Multi-Chamber Container With Movable Piston Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-chamber containers fail to effectively prevent the inadvertent mixing of substances during dispensing, as substances from one chamber can flow into another, despite efforts to isolate them.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber container design featuring movable members and a closure system that isolates and then fluidly connects storage chambers with outlet zones, allowing for controlled dispensing of predetermined volumes of substances while maintaining separation, using pistons and a divider to manage fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rib members are provided between discharge openings to hinder substance flow, then substance separation is improved, but the container structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separate storage chambers for different substances, with each chamber having its own discharge opening. The rib members segment the discharge pathways to prevent cross-contamination while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Rib members act as intermediary elements between the discharge openings of different chambers. These ribs create physical barriers that hinder substance flow from one chamber to another during dispensing, preventing inadvertent mixing without requiring complex valve mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a closure system with movable members is used to isolate outlet zones, then substance separation during dispensing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system employs movable members that can dynamically adjust their positions to isolate or connect outlet zones. The members are biased to default closed positions but can be actuated to open when needed, providing adaptive control over substance flow while maintaining separation during normal dispensing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable members are equipped with biasing mechanisms that automatically return them to their closed positions after actuation. This self-service feature eliminates the need for manual resetting or complex control systems, reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliable substance separation.
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 design ensures that substances are kept separate during dispensing, minimizing the risk of mixing and allowing for precise control over the volumes dispensed, enhancing the container's functionality in preventing unintended substance interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a first member movable between a closed position, at which the first member seals the first inlet to isolate the first storage chamber from the first outlet zone
Implementation Method 2
a closure movable relative to the body between (a) a first position, at which the closure isolates the first and second outlet zones from an exterior of the container
Implementation Method 3
the first member comprises a first piston disposed in the first inlet and the second member comprises a second piston disposed in the second inlet
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a multi-chamber container for dispensing flowable substances, comprising: a body having: a first storage chamber for storing a first flowable substance, a second storage chamber for storing a second flowable substance, a first inlet that fluidly connects the first storage chamber with a first outlet zone, a second inlet that fluidly connects the second storage chamber with a second outlet zone, a first member movable between a closed position, at which the first member seals the first inlet to isolate the first storage chamber from the first outlet zone, and an open position, at which the first storage chamber is in fluid communication with the first outlet zone, and a second member movable between a closed position, at which the second member seals the second inlet to isolate the second storage chamber from the second outlet zone, and an open position, at which the second storage chamber is in fluid communication with the second outlet zone; and a closure movable relative to the body between (a) a first position, at which the closure isolates the first and second outlet zones from an exterior of the container, and the first and second members are prevented from moving to their respective closed positions, and (b) a second position, at which the first and second outlet zones are in fluid communication with the exterior of the container, and the first and second members are moved to their respective closed positions.