion, eliminating the need for separate storage chamber and transfer mechanism components, thereby reducing part count and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of moving object

If conventional mechanically operated aerosol dispensers require multiple steps in operation, then product can be dispensed over a certain duration, but they become difficult to operate especially by persons suffering from disability such as arthritis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration sprayVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the product metering and chamber filling action during the single actuation stroke of the actuating collar. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate charging steps that would require multiple operations, making the device operable with a single motion that is accessible to persons with limited hand strength or dexterity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating collar mechanism segments the operation into a single rotational motion that accomplishes both metering and transfer. This segmented approach to the actuation mechanism allows the entire product transfer sequence to be completed in one continuous motion, reducing the number of discrete steps the user must perform

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If chemically driven aerosol dispensers are used, then convenient operation is achieved, but adverse impact upon the environment and safety hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical propellant system with a mechanically operated pump and valve system. The mechanical actuating collar drives a piston or diaphragm to pressurize and dispense the product, eliminating the need for chemical propellants and their associated environmental and safety hazards while maintaining convenient single-action operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses mechanical pneumatic pressure generated by the actuating collar mechanism to dispense the product. Instead of relying on chemical propellants to generate pressure, the mechanical system creates the necessary pressure through the actuation stroke, providing a safe and environmentally friendly alternative that maintains operational convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 system provides a convenient, compact, and cost-effective duration spray mechanism comparable to chemically energized dispensers, reducing operational complexity and manufacturing costs, suitable for various energy sources and products, with improved usability and commercial appeal.

Implementation Method 1

a rotatable actuating collar connected through an escapement mechanism with a drive screw that has an externally threaded shaft engaged with internal threads in a piston

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

a rotatable actuating collar connected through an escapement mechanism with a drive screw

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEscapement mechanism: Escapement

Implementation Method 3

energy storage means like springs or pneumatic pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Implementation Method 4

energy storage means like springs or pneumatic pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP3222363B1Method for dispensing a product from an interior of a container
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 ALTERNATIVE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS LLC
  • EP3222363B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3222363B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3222363B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A power assembly (10) for dispensing product from a container (C) includes a pump mechanism (20) and an energy storage mechanism (40). The pump mechanism (20) includes a rotatable actuating collar (21) connected through an escapement mechanism (22) with a drive screw (23) with an externally threaded shaft (24) engaged with internal threads (25) in a piston (26). Rotation of the collar (21) reciprocates the piston (26) to store energy in the energy storage mechanism (40) and to draw product into a pump chamber (33) from which the product is dispensed. An actuator (50) is connected with a stem valve (34) to open it when the actuator (50) is depressed, enabling the energy storage mechanism (40) to push the piston (26) back to its at-rest position to force product from the pump chamber (33) and ready it for another dispensing cycle. Disengagement of the escapement mechanism (22) when the actuator (50) is depressed prevents rotation of the actuating collar (21). Different energy storage mechanisms can be interchangeably attached to the pump mechanism.