Filling hose
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispenser refill systems face contamination issues due to exposure of the liquid to air during refilling and result in unnecessary liquid wastage, as they often require replacing cartridges before depletion, leading to increased costs and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A smart plug-and-play filling hose with a controller that couples to the liquid dispenser, allowing controlled refilling via a pump, incorporating a second liquid reservoir for concentrate storage, and featuring automatic activation and purging mechanisms to prevent contamination and wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If sealed cartridges are used to prevent contamination, then contamination control is improved, but liquid wastage increases due to premature replacement before depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the liquid storage into two separate components: a reusable dispenser unit and a replaceable cartridge. This segmentation allows the cartridge to be replaced while preserving the investment in the main dispenser body, and enables partial refilling of the cartridge without replacing the entire assembly, thus reducing liquid wastage while maintaining contamination control through sealed cartridge design
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of cartridge utilization by enabling partial refilling capability. Instead of requiring complete cartridge replacement, the system allows top-up refilling, changing the utilization pattern from binary (empty/full replacement) to continuous (partial refilling), thereby reducing liquid wastage while maintaining the sealed cartridge contamination barrier
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cartridges are replaced frequently to ensure freshness, then contamination control is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease due to frequent refilling interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary action by allowing cartridges to be refilled before complete depletion. The partial refilling capability enables proactive maintenance of liquid supply, ensuring the dispenser remains operational without waiting for complete cartridge exhaustion, thus maintaining high productivity while preserving contamination control through the sealed cartridge design
3Ease of operation
If air is allowed to enter the liquid reservoir during refilling, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination increases due to air exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the sealed cartridge as an intermediary between the refilling process and the liquid product. The cartridge's sealed design acts as a mediator that allows refilling operations to occur without direct air exposure to the liquid, maintaining contamination control while enabling relatively simple refilling procedures through the established cartridge replacement and top-up mechanism
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 partial refills without compromising contamination control, reduces liquid wastage, and simplifies the refill process, ensuring continuous dispenser functionality while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
transferring liquid from the liquid reservoir via the filling hose to the liquid dispenser
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispenser filling hose for use in filling a liquid dispenser with liquid from a liquid reservoir via a pump, comprising: a distal coupler for coupling the filling hose to the liquid dispenser; and a controller arranged to control the pump. The liquid dispenser may be filled using a method comprising: providing a liquid reservoir, a pump and a controller arranged to control the pump, and a filling hose having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the filling hose being coupled to the liquid reservoir; coupling the distal end of the filling hose via a distal coupler to the liquid dispenser; and transferring liquid from the liquid reservoir via the filling hose to an airless liquid container forming part of the liquid dispenser. A system for filling a liquid dispenser, comprising: the liquid filling hose; and a liquid reservoir and/or liquid supply station is also described.