Multilayer Fluid Bag with Rigid Neck and Valve for Vacuum Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for containing fluid substances face challenges in maintaining a vacuum atmosphere and isolating the substance from the external world effectively, particularly when filling and sealing the bag to prevent air from entering.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a flexible bag made from multilayer materials like PE-AL-PE or PE-PET-PA, with a rigid neck made from a different material, incorporating a cup-shaped element and a valve system that allows for hermetic sealing and controlled filling under vacuum conditions, ensuring the bag is completely empty of air before filling and using a pumping member to inject the substance while preventing air ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flexible bag with rigid neck is made from one and the same thermoplastic material, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the barrier protection efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is constructed using multilayer composite materials (such as PE-AL-PE, PE-AL-PA, or OE-AL-EVOH) that combine different material properties: polyethylene layers provide flexibility and sealing, while aluminum or EVOH layers provide superior barrier properties against gas and moisture penetration. This composite structure achieves both manufacturing feasibility and enhanced barrier protection.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bag is filled after mounting the pumping member in the neck, then the assembly process is simplified, but air may enter the bag during filling
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is filled with the fluid substance before the pumping member is mounted in the neck. The neck is then sealed to the bag, and only after this sealing is complete is the pumping member installed. This sequence prevents air from entering the bag during the filling process while maintaining assembly simplicity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the neck is made from a rigid plastic material and firmly associated with the bag, then the structural stability is improved, but the isolation from external world is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The neck is designed with a cup-shaped structure that provides rigid support and structural stability, while incorporating a valve element with a movable closure that creates a hermetic seal. This localized sealing mechanism maintains isolation from the external world while the rigid neck structure provides stability.
4Reliability
If a valve element is added to control filling and prevent air ingress, then the sealing efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element includes a movable closure that automatically opens during filling to allow substance entry and automatically closes during pumping to prevent air ingress. The spring mechanism provides automatic resetting, creating a self-regulating system that maintains sealing efficiency without requiring external control mechanisms.
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 device effectively maintains a vacuum environment within the bag, ensuring the substance remains isolated from the external world, allowing for efficient filling and storage without air contamination, enhancing the barrier protection and filling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The pumping member P is suitable for creating in the bag (2) a vacuum (with respect to the ambient pressure) ranging from approximately 250 to 600 millibars
Implementation Method 2
the polycoupled (PE-AL-PE, PE-AL-PA, OE-AL-EVOH, PE-PET-PE, PE-PET-PA) film materials are particularly advantageous materials in that they offer an optimum protection to the substance contained in the bag
Implementation Method 3
the upper edge (20A) and the lower edge (20B) are hermetically closed
Data Source
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AI summary
The device for containing a fluid substance, comprising a bag (2, 2') comprises at least one flexible side wall (2A, 2B, 2'A, 2'B), a substantially rigid neck (3, 3') delimiting an opening giving access to an internal cavity of the bag (2, 2'), shaped in such a way as to at least partially accommodate a pumping member (P, P') for pumping the fluid substance, and provided with connection means (4, 4') for its connection to an external container (10, 10'). The bag (2, 2') is made from a multilayer material, and the neck (3, 3') is made from a material different from that of the bag (2, 2') and comprises a cup-shaped element (30, 30') comprising a bottom wall (31, 31') provided with at least one opening (32, 32'), and a side wall (33, 33') on the outer surface (34, 34') of which the upper edge (20A, 20'A) of the bag (2, 2') is hermetically connected. The device comprises a valve element (5, 5') suitable for being moved at least from an opening position, wherein the valve element (5, 5') makes it possible to access the internal cavity of the bag (5, 5'), and a closing position, wherein the valve element (5, 5') inhibits the access to said internal cavity of the bag (2, 2').