Removable Fluid Dispenser Lever Assembly for Fast Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers with manual levers are difficult to replace without significant disassembly, making maintenance and replacement cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A removable lever assembly is designed where a stop member on the housing can be moved to allow the lever to be disengaged and removed without disassembling the dispenser, utilizing a spring-biased lever actuator and fulcrum mechanism that allows for both pivoting and longitudinal movement for easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lever is fixed securely to the housing with engagement features, then the lever stability and reliability are improved, but the lever becomes difficult to remove and replace
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is designed to be movable between a first position that limits lever rotation and a second position that permits removal. This dynamic element allows the system to transition from a secure engaged state to a removable state, resolving the contradiction between stability and replaceability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever assembly is segmented into removable components including the lever, actuator, and spring that can be separated from the housing. The longitudinal locating members are designed to disengage independently, allowing partial disassembly for lever replacement without complete system disintegration.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lever requires significant disassembly for replacement, then the structural integrity and security of the dispenser is maintained, but the maintenance time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is pre-positioned in a first position that limits lever rotation during normal operation, providing structural integrity. Before maintenance is needed, the stop member can be moved to a second position that facilitates quick lever removal, eliminating the need for significant disassembly during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever assembly is designed to be extractable from the housing through an access opening. The longitudinal locating members and stop member work together to allow the lever to be taken out without removing other dispenser components, reducing maintenance time while preserving structural integrity.
3Reliability
If the lever is designed with multiple engagement features for secure mounting, then the lever reliability is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple engagement functions are merged into integrated components. The longitudinal locating members on both the lever and housing provide both positioning and engagement functions. The stop member combines rotation limiting with removal permitting capabilities, reducing the total number of separate components while maintaining mounting security.
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
Enables the lever to be easily inserted, removed, and replaced without disassembling the dispenser, improving maintenance efficiency and allowing for customization of lever configurations for different fluid dispensing requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member biasing the element axially outwardly to the extended position
Implementation Method 2
pivot the lever member about the fulcrum member in a first rotational direction about a fulcrum axis
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for mounting of a lever member to a housing in which a stop member which normally limits rotation of the lever member about a fulcrum is movable to a position which permits the lever member to be disengaged from the housing and removed.