Dispensing Valve Locking Control Lever Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing valves for fluids, such as fuel nozzles, require significant user effort to maintain the control lever in the open position due to spring force, and previous solutions like locking hooks or devices are either cumbersome or prone to wear and require maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A structurally simple locking mechanism using a latch that engages with a connecting link, allowing the latch to follow the control lever's movement and lock it in the open position through a catch mechanism, providing tactile feedback and secure fixation without additional hand movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking hook is provided to fix the control lever in the open position, then the control lever can be locked, but an additional hand movement is required which makes operation inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking function with the existing control lever operation. The detent pawl is integrated into the control lever assembly and automatically engages with the cam during the normal opening motion, merging the locking action with the primary operation rather than requiring a separate locking step
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to engage automatically during the opening motion of the control lever. The detent pawl follows the opening movement and self-locks into the cam profile without requiring additional user input or manual locking actions
2Ease of operation
If a spring-loaded arm with sliding carriage locking device is used, then the control lever can be locked solely by moving it into the open position, but the device is small and therefore prone to wear and requires extensive maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the detent pawl, the cam with its profile, and the connection between them. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the pawl for reliable engagement and the cam for durable, wear-resistant interaction - while maintaining overall simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The cam profile utilizes curved surfaces and rounded geometries that distribute contact forces more evenly, reducing stress concentration and wear at specific points. The弧形 cam profile allows for smooth engagement and disengagement while maintaining robust contact between the detent pawl and cam surface
3Productivity
If the control lever is moved to open position against spring force, then the valve opens for fluid discharge, but significant user effort is required which is tiring over time
Solution Approach 1:
Once the detent pawl engages with the cam profile during opening motion, the locking mechanism takes over the task of maintaining the open position. The cam profile is designed to provide a mechanical hold that eliminates the need for continuous user force to counteract the spring, allowing the system to maintain its state without ongoing user input
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 allows for easy and reliable operation of the control lever, reducing user fatigue and eliminating the need for additional hand movements or maintenance, ensuring the valve remains open without external force, enhancing user convenience and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The detent pawl is designed to engage a cam of the dispensing valve, wherein the detent pawl is designed to follow an opening movement of the control lever along an opening direction
Implementation Method 2
In the locking position, a counterforce is exerted on the detent pawl, which cancels out the opening force acting on the control lever
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a nozzle (13) for dispensing a fluid, comprising a manually operated control lever (15), which can be moved between a closed position and an open position in order to control the dispensing of the fluid. According to the invention, the control lever (15) comprises a latching pawl (23), which is designed to engage in a slotted guide (22) of the nozzle (13), the latching pawl (23) being designed to follow an opening movement of the control lever (15) in an opening direction (18) and a closing movement of the control lever (15) in a closing direction (18), the latching pawl (23) being able to be moved, by cooperation with the slotted guide (22), relative to the control lever (15) in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction (18) into a catch position (25), in which the latching pawl (23) fixes the control lever (15) in the open position. Because of the interaction of the latching pawl (23) and the slotted guide (22), a locking device that is easy for the user to operate is created for the control lever by means of a simple design.