Piston Pump Air Severance for High-Viscosity Fluid Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piston pumps fail to effectively dispense high viscosity flowable materials like hand creams and toothpastes due to inadequate air severance, as they require a full stroke to inject air, which is not operational during partial strokes.
Innovation Solution
A piston pump design that incorporates both a liquid pump and an air pump, where the liquid pump discharges fluid in one stroke and the air pump displaces it in an opposite stroke, using transfer ports and valving arrangements to ensure complete fluid expulsion even during partial strokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is injected into the passageway to sever the fluid stream, then complete fluid expulsion from the discharge outlet is achieved, but the pump cannot operate during partial strokes
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is segmented into two independent pumping systems: a liquid pump for dispensing fluid and an air pump for severing the fluid stream. Each pump operates independently with its own piston and valve arrangement, allowing the air pump to function during partial strokes while the liquid pump handles full stroke operation. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling air injection capability without requiring complete piston travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly achieves multi-functionality by integrating both liquid pumping and air pumping capabilities within a single device. The air pump serves the universal function of severing fluid streams regardless of stroke completeness, while the liquid pump handles fluid dispensing. This multi-functional design allows the system to adapt to varying operational requirements including partial strokes.
2Reliability
If the piston is moved through a full stroke to inject air, then air severance is achieved, but the pump is not operative during partial strokes
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping action is segmented into liquid displacement function and air injection function, each handled by separate pump mechanisms. The air pump is specifically designed to provide air severance during its operational phase regardless of whether the liquid pump completes a full stroke, thereby maintaining productivity while ensuring reliable air severance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The air pump operates periodically to sever the fluid stream at appropriate intervals during the pumping cycle. This periodic air injection occurs at moments when the liquid pump is completing its discharge phase, ensuring complete fluid expulsion from the discharge outlet without requiring the piston to complete a full stroke in every cycle.
3Quantity of substance
If high viscosity flowable material is dispensed, then the material can be pumped, but complete expulsion from the discharge outlet becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Air acts as an intermediary substance that enters the passageway and directly contacts the high viscosity fluid at the discharge outlet. This air injection serves as a mediator that forces the remaining fluid out of the passageway, effectively completing the expulsion process for viscous materials that cannot be fully discharged by piston pressure alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs pneumatic action by introducing compressed air into the liquid passageway to assist in fluid expulsion. The air pressure works in conjunction with the liquid pump pressure to overcome the high viscosity forces retaining the fluid in the passageway, ensuring complete discharge of thick materials like hand creams and toothpastes.
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
Enables efficient dispensing of high viscosity fluids by ensuring all fluid is expelled from the discharge outlet, regardless of the piston's stroke, improving the operational efficiency of the pump.
Implementation Method 1
discharge air into the passageway to displace the fluid from the passageway through the outlet
Implementation Method 2
In a liquid discharge stroke of the liquid pump, the liquid pump discharges liquid through a passageway to a discharge outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for dispensing flowable fluids by dispensing the flowable fluid through a passageway leading to a discharge outlet in one stroke of a piston pump and, in a second opposite stroke of the piston pump, discharging air into the passageway to displace the fluid from the passageway through the outlet.