Movable Outlet Valve with Bypass Passage for Fluid Containers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for fluids and liquid mixtures face challenges in estimating the filled amount, ensuring mixing quality, and preventing backflow during filling, which is crucial for applications like hair treatment lotions where different concentrations can lead to uneven color shades.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a receiving vessel with a one-way valve and bypass passage that allows for controlled filling and emptying, preventing backflow and ensuring accurate measurement and mixing, facilitated by a movable outlet part that seals and unseals the bypass passage, and a design that allows for easy closing without additional sealing members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a one-way valve is added to prevent backflow during filling, then filling reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the one-way valve function with the movable outlet part mechanism. The outlet part serves dual purposes: controlling the bypass passage and preventing backflow through the one-way valve design, thereby reducing the need for separate components and minimizing device complexity while maintaining filling reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If a movable outlet part with bypass passage is used to control filling, then filling control is improved, but emptying operation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling controlVSAvoidemptying operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet part is designed to be movable between different positions (first position for filling with bypass open, second position for emptying with bypass closed). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same component to serve multiple functions: controlling filling through the bypass passage while automatically preventing backflow during emptying, thus improving filling control without permanently complicating emptying operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If additional closing means are added to seal the bypass passage, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes the movable outlet part itself to perform the sealing function. When the outlet part moves to the second position during emptying, its structure automatically closes the bypass passage without requiring additional sealing members. The outlet part serves its own sealing need, eliminating the requirement for separate closing mechanisms and maintaining device simplicity while ensuring sealing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This design facilitates filling without complicating emptying, ensures accurate measurement and improved mixing quality by preventing backflow and residual component washout, and maintains consistent concentrations in hair treatment lotions, ensuring uniform color shades.

Implementation Method 1

the outlet part comprises a one-way valve and at least one bypass passage bypassing the one-way valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOne-way valve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 2

in the closed position the receiving vessel seals the bypass passage and in the opened position the receiving vessels unseals the bypass passage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical sealing:

Data Source

PatentEP2328817B1container
Publication Date: 2012.10.03 KAO GERMANY GMBH
  • EP2328817B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2328817B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2328817B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A container is provided comprising a receiving vessel (12) and an outlet part (14), wherein the outlet part (14) comprises a one-way valve (24) and at least one bypass passage (32) bypassing the one-way valve (24), wherein the outlet part (14) is at least partly movable with respect to the receiving vessel (12) between a closed position and an opened position, wherein in the closed position the receiving vessel (12) seals the bypass passage (32) and in the opened position the receiving vessels (12) unseals the bypass passage (32). Due to the one-way valve (24) of the alternative container (10) the filling is facilitated without complicating emptying, since it is prevented that the content (42) of the container (10) flows back accidently.