Elastic Pump Head Valve for Residue-Free Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing systems, such as squeeze bottles and airless systems, often leave residual fluid in the pump head after use, which can lead to bacterial contamination, ingredient crystallization, and mechanical issues like sticking parts, making the system inoperable.

Innovation Solution

A pump head with an elastic valve designed to match the inner surface of the head part, allowing complete closure and drainage, featuring a deformable elastic wall with bending points and a snap-in connection, ensuring no residual fluid remains when transitioning from the actuation to storage state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid valve is used in the pump head, then the structural stability is improved, but the closure completeness deteriorates due to gaps remaining between the valve and head part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidclosure completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using an elastic valve made of flexible material that can deform to conform to the inner surface of the head part. The elastic valve includes an elastic wall that bends during operation, allowing it to maintain continuous contact with the head part inner surface, thereby ensuring complete closure without gaps while still providing structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the elastic valve rests on the inner surface over its entire surface, then the fluidic seal is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the precise geometric coordination required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluidic sealVSAvoidgeometric coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by designing the elastic valve with an asymmetric geometric configuration that corresponds to the asymmetric inner surface of the head part. The valve head and elastic wall are shaped to match the specific contours of the head part, creating a tailored fit that ensures complete surface contact and fluidic seal without requiring complex additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Speed

If the elastic wall is made highly deformable, then the actuation responsiveness is improved, but the manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation responsivenessVSAvoiddeformation control
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by varying the local properties of the elastic wall. The elastic wall is designed with different thicknesses and material densities in different regions - thicker and stiffer in areas requiring structural support and precise geometric coordination, and thinner and more flexible in areas requiring rapid deformation for actuation responsiveness. This localized variation in quality allows the elastic valve to achieve both fast response and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 elastic valve ensures complete fluid discharge and secure closure, preventing bacterial growth and mechanical issues, maintaining system functionality and hygiene.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic valve (20) which has at least partially a geometric design corresponding to the inner surface of the head part (10), a first component (40) which has a passage opening (41) for the fluid to be dispensed, via which an inflow of the fluid between the head part and the elastic valve with deformation of the elastic valve and formation of an intermediate space between the elastic valve and the head part (actuated state (B))

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the elastic valve in a storage state (A) of the pump head rests positively on the inner surface of the head part over its entire surface, so that a fluidic seal between the head part and the first component (40) is ensured

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic contact: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3491345B2Pump head and dosing device
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 F HOLZER GMBH
  • EP3491345B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3491345B2 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3491345B2 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a pump head with a specially designed flexible valve which securely connects the pump head. The valve ensures that the pump head is completely emptied and at the same time securely connected such that when the pump head is not is use, no liquid which is to be measured remains in the pump head. The invention also relates to a metering device which can be designed, for example as a squeeze bottle, as a non-airless system or as an airless-system, the metering device comprising the claimed pump head.