Valve Filling Head With Controlled Shutter Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling heads for fluid product dispensing devices with metering valves suffer from variability in valve shutter position during filling, leading to potential gasket crushing and stress on the valve body, resulting in malfunctions and unreliable filling.
Innovation Solution
A filling head design with a control member, upper plate, supporting ring, ejector cylinder, and ejectors, utilizing O-ring or X-ring gaskets for sealed contact zones and controlled valve positioning, minimizing variability and stress on the valve body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the valve shutter is actuated to its bottom dead centre position during filling, then the filling operation can be completed, but the position variability and gasket crushing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a filling head as an intermediary device between the filling system and the valve shutter. This filling head includes a filling needle that inserts into the valve shutter's outlet orifice, allowing pressurized fluid to be directed through the valve shutter into the reservoir without requiring the valve shutter to reach its extreme bottom dead centre position. The filling head mediates the filling process, enabling it to complete successfully while maintaining better control over valve shutter position and reducing variability.
2Reliability
If the seal is produced on the upper axial edge of the valve shutter, then sealing can be achieved, but gasket crushing and position variability are amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing approach by moving from a one-dimensional axial seal (at the upper axial edge) to a three-dimensional engagement where the filling needle inserts into the outlet orifice of the valve shutter. This dimensional change allows sealing to occur through the insertion geometry and radial contact of the filling needle with the valve shutter's internal surfaces, rather than relying solely on axial compression of the gasket at the upper edge.
3Productivity
If high filling pressure is applied, then filling can be completed, but stress on the valve body increases causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The filling head acts as a pressure-mediating device that distributes and controls the application of filling pressure. The filling needle inserts into the valve shutter's outlet orifice and directs pressure through the valve shutter's internal passages rather than applying high pressure directly to the valve body's external surfaces. This intermediary approach allows filling to be completed while reducing stress concentration on the valve body structure.
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 design ensures precise and reliable filling by controlling valve shutter position, reducing variability and stress, and maintaining the integrity of the metering chamber, while being simple and cost-effective to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring disposed between said supporting ring and said body
Implementation Method 2
a second spring disposed between said ejector sleeve and said upper plate and biasing said at least one ejector towards its ejection position
Implementation Method 3
said receiving space, in which, in the filling position, there is a seal comprising a first gasket between said control member and said body, a second gasket between said body and said receiving plate, and a third gasket between said receiving plate and said valve shutter
Data Source
AI summary
A filling head for a device having a valve with a valve shutter, the head having a body having a receiving space, a control member that slides in the body between rest and filling positions, the member having a channel that opens into the receiving space, a ring fixed to the member and cooperating with a spring disposed between the ring and the body, and a plate fixed to the body and a housing for receiving the valve, such that, in the filling position, the valve shutter opens into the receiving space. In the filling position, the receiving space is sealed off, having a first seal between the control member and the body, a second seal between the body and the receiving plate, and a third seal between the receiving plate and the valve shutter, the third seal cooperating with an external lateral wall of the valve shutter.