Demountable Tap Valve With Automatic Pressure Shut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tap systems face challenges in accessibility for shut-off valves, especially after installation, as they are often enclosed within enclosures, making maintenance and replacement of washers difficult due to limited access.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control valve design featuring a demountable valve system where the first valve actuator adjusts to space from the second valve actuator, allowing fluid pressure to close the valve, enabling automatic disconnection of water flow without requiring a shut-off valve, and allowing for easy replacement of components like the tap seat and washer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a shut-off valve is provided close to the tap for easy closure, then water supply can be easily closed for maintenance, but the valve becomes inaccessible after installation within enclosures
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service maintenance by allowing the tap body to be removed from the valve body without requiring manual operation of a shut-off valve. The automatic closing mechanism closes the water supply when the tap body is detached, enabling users to perform maintenance tasks like washer replacement without needing to locate or operate a separate shut-off valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically closing the water supply before maintenance begins. When the tap body is removed from the valve body, the valve actuator automatically closes the shut-off valve, ensuring water is stopped prior to any maintenance work, eliminating the need for manual valve operation.
2Ease of repair
If a demountable valve system is implemented for easy component replacement, then maintenance accessibility improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is divided into separate demountable components: a valve body containing the shut-off mechanism and a removable tap body. This segmentation allows the tap body to be easily detached for maintenance while the valve body remains installed, enabling component replacement without full system disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, permanently installed configuration to a dynamic, demountable configuration. The tap body can be easily attached and detached from the valve body, providing flexibility for maintenance while maintaining operational functionality during normal use.
3Ease of operation
If automatic valve closing mechanism is added to enable easy disconnection, then maintenance accessibility improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shut-off valve mechanism is merged with the tap assembly, combining the flow control function and the shut-off function into a single integrated unit. The valve actuator is positioned such that it is automatically actuated when the tap body is removed, eliminating the need for separate manual valve operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve actuator serves as an intermediary mechanism that translates the physical removal of the tap body into automatic valve closure. When the tap body is detached, the actuator is triggered to close the shut-off valve, providing automatic water cutoff without requiring direct manual intervention.
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
Facilitates easy maintenance and replacement of tap components without needing to locate and operate a shut-off valve, improving accessibility and reducing damage or theft risks during construction, while allowing for various design configurations and applications beyond taps.
Implementation Method 1
fluid pressure at the inlet to cause the second valve to close, preventing flow of fluid through the fluid control valve
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to fluid control and management. In particular, it relates to valves or regulators for controlling a flow of fluid, such as, but not limited to, taps and faucets. We will describe a fluid control valve comprising a valve body having an inlet, for operative connection to a supply of pressurised fluid, and an outlet and defining a fluid flow path therebetween. A first valve is adjustable under the control of a first valve actuator between a first, or closed, position in which flow of fluid through the first valve is prevented and a second, or open, position in which flow of fluid through the first valve is permitted. The valve is characterised in that the fluid control valve further comprises a second valve associated with the inlet or intermediate the inlet and the first valve, wherein the second valve comprises a second valve body and a second valve actuator adapted such that the first valve actuator bears against the second valve actuator in each of said first and second positions to urge the second valve into an open configuration allowing flow of fluid; and further wherein the fluid control valve is arranged such that the first valve actuator is adjustable to a third position in which the first valve actuator is spaced from the second valve actuator by a separation sufficient to allow fluid pressure at the inlet to cause the second valve to close, preventing flow of fluid through the fluid control valve.