Cleaning Fluid Flow Control Valve for Lower Media Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning devices in healthcare settings face challenges in efficiently controlling and optimizing the flow of cleaning fluids, leading to increased consumption and longer batch times, particularly when dealing with large and bulky items.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control element and flow channel that selectively releases and blocks the flow of cleaning fluid between a chamber floor and a pump sump, allowing for reduced consumption and optimized batch times by regulating the fluid flow, featuring a rotatable or slidably movable control element with flow channels that minimize turbulence and ensure efficient fluid transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a conventional cleaning device uses significant water and chemical usage to clean large and bulky items, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but media consumption increases and space requirements expand
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, dynamically adjusting the flow channel configuration. This allows the system to adapt fluid circulation patterns to match specific cleaning requirements, enabling reduced media consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through optimized fluid distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes flow parameters by moving the control element between positions, altering fluid circulation patterns, flow rates, and distribution characteristics. This parameter adjustment enables the same cleaning system to operate efficiently with reduced media consumption across different cleaning scenarios and item sizes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cleaning device is designed to handle large and bulky items, then versatility is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable control element provides dynamic adaptability within a compact housing, allowing the system to adjust to different item sizes and cleaning requirements without requiring additional space. The flow channel configuration changes enable versatile handling capability while maintaining a space-efficient stationary structure.
3Loss of substance
If a control element blocks the flow of cleaning fluid selectively, then media consumption is reduced, but fluid circulation control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control element segments the flow channel into controllable sections by moving between positions, allowing selective blocking and directing of fluid flow. This segmentation enables reduced media consumption through targeted fluid distribution while maintaining relatively simple overall device structure through a single movable component.
4Productivity
If the control element is moved between open and closed positions to optimize batch times, then productivity is improved, but mechanical operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic positioning of the control element between open and closed positions enables optimization of batch times by adapting fluid circulation to cleaning stage requirements. The movable design maintains ease of operation through intuitive position changes that directly correlate with cleaning process needs.
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 enables reduced space requirements, minimized media consumption, and faster batch times while maintaining efficient fluid circulation, allowing for effective cleaning and disinfection of large items with reduced water usage and faster processing.
Implementation Method 1
a pump for pumping cleaning fluid from the pump sump; wherein the pump is designed to suck in cleaning fluid in the pump sump to supply a cleaning chamber of the cleaning device with cleaning fluid
Implementation Method 2
the control element itself, for example Flow channel provides... the housing or the control element having at least one flow channel for conducting the cleaning fluid, the flow channel establishing a fluid connection between the first housing opening and the second housing opening of the control element when the control element is in the open position
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (106) for controlling a flow of a cleaning fluid between an outlet area (308) and an inlet area, the device (106) having a housing (412) with a first housing opening (414) for coupling the housing (412) with the outlet area (308) and a second housing opening for coupling the housing (412) to the inlet area and a control element (410) movably arranged in the housing (412) between an open position and a closed position, the housing (412) or the control element (410) has at least one flow channel (500) for conducting the cleaning fluid, wherein the flow channel in the open position of the control element (410) provides a fluidic connection between the first housing opening (414) and the second housing opening of the housing (412) and the control element ( 410) in the closed position the fluidic connection between the first housing opening (414) and the second n Body opening of body (412) blocked.