Self-regulating elastomer valve for paint vessel air inlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paint vessels require an extra element, such as a flexible liner, and an additional step for use, which complicates their operation and reduces their reusability.
Innovation Solution
A vessel with an air inlet featuring a closure valve made of flexible elastomer material, resiliently mounted to cover openings on the closure lid, eliminating the need for a flexible liner and allowing direct liquid application, while maintaining the vessel's integrity for multiple uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a flexible liner is used within the reservoir to enable multiple uses, then the vessel can be reused, but the device complexity increases and an additional step is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flexible liner from the reservoir system entirely. Instead of having a liner inside the reservoir, the invention uses a closure lid with an integrated valve mechanism that performs both sealing and air inlet functions, eliminating the need for the separate liner component and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the closure lid: it serves as the sealing element, the air inlet mechanism, and the valve control interface. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate components like the flexible liner, reducing device complexity while maintaining reusability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If openings are provided on the reservoir for vacuum relief, then air can enter the vessel, but the reservoir is no longer liquid-tight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic valve mechanism on the closure lid that can open and close based on pressure differentials. The valve remains closed under normal conditions to maintain liquid-tightness, but opens automatically when vacuum is created during operation to allow air inlet, thus adapting between sealed and vented states as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve mechanism is designed to be self-regulating, automatically opening when vacuum pressure differential requires air inlet and closing when the vessel needs to maintain its seal. This self-service functionality eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining both liquid-tightness and air inlet capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the valve is applied on the closure lid below the liquid surface, then air enters below the liquid surface creating turbulences and mixing effect, but the valve design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the valve specifically on the closure lid at a location below the liquid surface level. This local positioning creates turbulence and mixing effect in the liquid as air bubbles rise through the valve openings, providing enhanced mixing for multi-component liquids without requiring complex valve mechanisms.
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 easier use and multiple reuse of the vessel without a flexible liner, ensuring the vessel remains intact and capable of holding liquids, with the valve's self-regulating properties preventing air from entering until needed, creating a mixing effect beneficial for multi-component liquids.
Implementation Method 1
a closure valve (14) made of flexible elastomer material, said valve being resiliently mounted on said air inlet in such a manner as to cover said plurality of openings
Implementation Method 2
when air enters the vessel through the valve, the air enters below the liquid surface. This results in bubbles rising to the liquid surface, thereby creating turbulences inside the liquid
Implementation Method 3
These turbulences induce a mixing effect to the liquid, which is especially advantageous in multi component liquids
Implementation Method 4
In such a vessel gravity helps feeding the liquid into the application tool
Data Source
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AI summary
A vessel (1), in particular for containing paint, comprising a reservoir (2) and a closure lid (3) which reservoir (2) is provided for being closed by said closure lid (3), which closure lid (3) is applicable on top of a liquid application tool (4), said vessel (1) having an air inlet comprising a plurality of openings (9), said closure lid (3) comprising a conically shaped part, said air inlet being provided with a closure valve made of flexible elastomer material, said valve being resiliency mounted on said air inlet in such a manner as to cover said plurality of openings, of which each opening having a surface area of at the most 15 mm2, and as to open upon a predetermined pressure difference between a first pressure inside said vessel and a second pressure outside said vessel, said closure Hd (3) being provided with a protrusion applied on said conically shaped part and forming a flat contact face for said valve.