Multi-Reservoir Liquid Dispensing Pump to Prevent Product Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine dispensing systems require multiple metering pumps for different liquid products, leading to high costs, bulky designs, and risks of product mixing and drying, which complicates operation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A device with a single metering pump and separate fluid connections to multiple liquid product reservoirs, using a piston-driven pumping chamber and hydraulic pressure system to minimize contact and allow for cleaning, reducing the need for multiple solenoid valves and enabling efficient distribution of various liquid products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple metering pumps are installed to dispense different liquid products, then the dispensing capability for multiple liquid products is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple liquid product supply functions into a single metering pump by providing multiple separate inlets that all feed into one pumping chamber. This allows one pump to handle multiple liquid products sequentially, eliminating the need for multiple pumps while maintaining the ability to dispense different products.
Solution Approach 2:
The single metering pump is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating multiple separate inlets for different liquid products. The pump chamber can receive and process different liquid products through different inlets, making the single pump capable of performing multiple dispensing functions that would traditionally require multiple specialized pumps.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple metering pumps are installed for different liquid products, then the dispensing versatility is improved, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple liquid product supply paths into a single metering pump assembly with multiple inlets. This merging of functions into one compact unit significantly reduces the spatial footprint compared to installing separate pumps for each liquid product, while maintaining full dispensing versatility.
3Device complexity
If liquid products are supplied through a common passage, then the device complexity is reduced, but the risk of product mixing and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid passages by providing separate, dedicated inlet passages for each liquid product that converge only at the pumping chamber inlet. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination and product mixing in the supply lines while maintaining structural simplicity, as each passage remains independent until the final mixing point at the pump chamber.
4Device complexity
If a single metering pump is used for multiple liquid products, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the risk of drying and blocking in the metering part increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a cleaning mechanism that performs preliminary cleaning action by flushing the pumping chamber with liquid from the reservoirs during operation. This continuous flushing prevents liquid products from drying and crystallizing in the metering chamber, thereby preventing blocking and maintaining reliability despite using a single pump for multiple products.
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 solution allows for the cost-effective and reliable dispensing of multiple liquid products with minimal footprint, preventing product mixing and drying, and enabling efficient operation and maintenance by using a single metering pump and hydraulic pressure system.
Implementation Method 1
a piston (19) mounted in translation in a body (18) of the metering pump (18), and said liquid product pumping chamber (16) being disposed downstream of said piston (19) in the direction of flow of a liquid product in said device (10)
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid product dispensing device (10) comprises a liquid product pumping chamber in fluid communication with at least two liquid product reservoirs, wherein each liquid product reservoir is fluidly connected to said liquid product pumping chamber by at least one passage duct (25), and where said passage ducts (25) fluidically connecting said at least two liquid product reservoirs to said liquid product pumping chamber are separated and respectively comprise an inlet opening directly into said liquid product pumping chamber. Use in particular in a domestic washing machine, of the washing machine or dishwasher type.