Fluid Dispenser Pump Shutter Sealing Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispenser pumps face issues with contamination due to delayed sealing and deformation of dispensing heads, particularly in nasal spray applications, where shutters exert excessive force, leading to loss of tightness and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser pump design featuring a shutter that cooperates in three distinct sealing zones, reducing the force exerted on the dispensing head and maintaining tightness during the actuation and return strokes, with a spring-driven mechanism that ensures reliable sealing without deforming the head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shutter is biased by a spring to ensure sealing in the closed position, then sealing reliability is improved, but the thrust exerted on the dispensing head causes deformation and loss of tightness
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is divided into two functional parts: a central portion that contacts the dispensing head for sealing, and a peripheral portion that engages with the pump body. This segmentation allows the spring force to be distributed between two sealing interfaces, reducing the concentrated thrust on the dispensing head while maintaining sealing reliability through the dual sealing zones.
2Reliability
If sealing is achieved at the very end of the return stroke, then sealing tightness is improved, but a time interval allows contamination between dispensing and closing
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is designed to perform preliminary sealing action at two stages: first, the peripheral portion seals against the pump body early in the return stroke to prevent contamination at the inlet; second, the central portion seals against the dispensing head before the end of the return stroke to close the dispensing orifice. This preliminary action eliminates contamination risks by establishing seals before contamination can occur.
3Ease of operation
If sealing is lost from the very beginning of the actuation stroke, then product dispensing flexibility is improved, but a time interval allows contamination during actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter dynamically transitions between two sealing configurations during actuation. Initially, the peripheral sealing zone is active while the central sealing zone disengages to allow product flow. As actuation progresses, the shutter rotates and the central sealing zone engages to close the dispensing orifice. This dynamic behavior ensures contamination-free operation while maintaining dispensing flexibility.
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 design ensures leaktightness, reduces contamination risks, and maintains the integrity of the dispensing head, providing a safe, reliable, and cost-effective solution for fluid product dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
A spring 50, preferably single and preferably out of any contact with the fluid , is arranged in the pump to return the first piston 72 to its rest position and the shutter 38 to its closed position after each actuation of the pump.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~5c
AI summary
A pump for dispensing a fluid product, having a pump body, at least one first piston sliding in a sealed manner in said pump body in order to discharge a quantity of fluid product on each actuation through a dispensing orifice (45) provided in a dispensing head (40), an open/close element (38) which is able to move between a closed position and an open position being arranged in said dispensing head (40) upstream of said dispensing orifice (45), said open/close element (38) being forced towards its closed position by a resilient element such as a spring, said open/close element (38) engaging in the closed position in a sealed manner with said dispensing head (40) in at least three separate sealing regions (381, 382, 383).