Beverage Container Plug With Push-Detach Cover and Clean Valve Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plugs for beverage containers are difficult to disassemble, prone to contamination, and require complex washing procedures, with metal springs contacting the fluid passage, leading to sanitation issues and increased costs due to unnecessary components.
Innovation Solution
A plug design featuring a valve body cover that can be detached by moving it up and down, eliminating the need for rotating the cover while disassembling, and replacing the metal spring with an engagement plate to prevent unintentional disengagement and reduce component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve body cover is made detachable by pushing it down, then the disassembly process is simplified, but the valve body cover may unintentionally detach during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic engagement mechanism where the engagement claws interact with engagement grooves through rotational movement. The valve body cover transitions from an engaged state (when rotated to a predetermined angle) to a disengaged state (when pushed down), allowing controlled detachment while preventing unintentional separation during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body cover is divided into functional segments: the cover body, the engagement claws, and the rotation mechanism. This segmentation allows the cover to be detached by pushing down while the engagement claws remain engaged with the grooves until intentional rotation occurs, resolving the contradiction between ease of disassembly and prevention of unintentional detachment.
2Reliability
If a metal spring is used to bias the valve body, then the valve body can be reliably biased in the closing direction, but the spring contacts the fluid passage causing contamination and sanitation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the metal spring from the fluid passage area and replaces it with an engagement plate that biases the valve body in the closing direction without contacting the fluid passage. This eliminates the contamination source while maintaining the necessary biasing function, resolving the contradiction between reliable valve body biasing and prevention of fluid passage contamination.
3Reliability
If the valve body cover is detached by rotating it, then the engagement mechanism is secure, but the disassembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a rotation member that can be rotated to a predetermined angle to engage the engagement claws with the engagement grooves before the valve body cover is fully assembled. This preliminary engagement action secures the connection while allowing for quick disassembly by simply pushing the cover down, resolving the contradiction between secure engagement and fast disassembly.
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 plug is easier to disassemble and clean, prevents contamination, and reduces costs by minimizing components, ensuring reliable fluid discharge even under high pressure without the need for a metal spring.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member (22) that is provided on the valve body (21) and serves to bias the valve body (21) in a closing direction
Data Source
AI summary
The plug includes: a resilient member that is provided on the valve body and serves to bias the valve body in a closing direction; a valve body cover attached to the valve body in order to prevent the resilient member from coming of a rotation member rotatably provided on the valve body cover; at least two engagement claw portions that are provided on the rotation member and serve to allow the valve body cover to be engaged with an upper portion of the valve body; and claw guiding grooves and the recessed grooves serving as steps that are provided on an upper portion of the valve body, the number of the claw guiding grooves being equal to the number of or the integral multiple of the engagement claw portions, the recessed grooves allowing the rotation member to rotate.