Vacuum Release Mechanism With Collapsible Bladder Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve assemblies face challenges in selectively controlling the opening and closing characteristics, particularly when the vacuum required to draw air from a reservoir is similar to or less than that needed to draw fluid, leading to inefficient gas evacuation and fluid dispensing, especially with low viscosity fluids or viscous materials.
Innovation Solution
A control mechanism is introduced that includes a collapsible bladder with a flexible side wall, which can be moved from an uncollapsed to a collapsed position by varying pressure, allowing for selective alteration of the valve's sealing characteristics through a push rod, enabling precise control over the valve's opening tendency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-way valve is designed with strong inherent bias against opening to prevent fluid leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but the vacuum pressure required to evacuate air from the reservoir increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly incorporates a movable disc that can be positioned in different locations within the valve body. By dynamically adjusting the disc position, the system changes the vacuum pressure threshold required to open the valve, allowing optimization between sealing reliability and air evacuation efficiency for different operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the valve by adjusting the disc position to modify the pressure differential required for opening. This parameter adjustment allows the same valve assembly to adapt to different fluid viscosities and evacuation requirements without changing the fundamental valve structure
2Productivity
If a one-way valve is designed with weak inherent bias against opening to facilitate easy air evacuation, then air evacuation efficiency is improved, but fluid may be drawn out during dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The movable disc enables dynamic adjustment of the valve's opening characteristics. During air evacuation, the disc can be positioned to allow easy opening and rapid air removal. During fluid dispensing, the disc position can be adjusted to increase the pressure threshold required for opening, preventing unintended fluid leakage while maintaining reliable operation
3Quantity of substance
If the vacuum pressure for air evacuation is set between the first vacuum pressure (for air) and second vacuum pressure (for fluid), then selective air removal is achieved, but this approach fails when air and fluid require similar vacuum pressures
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than relying on fixed pressure differential thresholds that fail when air and fluid have similar evacuation requirements, the movable disc allows dynamic adjustment of the valve's opening characteristics. This enables the system to adapt to different fluid properties including low viscosity fluids like alcohol, where the distinction between air and fluid evacuation pressures is minimal or non-existent
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by adjusting disc position to modify the pressure threshold for valve opening. This parameter adjustment provides versatility across different fluid types and viscosities, allowing the same valve assembly to maintain selective air removal capability even when fluid properties change the pressure differential requirements
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 solution allows for efficient evacuation of air from the reservoir while preventing fluid from being drawn out, ensuring the valve remains closed until a sufficient vacuum is applied, thus optimizing the dispensing process for various fluid viscosities.
Implementation Method 1
The bladder may be moved by applying a pressure to its interior, either a vacuum pressure below atmospheric to collapse the bladder or a pressure above atmospheric to expand the bladder
Implementation Method 2
The valve mechanism attached to the outlet of the reservoir typically includes a one-way valve permitting air to be drawn outwardly from the reservoir, however, preventing air or other materials to flow into the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
a disc extending radially outwardly therefrom to a resilient outer edge portion, the resilient outer edge portion configured to engage the chamber side wall to restrict fluid flow through the chamber past the disc having regard to the pressure differential across the disc
Data Source
AI summary
A piston pump in which the piston carries a valve and a control mechanism to change a characteristic of the valve, preferably, its tendency to open. The valve may preferably comprise a disc which extends radially outwardly from the piston to resiliently engage the wall of piston chamber. The control mechanism preferably provides an access port communicating axially through the piston and axially out an opening of the piston chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the control mechanism comprises a bladder with a flexible side wall which can be moved from an inherent uncollapsed position to a different position and which bladder is inherently biased to return to its uncollapsed position.