Portable Pressurized Sprayer Electric Pump Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional home and garden sprayers require manual pumping to build air pressure, which is physically exhausting and impractical, and there is a risk of over-pressurizing the tank, potentially leading to rupture and injury.
Innovation Solution
A portable pressurized sprayer with a detachable electric pumping module and a manual backup pump, featuring a quick disconnect connector with an integrated pressure relief valve that shuts off the electric pump when pressure exceeds a predetermined limit, ensuring safe operation and reducing user effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pumping is used to build air pressure in the tank, then the sprayer can be operated without electric power, but the user experiences physical exhaustion and the operation becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pumping system with an electric pump system. The electric pump (108) is powered by a battery pack (112) and controlled by a switch assembly (110), eliminating the need for manual pumping strokes. This substitution directly reduces user physical effort while maintaining the pressure-building function.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric pump system operates autonomously once activated. The pump automatically builds pressure in the tank without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system serves itself by using electrical energy to perform the pressurization task that previously required continuous human physical input.
2Productivity
If continuous manual pumping is performed to maintain spray pressure, then the sprayer can operate without external power, but the pumping action becomes physically exhausting and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The electric pump replaces the manual pumping mechanism, enabling continuous or near-continuous operation without the intermittent pauses required for manual pumping. The pump can maintain pressure throughout the entire liquid supply duration, significantly extending productive spray time without requiring user pumping actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric pump system enables continuous pressurization action throughout the operating period. Unlike manual pumping which requires periodic user intervention, the electric pump can continuously maintain pressure in the tank, ensuring uninterrupted spray output and maximizing productive action time.
3Productivity
If the electric pump continues operating without pressure monitoring, then liquid spray can be maintained, but the tank may become over-pressurized causing rupture and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The switch assembly (110) incorporates pressure monitoring functionality that provides feedback to control the electric pump operation. When the tank reaches a predetermined pressure level, the switch assembly automatically shuts off the pump, preventing over-pressurization. This feedback mechanism ensures safe operation while maintaining spray continuity during the pressure range.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action to prevent over-pressurization by monitoring pressure levels and shutting off the pump before dangerous pressure levels are reached. This preventive approach counteracts the potential harmful effect of over-pressurization before it can occur, ensuring tank safety while maintaining productive spray operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a detachable electric pump module is used, then the sprayer becomes more versatile and easier to maintain, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer system is divided into separate modular components: the tank assembly and the detachable pump module (14). The pump module includes the electric pump (108), battery pack (112), and switch assembly (110) as integrated but separable units. This segmentation allows the pump module to be detached and replaced independently, enhancing versatility and ease of maintenance while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable pump module design allows the same tank to be used with different pump modules, and the pump module can potentially serve multiple functions or be replaced with different configurations. The quick-connect interface enables universal compatibility and flexibility in system configuration, allowing the sprayer to adapt to different operational requirements.
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 provides a safer, more efficient, and less physically demanding spraying experience by using an electric pump to maintain pressure without manual effort, while the pressure relief mechanism prevents tank over-pressurization, enhancing user safety and extending equipment life.
Implementation Method 1
The electric pump module directs gas through the check valve into the connector to increase the gas pressure in the tank and forces the liquid in the tank to flow through the feed line and out the spray nozzle
Implementation Method 2
The electric pump module directs gas through the check valve into the connector
Implementation Method 3
The switch assembly turns off the electric pump when the gas pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined limit
Data Source
AI summary
A tank holding a quantity of liquid releasably connects to an electric pump module through a connector to provide a portable sprayer. The tank connects to a feed line that supplies spray nozzle with the liquid. The connector combines a quick disconnect connector with a pressure relief valve. The electric pump module includes an electric pump, a switch assembly, and a check valve. The electric pump module directs gas through the check valve into the connector to increase the gas pressure in the tank and force the liquid in the tank to flow through the feed line and out the spray nozzle. The switch assembly turns off the electric pump when the gas pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined limit while maintaining the flow of liquid through the spray nozzle.