High-Pressure Cleaning Device Pressure Relief Valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-pressure cleaning devices face difficulties in opening the liquid dispensing element after it has been closed, due to the high pressure in the liquid dispensing line, which requires significant force to overcome the pressure and reopen the valve.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a pressure relief valve that opens a flow path from the pressure line downstream of the check valve to the suction line when the pressure exceeds a predetermined limit, reducing the pressure in the system and facilitating the reopening of the liquid dispensing element with minimal actuating force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the liquid dispensing device is closed to stop liquid dispensing, then the flow resistance increases and liquid dispensing stops, but the pressure in the pressure line increases significantly making it difficult to reopen the device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of reopening liquid dispensing deviceVSAvoidpressure in pressure line
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

A bypass valve is introduced as an intermediary component that provides an alternative flow path from the pressure line to the suction line. When the liquid dispensing device is closed, the bypass valve opens automatically due to pressure differential, allowing cleaning fluid to circulate through the bypass line and preventing excessive pressure buildup in the pressure line, thereby facilitating easier reopening of the dispensing device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful high pressure in the pressure line is extracted or removed by diverting the cleaning fluid flow through the bypass valve and bypass line back to the suction line. This extraction of excess pressure prevents the problematic high-pressure state that makes reopening the liquid dispensing device difficult.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the bypass valve is designed with automatic pressure-controlled actuation, then the pressure relief function is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic pressure relief functionVSAvoidbypass valve actuation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve is designed to actuate automatically based on the pressure differential between the pressure line and suction line. The pressure differential itself serves as the actuating force, moving the bypass valve body between closed and open positions without requiring external control systems, sensors, or complex actuation mechanisms. This self-service approach improves reliability while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution allows for easier reopening of the liquid dispensing element by reducing the pressure in the system, thereby reducing the required actuating force and simplifying the structural complexity of the high-pressure cleaning device.

Implementation Method 1

the bypass valve body (48), in a closed position, seals against a bypass valve seat (49), and its position relative to the bypass valve seat (49) can be controlled by an actuator (45) depending on the pressure of the cleaning fluid prevailing in the pressure line (30)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a check valve (34) is arranged in the pressure line (30)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCheck valve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 3

the pump has at least one pump chamber (18) into which a reciprocating piston (20) is immersed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReciprocating compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3645179B1High-pressure cleaning device
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3645179B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3645179B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3645179B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a high-pressure cleaning device (10) comprising a pump (14) which has a suction line (24) and a pressure line (30), said pressure line (30) being equipped with a nonreturn valve (34), and comprising an overflow valve (62) which is arranged in an overflow line (46) that connects the pressure line (30) upstream of the nonreturn valve (34) to the suction line (24) and which has an overflow valve element (64), the position of said valve element being controllable relative to a paired overflow valve seat (72) by means of an actuator (80) depending on the cleaning fluid pressure in the pressure line (30). The aim of the invention is to develop the high-pressure cleaning device (10) such that the opening process of a liquid dispensing element is simplified. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the high-pressure cleaning device (10) has a pressure relief valve (102), via which a flow path from the region of the pressure line (30) downstream of the nonreturn valve (34) to the suction line (24) can be released when a specified threshold pressure is exceeded.