Multi-Lumen Foam Dispensing for Stable Output After Idle Periods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foam-at-a-distance dispensing systems experience foam breakdown when not used frequently, leading to liquid formation at the bottom of the dispense tube due to prolonged inactivity.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system with an above-deck nozzle, a reservoir, a pump with separate liquid and air chambers, and a multi-lumen dispense passage that maintains a higher liquid-to-air ratio, ensuring consistent foam formation by separating and sequencing the pumping of air and liquid through a mixing chamber before dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air and liquid are mixed together below the counter in a long dispense tube, then foam can be dispensed above the counter, but the foam breaks down and forms liquid at the bottom of the tube during lengthy time periods between dispenses
Solution Approach 1:
The dispense tube is segmented into multiple lumens (at least one liquid lumen and at least one air lumen) that remain separate throughout the passage length. This prevents premature mixing and foam breakdown while allowing controlled mixing only at the dispensing point, thereby maintaining foam stability during extended idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mixing chamber as an intermediary component located at the dispensing point (above the counter) where air and liquid finally combine to form foam. This delayed mixing approach ensures that the dispense passage remains free of foam during idle periods, preventing breakdown and liquid formation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cross-sectional area of liquid lumens is at least three times the cross-sectional area of air lumens, then consistent foam formation is ensured, but the device complexity increases with multi-lumen passage design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a particular parameter relationship where the cross-sectional area of liquid lumens is at least three times that of air lumens. This parameter control ensures proper foam formation consistency while the multi-lumen passage design, though structurally complex, maintains functional simplicity through standardized geometric relationships.
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 system maintains foam quality by ensuring air and liquid are mixed at the point of use, preventing breakdown and maintaining a consistent foam output even after extended periods of inactivity.
Implementation Method 1
a pump disposed below the counter, The pump comprises at least one liquid pump chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir, at least one air pump chamber
Implementation Method 2
a mixing chamber disposed between the multi-lumen dispense passage and the dispenser outlet; and a foaming cartridge. The pump comprises at least one liquid pump chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir, at least one air pump chamber, and a pump outlet having a liquid outlet and an air outlet separated from one another
Data Source
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AI summary
A dispensing system includes an above-deck nozzle portion, a reservoir for holding fluid, a foam pump, a multi-lumen dispense passage, and a mixing portion. The above-deck nozzle portion has a dispenser outlet and is disposed above a counter. The foam pump is disposed below the counter and includes at least one liquid pump chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir, at least one air pump chamber, and a pump outlet. The multi-lumen dispense passage includes an inlet, an outlet, at least one liquid lumen, and at least two air lumens. The inlet is in fluid communication with the pump outlet, the outlet is in fluid communication with the dispenser outlet, and the at least one liquid lumen and the at least two air lumens are each in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet of the multi-lumen dispense passage. The mixing portion is disposed between the multi-lumen dispense passage and the dispenser outlet.