Pump Lock Cylinder Retention Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking features in pumps are prone to unlocking during handling, shipment, and delivery in e-commerce, leading to leakage issues, and there is a need to enhance locking retention without increasing cost or required force.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a lock cylinder and piston stem with interacting locking features, such as ramps, bumps, and leaf springs, that increase the torque or force needed to unlock the piston stem, along with additional frictional features and contact points to secure the pump in a locked position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional locking features are used in pumps, then the pump can be easily unlocked and relocked during operation, but the locking feature becomes unintentionally unlocked during handling, shipment, and delivery in e-commerce
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system uses a spring-loaded plunger that dynamically adjusts between locked and unlocked states. The spring provides continuous force to maintain the locked position, while the plunger can be pushed to overcome the spring force and unlock. This dynamic mechanism ensures the pump remains locked during handling but can be easily unlocked when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded plunger applies preliminary locking force before any unlocking action occurs. The spring is pre-compressed to exert continuous pressure on the locking surface, creating an initial anti-action that prevents unintentional unlocking during shipping and handling, while still allowing easy unlocking when deliberate force is applied.
2Reliability
If locking features are designed to prevent unintended unlocking during shipping, then leakage is reduced, but the force required to unlock the pump increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking surface is designed with specific local geometric features including angled surfaces and contact points that concentrate force efficiently. The spring applies force at a specific location on the plunger, while the plunger transfers this force to a localized locking surface on the pump body, creating an effective locking mechanism that doesn't require excessive overall force to operate.
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 enhanced locking system effectively prevents unintended disbursement of products by requiring a specific force to unlock, thereby reducing leakage and maintaining the pump in a locked position during handling and delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the lock cylinder may include a leaf spring feature that may apply a force against a locking feature of a piston stem to help retain the piston stem in a locked position
Implementation Method 2
additional frictional feature and contact points may be added to components of a pump assembly to increase the force required to disengaged a locked piston stem and lock cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Locking features of a pump system may include projections and corresponding features on a piston stem and lock cylinder of a pump system such that the features are configured to require an increased amount of force to rotate and unlock the piston stem from the lock cylinder.