Flow Gate Pour Closure With Sliding Gate Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current containers for powders and granular substances require heavy and awkward lifting for pouring, leading to physical strain and dust/debris issues during dispensing, with existing sliding closures not designed for vertical orientation or controlled flow.
Innovation Solution
A flow gate pour closure with a sliding gate mechanism that allows for variable flow rates by positioning the principal opening on a vertical wall, featuring a landing surface, top collar, and gate track, enabling controlled dispensing without lifting the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If substances are dispensed by lifting the container upside down, then the substance can be poured to the intended area, but it causes physical strain and dust/debris during pour
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inverting the entire container to pour, the patent inverts the flow direction by positioning the opening on the vertical wall near the bottom and using a sliding gate mechanism that allows controlled downward flow of granular material, eliminating the need to lift and invert the heavy container
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding gate acts as an intermediary mechanism between the container opening and the discharge point, controlling the flow of granular material through a vertical aperture without requiring the container to be inverted, thereby preventing dust and debris generation
2Productivity
If a sliding gate mechanism is used for controlled flow, then variable flow rates are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a closure body with vertical wall opening, a sliding gate with tab, a gate track, and a biasing element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing element automatically returns the sliding gate to the closed position after dispensing, eliminating the need for manual resetting or complex control mechanisms. The system self-regulates the flow control function
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
Enables safe, controlled, and efficient dispensing of substances without physical strain, reducing dust and debris, and allowing for variable flow rates through a sliding gate mechanism that blocks and unblocks the aperture as needed.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding gate is slidingly translatable through the gate exit aperture within the gate track
Implementation Method 2
the principal opening of the container corresponds to the principal opening positioned on a vertical wall of the container proximal a bottom wall thereof such that content flows freely from an inside of the container
Data Source
AI summary
A flow gate pour closure for regulated dispersal of a flowing content from a container comprises a closure body and a sliding gate with a depressible tab. The closure body has a principal aperture aligned with a principal opening of the container to allow for the content to flow therethrough. The sliding gate is translatable through a gate exit aperture of the closure body within the gate track to block the principal aperture and prevent the content from flowing or to expose the principal aperture to partially or completely allow the content to flow at a variable flow rate. The sliding gate is translatable reciprocally back along the slide track to re-block the principal aperture. The tab depressible partially engages the top collar when the sliding gate fully blocks the principal aperture and is arranged so that depressing the tab enables sliding gate movement through the gate exit aperture.