Check valve assembly with improved safety for use in a laundry dryer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry dryer condensate water systems face issues with leak-tightness due to excessive load vulnerability, leading to potential water spillage and damage to electrical components, particularly in the safety valve mechanism where a gasket is prone to wear and dislocation.
Innovation Solution
A check valve assembly featuring a locking member that engages with a spring-loaded shaft to prevent rearward movement and includes a twist-lock mechanism, ensuring the sealing element is protected from excessive loads and maintaining leak-tightness, with snap-fit portions for secure attachment to the condensate water tank and duct.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gasket is biased via a coil spring to secure leak-tightness, then the assembly achieves sufficient sealing force, but the gasket becomes vulnerable to wear and dislocation under excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a locking member that engages with the shaft before excessive loads can damage the gasket. This locking mechanism acts as a protective barrier, preventing the shaft from moving far enough to subject the gasket to damaging forces, thereby cushioning the gasket from potential harm in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member serves as an intermediary between the shaft and the gasket, preventing direct transmission of excessive loads from the shaft to the gasket. By engaging the locking member first, the system prevents the gasket from experiencing damaging forces that would occur without this intermediate protective element
2Ease of operation
If the shaft is allowed to move freely to open the valve, then the valve operation is smooth, but the sealing element may become damaged under excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member engages with the shaft at a predetermined position before excessive loads can damage the sealing element. This allows the shaft to move freely for normal valve operation while preventing movement that would subject the sealing element to damaging forces
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 check valve assembly enhances safety and prevents water spillage by safeguarding the sealing element and shaft from damage, ensuring proper functioning and easy installation, while allowing for easy servicing by preventing dislodgement under excessive loads.
Implementation Method 1
a shaft (7a, 7b) which is loaded by a spring (8a, 8b) and inserted through the second opening (5a, 5b) into the fluid passage (6a, 6b)
Implementation Method 2
an elastic first sealing element (12a, 12b) which is detachably attached to the leading end (9a, 9b) of the shaft (7a, 7b), wherein the first sealing element (12a, 12b) leak-tightly closes the first opening (4a, 4b)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a check valve assembly (1a, 1b) for use in a laundry dryer (2). The check valve assembly (1a, 1b) of the present invention has a locking member (13a, 13b) which is detachably engaged with a leading end (9a, 9b) of a spring loaded shaft (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b), which projects out of a valve opening (4a, 4b) of a valve body (3a,3b). The locking member (13a, 13b) abuts against the valve body (3a, 3b) at a vicinity of the valve opening (3a, 3b) and inhibits rearward movement of the shaft (7a, 7b) in a state where a sealing element (12a, 12b) arranged on the leading end (9a, 9b) of the shaft (7a, 7b) firmly closes the valve opening (4a, 4b).