Inhaler Trigger Assembly with Cam and Backstop Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalers experience unstable triggering, leading to irregular and not smooth liquid spraying processes.
Innovation Solution
A trigger assembly for an inhaler that includes a first component, a second component, a first elastic member, and an actuator. The second component can move away from the first component to a preloaded position and then, under the action of the first elastic member, move to a triggered position when the actuator is triggered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple trigger mechanism is used in the inhaler, then the device complexity is reduced, but the triggering stability and liquid spraying smoothness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is divided into multiple independent components: a trigger component for user input, a cam component for motion transformation, a valve component for liquid flow control, and an actuator component for precise positioning. Each component performs a specific function, and their coordinated operation achieves stable triggering while maintaining reasonable overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam component is designed to transform the user's triggering motion into a preloaded positioning action that prepares the valve component for precise operation. The actuator component similarly performs preliminary positioning of the valve before liquid flow begins, ensuring that the triggering sequence is pre-established and stable.
2Reliability
If a complex trigger mechanism is used to improve triggering stability, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism employs dynamic motion transformation through the cam component, which converts rotational or linear triggering motion into precise positional control of the valve. This dynamic approach allows a relatively simple trigger input to produce complex, stable valve positioning without requiring an overly complicated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam component acts as an intermediary between the simple trigger input and the complex valve control requirements. It mediates the motion transformation, taking the user's simple triggering action and converting it into the precise, stable motion needed for reliable liquid spraying, thereby avoiding the need for a directly complex trigger mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the second component is allowed to rotate freely, then the ease of operation improves, but the positioning precision and spraying accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator component is designed to preemptively counteract any unwanted rotation or positional drift of the valve component. Once the cam component positions the valve, the actuator maintains this position by applying a counteracting force or mechanical constraint, preventing accidental movement that would compromise spraying accuracy while not interfering with the initial easy rotation during triggering.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism performs preliminary positioning of the valve component through the cam's motion transformation before the user completes the triggering sequence. This pre-positioning ensures that when the trigger rotation is completed, the valve is already at the precise position needed for accurate spraying, reducing the tolerance requirements for the final positioning.
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 trigger assembly achieves reliable switching between the preloaded and triggered positions, improving the convenience and accuracy of the inhaler's operation by ensuring smooth and consistent liquid spraying.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member, which is configured to store energy when the second component moves away from the first component
Data Source
AI summary
A trigger assembly for an inhaler and an inhaler is provided. The trigger assembly includes: a first component; a second component, the first and second components being configured such that the second component is capable of moving away from the first component to a preloaded position in the case where the second component rotates relative to the first component in a first direction; and a backstop member, which is retractably arranged in the first component to block the rotation of the second component in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the case where the second component has been moved to the preloaded position; the second component is capable of moving from the preloaded position towards the first component to a triggered position.