Reusable Aerosol Can With Integrated Repressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol cans become wasteful and environmentally harmful as they lose pressure during use, requiring new cans to be purchased and often contain hazardous propellants, and existing reusable cans need additional devices for repressurization.
Innovation Solution
A manually rechargeable aerosol can with an integrated air compressing mechanism, trigger mechanism, and interfacing mechanism, allowing for refilling without external devices, using a vane or piston compressor with pressure regulation and mechanical leverage for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional aerosol cans are used, then the liquid product can be dispensed easily, but the pressure is lost during use requiring new cans to be purchased and creating environmental waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers and reuses the propellant gas by capturing it in a storage chamber during dispensing, then recompressing and re-introducing it into the aerosol can. This allows the same propellant to be used multiple times across different dispensing cycles, eliminating waste and maintaining pressure reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous pressure by continuously capturing propellant during dispensing and continuously recompressing it for reuse. The propellant is never completely depleted but is constantly recovered and recycled, ensuring uninterrupted useful action throughout the product lifecycle.
2Reliability
If reusable aerosol cans are developed, then refilling is possible, but additional external devices and knowledge of pressure specifications are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the compressor function directly into the aerosol can by integrating a compression mechanism within the can's internal cavity. This eliminates the need for external compressor devices, reducing complexity while maintaining reusability. The compressor is positioned to receive propellant from the storage chamber and deliver it to the propellant reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerosol can performs its own repressurization function through the integrated compressor mechanism. The system automatically captures propellant during dispensing, compresses it, and re-introduces it without requiring external devices or user knowledge of pressure specifications, enabling self-service refilling.
3Productivity
If compressed gas is released with the liquid product, then the liquid can be expelled from the can, but the pressure in the can is reduced and propellant is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring and capturing the propellant that would otherwise be lost during dispensing. The propellant is directed to a storage chamber, then recompressed and fed back into the propellant reservoir, creating a closed-loop system that prevents energy loss while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The propellant is continuously captured and reused throughout the dispensing process, ensuring that the pressure needed for liquid expulsion is maintained without interruption. This continuous recycling of propellant eliminates the pressure loss that would occur in traditional aerosol systems.
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 cost-effective and environmentally friendly refilling of aerosol cans by eliminating the need for external repressurization devices and ensuring safe, controlled pressure levels.
Implementation Method 1
an air compressing mechanism (also referred to as 'compressor mechanism') for pressurizing propellant in the container
Implementation Method 2
a propellant that, when pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is applied, will carry the container's inner content through the outlet and exit the container
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a manually rechargeable and reusable aerosol can system and method for refilling an aerosol can, the system comprising a container, a trigger mechanism, an air compressing mechanism and an interfacing mechanism. In one embodiment, the air compressing mechanism is a vane compressor.