Resilient Tilting Apparatus for Liquid Container Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid containers with spouts or spigots often leave a significant amount of liquid, typically around 6 cups in a 5-gallon container, due to the placement of these outlets near the bottom, resulting in inefficiencies in draining the last dregs.
Innovation Solution
A tilting apparatus that utilizes the laws of physics and potential energy stored in a folded resilient lever to tilt the container, allowing gravity to pull the liquid to a puddle above the spout or spigot drain hole, ensuring all but 5-7 ounces can be drained efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the spout or spigot is placed near the bottom of the container, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but a significant amount of liquid (approximately 6 cups in a 5-gallon container) remains undrained
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the static container into a dynamic system by introducing a tilting mechanism. The container can be tilted to approximately 45 degrees using a lever system, allowing the liquid to flow to the spout positioned at the new lowest point. This dynamic adjustment enables complete drainage while keeping the spout at a manufacturable position.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial dimension to the drainage process by tilting the container in three-dimensional space. Instead of relying solely on vertical positioning of the spout, the system uses angular orientation to redirect liquid flow, enabling the spout to access liquid that would otherwise remain trapped at the bottom.
2Loss of substance
If the spout is placed higher in the container to improve drainage, then the loss of substance is reduced, but the placement location becomes more restrictive and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than statically positioning the spout higher in the container, the invention uses a dynamic tilting mechanism that temporarily repositions the container body. This allows a low-positioned spout to effectively access liquid at what becomes the new lowest point during tilting, avoiding the need for complex high-positioned spout arrangements.
3Loss of substance
If a tilting mechanism is introduced to improve drainage efficiency, then the loss of substance is reduced, but the device complexity and mechanical energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting mechanism is designed to be self-service by utilizing the weight of the liquid and container itself as the driving force. As liquid drains and weight decreases, the balanced lever system automatically tilts the container to facilitate complete drainage, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever system incorporates a counterweight arrangement where the decreasing weight of the liquid container creates a balancing effect. As liquid is removed and weight decreases, the counterweight mechanism facilitates automatic tilting, using the weight differential rather than requiring additional energy input.
4Loss of substance
If the container is tilted at a steeper angle to improve drainage, then the loss of substance is reduced, but the stability of the apparatus decreases and spills may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the tilting angle parameter to approximately 45 degrees, which provides the ideal balance between drainage efficiency and stability. This specific angular parameter allows sufficient liquid flow to the spout while maintaining adequate stability to prevent spills, representing an optimized parameter rather than extreme tilting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial tilting (approximately 45 degrees) rather than extreme tilting angles. This partial action is sufficient to achieve complete drainage while maintaining stability, avoiding the excessive action that would cause spills while still resolving the drainage problem.
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 apparatus ensures a constant flow of liquid until the container is nearly empty, effectively draining the majority of the liquid, maintaining the center of gravity behind the tipping point to prevent spills and optimize drainage.
Implementation Method 1
potential energy stored in the folded resilient lever that forms the platform and base to tip the liquid container up and forward allowing gravity to pull the liquid inside to a level puddle or pool above the spout and spigot drain hole
Implementation Method 2
allowing gravity to pull the liquid inside to a level puddle or pool above the spout and spigot drain hole
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid container tilting apparatus designed for household and commercial use; made from a resilient material, capable of automatically tilting to a maximum tilt angle to optimize the draining of the last 1-6 cups of liquid from the container. As the liquid from the container drains, the tilting angle increases. The tilting apparatus is made of a base, a platform lever and a basket. The platform lever is part of the base. The basket holds the liquid container securely to the platform lever. The liquid container tilting apparatus can be cleaned and stored inside the liquid container or hung.