Liquid Delivery System Using Flexible Bag and Pressurized Diluent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensing systems face blockages when handling high viscosity liquids and those with suspended solids due to metering orifices, which restrict flow and are prone to clogging.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing system with a flexible bag in a chamber, where a pressurized second liquid is introduced to collapse the bag and expel the first liquid through conduits without flow restriction devices, ensuring a smooth mixture with the pressurized liquid, using a T-fitting and check valves to prevent backflow and ensure continuous delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If metering orifices are used to control liquid flow, then flow metering precision is improved, but the system becomes prone to blockage when processing high viscosity liquids and liquids with suspended solids
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the liquid delivery function into two separate pathways: one for the viscous liquid (through the flexible bag) and one for the diluent liquid (through the metering orifice). This segmentation allows each pathway to be optimized for its specific function, preventing blockage issues in the viscous liquid pathway while maintaining metering precision in the diluent pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The metering orifice is extracted from the viscous liquid flow path and applied only to the diluent liquid flow path. This removes the blockage-prone component from the viscous liquid system while preserving flow control capabilities where they are most needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If metering orifices constrict flow to achieve precise metering, then flow control precision is improved, but the system becomes unreliable when handling liquids with elevated viscosities and suspended solids
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control system is segmented into two independent control mechanisms: pressure-driven flow for the viscous liquid and orifice-based metering for the diluent liquid. This allows continuous reliable operation of the viscous liquid pathway while maintaining precise flow control in the diluent pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bag acts as an intermediary device that translates pressure differential into controlled dispensing of viscous liquid without requiring flow-constricting orifices. The bag's collapsible nature provides inherent flow regulation while maintaining system reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible bag is used to contain the first liquid, then the system can handle high ratio mixtures, but the bag requires a mechanism to collapse and expel the liquid efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pressure differential as a counterbalancing force to collapse the flexible bag. The pressure from the diluent liquid introduction creates a pressure differential that automatically collapses the bag and expels the viscous liquid, eliminating the need for complex mechanical collapse mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible bag system is designed to collapse automatically through the pressure differential created during liquid introduction. The bag's elastic properties and the pressure differential work together to self-collapse and expel contents without external intervention or complex 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 system effectively delivers a high ratio mixture of liquids with elevated viscosity and suspended solids without clogging, ensuring efficient and continuous dispensing by eliminating the need for metering orifices in the second conduit, promoting uniform mixing and preventing layering of liquids.
Implementation Method 1
A supply source introduces a pressurized second liquid into the chamber and separately into the third conduit for delivery to the first conduit. The pressurized second liquid serves to collapse the bag and expel the first liquid contained therein via the second conduit to the first conduit
Implementation Method 2
The liquid dispenser may further comprise a check valve in the first conduit for preventing a reverse flow of liquid into said chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A liquid dispensing system comprises a container enclosing a chamber. A flexible bag in the chamber contains a first liquid. First and second conduits are contained in the chamber. The first conduit connects the chamber to an outlet port in the container were the second conduit connects the bag to the first conduit. A supply source introduces a pressurized second liquid into the chamber. The first conduit serves to direct an exiting flow of the second liquid from the chamber to the outlet port, with the pressurized second liquid serving to collapse the bag and expel the first liquid contained therein via the second conduit to the first conduit for mixture with the exiting flow of the second liquid. The second conduit lacks flow restrictions, such as metering orifices or the like.