All-Plastic Hand Pump With Dome Spring and Water-Resistant Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-operated dispensing pumps with metal components face issues of rust contamination, water ingress through vents, and difficulty in recycling due to the need for disassembly to remove metal parts.
Innovation Solution
A hand-operated dispensing pump made entirely from plastic materials, featuring a new vent configuration and a dome-shaped elastic spring, eliminating metal components and incorporating a ball check valve for efficient operation and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal components are used in the pump, then structural strength is improved, but corrosion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pump utilizes a composite construction combining aluminum alloy components with protective coatings and rubber elements. The aluminum alloy provides structural strength while rubber gaskets and coatings provide corrosion resistance, creating a composite system that achieves both requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs replaceable rubber gaskets and seals that can be easily replaced when worn. These consumable components protect the permanent metal structure from corrosion and wear, allowing the main pump body to remain in service indefinitely while inexpensive replacement parts maintain sealing functionality.
2Reliability
If the pump is designed for water resistance, then reliability in wet environments is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into distinct segmented components including the pump body, impeller, gaskets, and housing sections. Each segment can be manufactured separately using optimized processes and then assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining water resistance through proper sealing interfaces between segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs rubber gaskets and flexible sealing elements that conform to mating surfaces, providing effective water resistance without requiring complex precision machining or welding of sealing joints. These flexible films and shells simplify the manufacturing of waterproof connections.
3Reliability
If multiple materials are used in the pump, then corrosion resistance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rubber gaskets and flexible seals are used as intermediaries between metal components, providing tolerance compensation and ensuring reliable sealing without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances. The flexibility of these elements allows for minor dimensional variations in the metal parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber gaskets serve as intermediary elements between dissimilar metal components, facilitating assembly and ensuring proper sealing. These intermediaries absorb dimensional variations and misalignments that would otherwise require high manufacturing precision, while also providing corrosion isolation between different metal materials.
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 all-plastic design prevents rust contamination, reduces water ingress, and facilitates easy recycling without disassembly, enhancing product integrity and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic dome spring which acts as a compression spring
Implementation Method 2
A lower end of the pump body is configured to accept a ball style check valve
Implementation Method 3
a ball check valve for efficient operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A water resistant hand pump fabricated entirely from plastic components is provided. The pump comprises a pump housing, actuator, piston, chaplet, stem and a pump spring where the pump spring is in the form of an elastic dome made from an elastomeric polymer. The all plastic hand pump is suitable for dispensing liquids and creams from a dispenser bottle. Used pumps do not require disassembly to be recycled.