Foam Piston Pump Venting for Vacuum Relief and Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piston pumps for dispensing fluids from containers face issues with vacuum relief and foam quality, as they often require multiple components for the piston and chamber elements, complicating manufacture and increasing costs, and can generate foam of varying quality due to inefficient air and liquid mixing.
Innovation Solution
A piston pump design that integrates a vacuum relief arrangement through the piston-forming element, allowing air to flow into the reservoir, and enhances air and liquid mixing by restricting flow in the passageway, while allowing the piston and chamber elements to be manufactured as unitary elements via injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum relief arrangements are provided through the piston chamber forming member, then vacuum relief is achieved, but the cross-sectional area of the bottle neck is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum relief function is segmented from the piston chamber forming member and integrated into the piston-forming element instead. This allows the piston chamber forming member to maintain its full cross-sectional area for fluid passage while the piston-forming element provides the vacuum relief passageway through its structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum relief passageway is positioned in a different dimensional space within the piston-forming element rather than competing for space in the bottle neck cross-section. The passageway extends through the piston-forming element axially, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than horizontal cross-sectional area.
2Reliability
If multiple components are used for piston and chamber elements, then operational characteristics are improved, but manufacture becomes complicated and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements are merged into unitary components. The piston-forming element integrates the piston, vacuum relief passageway, and air vent valve into a single injection-molded piece. Similarly, the piston chamber forming member combines the chamber structure with integrated air vent passages, reducing the total component count while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston-forming element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the piston for fluid displacement, provides the vacuum relief passageway, and incorporates the air vent valve mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If air and liquid are passed through a passageway for foam discharge, then foam is produced, but foam quality varies during discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The passageway is designed with varying local characteristics - a restricted section with smaller cross-sectional area followed by an expansion section. This creates different flow conditions at different locations: the restricted section enhances mixing by increasing velocity and turbulence, while the expansion section allows foam formation and discharge. This local variation in geometry ensures consistent foam quality throughout the discharge 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 effectively relieves vacuum pressure, improves foam consistency by ensuring better air and liquid mixing, and simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of components required.
Implementation Method 1
an arrangement for providing an advantageous restriction to flow in the passageway towards enhancing mixing
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum comes to be created in the reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A piston pump for dispensing fluid from a reservoir, an improved vacuum relief arrangement in which a passageway for flow of air from the atmosphere into the reservoir is provided at least in part through a piston-forming element of the piston pump.