Sprayer Nozzle with Gas Vent for Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprayers used in the medical field for mixing and spraying liquids, such as thrombin and fibrinogen solutions, often experience clogging issues due to residual pressures causing liquids to coagulate and mix outside the nozzle, leading to difficulties in re-spraying.
Innovation Solution
A sprayer design that incorporates a nozzle with a gas flow path and a vent at the merge point, allowing gas to flow into the liquid path and blow off residual liquids, preventing clogging and eliminating the need for a separate gas ejection port, thus simplifying the configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional nozzle with separate gas ejection port is used, then gas can be ejected to mix with liquids, but the structure becomes complex and clogging occurs at the gas ejection port
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas flow path with the liquid flow path by positioning the gas ejection port inside the liquid flow path and using a common exit opening. This integration eliminates the need for separate ejection ports and reduces structural complexity while preventing clogging through gas-driven liquid evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic action by ejecting gas through the liquid flow path to create a flow that evacuates residual liquids from the merge part. The gas flow acts as a cleaning mechanism that prevents coagulation and clogging without requiring additional mechanical components.
2Reliability
If liquid ejection is stopped in conventional sprayer, then residual pressure causes liquids to project outward and coagulate, but this leads to clogging in liquid ejection ports and gas ejection port
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using gas flow to evacuate residual liquids from the merge part before they can coagulate and cause clogging. The gas ejection port is positioned to create a flow that actively removes liquids during and after the liquid ejection process, preventing the harmful coagulation effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful residual pressure that causes liquid projection and coagulation into a beneficial effect by using the gas flow to control and direct the liquid evacuation. The gas flow harnesses the pressure differential to actively clear the merge part, turning the potential clogging problem into a self-cleaning mechanism.
3Productivity
If gas flows between outer tube and inner tubes in conventional nozzle, then liquids are ejected together with gas, but liquids extend to gas ejection port and cause clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas ejection port with the liquid flow path by positioning the gas port inside the liquid path and using a common exit opening. This integration ensures that gas and liquid flows are coordinated, and the gas flow actively prevents liquid extension beyond the intended spray area, eliminating clogging at the gas port.
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 effectively prevents clogging by ensuring that the nozzle can be reused for spraying without residual liquids remaining, ensuring reliable operation and reducing the complexity of the nozzle structure.
Implementation Method 1
When a liquid is ejected from a nozzle, a gas flows into a liquid flow path through a vent from a gas flow path, and the liquid is ejected together with the gas
Implementation Method 2
when the ejection of the liquid is stopped, the pressure (the residual pressure) in the gas flow path causes the gas to flow into the liquid flow path through the vent
Implementation Method 3
the gas ejects outwardly from the inside of the liquid flow path together with the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A sprayer is capable of inhibiting or preventing clogging occurring in a nozzle upon ejection of a liquid through the nozzle. A sprayer includes liquid supply for separately supplying a first liquid and a second liquid different in liquid composition, and a nozzle. The nozzle includes a first flow path and a second flow path along which passes the first liquid and the second liquid supplied from the liquid supply. In addition, the nozzle includes a third flow path along which passes a gas. A merge part is provided at which the first flow path and the second flow path merge at their respective halfway parts. A vent is provided at the merge part for allowing the gas which has passed through the third flow path to flow into the merge part.