Pushbutton Vortex Chamber for Uniform Aerosol Droplet Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional push buttons for dispensing systems produce aerosols with droplets of varying sizes, leading to inconsistent distribution and potential harm, as larger droplets cause stains and smaller droplets can be inhaled, while the rapid actuation of the button results in incomplete dosing and uneven distribution.
Innovation Solution
A push button design featuring a frustoconically shaped vortex chamber with tangentially opening supply channels and a dispensing orifice of equal size, which stabilizes the product flow, ensuring uniform droplet size and distribution by maintaining the product's rotation and impaction, thereby producing a calibrated aerosol with consistent droplet sizes between 10 μm and 60 μm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a vortex chamber with tangential feed channels is used to rotate the product rapidly, then the product escapes through the distribution orifice with sufficient speed to break up into droplets, but the droplet sizes become very varied (5 μm to 300 μm) due to uncontrolled fractionation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the vortex chamber, specifically using a frustoconical shape with a convergence angle between 15° and 45°, and sets the ratio between the upstream internal dimension and downstream internal dimension between 2 and 10. These parameter changes control the rotation speed and pressure distribution to achieve uniform droplet sizes (10-60 μm) while maintaining sufficient escape speed for atomization.
2Productivity
If the push button actuation is rapid (0.2 seconds for 120 μl), then the dispensing action is quick, but the aerosol production time is too short to allow user interruption and complete dose delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a variable flow rate mechanism through the frustoconical vortex chamber design, which initially provides high flow rates for rapid atomization then gradually reduces the flow rate as the chamber empties. This dynamic adjustment extends the aerosol production time from 0.2 seconds to several seconds, allowing user interruption while maintaining initial dispensing speed.
3Shape
If centrifugal force is used to exit the vortex chamber, then the aerosol forms a hollow conical envelope with majority of droplets on the envelope, but few droplets are located inside the cone which is detrimental to dermal applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric geometry in the frustoconical vortex chamber with specific convergence angles (15°-45°) to modify the symmetric centrifugal force distribution. This asymmetric design creates a more uniform droplet distribution both on the conical envelope and inside the cone, improving dermal application effectiveness while maintaining the characteristic aerosol shape.
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 achieves a uniform spatial distribution of droplets, increasing the duration of aerosol production and ensuring precise dosing, with droplet sizes remaining consistent regardless of the user's pressing force, reducing the risk of stains and inhalation hazards.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex assembly comprising a vortex chamber provided with a distribution orifice as well as at least one feed channel for said chamber, said vortex chamber being delimited by a lateral surface having a frustoconical geometry with respect to which the feed channel(s) extend in a transverse plane
Implementation Method 2
the feed channels open tangentially into the vortex chamber, which is cylindrical in revolution to rotate the product very rapidly
Implementation Method 3
said lateral surface being convergent from an upstream end into which the downstream end of the supply channel(s) opens tangentially towards a downstream supply opening of the distribution orifice
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a pushbutton for a system for dispensing a pressurized substance, said pushbutton including a body (1) having a housing (10) provided with an anvil (11) around which a spray nozzle (12) is mounted so as to form a substance dispensing path between the housing (10) and a swirl array including a swirl chamber (22) provided with a dispensing port (23) as well as at least one supply duct (24) for said chamber (22), said swirl chamber (22) being defined by a side surface (25) having a frusto-conical shape relative to which the supply duct(s)(24) extend(s) in a transverse plane, said side surface (25) tapering from an upstream end (26) into which the downstream end of the supply duct(s)(24) tangentially extends, to a downstream supply opening (27) of the dispensing port (23), said dispensing port (23) having an outlet size that is equal to the internal size of said downstream opening (27).