Drain Valve Push Button with Fixed Directional Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drain valve button brackets lack the ability to fix the direction of the push button, limiting design freedom and usability, especially when characters are involved, as the push button rotates with the button main body, making it inconvenient for directional alignment.

Innovation Solution

A drain valve button bracket with a directed push button design, where the push button component can move relative to the push button main body in both axial and circumferential directions, allowing the push button to remain fixed in direction while rotating, featuring a connecting sleeve and compression bar mechanism to drive the valve opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the push button is fixedly connected to the button main body, then the structure is simple, but the push button rotates with the button main body and cannot maintain a fixed direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirectional alignment of push buttonVSAvoidstructure of button bracket
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The button assembly is divided into separate components: the button main body and the push button are connected through a pushing mechanism that allows relative movement. The push button is separated from the rotating button main body, enabling independent directional control while maintaining structural connection through the pushing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A pushing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the button main body and the push button. This mechanism includes a pushing rod that can move axially relative to the button main body, transmitting the pushing force while allowing the push button to maintain its directional orientation independent of the button main body's rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the push button can slide axially to drive the valve, then the valve can be opened, but the push button position is not fixed after locking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional capability of valve operationVSAvoidposition stability of push button
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pushing mechanism is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing the pushing rod to move axially when the push button is pressed, enabling valve operation. After the pushing action is completed, the mechanism returns to its initial position, maintaining the push button's directional stability for the next operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pushing mechanism operates in periodic cycles: when the push button is pressed, the pushing rod moves axially to open the valve, then returns to its initial position. This periodic motion allows the valve to be operated while maintaining the push button's fixed directional position for repeated use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If characters are designed on the push button for directional indication, then usability is improved, but the characters become reversed and inconvenient to view when the button main body rotates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of directional charactersVSAvoidconnection mechanism between push button and button main body
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The push button is segmented from the button main body through the pushing mechanism, allowing the push button with directional characters to maintain its orientation independently. This segmentation ensures that characters on the push button remain correctly oriented and visible regardless of the button main body's rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pushing mechanism serves as an intermediary that decouples the rotational movement of the button main body from the push button. This allows directional characters on the push button to remain properly oriented and visible while still transmitting the pushing force to operate the valve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides a wide application range with a simple structure, ensuring the push button's direction is fixed, enhancing usability and visibility, particularly when characters are designed on the push button.

Implementation Method 1

when the push button component is operated, the connecting sleeve drives the compression bar to move along the axial direction to drive the drain valve to open to drain water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the connecting sleeve, an upper part of which is arranged in the push button main body in an axially movable manner, rotating along with the push button main body and rotatably connected with the push button component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3587683B1Drain valve push button device
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 XIAMEN R&T PLUMBING TECH
  • EP3587683B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3587683B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3587683B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drain valve button push button ensemble for dual flush, the ensemble to be mounted on top of a cistern. The direction of the push buttons (311, 312) can be altered independently from a main body (20) in which the buttons (311,312) are arranged. The ensemble further comprises a bracket (11) for being mounted on a drain valve, a connecting sleeve (40) and a compression bar (50). The main body (20) is in threaded connection with the bracket (11), the push buttons are slidably arranged in an accommodating cavity (21) of the main body (20) and can be rotated relative to the main body. The connecting sleeve (4) is arranged in the main body (20) in an axially movable and rotatably locked manner and is connected with the push buttons (311, 312). The compression bar (50) is rotatably locked with the push buttons (311,312) and is in threaded connection with the connecting sleeve (40); and when the push buttons (311, 312) are operated, the connecting sleeve (40) drives the compression bar (50) to move along the axial direction to drive the drain valve to drain water. When the main body (20) is rotated to form a threaded connection between the main body (20) and the bracket (11) to lock a water tank cover, the push buttons (311,312) do not rotate along with the rotation of the main body (20), therefore the direction of the buttons (311,312) is fixed.