Rotatable Fillable-Chamber Dispenser for Accurate Fluid Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid measuring devices, such as measuring cups, often have small and difficult-to-see demarcations, leading to improper dosages of fluids, particularly in applications like medicine dispensing.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable measured fluid dispenser with a support cup and measurement cup that includes rotatable fillable chambers, each with a flow duct defining a maximum retained volume, allowing precise selection and accurate dispensing by preventing excess fluid from being dispensed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional measuring cups with demarcations are used, then fluid volume can be measured, but the demarcations are small and difficult to see, leading to improper dosages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using a translucent or transparent measurement cup that allows users to see through the cup walls to view internal demarcations more clearly. The cup may also incorporate color-coded indicators or contrast-enhancing features that make the volume markings more visible and easier to read, directly addressing the visibility problem of conventional opaque measuring cups.
2Productivity
If excess fluid is dispensed beyond target volume, then rapid dispensing is achieved, but waste increases and improper dosing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by incorporating a flow duct with a specific height that creates a natural feedback mechanism. As fluid is dispensed into the measurement cup, the flow duct allows fluid to drain back into the storage container when the fluid level exceeds the target volume, providing automatic feedback control that prevents overdispensing and waste while maintaining rapid dispensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement cup performs self-service by automatically regulating its own fluid level through the flow duct mechanism. When fluid exceeds the maximum retained volume, the system self-corrects by draining the excess back into the storage container without requiring external intervention, thus preventing waste and improper dosing while maintaining fast dispensing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple volume selections are needed, then dosing flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the measurement cup into multiple distinct chambers, each with its own flow duct calibrated for a specific target volume. This segmentation allows users to select different volume options by directing fluid to different chambers, providing dosing flexibility while keeping each individual chamber relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement cup achieves universality by designing a single multi-chamber device that can dispense multiple different volume options. Each chamber serves a specific volume function, but collectively they provide a universal solution for various dosing requirements, eliminating the need for multiple separate measuring devices and reducing overall system complexity.
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 precise and rapid dispensing of targeted fluid volumes, reducing waste and preventing improper dosages by ensuring only the selected volume is retained in the chamber.
Implementation Method 1
fluid in excess of the maximum retained volume drains back through the flow duct into the storage container
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable measured fluid dispenser is provided for dispensing a fluid from a storage container. The adjustable measured fluid dispenser is connected to the storage container, and a tube connects the dispenser to the storage container. The tube connects to a channel in a support cup, which in turn supports a nested measurement cup. The measurement cup contains fillable chambers which each contain a flow duct. The height of each flow duct determines a corresponding retained volume of each fillable chamber. The fluid dispenser operates when the storage container is constricted, causing fluid to flow up the tube, through the channel, and out of the flow duct to fill the fillable chamber in excess of the retained volume. When the constriction on the storage container is relaxed, the excess fluid flows back through the flow duct leaving only the retained volume of fluid behind in the fluid dispenser.