Integrated Elastomeric Seal for Fluid Dispensing Valve Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid product dispensing valves for aerosol sprays have a high number of component parts, increasing manufacturing complexity and cost, and require delicate assembly operations at the manufacturer of the fluid product, leading to potential scrap and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A simplified fluid dispensing valve design with fewer components, featuring a one-piece neck gasket integrated with either the top or bottom seal of the metering chamber, which simplifies assembly and reduces costs by eliminating the need for additional assembly steps at the fluid product manufacturer, using a crimp cap or similar fixing mechanism for secure mounting on the container neck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional multi-component valve design is used, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the neck seal and metering chamber seal into a single integrated seal component made from elastomeric material. This one-piece seal replaces traditional separate neck seal and metering chamber seals, reducing the number of component parts while maintaining sealing functionality through the elastomeric material's inherent sealing properties
2Reliability
If traditional multi-component valve design is used, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing and assembly cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated elastomeric seal combines multiple sealing functions into one component, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. This eliminates assembly steps for multiple seals while maintaining sealing performance through the elastomeric material's compliance and sealing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single elastomeric seal component performs multiple sealing functions simultaneously - sealing the neck interface and sealing the metering chamber - making it a multi-functional component that replaces several separate seals, thereby simplifying manufacturing and assembly processes
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional separate neck seal design is used, then assembly precision can be optimized, but assembly operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the neck seal and metering chamber seal into one piece, the patent eliminates the need for separate assembly operations to install multiple seals. The single integrated seal is installed in one operation, reducing assembly complexity while the elastomeric material's compliance ensures proper sealing without requiring extremely tight tolerances
4Ease of manufacture
If fewer component parts are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but sealing reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent successfully merges multiple seal functions into a single elastomeric component, reducing part count and manufacturing cost while maintaining sealing reliability. The elastomeric material's inherent properties - compliance, elasticity, and sealing capability - ensure that the integrated seal performs as reliably as traditional multi-component seal systems
Solution Approach 2:
The use of elastomeric material for the integrated seal leverages the properties of elastomeric compounds to provide reliable sealing in a single component. The elastomeric material's ability to deform and conform to mating surfaces ensures effective sealing while allowing for simpler, lower-cost manufacturing compared to precision-machined multi-component seal systems
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The inventive fluid product dispensing valve is mountable on the neck (2) of a fluid product container (1) and is provided with a valve body (10) comprising a metering chamber (15) and valve element (20) movable therein between rest and dispensing positions, wherein said metering chamber (15) comprises top (30) and lower (40) seals which sealingly interact with the valve element (20) comprising a neck seal (50) interacting in a sealing manner with the valve body (10) and the container neck (2) and said neck seal (50) is embodied in an integral manner with said top and lower seals (30, 40) of the metering chamber (15).