System, apparatus and method for creating and/or dispensing a mixture of water and a personal care liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for dispensing a mixture of water and personal care liquids, such as soap or disinfectants, face issues like complexity, high electrical power requirements, inconsistent proportions, and failure to compensate for pressure variances, leading to unreliable and inefficient hand washing, particularly in industries like food preparation and medical care.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system that includes a faucet, a personal care liquid reservoir, a mixing unit with a venturi constriction and pressure compensating flow control, and a resilient conduit with a pinch valve, ensuring consistent mixing and efficient delivery of the liquid mixture, while minimizing caking and leakage issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mixing systems are used to dispense water and personal care liquid mixtures, then dispensing functionality is provided, but the systems suffer from complexity, high electrical power requirements, and inability to compensate for pressure variances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical components and complex control systems from the mixing apparatus, replacing them with a purely hydraulic mixing mechanism using a T-piece connector, venturi effect, and pressure-compensated flow control. This eliminates the need for pumps, motors, and electrical controls while maintaining reliable mixing proportions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the incoming water pressure itself to drive the mixing process through the venturi effect and pressure-compensated flow control devices. The water flow automatically regulates the personal care liquid dispensing without external control, making the system self-regulating and eliminating complex control circuits.
2Reliability
If existing mixing systems are used, then mixture dispensing is achieved, but electrical power requirements are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical pumps and motors with hydraulic flow control mechanisms. The venturi constriction and pressure-compensated flow control devices use fluid dynamics principles to regulate flow rates without electrical power, eliminating excessive energy consumption while maintaining consistent mixing proportions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles including the venturi effect (pressure differential created by fluid flow through a constriction) and pressure-compensated flow control to regulate water and personal care liquid mixing ratios. This hydraulic approach eliminates electrical power requirements while ensuring reliable mixture proportions.
3Ease of operation
If existing mixing systems are used, then dispensing functionality is provided, but they fail to compensate for upstream pressure variances resulting in unpredictable results
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-compensated flow control device incorporates a feedback mechanism where downstream pressure variations automatically adjust the flow rate through the device. When upstream pressure varies, the pressure differential across the flow control device self-regulates to maintain constant flow rates and consistent mixing proportions without external control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow parameters (flow rate, pressure differential) dynamically in response to upstream pressure variations. The pressure-compensated flow control device automatically adjusts its effective opening or resistance to maintain constant flow rates despite pressure fluctuations, ensuring predictable mixing proportions.
4Reliability
If personal care liquid is dispensed in full strength, then effective cleaning is achieved, but the liquid becomes caked within the washbasin and on surrounding surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary dilution of the personal care liquid by mixing it with water in predetermined proportions before dispensing to the user. This pre-dilution prevents the liquid from becoming caked on surfaces while maintaining effective cleaning concentration, eliminating the harmful caking effect.
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 system provides a reliable, consistent, and efficient mixture of water and personal care liquids, reducing waste and improving hand hygiene in various industries by addressing the complexities and inefficiencies of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing unit comprising: a first passageway extending from a water inlet to an outlet, the first passageway comprising a mixing chamber comprising a venturi constriction
Implementation Method 2
a pressure compensating flow control (PCFC) device operably disposed in the first passageway between the venturi constriction and the water inlet
Data Source
AI summary
A system for dispensing or and/or creating a mixture of water and a personal care liquid (PC), such, as soap, shampoo, antibacterial liquids, disinfectant liquids, liquid dishwashing detergents, or other sanitization fluids. The system, in one embodiment, is used in conjunction with a faucet that is mounted adjacent a washbasin to dispense the mixture. In an embodiment, a mixing unit is included in the system that comprises a venturi and a pressure compensating control device. In another embodiment, a pinch valve is utilized to control the introduction of the PCL into the water flow. In yet another embodiment, at least one water pressure actuatable valve is utilized to control the introduction of the PCL into the water flow.