Volatile Material Dispenser Radial Valve Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated valve activation systems for tilt-activated aerosol container valves are complex, power-intensive, and lack directional control, making them difficult to manufacture and use efficiently, especially in handheld or overcap applications.
Innovation Solution
A volatile material dispenser system featuring a drive unit that radially displaces a tilt-activated valve stem, coupled with a flexible tube fixedly attached to the container, allowing for controlled directional discharge of the aerosolized fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional actuator mechanisms are used to activate the valve, then the valve can be opened, but the system becomes unwieldy, consumes excessive power, and is difficult to adapt for handheld use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of valve activation from complex conventional actuators and implements it through a simple tilt-activated valve stem mechanism. The valve stem is tilted at a specific angle to open the valve, eliminating the need for elaborate motor-driven linkages while maintaining activation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex mechanisms to push or pull the valve stem axially, the invention inverts the approach by tilting the valve stem radially. This inversion simplifies the actuation mechanism and reduces power requirements, making it suitable for handheld applications.
2Extent of automation
If motor driven linkages are used to depress the nozzle and open the valve, then the valve can be activated automatically, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The valve stem is designed to be self-activating through a simple tilt mechanism that requires minimal force. The geometry of the valve stem and valve body allows the tilted position to automatically open the valve without requiring continuous power input from motor-driven linkages.
3Force
If tilt-activated valve stems are used, then activation force is reduced, but directional control of the released material becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible tube is introduced as an intermediary element between the tilt-activated valve stem and the discharge point. This flexible tube can be positioned and oriented to direct the released material along a desired path, compensating for the limited directional control inherent in tilt-activated mechanisms.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex automated activation systems with gears and springs are used, then the valve can be activated precisely, but the system becomes more expensive to manufacture and has more moving parts that can break
Solution Approach 1:
The activation system is segmented into simple, discrete components: a tilted valve stem, a flexible tube, and a discharge mechanism. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex assemblies of gears and springs, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining functional precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A volatile material dispenser includes a drive unit adapted to be mounted on a container. The drive unit is adapted to be activated in response to a signal from at least a sensor to radially displace a tilt-activated valve stem of the container. The volatile material dispenser further includes a flexible tube having a discharge end fixedly held with respect to the container. The flexible tube is adapted to be in fluid communication with the tilt-activated valve stem.