Buoyancy Drain Valve Structure for Stable Automatic Liquid Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automatic liquid drain devices suffer from reduced operational stability due to float shaking, complex structure, and high manufacturing costs, which affect price competitiveness and safety.

Innovation Solution

An automatic liquid drain device with a buoyancy valve member featuring inclined ribs and a valve packing, combined with a drain emergency action mechanism, ensures reliable operation and emergency shutdown to prevent air leakage and reduce manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional float structure with valve rod is used, then the device achieves automatic liquid discharge function, but the float is greatly shaken left and right due to liquid impact force, reducing operational stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoidliquid impact force on float

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the valve rod from the float structure, extracting the problematic component that caused lateral shaking. The float is redesigned to move only vertically along guide ribs, eliminating the lateral movement caused by liquid impact while maintaining the automatic discharge function through buoyancy-driven vertical motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the float handles buoyancy-driven vertical motion, the valve packing (separate from the float) handles sealing, and the guide ribs provide structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interference, improving overall operational stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a valve rod at the bottom of the float is used, then the automatic discharge function is achieved, but the structure becomes complicated and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidvalve rod structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve rod is completely removed from the design. Instead of using a mechanical valve rod for control, the invention uses a simple valve packing that is pushed up by the float's vertical motion to seal the drain hole. This extraction of the complex valve rod mechanism significantly simplifies the structure and reduces manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve packing is designed to be self-actuating through the buoyancy force of the float. The float's vertical movement automatically pushes the valve packing against the seat to seal the drain hole, eliminating the need for external actuation mechanisms like valve rods, springs, or linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the valve packing is integrated into the float structure, then the automatic sealing function is achieved, but the valve packing cannot be replaced when worn and may come off during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve packing retentionVSAvoidvalve packing replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The valve packing is separated from the float as an independent, replaceable component. It is installed in a dedicated space within the float structure with a specific fit that prevents it from coming off during operation, while still allowing easy removal and replacement when worn. This segmentation solves both the retention and repairability issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve packing is designed with a fit that provides inherent retention before any wear occurs, preventing it from coming off during normal operation. The structure anticipates potential wear and allows for easy replacement, cushioning against future failure modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enhances operational reliability, prevents valve packing separation, ensures product safety, and reduces costs while maintaining performance, enabling emergency action in case of failure.

Implementation Method 1

a buoyancy valve member embedded to be vertically movable in the water collection chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS12618487B2Automatic liquid drain device

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 2CD CO LTD

AI summary

Proposed is an automatic liquid drain device including a body (10) having a water collection chamber (12) and configured such that an upper cap member (11) having a liquid inlet (13) is fastened to an upper portion of the water collection chamber (12), a buoyancy valve member (20) embedded to be vertically movable in the water collection chamber (12), having downward-inclined ribs (23) and a drop drain (24), and provided with a valve packing (25) protruding from a lower center thereof, a liquid pooling space (122) below the buoyancy valve member (20), and a drain emergency action means (30) provided with a drain nipple (31) having a vertical drain hole (32) whose upper end is exposed to the liquid pooling space (122), and an opening/closing nipple (34) fastened to a lower portion of the drain nipple (31) to open and close the vertical drain hole (32).