Sprayer Inlet Switching for Self-Cleaning Chemical Residue Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sprayers lack a self-cleaning function, leading to residual liquid chemicals damaging the equipment and resulting in a short service life, as users cannot easily switch between water and liquid chemicals for cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A sprayer with a pipeline switching mechanism at the water pump inlet, utilizing a three-way valve to switch between liquid chemical and water supplies, allowing for efficient cleaning of parts after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pump inlet is directly connected to the tank for liquid chemical supply, then the structure is simple, but self-cleaning function cannot be realized and residual liquid chemical damages the equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The pipeline is segmented into liquid chemical supply pipeline and water supply pipeline through the three-way valve, allowing independent control of fluid paths. This segmentation enables the system to switch between spraying liquid chemical and cleaning with water, extending the service life of the sprayer while managing pipeline complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump inlet pipeline is designed to serve dual functions: supplying liquid chemical during spraying operations and supplying water during cleaning operations. The three-way valve enables this multi-functionality by routing different fluids through the same pump system, thereby extending equipment service life without requiring completely separate pipelines for each function.
2Ease of operation
If users manually clean the sprayer by pouring out and storing residual liquid chemical separately, then the liquid chemical can be preserved, but the operation is inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning by allowing users to simply switch the three-way valve to the water supply position, automatically initiating the cleaning process without manual intervention for draining or separate storage operations. The water automatically flows through the pump and spray gun to clean residual liquid chemical, significantly reducing cleaning time and operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Water is pre-stored in the water storage device, ready for immediate use when cleaning is needed. By having the cleaning medium prepared in advance and the pipeline structure already in place, the system eliminates the need for manual draining and separate storage operations, allowing users to perform cleaning by simply operating the valve switch.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If residual liquid chemical remains in the pump and spray gun after spraying, then the spraying process is continuous, but the liquid chemical damages the machine parts over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful effect of residual liquid chemical into a beneficial cleaning process by using water to flush and remove the residual chemical from the pump and spray gun. The three-way valve enables this by switching the fluid source from liquid chemical to water, allowing the water to carry away corrosive residues and protect the machine parts, thereby extending their service life.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a sprayer with self-cleaning function, which includes a tank, a water pump, and a spray device; the water pump, used for conveying the liquid chemical from the tank to the spray device, is provided at its water inlet end with a pipeline switching mechanism to realize the switching between the liquid chemical supply and the water supply. The sprayer with self-cleaning function provided by the present invention is convenient for cleaning the sprayer, prolonging the life of the sprayer.