Integrated Dispensing Valve for Boiling Water Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for dispensing boiling water face challenges in providing reliable and durable protection against excess pressure, with safety provisions often becoming jammed due to lime scale deposition, leading to ineffective operation during high-pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electrically operated valve system with a thermally insulated reservoir, where the valve is designed to open against a closing force when excess pressure reaches a threshold, using a movably arranged valve member and an actuator to ensure both safe and functional operation, with a configuration that prevents steam and water from entering the sink cupboard during excess pressure situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate excess pressure safety valve is provided, then safety protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the normal water dispensing valve and the excess pressure safety valve into a single integrated valve assembly. The valve member serves dual functions: controlling water flow during normal operation and responding to excess pressure conditions. This merging eliminates the need for separate safety valve components while maintaining both dispensing and safety functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly is designed with multi-functionality, where the same valve member and actuator mechanism perform both the primary water dispensing function and the secondary excess pressure safety function. The valve member can be actuated to open under normal operation and automatically responds to pressure changes for safety protection, making a single component serve multiple critical purposes.
2Volume of moving object
If the valve is positioned in the sink cupboard, then space utilization is improved, but steam release becomes harmful
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a discharge conduit as an intermediary pathway that directs excess water and steam away from the sink cupboard. Instead of allowing direct release into the confined space, the conduit provides a controlled escape route that redirects the harmful steam and water discharge to a safer location, mediating between the pressure relief need and the harmful effect prevention.
3Reliability
If the valve member is held closed by closing force, then normal operation is improved, but excess pressure protection response is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the force balance acting on the valve member. The closing force (from spring or weight) is calibrated to be slightly less than the normal operating pressure, allowing the valve to remain closed during normal conditions while being poised to open when pressure exceeds the threshold. This parameter optimization enables rapid response to excess pressure while maintaining stable normal operation.
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 solution provides reliable and durable operation by ensuring the valve is regularly used and maintained, preventing lime scale deposition and ensuring safe discharge of excess pressure, thus maintaining effective operation and preventing steam release into the sink cupboard.
Implementation Method 1
an excess pressure prevailing in the reservoir exerts a force on the valve member which is directed opposite to the closing force
Implementation Method 2
exerts a force on the valve member which is directed opposite to the closing force
Implementation Method 3
an electric heating element which is disposed in the reservoir
Implementation Method 4
a thermally insulated reservoir which is resistant to an excess pressure prevailing in the interior of the reservoir
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for dispensing hot or boiling water which is provided with a thermally insulated reservoir which is resistant to an excess pressure prevailing in the interior, an electric heating element which is arranged in the reservoir, a discharge conduit and a valve which is included in a fluid communication between the reservoir and the discharge conduit and provided with a valve seat and a movably arranged valve member which in a closed position is pressed with a closing force against the valve seat and which can be brought with an operating element to an opened position, wherein the configuration of the valve and the connection thereof to the fluid communication are such that an excess pressure prevailing in the reservoir exerts a force on the valve body which is directed opposite to the closing force, wherein the closing force is such that the valve member is pressed from the closed position when an excess pressure prevailing in the reservoir reaches a threshold value.