Resealable Can Tap With Hollow Pin for Stable Refrigerant Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current can taps for refrigerant containers are not resealable, leading to waste and environmental issues, and they often provide inconsistent flow rates due to the need to find a 'sweet spot' for optimal dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A can tap design featuring a housing with a pin and gasket, where the pin has a blunt depressor to operate the can's valve and a flow portion for consistent fluid flow, allowing for resealing and improved usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a needle-shaped pin is used to pierce the thin metal seal, then the can can be opened for dispensing, but the can cannot be resealed and can only be used once
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism is segmented into a removable seal component and a permanent can body. The seal can be opened and closed multiple times independently of the can structure, enabling repeated use while maintaining ease of opening through the same piercing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system transitions from a static pierced-hole design to a dynamic resealable mechanism. The seal incorporates movable components that allow it to transition between open and closed states, providing adaptability for multiple uses while preserving the simple piercing action for opening.
2Ease of operation
If the needle-shaped pin is inserted too far into the can, then the seal is fully breached, but the needle pin blocks the flow of contents out of the can
Solution Approach 1:
The pin design adds a dimensional solution by incorporating a hollow interior space. This allows the pin to extend fully through the seal for effective penetration while the hollow channel provides an unobstructed pathway for refrigerant flow, eliminating the blocking problem of solid pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow pin acts as an intermediary flow channel between the seal breach and the dispensing outlet. It mediates between the need for full seal penetration and the need for unobstructed flow by providing its own internal passage way for the refrigerant.
3Ease of operation
If the needle-shaped pin is not inserted far enough, then the hole in the metal seal is small, but the flow of material out of the can is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the flow pathway from the external seal hole dimension to the internal pin hollow channel dimension. This allows the pin to be inserted to any depth while maintaining consistent flow through the internal hollow passage, decoupling insertion depth from flow rate.
4Productivity
If the pin is drawn completely out to achieve optimum flow, then the flow rate is maximized, but the technician may not fully disengage the pin when refrigerant starts flowing
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow pin design provides visual feedback through its transparent or translucent material, allowing the technician to see the pin's position and the refrigerant flow status. This feedback mechanism guides the technician to fully disengage the pin when appropriate, improving operational consistency without requiring practice to find a 'sweet spot'.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are can taps for dispensing fluids from containers. The can tap has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a pin. The pin has a flow portion in fluidic communication with the inlet and the outlet of the housing. The pin may have a blunt depressor capable of operating a valve on the container. The flow portion of the pin allows fluid to flow between the housing and the pin. The can tap may have a gasket comprising a material having a hardness that prevents deformation of the container.