Air Tank Valve Visual Indicator Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scuba tank valve handles lack a clear visual indication of whether the valve is in the 'on' or 'off' position, leading to confusion and potential catastrophic loss of air supply during dives, resulting in safety issues such as decompression sickness.
Innovation Solution
A visual indicator assembly for air tank valves with a rotatable handle that includes a 'ON' indicator becoming visible and obscuring the 'OFF' indicator upon rotation, allowing easy identification of the valve's state without axial movement of the handle, using color-coded cylindrical sleeve members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotatable handle is used to open and close the valve, then the valve operation follows the standard righty-tighty lefty-loosey rule, but the handle does not move axially when rotated, making it difficult to visually determine whether the valve is in the on or off position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded indicators (red for OFF, green for ON) on the cylindrical sleeve members to provide clear visual distinction of valve states. The colors remain consistent regardless of handle rotation direction, solving the problem of determining valve state with a rotatable handle that does not move axially.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cylindrical sleeve members as intermediary elements between the handle and the valve mechanism. These sleeves rotate with the handle but provide visual indicators that clearly show the valve state, mediating between the handle's rotational motion and the need for visual feedback without requiring axial movement.
2Quantity of substance
If the valve is opened one-quarter turn due to confusion about valve state, then enough air remains for two full breaths, but the valve may inadvertently seal shut as air pressure drops, resulting in catastrophic loss of air supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback through color-coded indicators that clearly show whether the valve is in the ON or OFF position. This feedback mechanism prevents divers from incorrectly opening the valve only one-quarter turn by providing unambiguous visual confirmation of the valve state, ensuring the valve is fully open before diving and eliminating the risk of inadvertent closure during the dive.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valve configurations (stand alone, H-Valves, manifold with isolator valves, left-handed valves, right-handed valves) are used, then the valve system is versatile, but it becomes very confusing for the diver and buddy to determine whether the valve is turned on or off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal visual indicator system using color-coded cylindrical sleeve members that works across all valve configurations (stand alone, H-Valves, manifold with isolator valves, left-handed valves, right-handed valves). The standardized color coding (red for OFF, green for ON) provides consistent visual feedback regardless of the specific valve type or orientation, eliminating confusion caused by multiple configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A visual indicator assembly displays the state of an isolated stem control valve contained in a housing of an air tank. The visual indicator assembly comprises a rotatable handle member adapted for operative connection to the isolated stem control valve contained in the housing of the air tank. The rotatable handle member opens and closes the control valve without axial movement of the rotatable handle member. An “OFF” indicator is visible with the control valve in a closed condition, and an “ON” indicator is non-visible with the control valve in a closed condition. The “ON” indicator is movable to become visible and obscure the “OFF” indicator upon rotation of the handle member to adjust the control valve to an open condition.