Hose End Sprayer Trigger Ball Valve Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hose-end sprayers lack carrier fluid flow control and are often designed for one-time use, requiring two hands to operate and using hazardous concentrated chemicals that necessitate disposal after use.
Innovation Solution
A hose-end sprayer with a carrier fluid flow control valve and selector valve system, allowing for one-hand operation and enabling choice of spray modes, including a spring-biased trigger for controlling carrier fluid flow and a selector valve for managing chemical and carrier fluid ratios, with a design that allows for potential reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lever-actuated carrier fluid control valve is used, then carrier fluid flow control is achieved, but two hands are required for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static lever-actuated valve into a dynamic trigger-actuated valve system. The trigger mechanism allows the valve to be actuated with a single hand motion, converting the two-handed lever operation into a one-handed trigger pull while maintaining flow control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the carrier fluid flow control function from the integrated lever mechanism and implements it through a separate trigger-actuated valve system. This separation allows the trigger to be operated independently with one hand while the sprayer body can be held稳 with the other hand or positioned for optimal spray direction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the sprayer is designed for one-time use with disposable containers, then safety is improved by eliminating repeated handling of hazardous chemicals, but cost increases and waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sprayer system into a reusable sprayer body and a disposable container component. The sprayer body contains the durable trigger-actuated valve mechanism and can be reused multiple times, while only the container needs to be disposed of after use. This segmentation reduces both cost and waste compared to completely disposable units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables recovery and reuse of the sprayer body component after the disposable container is exhausted. The trigger-actuated valve system and other durable components can be retained and reused with new containers, reducing material waste and disposal costs while maintaining safety by eliminating the need for consumers to repeatedly handle hazardous chemical containers.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If aspiration-type sprayer head assembly is used, then diluted chemical application is achieved, but large amounts of carrier fluid are required
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger-actuated valve system provides feedback control of carrier fluid flow to the aspiration mechanism. By controlling when and how much carrier fluid flows through the system via the trigger valve, the aspiration effect can be optimized to achieve adequate dilution with reduced overall carrier fluid consumption compared to continuous flow aspiration sprayers.
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 safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation with one-hand control over carrier fluid flow, enabling selective application and reducing waste by allowing for limited reuse, while ensuring safe handling and disposal of chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
a lever that rotates the carrier fluid flow control valve, the lever and carrier fluid flow control valve being biased into a closed position by a spring
Implementation Method 2
A suction generating surface may be positioned and configured such that the flow of carrier fluid over the suction generating surface may create a suction that draws chemical through the chemical passage
Implementation Method 3
The selector valve may include one or more seal portions to block or prevent leakage of either the chemical or the carrier fluid passages when the selector valve is in its various positions
Data Source
AI summary
A trigger sprayer is described which utilizes a ball valve to control the flow of a carrier fluid such as water. The ball valve is actuated by a trigger which is biases to the open position by a torsion spring. Provision is made for the trigger sprayer to draw a chemical solution from a supply container and meter it through one or more outlet devices for providing streams in the form of fan or mist sprays, or other shaped sprays.