Animal Watering Valve Sealing With Debris Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensing devices for animals, particularly laboratory animals, face issues with debris accumulation and plunger damage due to sterilization processes, leading to potential flooding and unreliable water supply.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing device with an annular elastic sealing element and a disc-shaped screening element that prevents debris entry while allowing smooth operation of the valve, and a plunger centering element with improved elastic thrust to ensure reliable sealing and re-switching of the valve without hindering its functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plunger is used to press the needle against the gasket to ensure sealing, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the plunger may be damaged during sterilization processes
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into sterilizable components (main body, needle, gasket) and a non-sterilizable component (plunger). The plunger remains in the main body during sterilization, while the needle and gasket can be removed and sterilized separately. This segmentation allows the plunger to avoid damage from sterilization processes while maintaining sealing reliability through the intact plunger-needle-gasket assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger is extracted from the sterilization process entirely. It remains permanently housed in the main body, which is either sterilized in place or designed to withstand sterilization without compromising the plunger. The needle and gasket are extracted for separate sterilization, eliminating the risk of plunger damage during these processes.
2Reliability
If the needle is kept pressed against the gasket by the plunger, then the sealing is improved, but the needle may become blocked by debris accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is extracted from the main body for separate sterilization and storage. When not in use, the needle can be removed from the main body, eliminating the risk of debris accumulation and blocking within the sealed main body environment. The needle is only inserted when needed for operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with easy-disassembly features that allow for regular cleaning and maintenance before debris can accumulate to blocking levels. The modular construction enables proactive maintenance interventions to prevent harmful debris accumulation.
3Productivity
If the needle is moved by the animal to open the valve, then the water supply is improved, but the needle may not return to the closing position reliably
Solution Approach 1:
A spring mechanism provides a restoring force (counterweight) that acts on the needle to return it to the closing position after the animal moves it to the opening position. This elastic counterforce ensures reliable valve closing regardless of the animal's actions, maintaining both water supply efficiency and closing reliability.
4Ease of manufacture
If the device is designed for easy cleaning and sterilization, then the maintenance is improved, but the plunger may be damaged by sterilization processes
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into sterilizable parts (main body, needle, gasket) and non-sterilizable parts (plunger). This allows the sterilizable components to be easily cleaned and sterilized while the plunger remains protected from sterilization damage, maintaining both maintenance ease and plunger integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger is taken out of the sterilization cycle by remaining permanently housed in the main body or being designed as a non-sterile component. The sterilizable components are extracted for separate processing, enabling easy maintenance without compromising plunger integrity.
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 device effectively prevents debris accumulation, ensures reliable valve operation, and maintains the necessary water flow rate, addressing the issues of flooding and plunger damage in previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic deformation of the gasket due to the pressure applied by the head of the needle as a result of the thrust exerted by the plunger prevents the flow of liquids
Implementation Method 2
a disc-shaped screening element that prevents debris entry while allowing smooth operation of the valve
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispensing device (100), in particular for watering animals, in particular laboratory animals, such as small rodents or the like, said device (100) comprising a main body (101) which defines a longitudinal cavity (1011) for the passage of watering liquids, said longitudinal cavity (1011) being in communication with the outside through a delivery (1002) and a discharge (1001) for introducing said liquids in said longitudinal cavity (1011) and discharging said liquids from said longitudinal cavity (1011) respectively, a valve body (105) and an annular shape elastic sealing element (120) arranged inside said longitudinal cavity (1011), said valve body (105) comprising a stem with a first portion (106) which extends through said annular sealing element (120) and a flange-shaped head (107), wherein said flange-shaped head (107) is kept pressed against said annular sealing element (120) by means of an elastic thrust element (130), and wherein said stem can switch between a first closing position, in which the flow of said liquid downstream of said annular sealing element (120) is prevented by said annular sealing element (120), and a second opening position, in which the flow of said liquids downstream of said annular sealing element (120) is possible.