Rotatable Capsule for Safe Caustic Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing turbulent flow technology for dispensing caustic solid chemistry products poses safety risks to operators and limits concentration adjustment, leading to inefficient use and increased costs due to exposure during the dissolution process.

Innovation Solution

A capsule design with a rotatable upper housing and lower base that aligns perforations for safe handling and dissolution within a turbulent flow dispenser, eliminating the need for a full spray cone and reducing storage and shipping costs, while allowing for adjustable fluid introduction to achieve desired solution concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If capsules are used to package solid chemistries for safety, then safety advantages are improved, but packaging cost and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule is divided into separable components (upper housing and lower base) that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows for quick loading of solid chemistry products while maintaining the safety benefits of encapsulation, thereby reducing processing time without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule is pre-assembled with solid chemistry products in a controlled manufacturing environment before deployment. This preliminary action ensures safety is built-in from the start, and the pre-prepared capsules can be quickly installed in the dispenser without requiring time-consuming on-site packaging operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If spray nozzles are used to dissolve solid product, then dissolution capability is improved, but dispenser size increases due to additional space requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedissolution capabilityVSAvoiddispenser size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The spray nozzle component is extracted and replaced with a fluid introduction system that works through the capsule's perforations. This eliminates the need for a large spray cone development space, significantly reducing the dispenser size while maintaining effective dissolution capability through the capsule's integrated fluid distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule structure is designed to nest within the dispenser cavity, with the solid chemistry product nested inside the capsule housing. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and eliminates the need for additional dispenser volume that would be required for traditional spray nozzle systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If turbulent flow technology is used with solid chemical blocks, then concentration control options are improved, but safety bounds are exceeded with hazardous materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration controlVSAvoidoperator exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule acts as an intermediary barrier between the hazardous solid chemistry and the operator. Fluid is introduced through the capsule's perforations, allowing concentration control to be achieved while the capsule containment prevents operator exposure to hazardous materials throughout the dissolution process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule housing provides a flexible yet protective enclosure that contains hazardous solid chemistry while allowing controlled fluid interaction through perforations. This thin-walled containment structure enables concentration adjustment through fluid flow control while maintaining safety by preventing direct operator contact with hazardous materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 capsule design ensures safe handling of caustic materials by minimizing user exposure, reduces storage and shipping costs, and enhances concentration control, making the process more efficient and cost-effective while maintaining reliability and durability.

Implementation Method 1

turbulent flow technology to safely produce a solution concentration from a caustic solid chemistry product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulent flow: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

introduce water or liquid upwardly into the capsule to erode the solid chemistry and thereby produce a concentrated solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectErosion: Erosion

Data Source

PatentUS10456756B2Solid chemistry enclosure with safety lock for dispensing applications

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 ECOLAB USA INC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for obtaining a product chemistry from a slid block of caustic material is provided. The product is housed within a capsule which is positioned inside a turbulent flow dispenser, which utilizes fluid to erode the block and produce a concentrated solution. The fluid characteristics can be adjusted in the field to achieve a predetermined concentrate level of the solution. The capsule provides a safe and convenient means for handling, storing and shipping the caustic block without exposing the operator or handler to the hazardous material. The capsule includes nested components which can be rotated between a closed or sealed position and an open use position.