Distribution valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distribution valves in hot water supply devices lack a mechanism to adjust the total flow rate and close it to zero, leading to potential wear and leakage due to rapid wear of the seal member, especially when used for mixing high-temperature and low-temperature water.
Innovation Solution
A distribution valve with a cylindrical valve body and a seal member featuring a thickened lip portion that adheres to the bottom surface, which is less likely to be caught in the opening during closure, and a bar to prevent deformation, enhancing durability by reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional mixing valve or distribution valve is used to mix high-temperature and low-temperature water, then the valve can adjust the mixing ratio, but the seal member wears rapidly when closing the inlet, leading to potential leakage and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a thickened portion at a specific location on the seal member's lip portion. This localized thickening provides enhanced wear resistance precisely where the seal member contacts the opening portion during closure, without increasing the thickness of the entire seal member. This resolves the contradiction by improving durability at the critical wear zone while maintaining overall sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-forming the thickened portion on the seal member before installation. This preparatory structural modification ensures that the seal member is already optimized for wear resistance at the contact point before it begins its service, preventing rapid wear from the outset and extending service life while maintaining reliable sealing.
2Force
If the seal member is made thinner to reduce friction and wear, then the friction decreases, but the seal member becomes more prone to deformation and catching in the opening during closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality through selective thickening. The seal member maintains a thin overall structure to minimize friction, but includes a localized thickened portion at the lip that contacts the opening portion. This localized reinforcement prevents deformation and catching during closure while keeping the rest of the seal member thin to reduce friction.
3Ease of manufacture
If the valve body is designed with a simple cylindrical structure for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing is simplified, but the valve cannot simultaneously adjust distribution ratio and total flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the valve body rotatable around its central axis. This rotational movement allows the valve body to dynamically change the opening areas of both the first and second outlet ports simultaneously. By rotating the valve body, the distribution ratio between the two outlets can be adjusted, and the total flow rate can be controlled by the opening area of the inlet port, all while maintaining a simple cylindrical structure that is easy to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A distribution valve is provided, which includes a valve main body having first and second outlets and an inlet, a cylindrical valve body rotatably fitted into the valve main body, and a driver configured to rotate the valve body. The valve body has a peripheral wall portion and a bottom surface portion. The peripheral wall portion is formed with first and second opening portions configured to change opening areas of the first and second outlets. The bottom surface portion is formed with a third opening portion configured to change an opening area of the inlet. The distribution valve distributes fluid from the inlet to the first and second outlets. A seal member having a lip portion for adhering to the bottom surface portion is fitted into the inlet. The lip portion has a thickened portion facing the third opening portion immediately before an opening area of the inlet becomes zero.