Liquid Feeder Port Reduction via Splitting Cap and Sealing Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid feeders for automated analyzers require multiple ports on the liquid container, making fabrication more difficult and costly, and complicating user operation.
Innovation Solution
A liquid feeder design that reduces the number of ports on the liquid container by using a sealing member with slitted portions and a cap with groove portions, allowing a single needle to pierce and split the cap and sealing member for fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple ports are formed in the liquid container to enable needle piercing and air flow, then the liquid can flow out through the needle, but the fabrication complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into multiple segments or lobes that can be independently pierced by the needle. This segmentation allows the needle to create multiple flow paths through a single piercing action, eliminating the need for multiple separate ports in the container while maintaining liquid flow capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member acts as an intermediary element between the single port and the liquid flow requirement. By piercing the sealing member rather than the container wall, the system enables liquid flow through a single port while the sealing member's structure (with its segments or lobes) provides the necessary flow paths without requiring multiple container ports.
2Reliability
If a threaded cap is used to seal the upper port, then the port is securely closed, but the user must loosen the cap to allow air flow during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic pierced state during operation. The needle piercing action dynamically opens flow paths through the sealing member's segments or lobes, allowing air and liquid flow during operation while maintaining secure sealing when the needle is retracted, eliminating the need for manual cap manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the sealing and unsealing functions automatically through the needle piercing and retraction mechanism. The needle's insertion and withdrawal automatically open and close the flow paths through the sealing member's segments, eliminating the need for users to manually loosen or tighten the threaded cap during operation.
3Ease of operation
If two ports are formed in the liquid container for needle piercing and air flow, then the liquid can flow down through the needle, but the number of ports increases fabrication difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member integrates multiple functions into a single component: sealing the single port, providing structural support for the needle piercing, and creating multiple flow paths through its segmented or lobed structure. This merging of functions allows a single port to perform what would traditionally require multiple ports, reducing fabrication complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating multiple holes in the container wall (two-dimensional approach), the invention uses a three-dimensional segmented or lobed sealing member structure. The needle pierces this 3D structure, and the segments or lobes create multiple flow paths in the vertical dimension, achieving multi-port functionality through a single port with a complex sealing member geometry.
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 design simplifies user operation, reduces fabrication complexity and costs, and allows for efficient fluid flow with fewer ports, enhancing the usability and cost-effectiveness of the liquid feeder.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing member is made of a resilient material and has slitted portions. The sealing member is so configured that the slitted portions are spread apart when the needle pushes against the sealing member.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid feeder using a liquid container having a reduced number of ports than conventional. The liquid feeder can reduce the operational burden on the user. The liquid feeder includes the liquid container and a container holding portion that holds the liquid container. The liquid container has a container body, a sealing member, and a cap. The container holding portion has a cap receiving portion and a needle. The sealing member is made of a resilient material and has slitted portions. The cap is made of a hard material and has a cover portion that is disposed opposite to the sealing member. The cover portion is so configured as to be split along groove portions when the needle pushes against the cover portion. The slitted portions of the sealing member are spread apart when the needle pushes against the sealing member.