Precompression Pump Outlet Valve Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-compression pumps face challenges in ensuring reliable and reproducible fluid dispensing due to the difficulty in achieving a balance between the rigidity and deformability of outlet valves, which can lead to malfunctioning caused by manufacturing tolerances and actuation speed variations.
Innovation Solution
A pump design featuring a piston with an integral or separate outlet valve member that slides in a pump body with passage means, such as grooves or splines, ensuring leak-tight operation during actuation and non-leak-tight operation at the end of the stroke to expel fluid, regardless of user actuation speed, with a spring mechanism for fluid expulsion and return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outlet valve is made sufficiently rigid to maintain sealing during actuation, then sealing reliability is improved, but the valve becomes difficult to open at the end of actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet valve member transitions from a static sealing component to a dynamic element that changes its sealing state during actuation. During the actuation stroke, the valve member maintains leaktight sealing with the pump body. At the end of actuation, the valve member automatically transitions to a non-leaktight state through the interaction with passage means (grooves or splines), enabling fluid expulsion without requiring complex external opening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing parameter of the outlet valve member changes during the actuation cycle. The valve member is designed to provide leaktight sealing during the majority of the stroke, then transitions to a non-leaktight state at the end of actuation through controlled interaction with the passage means. This parameter change allows the same component to satisfy both sealing and opening requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the outlet valve is made sufficiently deformable to open easily, then ease of opening is improved, but sealing reliability during actuation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the outlet valve member have different functional properties. The valve member is designed with specific geometric features that provide leaktight sealing in the actuation region while maintaining the ability to transition to a non-leaktight state at the end of stroke through interaction with passage means. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of reliable sealing and easy opening.
3Reliability
If manufacturing tolerances of the outlet valve are tight to ensure reliable operation, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet valve member is designed to self-regulate its sealing and opening functions through its interaction with the passage means in the pump body. The valve member automatically transitions from a leaktight state during actuation to a non-leaktight state at the end of stroke, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms and reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing and opening functions are segmented into different phases of the actuation cycle rather than requiring a single complex mechanism. The valve member handles sealing during actuation, while the interaction with passage means handles the opening function at the end of stroke. This functional segmentation simplifies the overall design and reduces manufacturing complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If the pump design uses a simple outlet valve structure, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability of fluid dispensing deteriorates due to premature valve opening
Solution Approach 1:
The passage means (grooves or splines) in the pump body act as an intermediary mechanism between the outlet valve member and the fluid expulsion function. The interaction between the valve member and passage means controls the timing of valve opening, ensuring it occurs only at the end of actuation when fluid expulsion is desired, thereby preventing premature opening while maintaining a simple valve structure.
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 design ensures reliable, reproducible, and complete dispensing of fluid contents, simplifies manufacturing and assembly, and prevents premature outlet valve opening, enhancing the pump's operational reliability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a spring being released at the end of actuation after an outlet valve has opened, so that the dose of fluid contained in the pump chamber is expelled by said spring
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid dispenser pump having a piston secured to an actuator rod that slides in a pump body that includes a pump chamber defined between an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The outlet valve has an outlet valve member, wherein, during actuation, the outlet valve member slides in leaktight manner in the pump body, the pump body including a passage formed by at least a pump body portion of greater inside diameter, so that, at the end of actuation of the pump, the outlet valve member co-operates in non-leaktight manner with the passage so as to open the outlet valve, so as to enable the fluid contained in the pump chamber to be expelled.