Modular Contactless Fluid Dispenser for Compact Installation Spaces

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid dispensers are inflexible in design, occupy too much space, and have limited fluid capacity, making them unsuitable for compact installations such as sinks or aircraft, and often require frequent refilling due to small fluid storage quantities.

Innovation Solution

A contactless fluid dispenser with a modular design, featuring a detachable holding device and working unit that allows easy access and replacement of components, a large fluid container capacity, and a compact housing that meets fire protection standards, enabling efficient operation in limited spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fluid dispensers are permanently installed on walls or integrated into surfaces, then they provide stable fluid dispensing function, but they occupy significant installation space and reduce design flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid dispensing functionVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part, with the fluid container accommodated in one part and the conveying device in the other. This segmentation allows the components to be arranged more compactly, reducing the overall installation space while maintaining the stable fluid dispensing function through the organized separation of functional elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If fluid dispensers are encased in metal to meet fire protection requirements, then they satisfy safety standards, but their installation space requirements increase and design options are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protectionVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part, with the fluid container accommodated in one part and the conveying device in the other. This segmentation allows the components to be arranged more compactly, reducing the overall installation space while maintaining the stable fluid dispensing function through the organized separation of functional elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If fluid dispensers have small fluid storage quantities, then they have compact design, but the fluid has to be replaced frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid storage capacityVSAvoidrefilling interval
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is designed with a detachable connection between the fluid container and the conveying device, allowing the fluid container to be easily replaced. This dynamic design enables quick refilling operations, reducing the time loss associated with fluid replacement while accommodating larger fluid storage capacities in the first housing part.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If fluid dispensers have fixed design shapes, then they are simple to manufacture, but they are inflexible in limited installation spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign simplicityVSAvoidinstallation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part, with the fluid container accommodated in one part and the conveying device in the other. This segmentation allows the components to be arranged more compactly, reducing the overall installation space while maintaining the stable fluid dispensing function through the organized separation of functional elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pump is designed with a detachable connection between the fluid container and the conveying device, allowing the fluid container to be easily replaced. This dynamic design enables quick refilling operations, reducing the time loss associated with fluid replacement while accommodating larger fluid storage capacities in the first housing part.

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 dispenser provides a compact, flexible solution with reduced maintenance needs, longer refilling intervals due to increased fluid capacity, and meets fire protection requirements, enhancing usability in constrained environments.

Implementation Method 1

By activating a non-contact sensor, which is usually located in the vicinity of a dispensing opening, a pump is put into operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-contact sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP4088632A1Contact-free fluid dispenser
Publication Date: 2022.11.16 SATEK GMBH
  • EP4088632A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4088632A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4088632A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Fluid dispenser (10) for contactless dispensing of a fluid, comprising a housing (12) which is divided into a first housing part (24) and a second housing part (26), wherein a fluid reservoir (34) for storing the fluid is arranged in the first housing part (24) and an electrically powered working unit (46) is arranged in the second housing part (26), which has at least one conveying device (50) and a control device (48), wherein the fluid reservoir (34) is connected to a dispensing opening (16) via the conveying device (50), and wherein the control device (48) activates the conveying device (50) to dispense the fluid via the dispensing opening (16) via a contactless sensor (62). The invention is characterized in that the second housing part (26) has a base (52) on its underside that can be detachably connected to the housing (12) and which is designed as a holding device (74) for arranging the working unit (46).