Weighing Aid Neck Design for Volumetric Flask Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional weighing aids, such as paper boats and funnels, are prone to instability and substance loss during transfer to volumetric flasks, leading to inaccurate solution concentrations due to their lightweight and flexible nature, which complicates handling and increases the risk of spillage and residue retention.

Innovation Solution

A weighing aid with a stable receiving vessel and neck design, featuring a support surface and throughflow opening that allows for secure filling and efficient drainage, minimizing contact with the ground joint and reducing substance loss, while being easy to handle and rinse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a lightweight and flexible weighing boat (paper or plastic) is used, then ease of handling and flexibility are improved, but stability and risk of spillage worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of handlingVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The weighing aid is divided into two main segments: a flexible weighing boat for holding substances and a rigid support structure with a flat surface and vertical walls for providing stability. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its primary function - the flexible boat provides ease of handling while the rigid support ensures stability during weighing and transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a conventional weighing funnel with short and narrow neck is used, then substance transfer is enabled, but stability in volumetric flask and rinsing efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstance transferVSAvoidstability in volumetric flask
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The neck of the weighing aid is designed with specific dimensional parameters: a length of 5-15 cm (preferably 8-12 cm) and an outer diameter of 1.5-3.0 cm (preferably 2.0-2.5 cm). These parameter changes ensure the neck is long enough to extend below the ground joint for complete substance drainage while maintaining stability when inserted into the volumetric flask, and wide enough to facilitate efficient rinsing with liquid jet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If conventional weighing aids are used, then weighing capability is provided, but substance loss and residue retention worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing capabilityVSAvoidsubstance loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The neck acts as an intermediary channel between the weighing boat and the volumetric flask. It is designed to extend below the ground joint level when inserted into the flask, creating a pathway that allows complete drainage of substances including those that would otherwise adhere to the ground joint area. This intermediary structure eliminates residue retention at the ground joint interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of substance

If a weighing aid with extended neck is used, then complete substance drainage is achieved, but stability during filling worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete drainageVSAvoidstability during filling
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The weighing aid employs different structural qualities in different locations: the upper portion features a flat surface and vertical walls to provide stability during filling operations, while the lower portion includes an extended neck for complete drainage. This local differentiation of structural qualities allows the same object to fulfill contradictory requirements at different locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2677287B1Weighing aid
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 METTLER TOLEDO GMBH
  • EP2677287B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2677287B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b
  • EP2677287B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The utensil (1) has a receptacle (4) with a fill opening and a seating surface. The seating surface is positioned relative to the fill opening so that a sample substance is placed into the receptacle while the utensil is in the fill position. A utensil neck (5) is arranged on the receptacle with a passage opening. The neck is provided with a support contact point in the plane of the seating surface, so that the utensil is provided to rest on the seating surface and on the support contact point in the fill position of the weighing utensil. An independent claim is included for a method for placing sample substance into measuring flask.