Liquid Agent Container with Hydrophilic Filter and Annular Check Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid agent containers are prone to contamination from bacteria and microorganisms due to the lack of effective aseptic insulation, and existing solutions like hydrophilic and hydrophobic filters require complex manufacturing processes and precise cutting, leading to unstable production and potential defects.
Innovation Solution
A liquid agent container design featuring a deformable main unit, a cap with a liquid agent discharging path and an air introducing path, a hydrophilic filter, and an internal stopper with an annular valve forming a check valve that allows air to pass inward when the main unit's pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure, preventing backflow and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional liquid agent containers are opened for use, then the liquid agent can be discharged, but airborne bacteria and microorganisms can enter the container through the nozzle hole
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydrophilic filter made of porous material that allows liquid to pass through while blocking bacteria and microorganisms. The filter's pore structure is designed to be permeable to liquid molecules but impermeable to larger biological contaminants, enabling continuous protection during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophilic filter acts as an intermediary component between the liquid agent and the external environment. It mediates the interaction by selectively allowing liquid passage while preventing bacterial entry, thus protecting the liquid agent without impeding its discharge function.
2Ease of operation
If the container is pressed to discharge liquid agent and then recovers its original form, then liquid can be discharged, but airborne bacteria may be aspirated into the container
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophilic filter's porous structure allows it to function during both the pressing and recovery phases. When the container recovers its shape and creates negative pressure, the filter prevents bacterial aspiration while still allowing air and liquid to pass through its pores.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a hydrophilic filter is added to prevent bacterial entry, then contamination is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydrophilic filter with the existing nozzle structure, integrating the filtration function into the discharge pathway. This combination reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining effective bacterial protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophilic filter serves multiple functions: it prevents bacterial entry, allows liquid passage, and maintains system simplicity. By designing a filter that combines these functions in a single component, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity while achieving comprehensive protection.
4Productivity
If a flow rate limiter unit with check valve or orifice is added to maintain negative pressure, then liquid recovery is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the hydrophilic filter, such as pore size, porosity, and thickness, to optimize both liquid recovery and manufacturing feasibility. By adjusting these parameters, the filter can maintain appropriate negative pressure without requiring precision-cut valves or orifices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, easily manufacturable hydrophilic filter that can be produced through conventional filtration manufacturing processes rather than requiring precision machining of valves. This approach prioritizes manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness over extreme precision.
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 enables a readily fabricated check valve that effectively prevents liquid agent backflow and contamination, ensuring the container's interior remains aseptic and stable during use and storage.
Implementation Method 1
A container having a nozzle internally provided with a hydrophilic filter has been proposed to prevent bacteria, microorganism and the like from entering the container
Implementation Method 2
liquid agent containers are implemented generally as containers pressed with hands/fingers to discharge their internal liquid agents and recovering their original forms in geometry when they are liberated from being pressed
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid agent container includes the container's main unit, a cap, an intermediate member, and an internal stopper. The cap is provided with a liquid agent discharging path and an air introducing path. The intermediate member has a tube projecting toward the interior of the main unit. Between a liquid agent introducing path and the liquid agent discharging path a hydrophilic filter is provided, and between an air supplying path communicating with the air introducing path and an air delivering path a filter is provided. The air delivering path communicates with the interior of the main unit via a check valve, with an annular valve having an inner circumferential surface in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the tube, to pass air only in a direction toward the interior of the main unit. The present invention can provide a liquid agent container including a check valve readily fabricated and ensuring preventing a liquid agent from flowing back.