Viscous Material Storage Container Sealing Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industry standard cylindrical disposable cartridges for viscous construction materials suffer from rapid solvent loss and degradation after initial use, leading to increased viscosity, clogged nozzles, and leakage, making them unusable within a short period, resulting in waste and mess.
Innovation Solution
A storage container designed to house the cylindrical tubes with an airtight single-body or segmented-body structure, featuring a nozzle enclosure and a base with sealing mechanisms, including O-rings and valves, to prevent solvent loss and create a positive pressure environment, minimizing exposure to air and maintaining the material's usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cylindrical tube is left open after initial use, then the material can be dispensed freely, but solvent evaporates rapidly causing viscosity increase and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A removable cap is introduced as an intermediary component that seals the nozzle opening. The cap includes an O-ring seal that creates an airtight barrier between the viscous material and the external environment, preventing solvent evaporation while allowing easy removal for dispensing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container creates a sealed environment that isolates the viscous material from air exposure. By maintaining this inert atmosphere within the container, solvent evaporation is prevented and material stability is preserved during storage and between uses.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tube is sealed tightly to prevent solvent loss, then material stability is maintained, but pressure build-up causes leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The cap design incorporates a pressure-relief mechanism that changes the sealing parameter dynamically. The seal maintains airtight closure under normal storage conditions but allows pressure equalization when internal pressure exceeds a certain threshold, preventing harmful leakage while maintaining solvent retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is designed with built-in pressure accommodation features that prevent excessive pressure build-up before it causes leakage. The cap and nozzle interface includes mechanisms to cushion and regulate pressure, allowing the system to handle expansion forces without failing the seal.
3Productivity
If the nozzle is left exposed for repeated use, then material can be accessed easily, but air exposure causes rapid degradation and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The removable cap serves as a protective intermediary that can be quickly placed and removed. This allows the material to remain sealed during storage (maintaining reliability) while enabling easy access for dispensing (maintaining productivity). The cap design facilitates rapid operation without compromising material protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is designed to be placed on the nozzle before any exposure to air occurs. This preliminary sealing action prevents degradation from ever happening, ensuring material consistency is maintained across multiple use cycles while allowing productive repeated access.
4Ease of operation
If the tube structure is simplified for easy dispensing, then operation is easier, but protection against solvent loss is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed as a simple, easy-to-attach and detach component that does not complicate the dispensing operation. It features a straightforward placement mechanism on the nozzle that requires minimal user effort, maintaining ease of operation while effectively preventing solvent evaporation through its sealing interface.
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 storage container effectively reduces solvent evaporation and leakage, extending the usability of viscous construction materials by maintaining their consistency and preventing messes, allowing for multiple uses without significant degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The O-ring seal is positioned within a seal groove on the inner surface of the container lid to prevent air and solvent from passing between the storage container and the cylindrical tube
Implementation Method 2
A valve is positioned on the base to allow air to be pumped into or out of the storage container
Implementation Method 3
A valve is positioned on the base to allow air to be pumped into or out of the storage container to create a positive pressure inside the container
Data Source
AI summary
A storage container for a cylindrical tube of viscous construction material includes a body dimensioned to receive a cylindrical tube of viscous construction material. A nozzle enclosure is attached to a top end of the body and is dimensioned to receive a nozzle of a cylindrical tube of viscous construction material. A plug is positioned in the nozzle enclosure and dimensioned to fit into an inner diameter of the nozzle of the cylindrical tube of viscous construction material. A gasket is positioned between the body and the nozzle that substantially prevents air in the body from entering into the nozzle enclosure. A base seals the cylindrical tube of viscous construction material in the body.