Split Flow Manifold to Prevent Reactive Fluid Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-component fluid dispensing systems face issues with clogging due to reactive fluids mixing and hardening inside the dispensing manifold, leading to downtime and increased maintenance costs, especially in high-pressure systems which are expensive and complex.
Innovation Solution
A removable and disposable flow manifold that independently directs reactive fluids from a valve body to a mixing and dispensing tip, preventing interaction until they reach the tip, and includes a split manifold system with independent fluid passageways, a crossover prevention valve, and a push-to-connect manifold for easy replacement and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reactive fluids are mixed inside the dispensing manifold, then mixing and dispensing can be achieved, but cured materials will clog the spray nozzles and tips
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid delivery path into separate segments: the dispensing manifold delivers fluids through separate passageways without mixing, and the mixing tip is a separate removable component. This segmentation prevents cured material from blocking the main manifold while allowing mixing to occur at the tip level.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing function is extracted from the dispensing manifold and relocated to a separate mixing tip. This extraction removes the harmful mixing reaction from the manifold interior, preventing clogging while preserving the mixing capability at the tip where it is needed.
2Productivity
If high pressure systems are used to prevent clogging, then fluid flow is maintained, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the high-pressure delivery function from the mixing function. The manifold operates at high pressure with separate passageways to maintain fluid flow, while the mixing occurs at the lower-pressure tip level, avoiding the need for complex high-pressure mixing mechanisms.
3Reliability
If cleaning procedures are performed to clear clogged tips, then flow is restored, but extra time and health hazards are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing tip is extracted as a separate removable component from the manifold. When clogging occurs, the tip can be quickly removed and replaced without time-consuming cleaning procedures, eliminating exposure to hazardous chemicals and restoring flow in minutes rather than hours.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing tip is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component. Instead of cleaning and reusing the tip, the system allows for discarding the clogged tip and replacing it with a fresh one, eliminating cleaning time and health hazards associated with chemical solvents.
4Reliability
If reactive fluids are kept separate until the tip, then clogging is prevented, but fluid flow restrictions may occur in the manifold
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is segmented into multiple independent passageways that maintain high flow capacity for each fluid separately. By keeping fluids separate in dedicated channels rather than using a single mixed passageway, the system prevents clogging while maintaining optimal flow rates through efficient parallel pathways.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid directing flow manifold for directing reactive fluids, independent of one another, from a dispensing manifold to a dispensing tip of a fluid dispensing apparatus provides a disposable and low cost fluid passageway between the dispensing manifold and dispensing tip while reducing or eliminating the possibility that reactive fluids will react and clog or block the dispensing manifold. The flow manifold provides independent fluid passageways between valves of a dispensing manifold and a mixing chamber of a dispensing tip of the dispensing apparatus. The flow manifold may be adapted for use with various types of fluid dispensing systems. The flow manifold may include multiple fluid guide bodies that may each be removed from the flow manifold to be cleaned or disposed of, and then replaced. Quick release mechanical fasteners are included for quick attachment of the manifold to a dispensing manifold valve and to the dispensing tip.