Double Paired Water Key Merging Four Valve Shapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance staff face challenges with accumulating and storing variously shaped valve keys, which can be cumbersome and difficult to index, and during urgent situations, finding the correct key amidst spills can be problematic due to the lack of a compact and efficient solution for accessing multiple valve types.
Innovation Solution
A double paired water key design featuring a handle with two opposite ends, a shaft, and at least two concentric sockets of varying internal shapes and widths, allowing for the combination of four keys in one compact form, enabling easy shifting between keys and providing ready access during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate valve keys are accumulated to cover various valve shapes, then the ability to operate different valves is improved, but the storage space required and the complexity of indexing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve keys with different shapes (square, hexagonal, pentagonal, circular) into a single multi-functional tool body. Each key shape is integrated into the tool body, allowing maintenance staff to operate various valve types with one unified tool rather than carrying multiple separate keys, thereby reducing storage complexity and indexing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The tool body is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate multiple valve key shapes simultaneously. The tool can function as different key types depending on which key interface is engaged with the valve, making a single tool replace multiple specialized tools for square, hexagonal, pentagonal, and circular valve operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If a collection of valve keys is accumulated to handle various valve types, then the versatility of operation is improved, but the weight and cumbersome nature of the collection increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve keys are merged into a single integrated tool body structure. Instead of carrying separate physical keys for square, hexagonal, pentagonal, and circular valves, the maintenance staff carries one unified tool that incorporates all key shapes, significantly reducing the total weight while maintaining full operational versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The tool body provides universal functionality for operating different valve types, eliminating the need to carry multiple specialized keys. This multi-functional design reduces the cumulative weight of the key collection while ensuring all valve types can be operated with a single lightweight tool
3Ease of operation
If traditional valve keys with handles are used, then ease of manual turning is improved, but storage efficiency decreases due to accumulated handles
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple handles that would normally be attached to separate keys are merged into a single integrated handle structure. This unified handle serves all key functions, eliminating the need to store multiple separate handles and reducing the overall storage volume required for the key collection
Solution Approach 2:
The single handle provides universal manual operation capability for all valve key functions. Instead of having dedicated handles for each key type that accumulate in storage, one multi-functional handle serves all operating needs, significantly reducing storage volume while maintaining ease of manual turning for various valve types
4Adaptability or versatility
If valve keys are stored in a collection, then availability of different key shapes is improved, but quick access during urgent situations deteriorates due to search time
Solution Approach 1:
All different key shapes are combined into a single tool body, eliminating the need to search through a collection of separate keys. The maintenance staff can immediately use the unified tool for any valve type without spending time locating the correct key shape, as all shapes are integrated and accessible in one tool
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional tool provides immediate availability of all key shapes through a single device. Instead of searching through a collection where different key shapes are separated and may be difficult to locate, the universal tool has all shapes integrated and ready for use, dramatically reducing search time during urgent situations while maintaining full availability of different key shapes
Data Source
AI summary
A double paired water key has a handle with two opposite ends, a shaft extending from one end of the handle, two opposite ends upon the shaft, and at least two concentric openings extending into each end of the shaft where a user may select a pair of openings on the shaft extending from the handle. The openings have various internal shapes, preferably square, and at least two different widths. In each pair of openings, the opening with the least width has its position inwardly from the remaining opening, towards the handle. Each shaft has a tip with at least two sizes of opening. The two ends of the shaft provide four sizes of opening readily selected by a user. Each opening has rounded corners.