Rotating Disk Metering Closure for Hygroscopic Powder Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current metering and dispensing systems for powders are inefficient, leading to inconsistent feed rates and limited powder formulations, particularly for hygroscopic materials, as they fail to provide effective internal stirring and sealing, resulting in incomplete dispensing and safety issues with high caustic concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A metering and dispensing closure with rotatable disk members that selectively open and close an aperture, ensuring consistent and precise dispensing by incorporating a measuring chamber and drive shaft engagement, allowing for the use of higher caustic concentrations and preventing moisture entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a water spray and screen approach is used for powder dispensing, then the dispensing system is simple and cost effective, but the feed-rate becomes inconsistent and powder formulations are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water spray mechanical system with a rotatable metering disk system that uses mechanical rotation and aperture control to dispense powder. This substitution eliminates the need for water spray while achieving precise feed-rate control through the metering chamber and rotatable disk mechanism, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and feed-rate consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dispensing parameter from water spray rate control to rotatable disk aperture control. By controlling the rotation speed and aperture size of the metering disk, the system achieves consistent feed-rate without the variability inherent in water spray systems, while maintaining relative simplicity through mechanical control.
2Device complexity
If a water spray and screen approach is used for powder dispensing, then the system structure is simple, but powder formulations are limited and safety issues occur with high caustic concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water spray system with a dry mechanical metering system using a rotatable disk and metering chamber. This eliminates the exothermic reaction risk between water and high caustic powders, enabling safe dispensing of formulations with up to 70% caustic concentration while expanding the range of usable powder formulations beyond what water-based systems can handle.
3Device complexity
If rotatable metering disk and stationary feed pieces are used, then the metering mechanism is simple, but internal stirring action is insufficient and powder remains in container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotatable metering disk that rotates to both meter and stir the powder. The rotation creates dynamic stirring action within the metering chamber, preventing powder from remaining in the container by continuously agitating and moving it toward the dispensing aperture, thereby improving dispensing completeness while maintaining mechanism simplicity.
4Device complexity
If conventional metering closure is used, then the sealing structure is simple, but hygroscopic materials cannot be properly sealed and moisture entry occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible sealing arrangement where the rotatable disk and cap create a dynamic seal that maintains moisture exclusion while allowing rotation. The sealing structure adapts to the rotating components, providing reliable protection against moisture entry for hygroscopic materials without requiring complex multi-component sealing systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A metering and dispensing closure for a container wherein two rotatable disks rotate in conjunction with a stationary cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The disks and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure.