Ball Joint Valve Stem Tilting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves for pressurized fluid containers face challenges in sealing due to relative motion between the stem and housing, leading to gas loss, water vapor ingress, and increased force requirements for opening, which can damage the valve.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a ball-shaped stem that forms a ball joint with a correspondingly shaped socket in the housing, equipped with elastic sealing means and recesses, allowing tilting without relative motion and providing a fixed pivot point, reducing the force needed to open the valve while preventing gas loss and water vapor entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional valve stem with relative motion between stem and housing is used, then the valve structure is simple, but sealing performance deteriorates leading to gas loss and water vapor ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by designing the lower end of the stem as ball-shaped to form a ball joint with a correspondingly shaped ball socket in the housing. This spherical geometry allows the stem to tilt freely in multiple directions while maintaining continuous surface contact between the stem and housing, ensuring reliable sealing performance without requiring complex sealing mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If a traditional rigid connection between stem and housing is used, then structural strength is maintained, but force required to open the valve increases and may damage the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The ball-shaped lower end of the stem forming a ball joint with the ball socket enables the stem to tilt easily in any direction with minimal force. The spherical contact geometry distributes forces evenly and allows smooth rotational movement, significantly reducing the opening force required while maintaining structural integrity through the rigid ball joint connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the stem to tilt freely within the ball socket rather than requiring precise alignment or linear movement. This dynamic capability enables the valve to adapt to various operating positions and forces, making operation easier while the rigid ball joint maintains necessary structural strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the stem is fixed in position relative to the housing, then sealing is simplified, but the valve cannot accommodate tilting motions for variable flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint design with ball-shaped stem end and corresponding socket provides inherent adaptability by allowing the stem to tilt in multiple directions. The continuous surface contact between the spherical surfaces maintains reliable sealing throughout the entire range of motion, combining versatility with sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an elastomeric sealing element that can deform elastically to accommodate the tilting motion of the stem within the ball socket. This flexible sealing approach maintains continuous contact and reliable sealing even during dynamic tilting operations, enabling variable flow control while preventing gas loss and water vapor ingress.
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 design reduces the force required to open the valve, minimizes gas and material loss, and enhances durability by maintaining surface contact, preventing water vapor ingress, and allowing flexible tilting directions for variable output flow.
Implementation Method 1
the housing is provided with elastomeric sealing means and the stem is provided with a resting area for the sealing means which sealing means deform elastically when the stem is tilted
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention concerns a valve for a container for dispensing pressurized fluid, said valve comprising a housing which is mounted on a valve cup, a hollow stem provided in a passage of the housing which stem has at least one lateral inlet opening at its lower end and an outlet opening at its upper end. In order to provide a valve with a better opening mechanism it is proposed according to the present invention that the lower end of the stem is ball-shaped and forms a ball joint with a correspondingly ball-shaped ball socket being part of the housing, wherein the upper part of the housing is provided with sealing means and the stem is tillable between a closed position and an open position.