Air Distribution Valve Unit Enabling Forced Decompression in Air Massagers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air massagers face difficulties in easily achieving forced internal decompression due to limitations in vent valve performance, leading to challenges in exhausting gas from expandable bladders.
Innovation Solution
An air supply/exhaust system featuring an air pump, an air distribution valve unit, and a main valve unit with solenoid valve units, allowing for both gas supply and suction, enabling controlled pressure adjustments and reducing the risk of mechanism deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vent valve is used to exhaust gas from expandable bladders, then gas exhaustion is achieved, but forced internal decompression becomes difficult when internal pressure is forced lower
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a vent valve that only allows one-way exhaust, the invention uses a two-way valve that can switch between supply and exhaust modes. The air pump can suction gas from the bladders through the two-way valve, creating negative pressure to force internal decompression, effectively reversing the traditional exhaust approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-way valve serves multiple functions: it can supply gas from the air pump to the bladders during inflation, and it can exhaust gas from the bladders back to the air pump during decompression. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate supply and exhaust valves, enabling both gas supply and forced decompression through a single component.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate valve units are used for gas supply and exhaust, then gas flow control is achieved, but device complexity and component wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the gas supply valve and exhaust valve into a single two-way valve unit. This two-way valve can switch between connecting the air pump to the bladders for gas supply and connecting the bladders to the air pump for gas exhaust, thereby reducing the total number of valve components while maintaining full gas flow control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-way valve performs both gas supply and gas exhaust functions that would traditionally require separate valve units. By making the valve universal, the system reduces component count, simplifies the overall structure, and decreases the number of moving parts that require maintenance.
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
Facilitates easy and efficient forced internal decompression, reduces component wear, and lowers costs through simplified structure and increased component sharing, enhancing maintainability.
Implementation Method 1
an air pump, an air distribution valve unit connected to the air pump, and a main valve unit including solenoid valve units connected to the air distribution valve unit
Data Source
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AI summary
An air supply/exhaust system for an air massager includes an air pump, an air distribution valve unit connected to the air pump, and a main valve unit connected to the air distribution valve unit. The air distribution valve unit includes a first portion having a first free port connected to the supply port of the air pump, a first connection port connected to the main valve unit, a second connection port connected to the outside, and a first switching mechanism, and a second portion having a second free port connected to the inlet port of the air pump, a third connection port connected to the main valve unit, a fourth connection port connected to the outside, and a second switching mechanism.