Pump Follower Seal With Compressible Channel for Material Retention

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pump followers are inefficient in capturing viscous material from containers, resulting in significant material loss and disposal issues, as they fail to capture all material within the drum, leading to substantial waste and contamination risks.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a pump follower with a sealing element featuring a channel that compresses and decreases in size upon insertion, providing enhanced contact with the container walls and reducing material loss through improved retention and compliance, allowing for more efficient material removal and reduced waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a conventional pump follower is used to remove viscous material from containers, then the pump follower can be inserted and driven toward the bottom of the drum, but significant material loss occurs as the follower is unable to capture all material within the drum

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial lossVSAvoidmaterial capture efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible sealing element that contacts the inner wall of the drum to prevent material from passing through the gap between the follower body and drum wall. The sealing element acts as a flexible barrier that adapts to the drum surface, ensuring complete material capture without loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element's cross-sectional area is reduced by forming a channel through it, which decreases the material's resistance to the sealing element and facilitates easier insertion of the follower into the drum while maintaining effective sealing contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of substance

If a sealing element is added to improve material capture, then material loss is reduced, but the mechanical requirements for insertion increase requiring larger, more powerful machinery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial lossVSAvoidinsertion force

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element's cross-sectional area is reduced by forming a channel through it, which decreases the material's resistance to the sealing element and facilitates easier insertion of the follower into the drum while maintaining effective sealing contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element is designed to be compressible, allowing it to deform during insertion to reduce resistance, and then expand to provide effective sealing contact once the follower is in position, dynamically adapting to the insertion process requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a solid sealing element is used to prevent material loss, then material capture is improved, but the insertion process becomes more difficult due to increased resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial capture efficiencyVSAvoidinsertion ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element's cross-sectional area is reduced by forming a channel through it, which decreases the material's resistance to the sealing element and facilitates easier insertion of the follower into the drum while maintaining effective sealing contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element is segmented by forming a channel through it, creating a hollow structure that reduces material interaction and resistance during insertion, while the outer surface maintains sealing contact with the drum wall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 significantly reduces material loss and waste, enhances material capture, and simplifies the mechanical requirements for insertion, enabling smaller, less powerful machinery and lower operational costs while maintaining cleanliness and reducing contamination risks.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing element is configured to be compressed when the pump follower is inserted into the container, such that the channel decreases in size

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS12007028B2Bulk unloader follower seal

Publication Date: 2024.06.11 NORDSON CORP

AI summary

A pump follower for use in a container storing a material includes a body configured to be inserted into the container, the body having a material contacting surface configured to contact the material in the container and a peripheral surface substantially perpendicular to the material contacting surface. A groove is defined on the peripheral surface of the body and a sealing element is disposed in the groove and configured to slidably contact the container. The sealing element has a channel defined within, where the sealing element is configured to be compressed when the pump follower is inserted into the container, such that the channel decreases in size. A sealing element for use with a pump follower is also disclosed. The sealing element has a body has an outer surface, a first side, and a second side, and a channel defined within the sealing element body.