Spring Metal Strip Injection Drive for Viscous Fluids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic fluid product injection devices face challenges with large volumes and viscous fluids, and require complex mechanisms for multiple fluid combinations.

Innovation Solution

An automatic fluid product injection device featuring a power-supplied injection system with a spring-loaded metal strip, electric motor, and worm drive mechanism, allowing for efficient distribution of large volumes and viscosities, with reusable and disposable components for ease of manufacturing and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional spring mechanism is used to drive the piston, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot handle large volumes and viscous fluids effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoidinjection capability for large volumes and viscous fluids
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring mechanism with an electric motor-driven system. The motor (23) unwinds a wound spring (3) to generate controlled mechanical force through a transmission mechanism, enabling precise control over injection speed and force to handle viscous fluids and large volumes effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the driving mechanism from a direct mechanical spring to an electrically-controlled system with variable parameters. The motor speed, winding tension, and transmission ratio can be adjusted to optimize injection parameters for different fluid viscosities and volumes, providing adaptability that a fixed mechanical spring cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple fluid products need to be combined in the same treatment, then the treatment versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to combine multiple fluid productsVSAvoidmechanism complexity for multiple reservoirs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal injection system where a single motor (23) and control mechanism can drive multiple pistons (one per reservoir). Each reservoir can be independently controlled to inject different fluid products in sequence or simultaneously, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate injection mechanisms for each fluid product.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the fluid storage into multiple independent reservoirs, each with its own piston, while using a shared drive mechanism. This segmentation allows different fluid products to be stored separately and injected in controlled sequences, maintaining versatility while reducing overall system complexity through component sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If a reusable upper body with electric motor is used, then the injection control precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjection control precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembly cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a dynamic control system where the motor (23) can be activated at different stages and with different power levels to control the injection process precisely. The wound spring (3) provides progressive force as it unwinds, and the transmission mechanism translates this into controlled piston movement, achieving precision without requiring overly complex or expensive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wound spring (3) serves dual purposes: it stores energy during the winding phase and provides the driving force during injection as it unwinds. This self-contained energy storage and release mechanism reduces the need for additional complex control systems, batteries, or high-power motors, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables reliable and efficient injection of large volumes and viscous fluids, with adjustable injection speed and simultaneous or sequential distribution from multiple reservoirs, reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying device design.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elongated spring metal strip, each strip being wound onto a respective spool before actuation, and a drive mechanism for unwinding said at least one strip against a respective piston to carry out the injection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy storage and release: Spring

Implementation Method 2

said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor and a worm drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3615107B1Automatic fluid product injection device
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 APTAR FRANCE SAS
  • EP3615107B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3615107B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3615107B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Automatic fluid product injection device comprising: – an upper body (1) comprising at least one injection system (3, 4, 5) controlled by power supply means (7) and triggered by user interface (100), such as at least one actuating button, and an insertion mechanism (8, 9) for the insertion of an injection needle (110), – a base body (2) intended to come into contact with a region that is to be injected, comprising at least one reservoir (6) of fluid product, each containing an injection piston (65) and a needle assembly (10) comprising said injection needle (110), in which said injection system comprises: – at least one elongate spring-metal strip (3), each strip being, prior to actuation, wound on to a respective reel (30), and – a drive mechanism (5) for unwinding said at least one strip (3) against a respective piston (65) in order to perform the injection, and for winding said strip (3) back up on said reel (30) after injection.