Foam-Forming Assembly With Pressure-Balanced Annular Air Mouth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam-forming assemblies for squeeze foamers often result in uneven air pressure distribution across the mouth of the air passage, leading to inconsistent foam quality, particularly at the beginning of use and under slight pressure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure balance chamber within the air passage to evenly distribute air pressure over the circumference of the annular mouth, combined with a non-concentrically arranged air inlet and strategically placed holes to ensure consistent pressure distribution, and an air inlet channel connected to the air passage to prevent foam formation before dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the air inlet is arranged non-concentrically with the annular mouth of the air passage, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the air pressure distribution over the mouth becomes uneven leading to inconsistent foam quality
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure balance chamber is introduced as an intermediary component between the air inlet and the annular mouth. This chamber receives air through multiple air inlets and distributes it uniformly through multiple outlets to the annular mouth, acting as a mediator that transforms the non-uniform air flow from asymmetric inlets into uniform pressure distribution at the mouth, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while ensuring consistent foam quality
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure balance chamber changes the pressure parameter distribution by providing a volumetric space where air pressure can equalize. The chamber's volume and the arrangement of multiple air inlets and outlets create conditions for pressure equilibrium, transforming the pressure distribution from non-uniform (at the inlet) to uniform (at the annular mouth), thus resolving the contradiction between simple manufacturing and consistent foam quality
2Manufacturing precision
If a pressure balance chamber is added to evenly distribute air pressure, then foam quality consistency is improved, but the device complexity and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure balance chamber is designed to perform multiple functions: it distributes air pressure uniformly, provides a volume for pressure equalization, and can be integrated with the housing structure. By making the chamber multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the goal of consistent foam quality
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure balance chamber is merged with the housing structure, and the air inlets and outlets are integrated into the chamber walls. This merging of functions and components reduces the overall device complexity compared to having separate, standalone pressure balancing mechanisms, while still achieving uniform pressure distribution for consistent foam quality
3Manufacturing precision
If the volume of the pressure balance chamber is increased to improve pressure distribution, then foam quality is improved, but the volume of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure balance chamber is designed with specific local characteristics: multiple small air inlets and outlets distributed around the chamber, and strategic placement of holes in the partition wall. These local features create efficient pressure distribution without requiring a large overall chamber volume, thus improving foam quality while minimizing the increase in device volume
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple holes are provided in the partition wall to distribute air pressure, then pressure distribution is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is segmented with multiple holes distributed across its surface, creating multiple pathways for air flow. This segmentation of the wall structure allows uniform pressure distribution through simple geometric features rather than complex mechanisms, improving pressure uniformity while adding minimal structural complexity
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 configuration ensures consistent and high-quality foam dispensing from the start, maintaining quality even under slight pressure, and allows for efficient air reintroduction to the container post-use without foam interference, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the air passage comprises a pressure balance chamber to divide the air pressure substantially equally over the substantially annular mouth
Implementation Method 2
opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a foam-forming assembly, comprising: a housing having an air passage and a liquid passage, each ending in a mouth and being in communication with a dispensing passage having a dispensing opening, and a valve body which, in a rest position, covers the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage, and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage, wherein the mouth of the air passage is substantially annular, and wherein the air passage comprises a pressure balance chamber to divide the air pressure substantially equally over the substantially annular mouth.