Refillable Fluid Dispenser Retention Chamber for Clean Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refillable fluid dispensers, such as nomadic dispensers, suffer from cleanliness issues at the filling port due to residual fluid product that can stain objects, limiting their widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A chamber is introduced between the filling port and the filling valve with retention means to retain fluid product inside, preventing leakage and ensuring cleanliness by using anti-drip devices, variable volume changes, or spongy materials to keep the filling port free of fluid after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a filling port is provided in refillable dispensers for refilling with fluid product under pressure, then the dispensers can be refilled easily, but residual fluid product remains at the filling port causing cleanliness problems and potential staining
Solution Approach 1:
The filling system is divided into separate functional zones: the filling port for refilling, the chamber for fluid reception and retention, and the reservoir for storage. This segmentation allows the filling port to be separated from the fluid storage area, enabling easy refilling while preventing residue from reaching the port.
Solution Approach 2:
A chamber is introduced as an intermediary element between the filling port and the reservoir. This chamber receives fluid product from the filling port, retains it during filling operations, and prevents it from remaining at the filling port, thus eliminating the harmful residue effect while maintaining easy refilling capability.
2Productivity
If the filling valve opens under pressure from injected fluid product, then the filling operation is simple and efficient, but fluid product can leak or drip after the valve stem is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is prepared in advance to receive and retain fluid product before it can leak or drip. The retention means are positioned and ready to immediately capture fluid product as it exits the filling valve, preventing any leakage or dripping from occurring.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-driven fluid product that could potentially cause harmful leakage is instead directed into the chamber where the retention means convert this pressurized flow into beneficial fluid retention. The same pressure that risks causing leakage is harnessed to drive fluid into the retention chamber where it is safely contained.
3Volume of moving object
If nomadic dispensers with reduced volume reservoirs are used, then portability is improved, but the filling port cleanliness problem becomes more significant due to frequent refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The compact dispenser is segmented into small reservoir, chamber with retention means, and filling port. This segmentation allows the small reservoir to be refilled frequently while the retention means in the chamber prevent contamination during each refilling operation, addressing the cleanliness issue that arises from frequent refilling of portable dispensers.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber with retention means serves as an intermediary that protects the filling port during frequent refilling operations. Each time the small reservoir is refilled, the retention means capture any excess fluid product, preventing it from contaminating the filling port and surrounding areas, thus enabling frequent refilling without cleanliness problems.
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 chamber effectively retains fluid product, maintaining the filling port clean and preventing stains, applicable to various viscosities of fluids including perfumes and cosmetics, and preventing backflow.
Implementation Method 1
a slotted flexible membrane that opens under the action of the fluid product injected under pressure through the filling port and that remains closed and sealed in the non-operating state
Implementation Method 2
the chamber can have a variable volume between a maximum volume in the non-operating state and a minimum volume when a pressure is applied at the filling port, creating thus a suction effect of the fluid product towards the inside of the chamber
Implementation Method 3
the spongy material can fill the chamber, except for a central passage that directly connects the filling port to the filling valve. For each injection of fluid product under pressure into the chamber, the spongy material is crushed and drains its fluid product content and as soon as the pressure returns to a normal pressure, the spongy material relaxes and is impregnated with the fluid product which remains in the chamber
Implementation Method 4
the filling valve is a hydraulic valve that opens under the action of the fluid product injected under pressure through the filling port and the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A refillable fluid product dispenser having a fluid product reservoir defining a neck and a filling port; a dispensing member, such as a pump, mounted on the neck of the fluid product reservoir for extracting the fluid product; a filling valve; a chamber separating the filling port from the filling valve. The chamber has a retention mechanism for retaining the fluid product inside the chamber.