Coaxial Thermostatic Valve Spool for Stable Flow and Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature control valves in constant temperature shower heads often require users to adjust flow rate and temperature simultaneously, leading to unstable outlet temperatures and a non-intuitive user experience due to the placement of temperature and flow rate adjusting devices.

Innovation Solution

A double-handle coaxial temperature control valve spool with rotating adjusting portions arranged coaxially, where the upper handle adjusts the flow rate and the lower handle adjusts the outlet temperature, ensuring that the temperature adjusting switch is not easily touched during flow rate adjustments, and incorporating a thermosensitive element to accurately sense and maintain constant temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the temperature adjusting device is disposed at the top end and the flow rate adjusting device is disposed below it, then the structure is compact, but the outlet temperature becomes unstable when adjusting flow rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompact structureVSAvoidoutlet temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting element is divided into two independent rotating portions: the first rotating adjusting portion for flow rate control and the second rotating adjusting portion for temperature control. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each parameter without interfering with the other, resolving the temperature instability issue while maintaining a compact coaxial structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the temperature adjusting device is disposed above the flow rate adjusting device, then the structure is compact, but it does not conform with user habit as temperature changes when adjusting flow rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoaxial compact structureVSAvoiduser operation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting element is divided into two independent rotating portions: the first rotating adjusting portion for flow rate control and the second rotating adjusting portion for temperature control. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each parameter without interfering with the other, resolving the temperature instability issue while maintaining a compact coaxial structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single adjusting device controls both temperature and flow rate, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control precision of each parameter decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjusting device structureVSAvoidtemperature and flow rate control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting element is divided into two independent rotating portions: the first rotating adjusting portion for flow rate control and the second rotating adjusting portion for temperature control. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each parameter without interfering with the other, resolving the temperature instability issue while maintaining a compact coaxial structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adjusting element serves multiple functions through its two rotating portions: it controls both flow rate and temperature, and also provides mechanical linkage for the thermosensitive element. This multi-functionality achieves precise control of both parameters while avoiding excessive device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design allows for independent adjustment of flow rate and temperature, improving user experience by preventing temperature instability and ensuring accurate constant temperature control, while ensuring safety by quickly closing the hot water inlet when the cool water inlet is invalid.

Implementation Method 1

The thermosensitive port of the thermosensitive element is placed at the mixing water outlet, the flexible port is connected to the push rod, when the temperature of the mixing water outlet changes, the thermosensitive port of the thermosensitive element senses the temperature and make the flexible port extend or shrink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3163400B1A double-handle coaxial temperature control valve spool
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH TECH INDUSTRIES CO LTD
  • EP3163400B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3163400B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3163400B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is provided with a double-handle coaxial temperature control valve spool, which comprises: a valve body, the valve body is disposed with a cool water inlet, a hot water inlet and a mixing water outlet; a thermosensitive element with a thermosensitive port and a flexible port, the thermosensitive port is near to the mixing water outlet to sense the outlet temperature of the mixing water outlet and send the outlet temperature information to the flexible port; an adjusting element with a first rotating adjusting portion and a second rotating adjusting portion coaxially arranged from top to bottom; the first rotating adjusting portion is linked to a flow rate adjusting portion, when rotating the first rotating adjusting portion, the flow rate adjusting portion opens or closes the mixing water outlet; the second rotating adjusting portion is linked to a temperature adjusting portion, when rotating the second rotating adjusting portion, the temperature adjusting portion adjusts the flowing area of the cool water inlet and the hot water inlet. The double-handle coaxial temperature control valve spool is provided that the upper rotating portion is used to open the mixing water outlet, the lower rotating portion is used to adjust the outlet temperature of the mixing water outlet.