Separate Tube Air Pressure Sensor for Liquid Additive Dosage Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid additive metering devices face issues with pressure drop elements in suction ducts causing blockages and complex manufacturing due to pressure sensor installations, which complicate monitoring and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A monitoring device with a separate tube for detecting liquid additive aspiration, featuring an air pressure sensor at the upper end and a microprocessor for processing signals, allowing for detection of pressure variations and volume calculations, while avoiding pressure drop elements and simplifying sensor installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If pressure drop elements are installed in the suction duct to slow down the suction flow rate, then the flow rate control is improved, but the risk of blockage increases and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction flow rateVSAvoidblockage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pressure measurement function from the suction duct itself by introducing a separate vertical tube that communicates with the suction duct. This allows pressure monitoring without installing pressure drop elements directly in the suction path, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling flow rate control through alternative means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A vertical tube acts as an intermediary element between the suction duct and the pressure sensor. This tube transmits pressure information from the suction duct to the sensor without requiring the sensor to be directly installed in the duct, simplifying manufacturing while enabling precise pressure measurement for flow rate control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If pressure sensors are installed at the terminals of pressure drop elements, then pressure measurement is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure measurementVSAvoiddevice assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure measurement function is extracted from the suction duct structure by using a separate vertical tube. The pressure sensor is installed at the top of this external tube rather than at the terminals of pressure drop elements within the duct, significantly simplifying manufacturing and assembly while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The vertical tube serves as an intermediary that transfers pressure signals from the suction duct to an externally mounted sensor. This allows the sensor to be installed in a convenient location (at the top of the tube) rather than requiring complex integration at the duct terminals, easing manufacturing while achieving accurate pressure measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If pressure sensors are installed in the suction duct to monitor liquid additive aspiration, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaspiration detectionVSAvoidsensor installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring function is extracted from the suction duct by introducing a separate vertical tube that communicates with the duct. The pressure sensor is mounted at the top of this external tube, allowing aspiration detection without modifying the suction duct structure or installing sensors directly within it, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The vertical tube acts as an intermediary that enables pressure monitoring of the suction duct without requiring direct sensor installation in the duct. This simple tube-sensor arrangement provides aspiration detection capability while keeping the overall device structure simple and easy to install.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enables reliable and simple monitoring of liquid additive dispensers, accurately detecting aspiration and pressure changes, preventing blockages and improving manufacturing ease, with effective detection of low liquid levels and untimely increases, ensuring precise dosage and quick fault reporting.

Implementation Method 1

provided with a sensor of the air pressure in the tube, which sensor outputs an electrical signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir pressure sensing: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3140542B1Device for monitoring the operation of a dosage dispenser of a liquid additive in a main liquid, and dosage dispenser provided with such a device
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 DOSATRON INT
  • EP3140542B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3140542B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3140542B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for monitoring the operation of a dosage dispenser (2) which comprises a suction pipe (5) suitable for being plunged into the liquid additive (3) contained in a container (6), the monitoring device comprising means (D) for detecting the suction of liquid additive and means (A) for displaying operating parameters of the dosage dispenser; the detection means (D) include a tube (10), separate from the suction pipe (5), one end (10b) of which is provided such as to be plunged into the container (6) of liquid additive, and in which the other end (10c) is kept stationary relative to the suction pipe in order to be located outside the container, said other end (10c) being closed and provided with a sensor of the air pressure inside the tube (10), said sensor outputting an electrical signal, and means for using the signal from the sensor, connected to the outlet of the sensor, in order to provide information on the operation.