Pump Actuator Head Nozzle Rotation Control

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing pump actuator heads in fluid dispensers often provide misleading resistance cues, making it difficult for users to accurately rotate the nozzle between open and closed positions, leading to accidental actuation and leakage.

Innovation Solution

A reinforcing ring is inserted into the nozzle's cylinder to enhance the mechanical resistance of the guiding protrusion, providing a clearer indication of the rotation limits by increasing the torque required to override the limiting and slowing down mechanisms, thus preventing unintended nozzle position changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guiding protrusion is made thinner to allow easier rotation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the protrusion deforms too easily and provides misleading resistance cues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of rotationVSAvoidposition indication accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding protrusion is segmented into two parts: a thin-walled guiding protrusion for ease of rotation and a reinforcing ring for structural strength. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the thin wall provides easy rotation while the reinforcing ring prevents excessive deformation and provides reliable position indication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding protrusion combines two different structural elements - the thin-walled cylinder portion and the reinforcing ring - into a composite structure. This composite design allows the system to benefit from both the flexibility of the thin wall and the rigidity of the reinforcing ring, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the guiding protrusion is made thicker to increase resistance, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because more torque is required to rotate the nozzle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition indication accuracyVSAvoidease of rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding protrusion is segmented into two parts: a thin-walled guiding protrusion for ease of rotation and a reinforcing ring for structural strength. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the thin wall provides easy rotation while the reinforcing ring prevents excessive deformation and provides reliable position indication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcing ring is strategically placed at the guiding protrusion where structural strength is needed for reliable position indication, while the rest of the cylinder wall remains thin for ease of rotation. This local quality approach ensures that stiffness is applied only where necessary without compromising overall operability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the resistance of the guiding protrusion is increased to provide clearer position indication, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the user must apply more force to override the resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition indication clarityVSAvoidforce required for rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding protrusion is segmented into two parts: a thin-walled guiding protrusion for ease of rotation and a reinforcing ring for structural strength. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the thin wall provides easy rotation while the reinforcing ring prevents excessive deformation and provides reliable position indication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameters of the guiding protrusion by adding a reinforcing ring, which modifies the torque-resistance characteristics. The ring increases the torque required to override the position indication while maintaining reasonable ease of rotation, thus adjusting the parameter balance between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10384222B2Pump actuator head

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 ALBEA LE TREPORT

AI summary

The pump actuator head includes a base cap adapted for mounting on a container neck portion and provided with a central hole and a nozzle rotatably mounted on the base cap along an X-axis, and being movable between an operable or open position and an inoperable or closed position. The nozzle has a hollow cylinder centered along the X-axis, having a lower part inserted into the central hole of the base cap, and is provided with a guiding protrusion axially extending from the peripheral wall of the cylinder. The nozzle also has a dispensing nose extending from the cylinder and defining a dispensing channel. The base cap includes means provided in the inner face of the base cap for limiting or slowing the rotation of the nozzle. Finally, the guiding protrusion interferes with the means for limiting and for slowing down the rotation of the nozzle when turning the nozzle.