Vacuum Evacuation Device for Pasty Liquid Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to effectively evacuate air inclusions from containers filled with highly viscous liquids during filling and dosing processes to prevent mixing ratio issues and ensure precise dosing, especially when using barrel follower plates that can introduce air into the system.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with a vacuum-tight cover assembly and evacuation pump to create a vacuum environment within the container, which removes air inclusions during filling and maintains a vacuum during dosing to prevent air from entering the feed pump, along with a collapse avoidance apparatus to prevent container collapse from excessive vacuum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum is applied to evacuate air inclusions from the container, then air removal effectiveness is improved, but container collapse risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container system is divided into two separate vacuum chambers: an inner chamber for evacuating air inclusions from the liquid, and an outer chamber for supporting the container wall. This segmentation allows independent control of vacuum levels in each chamber, enabling effective air removal while preventing container collapse through the outer chamber's vacuum support.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer vacuum chamber acts as an intermediary structure between the external environment and the container. It provides a vacuum support environment that counteracts the collapsing force on the container wall, allowing the inner chamber to apply strong vacuum for air inclusion removal without compromising container structural integrity.
2Reliability
If barrel follower plate is inserted to seal the container opening, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but air entrapment between plate and liquid surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum is applied to the container interior before the barrel follower plate is fully inserted and sealed against the liquid surface. This preliminary vacuum action creates negative pressure that actively draws out air inclusions and prevents air entrapment, ensuring that when the plate seals the opening, no air pockets remain between the plate and liquid.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical sealing action of the barrel follower plate is supplemented and enhanced by the vacuum field. Instead of relying solely on mechanical compression to exclude air, the vacuum field actively removes air inclusions, replacing part of the mechanical function with a field-based approach that is more effective at eliminating trapped air.
3Reliability
If vacuum is applied during filling process, then air inclusion removal is improved, but filling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-chamber vacuum system serves multiple functions: it evacuates air inclusions from the liquid during filling, supports the container wall to prevent collapse, and maintains vacuum during the dosing process. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by eliminating the need for separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The container support function and the air evacuation function are merged into a single integrated vacuum system with two chambers. The outer chamber provides structural support while the inner chamber handles air removal, combining what could have been separate systems into one coordinated unit that reduces overall process complexity.
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 device ensures minimal air inclusions in the liquid, preventing mixing ratio problems and ensuring accurate dosing by evacuating air both within the liquid and above the liquid surface, while the collapse avoidance apparatus maintains container integrity by balancing internal and external vacuum forces.
Implementation Method 1
the device is equipped with a cover assembly (in particular what is known as a barrel follower plate) which is adapted to close an opening of a container in a vacuum-tight manner and which has a connection device which is arranged on the outer face of the cover assembly and is designed for connecting an evacuation pump. By means of this evacuation pump or vacuum pump, the container interior can be placed under as great a negative pressure as possible (known as a vacuum).
Implementation Method 2
This can (in particular during refilling into the barrel) have the effect of sucking out air inclusions in the liquid, the more completely the greater the vacuum.
Implementation Method 3
a collapse avoidance apparatus 22 which is adapted to suck outwards those regions of the outer faces of walls of the container that are at risk of collapse, and thus, so to speak, to generate a counter-vacuum against the vacuum in the container
Data Source
AI summary
A device for evacuating a container that contains a pasty liquid to avoid air inclusions or bubbles in the liquid while the container is being filled and/or to eliminate air between the liquid surface and a follower plate until the plate contacts the liquid surface during insertion of the plate into the container before removal of the liquid. The device comprises a cover assembly to close an opening of a container in a vacuum-tight manner and which has a connection device for connecting an evacuation pump. A collapse avoidance apparatus is provided to surround at least one region of the outer faces of the container walls with a seal to connect to the wall outer face in a vacuum-tight manner and form a vacuum-tight collapse avoidance chamber. A connection device is provided for connecting an evacuation pump to evacuate the chamber and apply a vacuum on the wall outer face.