Reducing Sleeve for Thin Dip Tube in Fluid Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dip tubes in fluid product dispensing members are aesthetically undesirable due to visibility through transparent reservoirs and are costly when made from fluoropolymers, which are complicated to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A reducing sleeve with a radially deformable design allows for dip tubes of reduced diameter (less than 1 mm) to be used, made from cost-effective materials like polyethylene or polypropylene, which are nearly invisible and require less material, reducing the number of priming strokes needed for filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fluoropolymer material is used for dip tube to achieve invisibility in transparent reservoirs, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by replacing expensive fluoropolymer dip tubes with cheaper polyethylene or polypropylene dip tubes of reduced diameter. The cost savings from using inexpensive materials and simplified extrusion processes outweigh the aesthetic compromise, especially since the reduced diameter partially mitigates visibility issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the diameter parameter of the dip tube from the conventional 1.2 mm to a reduced diameter of 0.6-0.8 mm. This parameter change reduces material usage, manufacturing cost, and improves invisibility to some extent, while the reducing sleeve compensates for the size mismatch with the standard inlet tube.
2Quantity of substance
If dip tube diameter is reduced to less than 1 mm to reduce material cost and improve invisibility, then material quantity and cost are reduced, but compatibility with standardized inlet tubes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reducing sleeve as an intermediary component between the reduced-diameter dip tube (0.6-0.8 mm) and the standardized inlet tube (1.2 mm internal diameter). This sleeve facilitates the connection of non-standard dip tubes to standard pump inlets, enabling compatibility while maintaining the benefits of reduced material usage and improved aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into three separate components: the dip tube, the reducing sleeve, and the inlet tube. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the dip tube for minimal material usage, the sleeve for adaptability, and the inlet tube for standardization.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional polyethylene or polypropylene dip tubes are used to reduce manufacturing cost, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but visibility through transparent reservoirs worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the diameter parameter of conventional polyethylene or polypropylene dip tubes from 1.2 mm to 0.6-0.8 mm. This parameter change reduces visibility through transparent reservoirs while maintaining the manufacturing simplicity and cost advantages of these conventional materials.
4Loss of time
If dip tube diameter is reduced to reduce priming strokes, then filling time is reduced, but structural strength may be worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible polyethylene or polypropylene materials for the reduced-diameter dip tube. These materials provide sufficient structural strength and flexibility to withstand priming operations and fluid pressure despite the reduced diameter, preventing breakage while enabling faster filling with fewer priming strokes.
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 significantly reduces the visibility and material cost of dip tubes while maintaining functionality, allowing for easy assembly on conventional distribution members with standardized inlet tubes, and reduces the number of priming strokes required for filling.
Implementation Method 1
the reducing sleeve is radially deformable so that its engagement in the tubing increases the tightening of the reducing sleeve around the dip tube
Implementation Method 2
The fluid product from the reservoir is conveyed to a chamber of the pump or valve by suction after each distribution of fluid product
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~4b
Figure 5a~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a member for dispensing a fluid product, such as a pump, including a body (11) intended for being mounted in the opening of a fluid product vessel in order to collect fluid product from same, the body (11) including a fluid product chamber (15) defining a fluid product intake in the form of a tube (12), the dispensing member including a dip tube (2) intended for extending into the fluid product vessel in order to collect fluid product from same, the dispensing member also including a reducer (3) receiving therein one end (21) of the dip tube (2) and which is inserted axially into the tube (12) of the body (11), such that communication of the fluid product is established between the dip tube (2) and the chamber (15) of the body (11), characterised in that the dip tube (2) has an outer diameter smaller than 1 mm, and in that the dip tube (2) is made of a transparent or translucent material.