Bag-in-Box Tap Valve Sealing Against Oxygen Infiltration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bag-in-box assemblies face challenges in preventing atmospheric gas infiltration, leading to oxidation and degradation of oxygen-sensitive fluids, due to inadequate sealing and mechanical stress issues with current tap designs, which results in reduced shelf life and quality of stored products.
Innovation Solution
A tap assembly with a valve closure in sliding engagement across a hollow tap body, featuring a multi-start male thread and concentric securement pieces, forming a three-point locking mechanism and multiple sealing portions to minimize gas penetration, and a flexible internal piece for secure attachment to the fluid container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large opening is provided in the bag-in-box assembly to enable most types of taps to be fitted and allow reasonable flow rate, then ease of operation and fluid dispensing capability are improved, but oxygen infiltration into the bag increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A tap assembly serves as an intermediary component between the bag opening and the external environment. The tap includes a valve body with internal flow channels that guide fluid from the bag to the outlet while maintaining a sealed connection to the bag opening, thereby preventing oxygen infiltration while enabling fluid dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tap assembly utilizes a flexible membrane or diaphragm that forms a seal between the valve body and the bag opening. This flexible sealing element conformally engages with the bag opening, creating an oxygen-tight seal while accommodating the large opening required for tap installation and fluid flow.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional tap designs are used with simple sealing mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but sealing effectiveness against atmospheric gas infiltration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into multiple independent sealing portions within the tap assembly. These include a first sealing portion at the bag opening interface, a second sealing portion at the valve internal passages, and a third sealing portion at the outlet connection. Each sealing portion addresses specific leakage paths, collectively providing robust sealing without requiring complex overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The tap assembly employs a nested structure where the valve closure is received within the valve body, and sealing elements are nested within the valve structure. The valve closure contains sealing surfaces that engage with corresponding surfaces in the valve body, creating concentric sealing zones that prevent gas infiltration through multiple nested barriers.
3Ease of operation
If existing tap assemblies are subjected to mechanical stress during handling and transportation, then ease of handling is maintained, but sealing integrity deteriorates due to inadequate structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body and valve closure feature curved, spheroidal sealing surfaces that provide mechanical advantage under compressive loads. The rounded geometry distributes mechanical stress evenly across the sealing interfaces, preventing stress concentration that could compromise seal integrity during handling and transportation while maintaining ease of manual operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A tap assembly for reducing the infiltration of fluid from the exterior of a fluid container to the interior of a fluid container comprising a tap valve, a valve closure, and a hollow tap body. The tap body provides a fluid outlet for allowing the passage of fluid through the tap assembly and a multi-start male thread to slidably move the valve closure from an open position to a closed position. The tap assembly further comprises three concentric securement pieces configured to interface with the fluid container and form a three-point locking mechanism interlocking the three concentric securement pieces.