Solid Product Dispenser Venturi Mixing for Concentration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior dispensers face challenges in maintaining concentration of use solutions and preventing foaming, which affects the spray onto solid products and the concentration of the solution.
Innovation Solution
A solid product dispenser design featuring a housing with a manifold and passageways that utilize a diluent to create a concentrated solution and a venturi effect to draw out the solution, along with a product holder that prevents incorrect product usage and a geometry that minimizes overflow and foaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electronics are used to control water inlet valves to maintain use solution concentration, then concentration control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic control systems with a purely mechanical solution. The concentric funnel-shaped outlets utilize fluid dynamics principles where the inner outlet (smaller diameter) creates a venturi effect that automatically draws concentrated solution through the outer outlet without requiring electronic sensors, valves, or control systems. This mechanical substitution eliminates complexity while maintaining concentration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is self-regulating through the venturi effect created by the concentric outlet geometry. The fast-flowing diluent through the inner outlet automatically creates negative pressure that draws concentrated solution through the outer outlet, and the mixing occurs automatically. No external control or monitoring is needed - the system self-adjusts based on flow dynamics.
2Measurement precision
If additional diluent is added to the use solution to maintain concentration, then concentration control is improved, but foaming increases which interferes with spray and affects concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mixing process from the spray chamber by using concentric outlets where diluent and concentrated solution mix after exiting the dispenser. This prevents foaming from occurring within the spray chamber during the spraying operation, eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining proper concentration through the venturi-controlled mixing process.
3Speed
If a smaller diluent outlet diameter is used to increase diluent flow rate, then diluent flow speed increases creating better venturi effect, but outlet clogging risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric properties to different parts of the outlet system. The inner outlet has a smaller diameter optimized for creating the venturi effect and achieving high diluent flow velocity. The outer outlet has a larger diameter that prevents clogging while allowing concentrated solution to pass through. Each outlet is locally optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between flow speed and clogging resistance.
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 design ensures accurate concentration control and efficient dispensing by creating a venturi effect for concurrent diluent and solution flow, while the product holder ensures correct product usage and reduces the dispenser's footprint.
Implementation Method 1
The diluent outlet preferably has a relatively small diameter to increase the rate of diluent flowing out of the diluent outlet. The diluent flowing through the diluent outlet at a relatively fast rate creates a venturi effect to draw the concentrated solution out of the concentrated solution outlet.
Data Source
AI summary
A solid product dispenser includes a housing and a product holder. The housing includes a concentrated solution outlet, a diluent outlet, and an outlet tube in which concentrated solution from the concentrated solution outlet and diluent from the diluent outlet are mixed to form a use solution. Proximate the housing and the product holder is an overflow outlet from which a vacuum breaker is at least 3.50 inches.