Piston Pump Air Injection to Maintain Container Shape Under Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers face challenges in maintaining the shape and appearance of closed containers under vacuum conditions, as they either require substantial strength to prevent collapse or result in fluid wastage and unsightly appearance when collapsible.
Innovation Solution
A piston pump system that discharges atmospheric air into the container during operation to maintain constant reservoir volume, preventing vacuum formation and ensuring the container remains full, thus maintaining its shape and appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-way vacuum release valve is used to relieve vacuum in the bottle, then the vacuum can be relieved when substantial vacuum is developed, but the bottle still requires sufficient strength to resist collapse under vacuum conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pump introduces air into the container before a substantial vacuum can develop, preventing vacuum conditions from occurring in the first place. This preliminary action eliminates the need for vacuum relief valves and strong bottle walls, as the vacuum is prevented proactively rather than relieved reactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the vacuum relief function from a passive valve system and replaces it with an active pump system that continuously manages pressure. This removes the need for the bottle to withstand vacuum forces, as the pump maintains positive or neutral pressure inside the container.
2Productivity
If a collapsible bottle or flexible plastic bag is used to contain fluid, then the bottle can collapse to accommodate fluid volume reduction, but the bottle may trap fluid in portions that cannot be dispensed and creates an unsightly appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The pump acts as a counterbalance to the collapsing force by introducing air to offset the vacuum pressure. This prevents the bottle from collapsing while allowing the fluid to be fully dispensed, maintaining both the bottle's shape and preventing fluid entrapment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter inside the container from negative (vacuum) to positive or neutral by introducing air. This parameter change prevents bottle collapse and ensures complete fluid dispensing while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance throughout the dispensing process.
3Shape
If the bottle is made with sufficient strength to resist collapse under vacuum, then the bottle maintains its shape and appearance, but the bottle requires more material and thicker walls
Solution Approach 1:
The pump performs a preliminary action by introducing air before vacuum conditions can develop, eliminating the need for heavy-duty bottle construction. This proactive pressure management allows the use of lighter materials while maintaining bottle shape.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the pressure parameter from negative to positive/neutral through air introduction, the invention eliminates the need for high structural strength. This allows the bottle to be constructed with lighter materials and thinner walls while still maintaining its shape and appearance.
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 system effectively prevents container collapse and maintains the appearance of a full container, allowing for the use of lighter materials and thinner walls while ensuring consistent fluid dispensing without wastage.
Implementation Method 1
Expansion of the liquid chamber causes liquid to flow from the container past the liquid inlet valve (122, 422) into the pump chamber
Implementation Method 2
Compression of the liquid chamber causes liquid to flow from the pump chamber past the liquid outlet valve
Implementation Method 3
Compression of the air pump chamber causes air to flow through the filter and past the one-way air inlet valve into the container
Data Source
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AI summary
A piston pump (10) for dispensing fluid from a closed container (11) in which during the cycle of operation to dispense fluid, atmospheric air is discharged into the container or reservoir in order to reduce a vacuum that might otherwise be created within the container (11).