Dental Work Station Floating Shutter Valve System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental work stations are complex and expensive due to the complexity of their valve devices, which control the liquid supply to dental instruments.
Innovation Solution
A dental work station with a simplified design featuring a floating shutter valve system and a pneumatic circuit with solenoid valves to control water supply from a distribution tank to storage tanks, eliminating the need for complex pneumatic valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pneumatic valves with solenoid valves are used to control liquid supply, then the system can selectively control liquid supply to multiple outlets, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex pneumatic valve mechanism and replaces it with a simple floating shutter system. The floating shutter valve eliminates the need for pneumatic actuators, solenoid valves, and associated pneumatic circuits, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to selectively control liquid supply to multiple outlets through gravity-driven operation and manual or automatic actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive floating shutter valves instead of expensive pneumatic valves. These floating shutters are straightforward mechanical components that can be easily manufactured and replaced, reducing both the initial cost and maintenance expenses associated with the liquid supply control system while providing adequate functionality for selective outlet control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pneumatic valves with solenoid valves are used to control liquid supply, then the system can selectively control liquid supply to multiple outlets, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive pneumatic valve assembly including solenoid valves, pneumatic circuits, and associated components. The simplified floating shutter valve system requires only basic mechanical elements that are inexpensive to manufacture, thereby significantly reducing the overall manufacturing cost of the liquid supply system while preserving the capability to control liquid flow to multiple outlets selectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive pneumatic valves with cheap floating shutter valves that can be easily manufactured using simple mechanical designs. These inexpensive components reduce the overall manufacturing cost of the system while providing sufficient functionality for selective liquid supply control, making the system more cost-effective to produce and deploy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex valve devices are used, then selective liquid supply control is achieved, but the ease of operation and maintenance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex pneumatic valve system including solenoid valves, pneumatic circuits, and control mechanisms. The floating shutter valve system operates on simple gravity-driven principles with minimal moving parts, making it much easier to operate and maintain. Users can control liquid supply through straightforward manual operation or simple automatic mechanisms without dealing with complex pneumatic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple floating shutter valves that are easier to operate and maintain compared to complex pneumatic valves. These straightforward mechanical components have fewer failure points, require less maintenance, and can be easily replaced if needed, thereby improving the ease of operation and maintenance while maintaining selective liquid supply control 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
The solution provides a cost-effective and efficient water supply system that is easy to operate and maintain, reducing the complexity and expense associated with traditional dental work stations.
Implementation Method 1
shifted from the open lowered position to a closed raised position, where element 22 is fluidproof coupled with respective outlet 14, 15, by the thrust exerted on shutter 18 itself by the water present in relative tank 11, 12
Implementation Method 2
a pneumatic circuit 26 communicating with tanks 11, 12; two solenoid valves 27, 28, which are placed along circuit 26 to selectively control compressed air supply to tanks 11 and 12 respectively
Implementation Method 3
two solenoid valves 27, 28, which are placed along circuit 26 to selectively control compressed air supply to tanks 11 and 12 respectively, and are each mobile between a relative open position (shown for solenoid valve 28 in Figure 2) and a relative closed position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A dental work station is provided with two storage tanks (11, 12) mounted in parallel to each other between a distribution tank (8) connected to the water mains and a number of dental instruments (4); each storage tank (11, 12) having at least a supply outlet (14, 15) connected to distribution tank (8), and a floating shutter (18) mobile under the thrust of the water contained in storage tank (11, 12) from an open position to a closed position of supply outlet (14, 15) itself.