Plastomer Spring Captive Valve for Drip-Free Fluid Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers for skincare and cleaning products face challenges in achieving leak-free, reliable, and economical operation, especially for volatile or viscous liquids, while maintaining design flexibility and environmental sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A plastomer spring with axial compressibility and a captive valve system that includes a valve chamber with a moveable valve element and biasing spring, allowing for precise control of fluid flow and integration into existing dispensing systems, reducing the number of components and assembly steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If check valves are manufactured from the same material in an integrated moulding procedure, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but design freedom for inlet and outlet valves is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is divided into separate inlet valve and outlet valve components that can be manufactured from different materials and with different designs. This segmentation allows each valve to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump body is designed to accommodate different valve configurations and materials, providing a universal platform that can work with various valve types. This multi-functionality enables design freedom while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized interfaces.
2Ease of manufacture
If a pump is designed to be disposable and economical, then production cost is reduced, but reliability and drip-free operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is designed as a disposable component that can be economically manufactured and then discarded after use. By accepting the disposable nature, the design can focus on ensuring reliable drip-free operation during its service life without the need for long-term durability, thus achieving both low cost and high reliability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design parameters are optimized specifically for disposable application, including material selection, dimensional tolerances, and sealing configurations that ensure drip-free operation during the pump's service life while minimizing manufacturing cost. The parameters are tuned for single-use reliability rather than long-term durability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an axial force pump is used to integrate into existing dispensing systems, then adaptability to existing systems is improved, but the complexity of achieving reliable valve operation under different flow conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet valves are designed with locally optimized characteristics tailored to their specific positions and flow conditions. The inlet valve is designed for suction flow conditions while the outlet valve is designed for discharge flow conditions, allowing each to operate reliably under its local conditions without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valves are designed to dynamically respond to changing flow and pressure conditions during the pumping cycle. The valve elements can open and close in response to pressure differentials, automatically adapting to varying flow conditions without requiring complex control mechanisms, thus maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable operation.
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 solution provides a reliable, drip-free, and environmentally friendly dispensing system that is simple to produce, with enhanced design freedom for inlet and outlet valves, suitable for various fluid types, and compatible with recycling, while maintaining operational efficiency and reducing material complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a spring including a first end portion and a second end portion and one or more spring sections therebetween, which connect the first end portion to the second end portion and is compressible in an axial direction of the spring from an initial condition to a compressed condition
Implementation Method 2
the valve chamber includes a valve seat against which the first valve element may seal to prevent fluid flow through the valve chamber
Implementation Method 3
A function of the lid may be to allow positioning of the valve element within the valve chamber during a fabrication process or to allow the spring to be integrally moulded as a single part
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a fluid pump including a plastomer spring with a captive valve element provided in an integrally formed valve chamber. The spring includes a first end portion and a second end portion and one or more spring sections connecting the first end portion to the second end portion, which spring sections can be compressed in the axial direction from an initial condition to a compressed condition and can subsequently expand to their initial condition. The valve chamber is formed in the first end portion.