Reusable Sprayer With Segmented Cartridge and Pressure Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sprayer devices are limited by being single-use, costly to produce, environmentally detrimental, and lack user-friendly, cost-effective, and safe features for dispensing ready-to-use liquids.
Innovation Solution
A reusable sprayer with a secure cartridge attachment, manual or electrical pressure-charging mechanism, extendable wand, and reduced waste, featuring a closure assembly and pump system that minimizes exposure and enhances application control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If single-use spray devices are used, then manufacturing cost per device is reduced, but environmental harm increases and device reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray device is divided into two segments: a reusable applicator body and a disposable cartridge containing the chemical liquid. This segmentation allows the expensive, complex components (pump, valve, trigger mechanism) to be reused indefinitely, while only the liquid container is discarded, significantly reducing environmental harm compared to single-use devices while maintaining low per-unit manufacturing costs for the disposable portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables recovery and reuse of the applicator body, pump mechanism, and control systems after the cartridge is depleted. The reusable components can be refilled with multiple cartridges over time, extending the device lifecycle from single-use to multi-use, thereby reducing waste and environmental impact while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
2Device complexity
If single-use spray devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable and disposable components, the system achieves simple disposable cartridges while maintaining a sophisticated reusable applicator body that includes a pump, pressure charging mechanism, and spray control system. This allows extended spray duration through refilling with multiple cartridges while keeping the disposable unit simple to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable applicator body with its pump and pressure charging system can continuously operate with multiple cartridges, providing extended spray duration and productivity. The system maintains continuous useful action by allowing users to refill the applicator body with new cartridges rather than discarding the entire device, thereby extending the operational lifecycle significantly beyond single-use devices.
3Reliability
If secure cartridge attachment is implemented, then safety improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is extracted and simplified to focus solely on the critical safety function of securing the cartridge to the applicator body. The design uses a straightforward mechanical interface with a latch or snap-fit system that ensures the cartridge is securely held during operation but can be easily removed when empty, achieving high safety without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple mechanical intermediary element, such as a latch, clip, or snap-fit mechanism, mediates between the cartridge and applicator body to ensure secure attachment. This intermediary component provides reliable connection and safety features while maintaining simplicity in the overall attachment mechanism, avoiding complex systems.
4Duration of action of moving object
If pressure-charging mechanism is added, then spray duration increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-charging mechanism is designed to be self-service, using the kinetic energy from the user's manual pumping action to generate the necessary pressure for spray operation. The pump mechanism automatically charges the pressure chamber as the user operates it, eliminating the need for external power sources, batteries, or complex electronic pressure regulation systems, thereby extending spray duration without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic pressure generated by a manual pump mechanism to drive the liquid from the cartridge through the spray system. The pressure charging mechanism creates a pressurized environment that extends spray duration and improves spray pattern control without requiring complex electronic or mechanical systems, leveraging basic pneumatic principles to achieve extended operation.
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 provides a cost-effective, user-friendly, and environmentally friendly sprayer that reduces waste, increases spray duration, and enhances safety by allowing secure cartridge attachment and efficient liquid dispensing with improved application control.
Implementation Method 1
a pump system that minimizes exposure and enhances application control
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A spray device for dispensing chemicals is disclosed. The spray device comprises a cartridge defining an interior compartment for containing a liquid product, an applicator having a support body, an extendable wand attached to the support body, a handle at a rear end of the support body, and a pump.