Metered Dosing Bottle With Float Valve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Chemical products dispensed from containers often fail to apply the proper amount per surface area, leading to inefficiency and potential damage due to excessive application.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system with a container having a main chamber and a dosing chamber, where the dosing chamber is configured to hold a metered amount of product, and a spray nozzle connected via a dip tube, which includes a float valve to prevent air entry and indicate when the product level is low, allowing for precise application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If chemical products are dispensed from a container without metering control, then dispensing is simple and fast, but the proper amount per surface area cannot be applied leading to waste and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two separate chambers: a main chamber for storing the bulk product and a dosing chamber for holding the metered amount. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity while achieving precise dosing, as the dosing chamber acts as a pre-measured portion that can be easily transferred to the spray head.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing chamber is pre-filled with a specific metered amount of product from the main chamber before use. This preliminary action of measuring and transferring a precise amount in advance eliminates the need for complex real-time metering mechanisms during dispensing, thus maintaining system simplicity while ensuring accurate application.
2Measurement precision
If a dosing chamber is added to meter product accurately, then proper amount per surface area is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the container into main and dosing chambers, the system achieves accurate metering through physical division rather than complex mechanical or electronic metering mechanisms. The dosing chamber itself becomes the metering device, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing chamber is designed to be automatically filled from the main chamber through a dip tube when the bottle is tilted, eliminating the need for manual measurement or complex automated metering systems. The system self-regulates the transfer of product based on gravity and chamber geometry.
3Ease of operation
If the spray bottle is tipped to fill the dosing chamber, then product transfer is simple, but air may enter the dip tube when the dosing chamber is empty
Solution Approach 1:
The float valve provides visual feedback about the product level in the dosing chamber and automatically responds by opening or closing to prevent air entry. When the product level drops, the float valve closes to seal the dip tube, preventing air from being drawn in during subsequent tipping operations. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable operation without complicating the simple tipping-based transfer mechanism.
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
Ensures accurate and efficient application of a predetermined amount of product to a surface area, preventing waste and potential damage, while alerting users when refilling is needed.
Implementation Method 1
air is prevented from entering the dip tube when the dosing chamber is empty by closing a float valve secured to the dip tube within the dosing chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for accurately measuring and dispensing a predetermined amount of product from a dispensing system to a given surface area is disclosed. The dispensing system (100) includes a container (102) having a main chamber (106) to hold product and a dosing chamber (108) having an opening (110) in communication with the main chamber (106). The dosing chamber (108) is configured to hold a metered amount of product (112) received from the main chamber (106). A spray head (128) when connected to the container (102) is brought into operable and fluid communication with a dip tube (114), optionally cut to a selected length, which is positioned within the dosing chamber (108) for dispensing by activation of a trigger (136) product (112) to a given surface area or air space.