Self-venting nozzle with gas escape passageways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing nozzles often trap air bubbles when dispensing low viscosity fluids, leading to defects in the appearance or performance of the dispensed fluid due to entrained gases, which is exacerbated by the lack of venting mechanisms in unvented nozzles.
Innovation Solution
The development of self-venting nozzles with vent passageways that allow entrained gases to escape to the atmosphere, preventing them from being dispensed with the fluid, while optimizing the design to prevent fluid leakage through these vents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If unvented nozzles are used for precise fluid dispensing, then dispensing precision is improved, but air bubbles become trapped in the fluid stream causing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle interior is segmented into a fluid channel and a vent channel that are spatially separated. The vent channel includes multiple vent passageways that provide dedicated pathways for air bubbles to escape while the fluid channel maintains precise fluid dispensing. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of dispensing precision and air bubble removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful air bubbles are extracted from the fluid stream through separate vent passageways. The vent channels are positioned and configured to selectively remove air bubbles from the nozzle interior without interfering with the fluid dispensing path, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving dispensing precision.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If vent passageways are added to allow gas escape, then air bubbles are eliminated from dispensed fluid, but fluid may leak through the vents
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the nozzle are given different qualities: the vent passageways have dimensions and orientations optimized for gas escape, while the fluid channel maintains properties for precise fluid control. The vent passageways are positioned and sized to allow air bubbles to pass while restricting fluid leakage through local geometric optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent passageways are designed with asymmetric geometry relative to the fluid channel. The vent passageways include features such as inclined surfaces and specific cross-sectional shapes that facilitate air bubble escape while creating resistance to fluid flow in the opposite direction, preventing fluid leakage through the vents.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If vent passageways extend along the interior surface, then air venting is improved, but nozzle manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent passageways are designed to serve multiple functions: they provide air bubble escape paths, define fluid channel boundaries, and contribute to the overall structural integrity of the nozzle. By integrating these multiple functions into a single structural feature, the design achieves effective air venting without proportionally increasing manufacturing 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
The self-venting nozzles effectively eliminate air bubbles in the dispensed fluid, ensuring improved appearance and performance by venting gases out, while minimizing fluid loss through the vent passageways, thus providing precise and bubble-free dispensing of low viscosity fluids.
Implementation Method 1
one or more vent passageways providing fluid communication between the fluid channel and the atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
Self-venting nozzles and nozzle attachments adapted to vent a gas entrained in a fluid to an atmosphere are described. The nozzles or attachments comprise a nozzle inlet end, a nozzle outlet end, a nozzle wall extending between the nozzle inlet end and nozzle outlet end and having an interior surface defining a fluid channel surrounding a nozzle flow axis, and one or more vent passageways providing fluid communication between the fluid channel and the atmosphere. Nozzle systems comprising the self-venting nozzle and a dispenser, as well as methods of dispensing a fluid having a gas entrained therein are also described.