Drain Valve With Progressive Seating For Quantitative Liquid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain valves for containers do not allow for quantitative regulation of liquid drainage, are bulky, and prone to leakage and damage, with complex and expensive production processes.
Innovation Solution
A drain valve design featuring a cylindrical opening with a threaded section and a smooth bore inner section, where the step between the interior space and the bore forms a progressively opening valve seat, and includes abutment and sealing means to prevent over-displacement and leakage, allowing for controlled drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded plug is used for draining liquid, then the drainage opening can be closed or left completely clear, but quantitative regulation of liquid drainage is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is designed to be displaceable axially within the valve housing, transforming the static threaded plug into a dynamic component. This axial displacement allows the valve element to progressively open or close the run-off path, enabling quantitative regulation of liquid drainage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element is divided into functionally distinct sections: a threaded outer section for axial displacement control, a sealing section with beveled sealing surface for progressive closure, and an inner section forming the run-off path. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while maintaining simplicity in the overall design.
2Reliability
If oil drainage fittings are screwed from the outside into the drainage opening, then drainage function is provided, but substantial additional fitting space is required and the fittings risk being damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is nested within the valve housing, with the valve element's threaded section screwed into the valve housing from the inside. This nested configuration protects the valve element from external damage while requiring minimal additional fitting space, as the entire assembly fits within the container wall thickness.
3Ease of operation
If threaded sections with different thread diameters are made for both the valve housing and valve element, then the valve element can be displaced, but the production process becomes expensive and elaborate
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing is provided with a threaded section only at the outer end where the valve element needs to be displaced. The inner section and bore are formed as smooth bores without threads. This localized threading approach enables valve element displacement while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process compared to providing threaded sections throughout the entire valve housing.
4Productivity
If a valve element is screwed out a great distance to allow oil to pass through, then drainage is enabled, but the structure becomes complex and expensive to produce
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is designed with axial displacability, allowing it to be moved a controlled distance from its initial position to enable drainage. This dynamic positioning, combined with the smooth bore design, achieves efficient drainage without requiring the complex multi-diameter threaded sections of previous designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using threaded sections throughout the valve housing to control drainage, the invention inverts the approach by using a smooth bore with a displaceable valve element that has threading only at its outer section. This reversal of the traditional design achieves drainage efficiency while reducing structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain valve for draining liquid out of a container which comprises an essentially cylindrical opening that passes through a thickened area of the container wall, with an internally threaded section formed at an outer end thereof, followed by an interior space with a larger diameter into which a duct opens, and opposite the interior space an inner section with a smaller diameter opens into the container. A step is provided between the interior space and the inner section and serves as the seat for an associated end face of the valve element. A step between the interior space and the bore, on the one hand, and the inner end face of the valve element, on the other hand, are designed to co-operate as a valve seat which progressively opens and closes as the valve element is displaced.