Drain Valve Assembly With Clamp Brackets for Precise Cable Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drain valve override systems often suffer from misalignment between the override cable and the drain valve, leading to improper closure and potential leakage or wear on the parts.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a drain valve assembly with a cable clamp bracket and/or a drain valve clamp bracket, both having two attachment points to secure them relative to the assembly housing, preventing rotation and ensuring precise vertical alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cable and valve are mounted without precise alignment, then the assembly is easier to install, but the valve closure becomes improper leading to leakage or wear
Solution Approach 1:
A alignment tool with a channel is introduced as an intermediary component during assembly. The cable passes through this channel, which guides and constrains the cable's position relative to the valve housing, ensuring precise alignment between the cable and valve without requiring complex mounting procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment tool changes the positional parameters of the cable during assembly by providing a fixed channel that defines the correct vertical alignment. This ensures the cable is positioned at the correct height and orientation relative to the valve housing, preventing misalignment issues
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve housing is fitted in a slightly skewed position, then the assembly process is more flexible, but the moveable part does not properly re-locate in the valve housing
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool acts as a mediator between the cable and valve housing, providing a channel that enforces proper alignment. Even if the valve housing is slightly skewed during assembly, the channel guides the cable to the correct position, ensuring the moveable part can properly re-locate in the valve housing when the cable is released
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment tool is installed beforehand to establish the correct alignment reference. This preliminary action ensures that subsequent assembly steps follow the correct alignment, preventing skewed positioning of the valve housing relative to the cable
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
This solution improves the alignment between the cable and the drain valve, ensuring proper closure and reducing the risk of leakage or wear, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the drain valve operation.
Implementation Method 1
The moveable part is biased by e.g. a spring to this default position
Implementation Method 2
the cable positioned to move in a substantially vertical direction when a pulling force is applied, to move the moveable valve part to the open position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A drain valve assembly comprising: an assembly housing; a drain valve (10) having a valve housing through which a flow channel is defined from an inlet port and an outlet port, and a moveable valve part moveable relative to the valve housing between a closed position between the inlet port and the outlet port and an open position displaced from between the inlet port and the outlet port; an override cable (16) having a first end attached to the moveable valve part and a second end remote from the drain valve, the cable positioned to move in a substantially vertical direction when a pulling force is applied, to move the moveable valve part to the open position, and being biased to return the moveable part to the closed position when the pulling force is removed from the cable; and characterised by comprising: a cable clamp bracket (100) fitted around the cable and defining a channel through which the cable can move in the substantially vertical direction and having a flange part providing two attachments points to secure the clamp bracket relative to the assembly housing and to prevent rotation of the clamp bracket relative to the assembly housing; and/or a drain valve clamp bracket (300) fitted around the drain valve and defining a channel through which the moveable part of the drain valve can move in the substantially vertical direction and having a flange part providing two attachments points to secure the drain valve clamp bracket relative to the assembly housing and to prevent rotation of the drain valve clamp bracket relative to the assembly housing.