Low-Pressure Metering Pump with Dual-Level Return Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices for liquid to pasty products, especially those without preservatives, face challenges with high-pressure pumps that deliver small doses due to small metering chamber cross-sections and low-pressure pumps that are sensitive to atmospheric pressure changes, leading to accidental dispensing and potential bacterial contamination.
Innovation Solution
A low-pressure metering pump system with a resiliently deformable diaphragm and an auxiliary return member having two levels with different return forces, where the second level only acts under load, enhances the sealing and reduces accidental opening, using thermoplastic elastomer materials and a hermetically sealed vessel to maintain pressure consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high-pressure pumps (3-7 bars) are used for dispensing, then small doses can be delivered, but the metering chamber cross-section must be small which limits the dose size
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary return member is segmented into two distinct levels: a first level that maintains permanent return force and a second level that activates only under load. This segmentation allows the system to provide different force characteristics at different operating conditions, enabling larger metering chambers to function effectively at low pressure while maintaining reliable valve closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter by operating at low pressure (lower than 2 bars) compared to conventional high-pressure systems. This parameter change is made possible by the dual-level return member design, which compensates for the reduced pressure through optimized mechanical return forces, allowing larger doses to be dispensed without requiring high pressure.
2Quantity of substance
If low-pressure pumps (lower than 2 bars) are used to deliver larger doses, then the valve return forces become too weak, causing sensitivity to atmospheric pressure differences and accidental valve opening
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary return member exhibits local quality through its two levels with different mechanical characteristics. The first level provides gentle permanent return force for normal operation, while the second level provides stronger return force specifically when needed (under load or atmospheric pressure changes). This localized differentiation of mechanical properties ensures reliable valve closure without requiring high overall pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The first level of the auxiliary return member provides a permanent return force that acts as a cushioning mechanism, maintaining the valve in a closed state under normal conditions. This pre-established return force prevents accidental opening by compensating for minor pressure fluctuations before they can cause valve failure, ensuring reliability without requiring high operating pressure.
3Volume of stationary object
If low-pressure pumps are used, then larger metering chambers can be used, but the valve becomes sensitive to atmospheric pressure changes causing accidental dispensing and bacterial contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The hermetically sealed vessel is prepared in advance with controlled atmospheric pressure, and the auxiliary return member is pre-configured with its two-level force characteristics. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the device is used, the valve is already protected against atmospheric pressure changes, preventing accidental opening and bacterial contamination before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetically sealed vessel acts as an intermediary barrier between the product/valve system and the external atmospheric environment. By isolating the valve mechanism from external atmospheric pressure changes, the vessel prevents the pressure differential that would otherwise cause accidental valve opening and bacterial contamination, allowing low-pressure operation with larger metering chambers.
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 system effectively manages pressure differences and maintains a secure seal, preventing accidental dispensing and contamination while allowing for larger doses, improving the reliability and safety of dispensing devices for non-preservative products.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently deformable diaphragm able to be urged into deformation by the product when the pump is actuated
Implementation Method 2
resiliently deformable bellows defining a metering chamber arranged in connection with a push button
Implementation Method 3
comprising two resiliently deformable levels having different characteristics, the first level maintaining a permanent return force of predetermined value against the said diaphragm
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for dispensing a pasty liquid material (2) by means of a low-pressure manual metering pump (5), which is provided with an system for closing an end (32), and which is intended for a rigid or flexible container (4), the operation of said pump being ensured by: a lower check valve (11) and a metering chamber (10) which consists of a resiliently deformable bellows (9) and which is in communication with an upper valve (14) consisting of in series: a stopper (16) for the channel (13) of the spout (8), which ensures that the end (32) is closed; a resiliently deformable diaphragm (15) enabling the stopper (16) to be opened; an auxiliary return member (17) suitable for the low pressures causing the closing of the stopper (16); and a sealed vessel (18), characterized in that the resiliently deformable diaphragm (15) is combined with the vessel (18) that said diaphragm seals, wherein the auxiliary return member (17) is arranged inside said vessel so as to be permanently linked to the diaphragm (15), and said vessel includes two levels (19, 20) that are resiliently deformable according to various characteristics.