Fluid dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers, such as soap dispensers, face issues with high energy consumption and susceptibility to faults due to complex mechanisms and increased friction among components, leading to higher maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser design featuring a worm wheel with a single screw thread, where the coupling element is operatively connected to the worm wheel, allowing a single rotation to achieve both fluid dispensing and return to the initial position with minimal friction and low maintenance, utilizing a bearing for reduced contact stress and a spring-loaded coupling element for controlled return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a complex gear pump mechanism is used, then fluid dispensing function is achieved, but friction increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism is segmented into discrete chambers that are independently actuated by the worm gear, allowing each chamber to be filled and discharged separately. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the overall mechanism while maintaining effective fluid dispensing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional complex gear pump mechanism is replaced with a simpler worm gear-driven piston system. The worm gear provides direct mechanical actuation of the pump chambers, eliminating the need for complex gear interactions and reducing friction losses.
2Reliability
If multiple components are used in the drive mechanism, then actuation function is achieved, but susceptibility to faults increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism merges the actuation and positioning functions into a single worm gear assembly. The worm gear simultaneously provides the driving force and controls the piston movement, reducing the number of separate components and potential failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The worm gear mechanism provides self-locking capability, where the worm thread naturally prevents back-driving of the pump. This self-service feature eliminates the need for additional locking components or complex control systems, thereby improving reliability.
3Productivity
If a multi-start worm gear is used, then dispensing speed is increased, but friction and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The worm gear is designed with optimized thread geometry and surface treatment in critical contact zones. This local quality enhancement reduces friction and wear in the high-stress areas while maintaining the multi-start configuration for high dispensing speed.
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
This design provides a low-friction, low-maintenance, and energy-saving drive mechanism with fewer components, ensuring efficient fluid dispensing and minimizing the risk of faults by using a single turn of the worm wheel for complete pump actuation and controlled return, thus reducing energy consumption and maintenance requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the worm wheel has a single screw thread, wherein the coupling element is in operative connection with the worm wheel, which is driven by the motor and has a single screw thread for actuation as a coupling element, wherein a rotation of the worm wheel causes an axial displacement of the coupling element
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a bearing for reduced contact stress and a spring-loaded coupling element for controlled return
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a fluid dispenser (10), comprising a fluid reservoir (26), a pump (38), which is coupled to an electric motor (54) by means of a coupling element (58) and can be controlled to dispense fluid in portions, the pump (38) being connected on the input side to the fluid reservoir (26) and on the output side to an outlet (42) for dispensing the fluid, and a control unit (96) having a control element (98) for controlling the motor (54). The aim of the invention is to enable a simple and reliable design having low energy consumption. This aim is achieved, according to the invention, in that the coupling element (58) is operatively connected, at least during the dispensing of the fluid, to a screw thread (56) of a worm wheel (50), which can be driven by means of the motor (54), rotation of the worm wheel (50) causing axial movement of the coupling element (58) and thus actuation of the pump (38) for dispensing the fluid in portions.