Oral Care Reservoir Flow Disrupter for Vortex-Free Intake

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high flow rate in oral care systems creates vortices at the intake valve, leading to air introduction and reduced water pressure, which decreases the efficacy of the oral care treatment, and existing solutions like vortex plates are difficult to clean, allowing bacterial growth.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a fluid flow disrupter at the bottom surface of the reservoir with magnetic support legs and a magnetic ring on the intake valve, allowing lateral fluid flow and easy removal for cleaning, or submerging the disrupter in liquid to prevent vortex formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If a vortex plate is used to prevent vortex formation, then water pressure is maintained, but cleaning difficulty increases and bacterial growth occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater pressureVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vortex plate is divided into multiple segments that can rotate relative to each other, allowing the structure to be easily cleaned by rotating the segments to access all surfaces, while still maintaining the vortex prevention function during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vortex prevention structure is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be rotated or moved into different positions for cleaning purposes, while returning to its functional position during operation to maintain water pressure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the pump operates at high flow rate, then treatment efficacy is improved, but vortex formation increases leading to air introduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidair introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vortex prevention structure is positioned upstream in the fluid path to counteract vortex formation before it can develop fully, preventing air bubbles from being drawn into the pump while allowing high flow rates to continue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Stress or pressure

If a fixed vortex prevention structure is used, then water pressure is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater pressureVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vortex prevention structure serves multiple functions: it prevents vortex formation during operation, can be moved or rotated for cleaning, and may incorporate magnetic or acoustic features for additional functionality, reducing the need for separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 fluid flow disrupter effectively reduces or prevents vortex formation, maintaining water pressure and allowing for easy cleaning to prevent bacterial growth, thereby enhancing the oral care treatment's efficacy and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

magnetic support legs and a magnetic ring on the intake valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic interaction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS20250092891A1Disrupting fluid flow in a fluid reservoir

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 FRESH HEALTH INC

AI summary

An oral care system includes a fluid reservoir, a check intake valve, and a pump configured to cause fluid to be provided from fluid reservoir to an oral insert of the oral care system via the check intake valve. The fluid reservoir includes one or more fluid flow disrupters.