Liquid collection devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid collection devices often fail to effectively restrain liquids, leading to spills due to unrestrained movement within the device, making it difficult to collect and dispose of liquids efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A liquid collection device featuring a bottom member, sidewalls, and a ramp member with an absorbent material in a cavity, where the liquid is directed to flow up the ramp and into contact with the absorbent material, preventing spills and allowing for easy disposal of the device after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional liquid collection devices are used without absorbent material, then the device structure remains simple, but the liquid cannot be effectively restrained and spills occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies absorbent material with porous structure within the cavity to effectively absorb and restrain liquid. The porous material allows liquid to be drawn into the structure through capillary action while retaining it, solving the liquid restraint problem without requiring complex mechanical containment structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent material acts as an intermediary between the liquid and the device structure. It mediates the interaction by absorbing the liquid through its porous structure, preventing direct contact between the liquid and the device walls, thereby eliminating spill issues while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of manufacture
If liquid is allowed to move freely in the collection device, then the device is easier to manufacture, but liquid spills occur during collection and disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The porous absorbent material is disposed within the cavity to absorb and restrain liquid, preventing spills during collection and disposal operations. This maintains the simple device structure that is easy to manufacture while eliminating the harmful spill effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection device is designed as a disposable unit with integrated absorbent material. After single use, the entire device including the absorbent material is discarded, eliminating the need for cleaning and disposal of liquid from reusable devices, thus preventing spills during the disposal phase.
3Productivity
If the ramp member extends the full length of the bottom member, then liquid flow is maximized, but the cavity volume for absorbent material is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp member extends only partially along the bottom member rather than the full length. This partial extension provides sufficient liquid flow guidance and direction into the cavity while preserving adequate cavity volume for absorbent material placement, achieving the optimal balance between liquid collection efficiency and absorption capacity.
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 device effectively collects and absorbs liquids, preventing spills and allowing for easy disposal, making it suitable for one-time use in collecting and restraining liquids.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent material disposed at least partially in the cavity between the ramp member and the bottom member, the absorbent material configured to absorb liquid in the cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid collection device includes a bottom member, a sidewall extending from the bottom member, and a ramp member extending from the bottom member towards the sidewall at an angle relative to the bottom member. The ramp member and the bottom member at least partially define a cavity therebetween. The liquid collection device further includes an absorbent material disposed at least partially in the cavity and configured to absorb liquid in the cavity. Other example liquid collection devices and methods of collecting liquid from surfaces with collection devices are also disclosed.