Funnel Assembly with Gravity-Sealed Spherical Occluding Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional funnels with shut-off elements are complex and costly to manufacture, often requiring substantial weight or spring pressure for a complete seal, and suffer from residual fluid spillage and cumbersome assembly due to limited range of motion in actuator mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A funnel assembly featuring a substantially spherical occluding element with a resilient sealing washer that engages the spout's inner wall to create an impervious seal using gravity and material weight, eliminating the need for a separately constructed valve seat and allowing for various angular displacements, thus preventing leakage and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve or occluding element is designed to provide a complete seal against a distinct valve seat, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the distinct valve seat from the funnel structure and integrates the sealing function directly into the spout's inner wall. The occluding element's exterior surface is shaped to match the spout's tapered inner wall, eliminating the need for a separate valve seat component and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is merged with the spout structure itself. The tapered inner wall of the spout serves dual purposes: as the structural component of the funnel and as the sealing surface (valve seat). This integration eliminates the need for separate sealing components and reduces manufacturing steps.
2Reliability
If a heavy or spring-loaded occluding element is used to ensure complete seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for spring pressure or heavy weights by using the gravitational force of the material being funneled as the closing force. The occluding element is positioned such that the weight of the material in the reservoir naturally pushes it against the tapered inner wall of the spout, creating the seal without additional mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the material itself to provide the sealing force. The weight of the material being transferred automatically positions and seals the occluding element against the spout wall, eliminating the need for external springs, weights, or complex actuation mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the occluding element is positioned to stop outflow, then fluid containment is improved, but residual fluid spillage increases with conventional designs
Solution Approach 1:
The occluding element is designed with a specific diameter that is larger than the spout outlet diameter, creating a localized seal at the critical outlet region. This ensures that when the occluding element is in place, it completely blocks the outlet, preventing any residual fluid from draining or spilling while allowing the rest of the reservoir to be accessed.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the actuator mechanism is designed for limited range of motion, then component retention in funnel is improved, but assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mechanism is segmented into modular components that can be assembled separately and then integrated into the funnel. The occluding element, actuator arm, and connecting elements are designed as discrete parts that can be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled in a straightforward sequence without requiring complex alignment or specialized assembly equipment.
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 provides an effective, impervious seal that minimizes spillage and simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for precise manufacturing tolerances and complex assembly, allowing for easy attachment and operation of the occluding element and actuator mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The occluding element has a resilient sealing washer extending circumferentially therearound for selectively engaging an inner wall of the spout to establish an impervious seal within the spout between the inlet and outlet ends as a result of gravity and material weight acting upon the occluding element.
Implementation Method 2
The occluding element has a resilient sealing washer extending circumferentially therearound for selectively engaging an inner wall of the spout to establish an impervious seal
Implementation Method 3
The position of the occluding element 112 is determined by a wire-like element or actuator 120 protruding from the occluding element 112 and out of the funnel outlet 108. When one desires the outflow of fluid to cease, the '697 patent and the '631 patent both rely on gravity acting on the occluding element and actuator, as well as the weight of the fluid above the occluding element to move the occluding element to a closed position to create a seal between the occluding element and the spout.
Data Source
AI summary
A funnel assembly is provided for transferring material between two containers. The funnel assembly includes a funnel forming a reservoir and a spout of substantially circular cross-section that tapers along a longitudinal axis between an inlet end joined to the funnel and a distal outlet end. The spout includes an inside surface. The funnel assembly also includes a substantially spherical occluding element disposed in the spout. The occluding element has a periphery larger than the outlet end of the spout and smaller than the inlet end. The occluding element includes a resiliently flexible sealing member extending circumferentially therearound for selectively engaging and conforming to the inside surface of the spout at any of a plurality of angular displacements of the occluding element to establish an impervious seal within the spout between the inlet and outlet ends as a result of gravity and material weight acting upon the occluding element.