Electrically actuated pump
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid pumps require manual operation and include spring components that can lead to inefficient liquid dispensing and increased battery size due to the need for higher force to draw liquid, lacking automatic and efficient dispensing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An electrically actuated pump system utilizing an electromagnetic actuator, such as a solenoid, voice coil, or stepper motor, to drive a hollow tube up and down within a pump stem, eliminating the spring component and incorporating a trap to control the check ball positioning and enable liquid flow, with features like battery life and fluid level signal generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a spring component is used in the pump to enable automatic dispensing, then the pump can operate automatically, but the battery size increases due to higher force requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component from the pump system entirely, extracting the problematic element that caused high force requirements. Instead of using a spring-loaded mechanism, the invention employs an electromagnetic actuator to directly drive the hollow tube, eliminating the need for large batteries while maintaining automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based automatic dispensing system with an electromagnetic actuation system. The electromagnetic actuator converts electrical energy directly into mechanical motion to drive the hollow tube up and down, providing automatic dispensing with significantly reduced force requirements compared to spring mechanisms.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a spring component is used in the pump, then the pump can draw liquid upward, but higher force is required increasing battery size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the spring-based mechanical lifting mechanism with an electromagnetic actuator that directly drives the hollow tube. This substitution reduces the force required to draw liquid upward because the electromagnetic actuator can precisely control the motion and force applied to the tube, eliminating the need for excessive force that would be required by a spring system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic electromagnetic actuation system that can adjust its output force and motion characteristics in real-time. The actuator drives the hollow tube through controlled electromagnetic fields, allowing for efficient liquid drawing with optimized force application throughout the stroke, rather than the constant high force required by spring mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the hollow tube is driven up and down to create pumping action, then automatic dispensing is achieved, but the spring component must be eliminated requiring alternative positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component that would complicate the positioning mechanism. By eliminating the spring, the design simplifies the overall system while maintaining the up-and-down pumping action of the hollow tube. The electromagnetic actuator directly positions the tube without requiring additional spring-based return mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a trap as an intermediary component to control the positioning of the check ball. The trap mechanism guides and controls the check ball's movement in response to the hollow tube's up-and-down motion, enabling efficient pumping action without the complexity of spring-based positioning systems.
4Device complexity
If manual operation is used in conventional pumps, then the structure can be simple, but automatic dispensing cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an electromagnetic actuation system that provides automatic dispensing. The electromagnetic actuator converts electrical signals into precise mechanical motion of the hollow tube, enabling automatic operation while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through the direct coupling of the actuator to the pumping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a self-service automatic dispensing system where the electromagnetic actuator autonomously controls the hollow tube's motion to achieve pumping action. The system responds to electrical impulses automatically, with the actuator and trap mechanism working together to control liquid flow without requiring manual intervention, thus achieving automation with minimal added complexity.
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 enables automatic and efficient liquid dispensing with reduced battery size and force requirements, providing reliable operation and real-time monitoring of battery life and fluid levels.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic actuator, such as a solenoid, voice coil, or stepper motor, to drive a hollow tube up and down within a pump stem
Implementation Method 2
A solenoid coil 23 is positioned at a lower end of the pump stem 13 and is actuatable in response to an electric pulse delivered from a control circuit 27 to drive the armature 221 and pump stem 13 at least downwardly
Data Source
AI summary
Automatic electric actuation of the pumping mechanism of a liquid dispenser apparatus is provided by configuring a hollow tube to cooperate with an electromagnetically driven actuator and further configuring the hollow tube to inter-fit with a stem of a liquid dispensing pump. Actuation of the actuator may, for example, drive the pump stem downwardly to cause a pumping action. Suitable actuators include, for example, solenoids, voice coil actuators and stepping motors.