Foam soap generator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soap foam generators in remote dispensing systems, such as counter-mount systems, face issues with foam breakdown and reduced output due to the distance between the soap source and dispensing head, leading to inconsistent and low volumes of soap delivery.
Innovation Solution
A soap foam generator design that separates air and liquid until reaching the dispensing head, featuring a mixing chamber and porous passage to create a consistent and uniform foam, adaptable for use with various drive systems, including pressurized and unpressurized systems, and capable of maintaining foam integrity over longer conduit lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If foam is generated close to the liquid soap source and delivered through a remote conduit, then the dispensing head can be positioned remotely (e.g., above counter), but the foam breaks down during transit resulting in reduced output volumes and inconsistent delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the foam generation and delivery process by maintaining separate liquid soap and air conduits until they reach the dispensing head, where mixing occurs. This prevents foam formation in the transit conduits, eliminating breakdown issues while enabling remote positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing head acts as an intermediary device that receives separate liquid soap and air flows and combines them to generate foam at the point of dispensing. This intermediary function resolves the contradiction by enabling remote positioning while maintaining foam integrity through delayed mixing.
2Productivity
If liquid soap and air are mixed early in the system, then foam can be generated, but the foam becomes difficult to drive through remote conduits and breaks down resulting in liquid soap globules being dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares the components for foam generation (liquid soap and air) separately and delivers them through dedicated conduits to the dispensing head, where the preliminary mixing occurs just before dispensing. This preliminary action approach enables foam generation while avoiding the problems of transporting pre-formed foam through remote conduits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses separate hydraulic (liquid soap) and pneumatic (air) conduits to deliver the foam components to the dispensing head. This pneumatic and hydraulic separation allows efficient transport of individual components through remote conduits while enabling foam generation at the point of use.
3Ease of operation
If foam is generated in advance and stored in the conduit, then dispensing can occur remotely, but the foam fully breaks down over time resulting in total dispensing failure or wet foam output
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the foam components (liquid soap and air) into separate conduits, preventing premature foam formation and extending the operational duration by maintaining component stability during transit. Foam is generated only when needed at the dispensing head.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous delivery of liquid soap and air through separate conduits to the dispensing head, ensuring continuous foam generation capability. This continuous action approach prevents foam breakdown by avoiding intermediate storage and ensuring fresh foam is generated with each dispensing operation.
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 high-quality, consistent, and uniform soap foam delivery, reducing foam breakdown and increasing output volumes, even in systems where the dispensing head is remote from the liquid soap source, by effectively combining air and liquid at the foamer head and using a porous structure to stabilize the foam.
Implementation Method 1
driven through a mesh, screen or porous passage to finish or homogenize the soap into a uniform stable composition
Implementation Method 2
a mixing chamber is employed prior to the porous structure or passage in order to prepare a prefoam of randomly sized and spaced bubbles
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A foam soap generator (24) is provided for implementation with various types of foam soap delivery systems. The foam soap generator (24) includes converging air and liquid soap passages (46,48) at a mixing chamber (62), where a prefoam is generated for ultimate extrusion through a porous passage member (64). In one embodiment of the invention, the soap and air are delivered through coaxial tubes, with the soap being introduced axially into the mixing chamber (62) and the air being introduced radially angularly. In another embodiment, the liquid soap is drawn into an entrainment zone (80) by high velocity air passing through the air passageway and into the mixing chamber.