Solenoid Hammer Pump for Precise Reagent Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid content monitors face challenges in accurately and automatically delivering precisely measured doses of reagents to water samples for chlorine testing, often resulting in erroneous measurements due to imprecise reagent amounts and potential cuvette contamination.
Innovation Solution
A fluid content monitor with a solenoid-driven pump assembly and a colorimeter system that includes check valves and a removable cuvette for precise reagent delivery and measurement, ensuring accurate testing of chlorine levels in water samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional feed, dosing or metering pumps are used to deliver reagents, then the system can automatically deliver reagents to water samples, but the delivery precision is insufficient leading to erroneous measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a pump body with a chamber, a resilient tube with sealed ends, and a hammer mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the resilient tube providing precise volumetric displacement and the hammer providing controlled actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump utilizes elastic deformation of the resilient tube as a key parameter for precise reagent delivery. The tube's elastic properties allow it to be compressed by the hammer to a specific degree, creating a predictable and repeatable volume of reagent transfer based on the tube's material properties and dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If colorimetric reagent technology is used for monitoring, then the system can test for residual chlorine, but imprecise reagent amounts cause erroneous measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly incorporates check valves that provide feedback control on reagent flow direction. The inlet check valve prevents backflow into the reagent container, and the outlet check valve prevents backflow into the pump chamber, ensuring that reagent is delivered only in the intended direction and in precise amounts.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient tube is pre-sealed at both ends and positioned within the pump chamber before operation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the hammer compresses the tube, the reagent is already contained and ready for precise delivery without leakage or imprecision.
3Measurement precision
If cuvettes are used for sample containment, then the system can perform colorimetric testing, but dirty or damaged cuvettes cause erroneous measurements and require cleaning or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cuvette is designed to be easily removable by the user without requiring tools or specialized service. The simple drop-in design allows operators to quickly remove and replace cuvettes themselves, maintaining testing accuracy by ensuring clean cuvettes are used while keeping the system easy to operate.
4Extent of automation
If pump assemblies are integrated into the monitor, then automatic reagent delivery is achieved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated unit: the pump body houses the chamber, the resilient tube serves as both the reagent delivery conduit and the elastic element for pumping action, and the check valves are integrated into the tube structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient tube performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the reagent delivery conduit, the elastic element for volumetric pumping, and the sealed container for reagent storage during the pumping cycle. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the pump assembly design.
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 system reliably and automatically delivers precise reagent doses, reducing measurement errors and allowing for easy cuvette cleaning and replacement, thereby enhancing the accuracy of chlorine testing in water samples.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently flexible section of the tube passes through the openings in the side wall of the pump body and extends through the chamber between the hammer and the end wall such that the resiliently flexible section is open when the hammer is in the retracted position and substantially closed when the hammer is in the extended position
Implementation Method 2
check valves preventing reverse flow in the tube
Implementation Method 3
a colorimeter adapted to direct light through the cuvette, receive the light passing through the cuvette, and generate a signal indicative of contents of the fluid sample based upon the received light
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid content monitor including a cuvette, a colorimeter adapted to generate a signal indicative of contents of a fluid sample contained in the cuvette, a container for holding a reagent, and a pump assembly for delivering reagent from the container to the cuvette. The pump assembly includes a tube extending from the container to the cuvette, check valves preventing reverse flow in the tube, and a hammer driven by a solenoid for repetitively compressing the tube to pump reagent to the cuvette. The cuvette can be removed for cleaning and replacement.