Manual Fluid Pump Hermetic Stem Seal and Pressure Equalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manually operable pumps allow air, gas, or liquid to pass between the outer surface of the stem and the ring cap, leading to contamination and leakage of fluid substances, especially when used on containers with pressurized contents, and require excessive force to operate due to internal pressure.

Innovation Solution

A pump design featuring a cup-shaped body with a sealed ring cap, an annular piston, and a hollow stem that maintains a hermetic seal between the stem and the ring cap, using a unidirectional valve and a spring mechanism to control fluid dispensing, with a passageway connecting the upper chamber to the outside to equalize pressure and prevent contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a passageway is provided between the stem outer surface and the ring cap hole surface to allow air entry, then atmospheric air can penetrate into the container to maintain pressure, but external air deteriorates the fluid substance characteristics and fluid can seep or leak to the outside

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure maintenanceVSAvoidcontamination and leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A valve mechanism acts as an intermediary between the container interior and the passageway, selectively allowing air to enter while preventing fluid leakage and contamination. The valve opens to permit air flow when pressure differential requires it, but closes to block fluid substance from escaping through the same passageway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal between the stem and ring cap is enhanced with selective properties: it remains permeable to air when the valve is open for pressure equalization, but becomes impermeable to fluid substances when the valve closes, creating different functional qualities for different substances through the same structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pump is used on containers with pressurized contents, then the pump can dispense pressurized fluids, but excessive force is required to operate the pump

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressurized fluid dispensingVSAvoidoperational force
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The piston and valve system dynamically adapts to pressure conditions: the valve automatically opens or closes based on the pressure differential between the container interior and exterior, and the piston moves in response to pressure changes, reducing the manual force required to operate the pump while maintaining effectiveness with pressurized contents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 pump effectively prevents contamination and leakage by maintaining a hermetic seal, reducing the operational force required for dispensing pressurized fluids and allowing easy priming, ensuring efficient and contamination-free dispensing of fluid substances.

Implementation Method 1

a spring mechanism to control fluid dispensing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a unidirectional valve and a spring mechanism to control fluid dispensing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 3

maintains a hermetic seal between the stem and the ring cap, preventing air, gas or liquid from passing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHermetic seal: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP1991362B1Pump for manually dispensing a fluid substance sealed in a container
Publication Date: 2013.03.13 LUMSON SPA
  • EP1991362B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1991362B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~5

AI summary

A pump enabling a fluid substance to be manually dispensed through a hollow stem (5) projecting from a hole in a ring cap sealedly applied to one end of a pump, the stem (5) being sealedly translate within said hole in the ring cap, which in its turn can be sealedly mounted on the mouth of a container containing the fluid substance to be dispensed.