Self-Bleeding Pump Valve Vertical Gravity Ball Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diaphragm dosing pumps face inefficiencies and require manual intervention to remove gas from the pumping chamber, especially when handling corrosive chemicals or fluids with dissolved gases, due to the use of metallic springs and inefficient bleed valve designs that lead to fluid loss and frequent maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A self-bleeding pump design featuring a bleed valve with a vertical axis, comprising a one-way valve, intermediate duct, support, and cap configuration that minimizes fluid loss during the delivery phase and eliminates the need for metallic springs, allowing the bleed valve to be connected to the highest point of the pumping chamber, with an optional manual valve for enabling or disabling bleeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional bleed valve with metallic springs is used, then the valve can maintain ball position, but it cannot handle corrosive chemicals and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the spring from metallic to elastic (polymer) material, making it compatible with corrosive chemicals while maintaining the mechanical function of ball positioning through elastic deformation rather than metallic spring force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the metallic spring mechanical system with an elastic polymer ball that uses elastic deformation to achieve ball positioning, eliminating the need for separate spring components and improving chemical compatibility
2Device complexity
If the bleed valve is positioned horizontally, then the structure is compact, but fluid loss increases during delivery phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the bleed valve from horizontal to vertical positioning, changing the spatial dimension of operation. The vertical orientation allows the ball to settle at the bottom during delivery phase, sealing the bleed channel and preventing fluid loss, while maintaining compact structure through optimized vertical arrangement
3Reliability
If manual intervention is required to open bleed valve, then gas can be removed from pumping chamber, but productivity decreases due to frequent stoppages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-bleeding mechanism where the valve automatically opens when gas accumulates in the pumping chamber. The gas pressure forces the ball upward, opening the bleed channel, and the valve self-closes when liquid fills the chamber, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling continuous operation
4Reliability
If the bleed channel is always open, then gas can escape freely, but fluid loss increases during delivery phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic bleed channel that automatically opens and closes based on the phase of operation. During suction/bleeding phase, the channel is open to allow gas escape; during delivery phase, the ball settles to close the channel, preventing fluid loss while maintaining gas venting capability when needed
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 enhances pump efficiency by reducing fluid loss during operation, eliminating the need for metallic springs, and allowing the pump to handle corrosive chemicals, while reducing manual interventions and maintaining efficient operation even when no degassing is needed.
Implementation Method 1
a ball (409) housed within said upper axial cavity, said upper axial cavity being configured to let said upper ball move between a lower limit position, that said upper ball assumes when subject only to gravity
Implementation Method 2
the one-way valve is adapted to put, when it assumes an open configuration, a lower through hole in communication with the intermediate duct
Data Source
AI summary
Bleed valve having a longitudinal axis, the bleed valve having an operative configuration wherein the longitudinal axis extends in a vertical direction, the bleed valve comprising a one-way valve, an intermediate duct, a support and a cap which are in a vertical alignment from bottom to top of the bleed valve when the bleed valve is in its operative configuration, wherein the one-way valve is adapted to put, when it assumes an open configuration, a lower through hole in communication with the intermediate duct, wherein the support is coupled to the cap so as to form a cavity in which a ball is housed, the cap being provided with a main aperture communicating with outside of the bleed valve, said cavity being adapted to let the ball move between a lower limit position, that the ball assumes when subject only to gravity and the bleed valve is in its operative configuration and wherein the support supports the ball, and an upper limit position in which the ball occludes the main aperture, the bleed valve being characterised in that the support is provided with a passage communicating with the intermediate duct, the cap being further provided with a secondary aperture communicating with outside of the bleed valve, the ball occluding the passage of the support when it is in the lower limit position, wherein the cap has a shape and size adapted to form a gap between the cap and the ball when the ball is in the upper limit position wherein the gap is adapted to put the secondary aperture in communication with said cavity, whereby the secondary aperture is always in communication with said cavity for any position assumed by the ball within said cavity.m Self-bleeding pump provided with such bleed valve.