Metering Valve Spring Element for Aerosol Membrane Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metering valves for aerosol generators face challenges in allowing filling after closure without an elastic or specifically shaped flexible membrane, and in accommodating different doses using the same mold with minimal part changes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spring element within the reservoir that deforms towards the bottom wall when the valve is open and returns to its initial shape when closed, allowing the flexible membrane to automatically reset, along with a mold design that enables interchangeable parts for varying valve configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a simple flexible membrane is used without elasticity or specific shape, then material compatibility with propellant gases is improved, but the membrane cannot return to its initial position after valve closure
Solution Approach 1:
A spring element is introduced as an intermediary component between the flexible membrane and the rigid wall. This spring element provides the necessary restoring force to return the membrane to its initial position after valve closure, while allowing the membrane itself to be made from simple, propellant-compatible materials without requiring special elasticity or complex shaping.
2Ease of manufacture
If the same mold is used to manufacture valves with different doses, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the mold must accommodate multiple configurations requiring part changes
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is divided into a fixed base structure and interchangeable inserts. The inserts contain the cavity definitions and can be swapped to create different valve configurations and doses. This segmentation allows the majority of the mold to remain reusable while only requiring changes to the insert components, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold base is designed with universal features that can accommodate multiple inserts. A single mold base structure serves multiple functions by working with different inserts to produce various valve types and doses, maximizing mold reusability while maintaining flexibility for different product requirements.
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
Enables filling after closure without an elastic membrane and facilitates the use of the same mold for different doses by ensuring the flexible membrane returns to its initial position without pressure difference, improving the metering process and accommodating various volumes.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element is placed inside the reservoir, this spring element being designed to deform in the direction of the bottom wall, allowing the flexible membrane to approach the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to resume its initial shape as soon as the valve returns to the closed position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 6~13b
AI summary
The invention relates to a metering valve assembly (1) for closing the housing of an aerosol generator, comprising, in particular - a valve body (3) provided with a transfer chamber (31) in which a valve (5) is housed, being able to move between a closed position in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the interior of the housing, but is not in contact with the exterior, and an open position in which, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, the transfer chamber is in contact with the exterior, but is not in contact with the interior of the housing, and - a reservoir (4) in contact with the transfer chamber, consisting of a rigid wall (41) and a flexible membrane (42), said rigid wall having a flat peripheral edge (411) for attaching the flexible membrane and a bottom wall (413) located inside the peripheral edge, said reservoir being placed on the valve assembly in such a way that, when the valve assembly is mounted on a housing, it is inside the housing. According to the invention, a spring element (43) is placed inside the reservoir, said element being designed to deform in the direction of the bottom wall (413) by allowing the flexible membrane (42) to move towards the rigid wall when the valve is in the open position and to regain its initial shape once the valve returns to the closed position. Moreover, the spring element (43) consists of a sintered plate having a convex face facing the flexible membrane (42) and a concave face facing the rigid wall (41).