Foam Pump One-Way Valve Segmentation and Spring Redesign
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam pumps face issues with air admission due to improper interval sizes leading to poor one-way valve function, complexity in structure, and increased height, making them inconvenient for installation and operation, with suboptimal foaming effects.
Innovation Solution
A foam pump design featuring a large piston rod with a one-way valve, a U-shape ring groove for spring support, reticulated foam mesh for enhanced foaming, and a double-valve membrane structure for simplified operation, along with multiple foaming stages to improve air inlet and foaming efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the interval between upper pole and lower pole is increased to improve air admission, then air inlet effect is improved, but one-way valve function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air admission pathway is segmented into multiple controlled openings: connecting holes in the large piston rod and a through groove in the valve membrane. This segmentation allows independent control of air inlet effectiveness and one-way valve function, resolving the contradiction between air admission effect and valve reliability.
2Device complexity
If the compression spring is directly supported between valve body and lower pole to simplify structure, then structure is simplified, but pump height increases making it inconvenient for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring is repositioned from a vertical arrangement (between valve body and lower pole) to a horizontal arrangement (between pump body wall and small piston rod). This dimensional change maintains structural simplicity while significantly reducing the pump's height, making it suitable for installation in space-constrained environments.
3Device complexity
If the foaming structure is simplified to reduce complexity, then structure is simplified, but foaming effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Reticulated foam mesh is introduced as a core component in the foaming structure. This porous material provides extensive surface area and capillary channels that dramatically enhance foaming efficiency. The foam mesh works effectively with the simplified piston and valve structures, achieving good foaming effect without requiring complex mechanical foaming mechanisms.
4Ease of manufacture
If the piston structure is simplified to improve ease of manufacture, then ease of manufacture is improved, but operation convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The piston structure incorporates self-regulating features: the valve membrane with through groove automatically controls air admission based on pressure differential, and the compression spring automatically provides return force. This self-service design simplifies the piston structure for easy manufacturing while maintaining convenient operation through automatic pressure-regulated air inlet and spring-driven reciprocating motion.
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 design achieves a practical, easily assembled foam pump with improved air inlet and foaming effects, reduced height, and a more reliable operation, enhancing the overall performance and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a one-way valve connected with an air cavity of said large piston and that said one-way valve adopts sleeve-shaped valve plate made of elastic materials
Implementation Method 2
the upper part of said valve plate adopts conical sealing surface with increasing diameter for sealing together with the connecting hole on said large piston rod
Implementation Method 3
a reticulated foam base, which has reticulated foam meshwork at the center... Two vertical sharp curves greatly enhance the foaming effect
Implementation Method 4
said compression spring is equipped between the ring groove and the supporting ring at the end of the small piston rod
Data Source
AI summary
A foam pump includes a pump body, a large piston, large piston rod, a small piston, a small piston rod, a over cap and a foaming mesh. The large piston rod is equipped with a one-way valve connected with an air cavity to enable one-way air inlet from the air cavity to a gas-liquid mixing chamber. The mixed air and liquid forms a dischargeable foam.