Vacuum Switch Valve for Sequential Multi-Reservoir Dispensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensers for fluid materials often require premature replacement of reservoirs, leading to waste, as they are not designed to efficiently switch between multiple reservoirs, resulting in unused fluid being discarded.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum-controlled switch valve mechanism with two separate one-way valves, each with a distinct threshold vacuum, allowing fluid dispensing from one reservoir until it is substantially empty before switching to the next, ensuring continuous operation and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reservoir is replaced while there is still soap in the reservoir, then the dispenser will always have soap for dispensing, but this results in discarding of used reservoirs containing soap
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid storage into multiple separate reservoirs (first reservoir, second reservoir), each with its own one-way valve. This segmentation allows the pump to selectively draw from different reservoirs, enabling complete utilization of one reservoir before switching to another, thereby eliminating fluid waste while maintaining continuous availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses different threshold vacuum parameters for each one-way valve (first threshold vacuum, second threshold vacuum). By varying this critical parameter, the system controls the switching behavior between reservoirs, ensuring that one reservoir is fully depleted before the next activates, thus preventing waste while guaranteeing continuous operation.
2Device complexity
If a single reservoir is used in the dispenser, then the device structure is simple, but the reservoir must be replaced prematurely leading to waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the single reservoir into multiple reservoirs, each capable of being fully utilized. This increases device complexity but eliminates the need for premature replacement and fluid waste, as the pump can completely empty one reservoir before activating the next.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention ensures continuous useful action by maintaining multiple reservoirs that can be sequentially activated. The transition between reservoirs is seamless and controlled by vacuum threshold parameters, ensuring that the dispensing function continues without interruption while fully utilizing all fluid resources.
3Loss of substance
If multiple reservoirs are used with a vacuum controlled valve mechanism, then fluid waste is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention manages complexity by using a single controlling parameter - the threshold vacuum - which varies for each valve. This parameter-based control simplifies the overall mechanism compared to complex multi-valve systems with multiple control parameters, while still achieving complete reservoir utilization and waste minimization.
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 mechanism allows for efficient and sequential dispensing from multiple reservoirs, reducing waste by ensuring that fluid is used from one reservoir before switching to the next, thus optimizing the use of fluid resources.
Implementation Method 1
a pump mechanism operative for pumping fluid from a chamber out of an outlet thereby creating a vacuum below atmospheric in the chamber
Implementation Method 2
each one-way valve has an initial sealed condition preventing flow therethrough until a threshold vacuum for that valve is exceeded in the chamber by operation of the pump mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum controlled valve mechanism providing two separate one-way valves, one for each of a pair of collapsible fluid containing reservoirs with each valve being in an initial sealed condition preventing flow therethrough until by operation of the pump mechanism a threshold vacuum is exceeded and with the threshold vacuum of a first of the valves being greater than the threshold vacuum of the other, second of the valves. When the threshold vacuum of the first valve is exceeded, that first valve separately permits dispensing of fluid from its reservoir under vacuum conditions less than the threshold vacuum of the first valve and the second valve until the first reservoir is substantially empty after which further operation of the pump mechanism creates a vacuum which exceeds the threshold vacuum for the second valve after which the second valve permits dispensing of fluid from the second reservoir.