Multi-Diaphragm Foam Pump with Sequential Liquid and Air Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispenser systems struggle to efficiently dispense liquids in the form of foam by mixing them with air, often requiring complex mechanisms or inefficient methods.
Innovation Solution
The development of sequentially activated multi-diaphragm foam pumps that include a housing, drive motor, and a molded multi-chamber diaphragm with separate liquid and air pump chambers, allowing for sequential actuation and mixing of liquid and air to create a foam product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex mechanisms are used to mix liquid with air for foam dispensing, then foam creation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines liquid pumping and air pumping functions into a single integrated diaphragm assembly. The multi-chamber diaphragm includes both liquid pump chambers and air pump chambers that operate sequentially to mix liquid and air, eliminating the need for separate pumping mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining foam creation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The diaphragm assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a liquid pump and an air pump, provides sequential actuation of both fluids, and facilitates mixing. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall dispenser mechanism
2Productivity
If sequential actuation of liquid and air pumps is implemented, then foam mixing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single actuator to simultaneously control both liquid pump diaphragms and air pump diaphragms through a shared wobble plate mechanism. This unified actuation system achieves sequential pumping action without requiring separate control mechanisms for each pump, maintaining efficiency while limiting complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The wobble plate mechanism converts rotational motion into sequential reciprocating motion of multiple diaphragms. This periodic action ensures that liquid and air are pumped in a controlled sequence, with each diaphragm actuating at the appropriate time to achieve efficient mixing without complex timing mechanisms
3Manufacturing precision
If separate liquid and air pump chambers are used, then foam quality control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm is divided into multiple sealed chambers - liquid pump chambers and air pump chambers - that operate independently but are integrated in a single assembly. This segmentation allows precise control over liquid and air volumes separately, enabling consistent foam quality while maintaining a compact unified structure that limits overall complexity
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 solution enables efficient creation and dispensing of a foam product with controlled air-to-liquid ratios, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a drive motor that is configured to sequentially compress the liquid pump diaphragm and the air pump diaphragms
Implementation Method 2
a mixing chamber downstream of the liquid pump chamber and the air pump chambers for mixing liquid and air to form a foamy mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A foam dispenser includes a housing, a drive motor, and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a pump housing, and a molded multi-chamber diaphragm. The molded multi-chamber diaphragm includes a liquid pump diaphragm having a liquid pump stem and two or more air pump chambers each having an air pump stem. The length of the liquid pump stem is longer than the air pump stem. The foam pump further includes one or more outlet valves, a mixing chamber, an outlet for dispensing foam wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the foam cartridge; and an actuator for sequentially actuating the liquid pump chamber and the two or more air pump chambers, wherein there is lost motion between the actuator and the liquid pump diaphragm.