Foam Pump Nozzle Air Intake Design for Water Ingress Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foam dispensing pump containers face issues with water ingress into the suction inlet, leading to contamination, mold growth, and degradation of foam quality, especially when used in situations where foam is discharged in large amounts or when the container is tilted.
Innovation Solution
The foam dispensing pump container features a suction inlet located on the outer wall of a recessed portion of the nozzle member, with a skirt-shaped cover portion that extends downwardly to prevent water ingress and partitions that block foam from entering the suction inlet, allowing for efficient air introduction and preventing foam aspiration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If air suction inlet is formed on the outer cylinder of the nozzle member, then external air can be introduced into the container, but water adhering to the outer circumferential face may intrude into the suction inlet when the container is tilted or falls sideways
Solution Approach 1:
The suction inlet is repositioned from the outer circumferential surface to the bottom surface of the recessed portion. This dimensional relocation exploits gravity to allow water to flow downward away from the inlet while air can still be drawn in from all directions, effectively separating the harmful water flow path from the useful air intake path.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed portion serves as an intermediary structure that mediates between the outer cylinder and the suction inlet. By positioning the inlet on the bottom of this recessed area, the design creates a protective geometry where water naturally drains away while air can still access the inlet, acting as a buffer zone that prevents direct water contact with the inlet opening.
2Productivity
If suction inlet with large opening surface area is formed, then external air can be introduced sufficiently and promptly, but water intrusion risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed portion creates a localized geometric structure with specific properties: the bottom surface provides a horizontal intake area for air while the sloped or vertical sides create a water drainage path. This local geometric differentiation allows the same inlet structure to have different functional qualities for air (intake) and water (drainage/repulsion).
Solution Approach 2:
The suction inlet is positioned on the bottom surface of the recessed portion rather than on the outer circumferential surface. This dimensional change allows the inlet to have a large opening area for efficient air intake while the vertical or sloped walls of the recessed portion prevent water from reaching the inlet, even when the container is tilted.
3Quantity of substance
If clearance is created between nozzle member and guide stem for air suction, then air can be introduced, but water adhering to guide stem is easily sucked into the container
Solution Approach 1:
The air suction function is extracted from the clearance between the nozzle member and guide stem and relocated to the bottom surface of the recessed portion on the outer cylinder. This extraction separates the air intake function from the area where water can accumulate on the guide stem, eliminating the problem of water being suctioned through the clearance while maintaining efficient air introduction.
Data Source
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AI summary
A foam dispensing pump container having a suction inlet capable of introducing a large amount of external air while preventing ingress of water and foam certainly. In the foam dispensing pump container, a suction inlet 45 is opened to an opposite side of a discharging outlet 43 of the nozzle member 4. The suction inlet 45 is communicated with an air course formed between an inner cylinder 41and an outer cylinder 42 through a through hole 46. A skirt shaped cover portion 47 is formed to extend downwardly from an outer circumferential edge of the ceiling of the nozzle member 4 to a level lower than the suction inlet 45. In order to divide and shut off an inner space of the skirt shaped cover portion 47 (i.e., a space between an inner face of the cover portion 47 and the outer cylinder 42), at least one pair of partitions 49 are formed on both sides of the suction inlet 45 in the circumferential direction of the nozzle member 4.