Variable Spray Head Regulating Pin Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spray heads for aerosol cans with internal valve seats face issues such as back pressure leading to uncontrolled material escape, sticking due to paint hardening, and lack of stepless adjustment for application rate, resulting in uneven spraying and operational difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A spray head design featuring a tubular hollow cylinder with a recess and a rotatable regulating pin that aligns with the hollow cylinder's recess to control the spray material flow, allowing for stepless regulation of the application rate and preventing back pressure, with a rotatable regulator for external adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If spray material is allowed to enter the hollow cylinder through a recess in the valve-side end, then stepless adjustment of application rate is achieved, but uncontrolled material escape and spitting occur when the valve is closed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment of application rateVSAvoidcontrol of spray material flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flow control is segmented into two independent mechanisms: the valve controls overall flow on/off, while the regulating pin with recess provides stepless adjustment. The regulating pin's recess can be rotated to different angular positions relative to the hollow cylinder's recess, creating variable flow areas without affecting valve closure integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The regulating pin acts as an intermediary element between the valve closure and the spray material flow. When the valve is closed, the regulating pin's recess can still be positioned to allow controlled leakage or complete closure, mediating between the binary valve state and the continuous flow adjustment requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the control mechanism is completely closed to prevent uncontrolled escape, then spray material control is improved, but spray head spitting occurs when opened again

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of spray material flowVSAvoidsmooth operation of spray head
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Before complete closure, the regulating pin's recess can be positioned to create a small controlled flow path, preventing pressure buildup and material accumulation in the hollow cylinder. This preliminary action of maintaining minimal flow prevents the conditions that lead to spitting when the valve is reopened.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If spray material remains in the spray head for extended periods, then application rate adjustment is maintained, but control mechanism sticking occurs due to paint hardening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication rate regulationVSAvoidmovement of control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The regulating pin's recess is designed to be rotatable and can be positioned to completely block the hollow cylinder's recess, extracting or removing the spray material flow path when not in use. This prevents material accumulation and hardening that would cause sticking, while allowing full flow when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Power

If a propellant with high partial pressure is used to maintain spray performance, then spray power is improved, but the spray head can jump off the valve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespray output forceVSAvoidattachment force of spray head to valve
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The regulating pin's recess can be positioned to create a controlled relief path for propellant pressure, extracting excess pressure that would otherwise cause the spray head to jump off the valve. This maintains spray performance while preventing detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2667975B1Variable spray head
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 PETER KWASNY GMBH
  • EP2667975B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2667975B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2667975B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a spray head (1) for a spray can for placement on a valve having an inner valve seat, wherein the spray head (1) comprises a tubular hollow cylinder (2) which extends coaxially relative to the longitudinal axis of the spray can and can be coupled to the valve and through which a passage (3) for the product to be sprayed that is present in the spray can runs, wherein the passage (3) leads into an outlet nozzle (4) pointing in the radial direction and the valve-side end of the hollow cylinder (2) has an opening (5) on one of the longitudinal sides of the cylinder such that, when the spray head (1) is actuated, the product to be sprayed can enter the hollow cylinder (2) through the opening (5), and wherein a twistable regulating pin (6) runs through the passage (3) of the hollow cylinder (2), wherein the outside diameter of the regulating pin (6) at the valve-side end corresponds to the inside diameter of the passage (3) in the hollow cylinder (2) and the valve-side end of the regulating pin (6) has an opening (7) on one of the longitudinal sides of the pin, said opening allowing the product to be sprayed to enter into the passage (3) when the opening (7) is aligned with the opening (5) in the hollow cylinder (2), wherein the end of the regulating pin (6) facing away from the valve is connected to a rotatable regulator (8) which is accessible from the outside. A spray head (1) is thus provided which allows the delivery rate to be regulated, wherein uncontrolled dispensing of product to be sprayed from the spray head (1) is effectively avoided. The invention is particularly important in the field of paint spray cans.