Foam Pump Pulsation Damper for Pressure Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foam pumps experience operating pressure fluctuations due to varying mixing ratios of liquid and propellant, leading to non-uniform substance transportation and application.

Innovation Solution

A foam pump design incorporating a pulsation damper with an adjustable damping element and an energy accumulator to stabilize pressure fluctuations, combined with a controllable propellant supply and additional mixing stages to ensure uniform foam application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If mixing and delivery processes are performed in the foam pump, then foam generation is achieved, but pressure fluctuations occur causing non-uniform substance transportation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoam outputVSAvoidpressure uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A pulsation dampener is installed in the delivery line to compensate for pressure fluctuations before they affect the foam output. The dampener acts as a cushioning element that absorbs pressure variations, ensuring uniform substance transportation despite the dynamic mixing and delivery processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The pulsation dampener serves as an intermediary element between the mixing/delivery processes and the foam output. It mediates the pressure fluctuations by absorbing and dampening them, preventing direct transmission of pressure variations to the foam stream and ensuring consistent delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If propellant is added to liquid medium for foaming, then foam material is generated, but mixing ratio variations cause operating pressure fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing ratio adjustmentVSAvoidoperating pressure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pulsation dampener provides a feedback mechanism that automatically compensates for pressure fluctuations caused by mixing ratio variations. When pressure deviations occur due to propellant addition, the dampener responds by absorbing or releasing fluid to stabilize pressure, creating a self-regulating system that maintains reliability despite adaptability in mixing ratios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 ensures a consistent volume flow and homogeneous application of foam by compensating for pressure fluctuations and allowing adjustable mixing ratios, resulting in a stable and uniform foam output.

Implementation Method 1

a pulsation dampener is installed in a section of the delivery line in the foam pump, in which a damping element is installed that is adjustable within a cylinder chamber and that compensates for pressure fluctuations in the operating pressure of the foam pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulsation dampening: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The damping element is arranged such that it is pressurized by the liquid medium on one side facing the liquid medium and pressurized by an energy storage device on the other side. The energy storage device serves to counteract the pressure of the liquid medium.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring element pressure counteraction: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3372304B1Foam pump
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 PUFFE ENG
  • EP3372304B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3372304B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Foam pump (2) for foaming a liquid medium (4), which in a conveying direction (10) of the liquid medium (4) has successively a suction stage (7) for drawing in the liquid medium (4), a feed (11) for supplying a propellant into the liquid medium (4) and a pumping stage (12) with a gear pump (13) for mixing and conveying the liquid medium (4) with propellant, characterized in that the foam pump (2) has a pulsation damper (17) for regulating the pressure in the liquid medium (4) in the conveying direction (10) downstream of the pumping stage (11).