Fluid Product Tank with Radial Grooves for Air Evacuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional follower piston reservoirs face challenges in completely emptying the fluid product due to air pockets forming during vacuum packaging, leading to incomplete evacuation and contamination, and they struggle with low restitution rates.
Innovation Solution
The reservoir design incorporates an annular groove with radial grooves that connect to the outlet opening, allowing for the evacuation of trapped air and minimizing dead volume, along with a follower piston configuration that includes an annular plate and central cup to enhance the restitution rate and prevent air pocket formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum packaging is applied to remove air from the reservoir, then air is removed from the reservoir, but air pockets expand and cause fluid product to rise rapidly and squirt out of the neck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (the controlled opening or vent) between the air pocket and the external environment. This intermediary allows air to be removed during vacuum packaging while preventing fluid product from squirting out by controlling the flow path and pressure differential.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes the harmful air pockets from the reservoir through controlled openings during vacuum packaging, eliminating the source of the problem before it can cause fluid product to rise and squirt out.
2Reliability
If the reservoir is designed with a follower piston and internal shoulder configuration, then the fluid product can be stored without air contact, but it becomes practically impossible to completely empty the reservoir
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the internal shoulder movable or adjustable, allowing it to change position during the dispensing process. This dynamic adjustment enables the shoulder to follow the descending fluid level, continuously minimizing dead volume while maintaining the air-free storage configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the internal shoulder into multiple sections or stages that can be progressively activated or adjusted as the fluid level decreases, allowing each segment to optimize the dead volume reduction at different stages of dispensing.
3Productivity
If an annular groove is added to receive the upper lip of the piston, then the restitution rate increases, but air pockets are promoted to form under the shoulder
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces radial grooves as intermediary channels that connect the annular groove to the external environment. These radial grooves serve as mediators that allow air pockets to escape from the annular groove region, preventing their accumulation while maintaining the restitution rate benefits of the annular groove design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful air pockets into a beneficial evacuation path by designing the radial grooves to channel air out in a controlled manner. The air pockets that would otherwise cause problems are redirected through the radial grooves to exit safely, transforming a harmful effect into a controlled process.
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 significantly increases the restitution rate of the fluid product by ensuring complete evacuation of air pockets and minimizing residual volume, preventing fluid contamination during vacuum packaging.
Implementation Method 1
During vacuum packaging, the reservoir filled with fluid product is subjected to a more or less deep depression in order to remove the air from the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
a follower piston engaged in leaktight sliding in the sliding barrel
Implementation Method 3
the piston defining at least one sealed sliding lip
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid product tank comprising: a sliding barrel (11), a neck (12) defining an outlet opening (13), an inner shoulder (14) linking the sliding barrel (11) to the outlet opening (13), the inner shoulder (14) being provided with an annular groove (15) that extends into the extension of the sliding barrel (11) such that the inner shoulder (14) defines an annular ring (16) that links the annular groove (15) to the outlet opening (13), - a follower piston (2) sealingly and slidingly engaged in the sliding barrel (11), the piston (2) defining at least one sealing lip (21) that is received in the annular groove (15) when the tank is empty, characterised in that the annular ring (16) is formed with at least one radial groove (17; 17') that links the annular groove (15) to the outlet opening (13) of the neck (11).