Container Valve Membrane Sealing via Linear Contact Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container valves with supporting parts for liquid or viscous substances face issues with sealing reliability due to negative pressure and external pressure, leading to retrocontamination and user discomfort, as they often require increased effort to operate and can result in leaks or splashing.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a linear sealing zone formed by a contact line on the periphery of the slit, which enhances sealing reliability by transferring pressure to a specific contact line rather than a surface, allowing the membrane to return to its natural position without stress and maintaining user comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a supporting part is added under the slit to prevent membrane deformation, then sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases and user effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the supporting part from under the slit, extracting the element that was causing complexity and user effort issues. The solution relies on the membrane's own elastic properties and a different sealing approach (contact line on periphery) rather than mechanical support, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed to seal itself through its elastic deformation and contact line mechanism without requiring external supporting structures. The membrane's natural elasticity and the contact line geometry enable self-sealing functionality, eliminating the need for additional supporting parts.
2Reliability
If a supporting part is added under the slit to prevent membrane deformation, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting part is removed from the design, eliminating the source of operational difficulty. Users no longer need to apply excessive force to overcome the supporting structure, making the device easier to operate while the contact line mechanism maintains sealing reliability.
3Reliability
If the membrane is made more rigid to improve sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased force required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire membrane more rigid, the patent applies rigidity locally through the contact line geometry on the periphery. The membrane material itself remains flexible for ease of operation, but the contact line configuration provides localized sealing strength where needed, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and operability.
4Reliability
If the slit is made smaller to improve sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced substance flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates sealing quality at the contact line on the periphery rather than reducing the slit size. This allows the slit to remain large for high productivity while the contact line provides localized sealing action, preventing retrocontamination without restricting substance flow.
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 provides improved sealing and reliability against retrocontamination while maintaining user comfort, as the linear sealing zone effectively restricts dirt and bacteria entry and reduces the force required to open the valve, ensuring efficient substance delivery without leaks or splashing.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane (203) arranged in a wall (223) of a container, the membrane being elastically deformable under the effect of positive pressure of a substance
Implementation Method 2
at least one first wall (210) configured to be, in the absence of positive pressure of the substance, in contact with an inner surface (206) of the membrane along at least one first contact line (211) arranged on the periphery of the slit (205)
Data Source
AI summary
A container may include a wall and an outlet valve, where the outlet valve includes: a membrane that is elastically deformable under the effect of positive pressure of a substance relative to the outside, an outer surface of the membrane being in contact with an external environment, in the area of a slit formed in a zone for removing the substance, the slit being suitable for allowing the discharge of a flow of the substance caused by the positive pressure; a wall configured to be, in the absence of positive pressure of the substance, in contact with an inner surface of the membrane along a contact line arranged on the periphery of the slit, and configured to allow the inner surface of the membrane to move away from at least part of the wall in the event of positive pressure of the substance.