One-Way Degassing Valve Structure With Flexible Disk Retainers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complex and costly central core required for injection moulding of plastic one-way degassing valves, which involves movable parts, leads to high mould maintenance costs and a higher chance of defects during manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A unitary central core without movable parts is used, combined with a peripheral core to form the valve body, allowing the flexible valve disk retainers to bend outward and facilitate the insertion and operation of the valve disk, eliminating the need for complex core designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a complex central core with movable parts is used for injection moulding, then the valve disk retainers can be formed with lateral protrusions, but the manufacturing cost increases and the reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformation of lateral protrusionsVSAvoidcentral core structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mould is divided into two independent cores: a simplified unitary central core and a peripheral core. The central core forms the lower central space and valve seat without complex movable parts, while the peripheral core forms the side surfaces of the valve disk retainers. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex internal core lifters or collapsible cores while still achieving the required retainer geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the complexity from the central core to the peripheral core, effectively shifting the dimensional burden to a different spatial location. The peripheral core, positioned outside the lower central space, can incorporate the necessary movable sections without interfering with the unitary central core's simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If a complex central core with movable parts is used for injection moulding, then the valve disk retainers can be formed with lateral protrusions, but the manufacturing cost and maintenance cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformation of lateral protrusionsVSAvoidmould maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the mould into a unitary central core and a peripheral core, the invention isolates the complex movable parts to only the peripheral core. This allows the simpler central core to have lower maintenance requirements, and the peripheral core's complexity is confined to a separate component that can be maintained independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If a complex central core with movable parts is used for injection moulding, then the valve disk retainers can be formed with lateral protrusions, but the chance of defects during moulding increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformation of lateral protrusionsVSAvoidmoulding process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Segmenting the mould into two independent cores reduces the complexity within each individual core. The unitary central core without movable parts eliminates a source of potential defects, while the peripheral core's movable parts are isolated and can be designed with simpler motion mechanisms, reducing the overall probability of moulding defects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and enhances the reliability of the degassing valve by allowing for easier assembly and operation without compromising the seal or functionality.

Implementation Method 1

The flexibility of said valve disk retainer thus allows a unitary central core and removes the need for a complex central core involving movable parts. The outward bending of said flexible valve disk retainers in response to the force exerted by said valve disk yields an aperture sufficient for the disk to be inserted into said lower central space.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3325860B1One-way degassing valve and container with such a valve
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 FLEXIBLE CONSULTING BV
  • EP3325860B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3325860B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3325860B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A one-way degassing valve (1), said valve comprising a plastic valve body (2) and a valve disk (10). Said plastic valve body (2) comprises a bottom (3) and a peripheral edge (4) extending from said bottom (3), said bottom (3) and peripheral edge (4) delimiting a container that is open at the top. Said bottom (3) comprises a valve seat (6). A central space (7) within said chamber is formed by the space above said valve seat. Said plastic valve body (2) comprises a plurality of valve disk retainers (8), each having a base portion extending into said chamber from said bottom and a retaining portion inwards from said base portion. All base portions border said central space so as to surround said valve seat. Said retaining portions each extend inwards from said base portion into said central space at a distance from the valve seat so that said plurality of valve disk retainers and valve seat surround a lower central space of said central space. Moreover, one or more apertures extend through said bottom and ending within said valve seat. Each valve disk retainer is flexible allowing elastic bending outwards with respect to the central space to such an extent that the retaining portion of said valve disk retainer is outside of the central space.