Integrated Suction Opening Filter for Minimal Powder Dosing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing powder metering devices face challenges in accurately metering minimal volumes due to limitations in filter surface area and porosity, leading to incomplete filling and fragility issues, particularly for pharmaceutical applications requiring precise, individualized dosing of active ingredients.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves integrating suction openings directly into the surrounding wall of the metering chamber, eliminating the need for separate filter elements, and optimizing their geometry to ensure efficient powder retention and gas flow, allowing for complete filling and robust operation even at small volumes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filter membrane is used to retain powder during suctioning, then powder retention is improved, but filter surface area and porosity decrease for minimal volumes making complete filling unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder retentionVSAvoidfilter surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The suction opening and filter function are merged into a single integrated structure formed directly in the surrounding wall. The suction opening itself acts as the filter by having an inner width smaller than the powder particles, eliminating the need for a separate filter membrane and thereby maintaining sufficient filter surface area even for minimal metering volumes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction opening is designed with a specific local geometry where the inner width is smaller than the powder particles. This localized dimensional constraint provides the filtering function precisely where needed, while the overall surface area of the surrounding wall remains available for multiple suction openings, maintaining adequate total filter area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of stationary object

If filter membrane size is reduced for minimal volumes, then device size is improved, but filter robustness and sealing capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetering chamber volumeVSAvoidfilter robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The filter function is extracted from a separate, fragile membrane component and integrated directly into the rigid surrounding wall structure. The suction openings are formed as permanent features of the wall itself, eliminating the need for separate filter membranes that would be fragile and difficult to seal at minimal sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction openings have an asymmetric dimensional relationship where the inner width is deliberately made smaller than the powder particles. This asymmetric design provides robust powder retention through the rigid wall structure while maintaining the ability to achieve complete filling in minimal volumes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If suction opening inner width is reduced for better powder retention, then retention efficiency is improved, but gas flow capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder retention efficiencyVSAvoidgas flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter/suction function is segmented into multiple discrete suction openings distributed across the surrounding wall. Each individual opening has a small inner width for effective powder retention, but the collective array of multiple openings provides sufficient total cross-sectional area for adequate gas flow rate during the suctioning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This approach enables reliable, automated metering of minimal powder volumes with high retention efficiency (>90%) and robust design, overcoming the limitations of conventional systems by ensuring complete filling and maintaining sufficient gas flow while preventing powder dispersal during ejection.

Implementation Method 1

a metering chamber which is delimited by a surrounding wall and which can be connected to a vacuum source for suctioning powder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

through which a vacuum is applied to the metering chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the filter means comprising at least one suction opening which is formed in the surrounding wall and which serves to retain the powder in the metering chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10513355B2Minimal amount dosing device, in particular for pharmaceutical applications, and method for minimal amount powder dosing method

Publication Date: 2019.12.24 FYDEC HLDG SA

AI summary

A minimal-amount powder metering device (1) for pharmaceutical or chemical applications, for metering powder volumes of less than 1 cm3, comprising a metering chamber (3) which is delimited by a surrounding wall (9) and which can be connected to a vacuum source (28) for suctioning powder in order to fill the metering chamber (3) with powder to be metered, filter means for retaining powder in the metering chamber (3) during a suctioning process being associated with the metering chamber (3), including the filter means are formed by the surrounding wall (9) and including at least one suction opening (12, 13) which serves to retain the powder in the metering chamber (3) and through which a vacuum can be applied to the metering chamber (3) is formed in the surrounding wall (9).