Rotary Vane Foam Pump With Integrated Air-Liquid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam dispensing systems are complex and expensive, making them less desirable for producing foamed fluids effectively.
Innovation Solution
A simplified rotary vane pump arrangement that integrates an air inlet and a foamable fluid inlet, with a foam generator to produce foam, driven by an electric motor for efficient and cost-effective foam dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simplified rotary vane pump arrangement is used, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but foam production capability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air pumping and fluid pumping functions into a single integrated rotary vane pump assembly. The rotor chamber-forming member houses both air and fluid inlets, allowing simultaneous intake of both substances through the same mechanical structure, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining foam production capability
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary vane pump assembly performs multiple functions: it acts as both an air pump and a fluid pump, and also serves as a mixing chamber. The vanes create expanding and compressing chambers that simultaneously handle air intake, fluid injection, mixing, and foam generation, making the device multi-functional and reducing the need for separate components
2Device complexity
If air and fluid are mixed in a single rotor chamber, then the number of components is reduced, but mixing effectiveness must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic mixing within the rotor chamber where the vanes create continuously changing chamber volumes during rotation. The expanding chambers during the intake stroke and compressing chambers during the discharge stroke create turbulent mixing conditions, ensuring effective homogenization of air and fluid without requiring separate static mixing chambers
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary vane mechanism creates periodic expansion and compression of mixing chambers as the rotor turns. This periodic action alternates between drawing in air and fluid, mixing them in the expanding chambers, and forcing the mixture through the foam generator during compression, ensuring continuous and effective mixing through rhythmic mechanical action
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 and automated method for dispensing foam, reducing complexity and operational costs while ensuring efficient mixing and production of foamed fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a positive displacement rotary vane mixing pump having: a rotor chamber-forming member having an interior chamber defined by interior chamber walls, and a rotor journalled for rotation about a rotor axis inside the interior chamber; the rotor having a plurality of vanes extending outwardly radially relative the rotor axis for engagement with the chamber walls
Implementation Method 2
wherein, in each rotation of the rotor about the rotor axis in the interior chamber, each pair of adjacent vanes passes through a suction sector of the interior chamber and a discharge sector of the interior chamber and wherein in movement of each two adjacent vanes through the suction sector the respective vane chamber increases in volume
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a positive displacement rotary vane mixing pump with an air inlet and an inlet for foamable fluid and an outlet from a discharge sector of the pump for discharging a mixture of air and liquid to a foam generator.