Manually Operated Pump With Ring-Nut Volume Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manually operated pumps require specific design changes to dispense different volumetric amounts, necessitating separate parts and manufacturing processes for each volume, leading to inefficiencies in production and management.

Innovation Solution

A manually operated pump design that allows selection of dispensing volume through the positioning of parts during assembly, enabling both airless and vented configurations without altering the pump's structure, using a ring nut in two alternative assembly positions to determine different dispensing volumes and configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If specific pump designs with projected parts are created for each predetermined volume, then the dispensing volume requirement is met, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispensing volume precisionVSAvoidpump design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump design incorporates a universal mechanism where a single pump body can accommodate multiple dispensing volumes by allowing the piston to be positioned at different locations. The piston can be placed in first and second positions within the pump body, each position corresponding to a different dispensing volume. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pump designs for different volumes, reducing device complexity while maintaining precise dispensing volume control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If separate parts and manufacturing processes are used for each volume, then the dispensing volume is optimized, but the manufacturing cost and inventory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispensing volume controlVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single pump body design serves multiple functions by accommodating pistons at different positions to achieve different dispensing volumes. This universality allows manufacturers to produce only one type of pump body, reducing manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements while maintaining the ability to dispense different volumes through piston repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump mechanism allows dynamic repositioning of the piston within the pump body to change the dispensing volume. The piston can be moved between first and second positions, enabling the same pump hardware to adapt to different dispensing requirements without requiring separate manufacturing processes for each volume configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pump structure is altered for different volumes, then the dispensing capability is improved, but the adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume selection flexibilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump employs a dynamic piston positioning system where the piston can be repositioned within the pump body to achieve different dispensing volumes. This dynamic adjustment mechanism provides adaptability for different volume requirements without altering the fundamental pump structure, maintaining simplicity while enabling versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pump body is segmented to accommodate multiple piston positions, with distinct first and second positions defined within the pump body structure. This segmentation allows the piston to be placed at different locations to achieve different volumes, providing adaptability without requiring structural alterations to the overall pump design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4412771B1Manually operated pump
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SILGAN DISPENSING SYST MILANO SRL
  • EP4412771B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4412771B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4412771B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A manually operated pump (1), comprising a cup-shaped body (2) inside which a piston (3) - coupled with a hollow stem (4) for the movement thereof within the cup-shaped body (2) - sealingly slides, the pump being equipped with a base (5) which seals the cup-shaped body (2) and which is endowed with a hole (11) for the stem (4), the said stem (4) and the base (5) being torsionally coupled, at least part of the cup-shaped body (2) and of the piston (3) delimiting a compression chamber (6) coupled with at least one suction valve element (8) and with a delivery valve element (9), the said delivery valve element (9) being in communication with a cavity in the stem (4), a dispensing button (10) being sealingly fitted on the stem (4), the said button (10) and the stem (4) being mutually constrained so that the button rotates, in a limited manner, around an axis (A) of the stem (4) between a first dispensing position and a second closed position, in which at least one tooth (D) of the button abuts a surface (13) of a ring nut (12) so as to prevent a stem (4) stroke; the ring nut (12) can be coupled torsionally to the base (5) or to the cup-shaped body (2) in at least two alternative assembly positions, such that, if the ring nut (12) is in its first assembly position and the button (10) is in the dispensing position, a first groove (S1) of the ring nut faces the tooth (D) which can slide in it up to a first end-stroke (F1), allowing a first stroke of the stem (4) and which, if the ring nut (12) is in its second assembly position and the button (10) is in the dispensing position, a second groove (S2) of the ring faces the tooth (D) which can slide in it up to a second end-stroke (F2), allowing a second stroke of the stem (4) different from the first stroke of the stem, so that, during the assembly of the pump, the positioning of the ring nut (12) in the first or second assembly position (2) determine a first or second dispensing volume of the pump.