Peristaltic Pump Hose Channels for Electrohydrodynamic Atomizer Nozzles

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electrohydrodynamic atomization processes, particularly for care products like sunscreen, individual nozzles often clog, leading to an additional volume flow being applied to other open nozzles, compromising the quality of the atomization process.

Innovation Solution

A pump system with multiple hose channels, each connected to a separate atomizer nozzle, ensures that each nozzle receives a dedicated fluid supply, allowing for forced fluid flow that prevents clogging and maintains consistent volume flow, using a hose package with individual hose channels and pump rotors to manage the fluid delivery efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single hose channel is used to supply multiple nozzles, then the device complexity is reduced, but nozzle clogging occurs and atomization quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose channel configurationVSAvoidnozzle clogging
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single hose channel is divided into multiple separate hose channels, with each channel dedicated to supplying a specific nozzle. This segmentation prevents fluid from one nozzle from entering another nozzle, eliminating the clogging problem while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic organization of the multiple channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple separate hose channels are used for each nozzle, then nozzle clogging is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle clogging preventionVSAvoidhose channel configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual hose channels are nested within a single integrated hose assembly structure. The hose channels are arranged in parallel and bundled together, allowing each nozzle to have its dedicated channel while the overall assembly maintains a compact, organized form factor that minimizes the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If fluid flow is forced through clogged nozzles, then the pump volume flow increases to compensate, but the atomization quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump volume flowVSAvoidatomization quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system prevents clogging from occurring in the first place by providing dedicated hose channels for each nozzle, ensuring that fluid is delivered cleanly to each nozzle opening. This preliminary prevention eliminates the need for compensatory volume flow increases and maintains consistent, high-quality atomization throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures reliable electrohydrodynamic atomization by preventing nozzle clogging and maintaining consistent fluid flow to each nozzle, enhancing process reliability and allowing for finer atomization by creating a hydraulically generated free jet that interacts with electrohydrodynamic forces outside the nozzle, improving the atomization effect.

Implementation Method 1

Peristaltic pumps, also known as rotary pumps or hose pumps, are also known from the prior art. These pumps operate on the principle of a positive displacement pump, propelling a fluid forward through the mechanical deformation of a hose section.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Implementation Method 2

the fluid is then subjected to a high voltage to effect electrohydrodynamic atomization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrohydrodynamic atomization: Electrohydrodynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3899278B1Pump system
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 J WAGNER GMBH
  • EP3899278B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3899278B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3899278B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a pump system for an atomizer nozzle system having at least two atomizer nozzles, in particular for an electrohydrodynamic atomizer, and to a method for operating an electrohydrodynamic atomizer, wherein the pump system comprises at least one hose assembly, and at least one pump rotor (7) and at least one rolling body (6) for forming a rolling region of a peristaltic pump, wherein the hose assembly comprises at least the same number of hose channels as the number of atomizer nozzles and each hose channel is associated with an atomizer nozzle and connects it to the rolling region.