Foam Soap Mixing Head With Porous Passage for Remote Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soap foam delivery systems face issues with foam breakdown and reduced output when the dispensing head is remote from the liquid soap source, leading to inconsistent and low volumes of soap dispensed, with potential failures and 'wet' foam output due to inadequate design and suck-back mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A soap foam generator with a housing featuring separate air and liquid inlets, a mixing chamber where air and liquid converge, and a porous passage to stabilize and finish the foam, ensuring consistent and uniform soap foam generation, adaptable for use in remote systems with pressurized or unpressurized drive systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If foam is generated close to the liquid soap source and delivered through long conduits to remote dispensing heads, then the dispensing head can be positioned remotely (e.g., above counter while reservoir is beneath), but foam breakdown occurs in the conduit resulting in reduced dispensed volumes and liquid soap globules instead of foam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating the foam at the dispensing head location rather than at the remote reservoir location. The foaming mechanism is integrated into the dispensing head assembly, so that liquid soap and air are mixed and foam is created immediately before dispensing, eliminating the need to transport foam through long conduits. This prevents foam breakdown while enabling remote positioning of the dispensing head above the counter.
2Ease of operation
If foam is generated remotely and delivered through conduits, then remote dispensing is achieved, but the suck-back mechanism fails to draw residual foam back adequately, causing drips and wet foam output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the foaming function from the remote reservoir location and places it directly at the dispensing head. By integrating the air injection and mixing mechanisms into the dispensing head assembly, the system eliminates the need for long conduit foam transport and associated suck-back problems. The foam is created locally and dispensed immediately, preventing residual foam accumulation and drip issues.
3Adaptability or versatility
If prior art foamer heads are used with remote dispensing systems, then basic foam dispensing is achieved, but the design lacks regard for specific configuration elements, resulting in inconsistent foam uniformity and integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the foaming mechanism with specific attention to the local conditions at the dispensing head. The air injection ports, mixing chamber geometry, and porous distribution structure are specifically configured to optimize foam formation at the point of dispensing. This localized design optimization ensures consistent foam uniformity and integrity, addressing the deficiencies of generic prior art foamer heads in remote dispensing applications.
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 solution generates high-quality, consistent, and uniform soap foam, maintaining stability and integrity even over longer conduit lengths, preventing foam breakdown and ensuring efficient dispensing with improved suck-back mechanisms, thus addressing the challenges of remote dispensing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing chamber where air and liquid converge
Implementation Method 2
liquid soap is combined with air, typically under force or pressure
Implementation Method 3
driven through a mesh, screen or porous passage to finish or homogenize the soap into a uniform stable composition
Data Source
AI summary
A foam soap generator is provided for implementation with various types of foam soap delivery systems. The foam soap generator includes converging air and liquid soap passages at a mixing chamber, where a prefoam is generated for ultimate extrusion through a porous passage member. In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid soap is drawn into an entrainment zone by high velocity air passing through the air passageway and into the mixing chamber.