Rotating Wand Fluid Conduit Aperture Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing applicators for dispensing liquids, such as sanitizers or disinfectants, often experience conduit twisting and kinking when the wand is rotated, leading to inefficiencies and potential blockages.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible wand with a rotatable nozzle and a conduit system where the conduit passes through an aperture at a non-parallel angle, allowing it to twist about its central axis without lengthening or shortening, maintaining a constant path and preventing kinking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the wand is rotatably coupled to the housing, then the applicator can dispense fluid over a wide area with flexible positioning, but the conduit twists and kinks when the wand rotates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewand rotation capabilityVSAvoidconduit integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conduit is configured to pass through the aperture at an angle non-parallel to the wand's longitudinal axis, creating a multi-dimensional pathway. This angular arrangement allows the conduit to twist about its own central axis during wand rotation without experiencing lateral stresses that would cause kinking or blockages, effectively resolving the contradiction between rotational flexibility and conduit integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The conduit path is divided into distinct segments: a first portion in the housing, a second portion in the curved surface, and a third portion in the duct. This segmentation allows each portion to accommodate different aspects of the rotation and twisting motion independently, maintaining overall conduit integrity while enabling wand rotation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the conduit passes through the aperture at a non-parallel angle, then the conduit can twist without lengthening or shortening, but the conduit path becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconduit path stabilityVSAvoidconduit configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wand includes a curved surface at its first end that defines the aperture. This curved geometry naturally guides the conduit through a smooth arc-shaped path as the wand rotates, allowing the conduit to twist about its axis while maintaining a constant path length. The curvature eliminates sharp angles and stress concentration points that would otherwise complicate the conduit configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20230249211A1Folding wand with fluid conduit passing through axis of rotation

Publication Date: 2023.08.10 GOJO IND INC

AI summary

An applicator for dispensing a fluid includes a housing and a pump disposed within the housing. A wand extends in a first direction between a first end and a second end. The wand is rotatably coupled to the housing between an open position and a closed position. A conduit extends from the pump to the first end of the wand such that the fluid flows in the first direction to be dispensed from the second end of the wand. The wand defines an aperture through which the conduit enters the first end of the wand such that the conduit extends in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction to enter the first end. The conduit remains in the aperture regardless of the position of the wand.