Nested Boat Fitment for Fluid Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensing devices often result in erratic fluid volume delivery due to user-dependent squeezing mechanisms and can suffer from leakage and clogging issues, leading to inconsistent dispensing and increased pressure requirements.
Innovation Solution
A metered dispensing device with a flexible container and a two-piece configuration, featuring a one-way intake valve and a separate one-way output valve, which allows for controlled fluid flow through a metering chamber, ensuring consistent volume delivery and reducing leakage by using a heat-sealable design with notches and pass-through apertures for efficient fluid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a flexible container with a nozzle tip is used for dispensing fluid material, then the device is simple in structure, but the fluid volume delivered is erratic and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a flexible container for storage, a metering chamber for precise volume control, and a dispensing mechanism with valves for controlled release. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, achieving consistent fluid delivery while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A metering chamber acts as an intermediary between the flexible container and the dispensing nozzle. This intermediate component measures and controls the fluid volume before it reaches the user, ensuring consistent delivery amounts while allowing the flexible container to remain simple in structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a one-way check valve is provided at the exit port to prevent leakage, then leakage is reduced, but the valve becomes partially clogged over time requiring additional pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve function is extracted from the exit port and relocated to the metering chamber. By removing the valve from the traditional exit location and placing it within the metering mechanism, the system prevents leakage during storage while avoiding the clogging issue that occurs with continuous pressure application at the exit port.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-way valve is positioned to perform its sealing function preliminarily during the filling phase of the metering chamber, preventing leakage before dispensing occurs. This preliminary action eliminates the need for continuous valve operation during use, preventing clogging while maintaining leakage prevention.
3Reliability
If additional pressure is applied to overcome valve clogging, then fluid flow is maintained, but more fluid material is deposited than desired
Solution Approach 1:
The metering chamber serves as an intermediary volume that decouples the pressure application from the fluid delivery. Pressure is applied to the metering chamber to move fluid through the one-way valve, but the chamber's fixed volume ensures that only the precise amount needed for dispensing is delivered, preventing over-dispensing while maintaining reliable flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional mechanical valve control mechanism with a volume-based metering approach. Instead of controlling fluid delivery through pressure regulation of a valve, the system uses a fixed-volume metering chamber that naturally limits the amount of fluid delivered regardless of pressure variations.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the container must be held upright to avoid leakage, then leakage is prevented, but the device lacks flexibility in application configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve positioned within the metering chamber acts as an intermediary that prevents leakage regardless of container orientation. This internal valve mechanism eliminates the need for upright positioning requirements, allowing the device to be used flexibly in various application configurations while maintaining leakage prevention.
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 provides consistent and controlled fluid dispensing with reduced manufacturing time, overcoming leakage and clogging issues, and allowing for flexible application configurations by modifying the button and base plate design for quicker heat sealing and improved fluid flow.
Implementation Method 1
A one-way intake valve and a separate one-way output valve, which allows for controlled fluid flow through a metering chamber
Implementation Method 2
using a heat-sealable design with notches and pass-through apertures for efficient fluid distribution
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A fluid dispensing device includes a container made from a flexible material defining an interior fluid storage region, a flexible metering housing having a metering chamber in fluid communication with the fluid storage region, the flexible metering housing having a button heat sealed to a base plate, a unidirectional intake valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing and a unidirectional output valve in fluid communication with the flexible metering housing. The base plate has an extension with a recessed notch, a first tapered portion, and a second tapered portion opposite the first tapered portion with respect to the recessed notch, and the button has an extension and a notch corresponding to the extension and the recessed notch of the base plate.