Pump Assembly with Shield to Contain Lateral Spray and Stray Droplets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers, particularly those for sanitizers and alcogels, face issues with uneven dispensing, caking of nozzles leading to partial blockages, and stray droplets that can contaminate surfaces and users, due to the lack of focused delivery and secure nozzle retention during actuation.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly with an upper and lower sleeve configuration, featuring a shield around the nozzle to limit spray angles and ensure focused delivery, where the nozzle is recessed within the shield and the domed continuous surface aids in force transmission and containment of spray, preventing unwanted droplet emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle axial extent is increased to ensure more focused delivery, then the spray focus is improved, but the exposure to lateral spray increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shield component that adds a spatial dimension around the nozzle, creating a three-dimensional containment structure. This shield extends radially outward from the nozzle axis, forming a protective barrier that captures lateral spray without requiring increased nozzle length, thus resolving the contradiction between spray focus and lateral exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield acts as an intermediary element between the nozzle and the surrounding environment. It intercepts and redirects lateral spray droplets, preventing them from reaching adjacent surfaces and users. The shield's curved surface design optimally redirects droplets back toward the central spray axis, maintaining focused delivery while eliminating harmful lateral dispersion.
2Reliability
If a longer nozzle is used to improve focused delivery, then the spray directionality is improved, but the nozzle becomes more exposed to lateral spray
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the nozzle axially in one dimension, the patent adds radial protection through the shield component. This creates a multi-dimensional solution where the shield's radial extension provides lateral containment while the nozzle maintains its original axial length and directionality, preventing both spray dispersion and nozzle exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield functions as a protective shell surrounding the nozzle assembly. Its curved, continuous surface design efficiently redirects lateral spray droplets while maintaining a compact overall structure. The shield's geometry is optimized to capture droplets at various angles and redirect them toward the central spray path.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle is made more secure during actuation, then the delivery accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the shield's structural support function with the nozzle retention function. The shield is positioned and configured to provide both lateral spray containment and axial support to the nozzle during pump actuation. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate retention mechanisms, maintaining delivery accuracy while avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it contains lateral spray, supports the nozzle during actuation, and maintains proper nozzle positioning. This multi-functionality approach allows the device to achieve secure nozzle retention and accurate delivery without adding dedicated retention mechanisms that would increase complexity.
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 hygienic, economical, and robust pump assembly that ensures focused fluid delivery with reduced stray droplets, easy manufacturing, and simplified assembly, maintaining cleanliness by containing spray within the shield.
Implementation Method 1
movement of the lower sleeve towards the upper sleeve causes the pump chamber to reduce in volume
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a pump assembly having slidingly engaged upper and lower sleeves, and a pump having inlet and outlet ends and a pump chamber therebetween. Movement of the lower sleeve towards the upper sleeve causes the pump chamber to reduce in volume. The outlet end of the pump has a shoulder between a first diameter portion and an outlet nozzle extending downwardly from the shoulder and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter portion. The lower end of the lower sleeve includes a shied extending from a lowermost rim upwards and inwards to terminate at an orifice that is larger than the second diameter but smaller than the first diameter portion. The shoulder supporting against a lip of the orifice and the outlet nozzle extending through the orifice to terminate at a dispersion location within the shield at a distance L from the orifice.