Diving Dry-Suit Valve with Hydrophobic Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic adjustable overpressure and manual exhaust valves for diving dry-suits face issues with water penetration during manual actuation, limited ease and speed of operation, restricted air outflow, and the need for additional valves to ensure waterproofness.
Innovation Solution
An automatic adjustable overpressure and manual exhaust valve design featuring a base member with an annular sealing surface, an autonomous disk-shaped closing member, and a manual control member that interacts with a load transfer member to detach the spring load, allowing axial movement for easy and rapid actuation, and incorporating a lever mechanism to prevent water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a thin planar annular elastomeric closure element is used, then the valve structure is simple, but water penetration occurs during manual actuation requiring an additional valve
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into two functional parts: a first valve for automatic overpressure relief and a second valve for manual exhaust. Each valve has its own closure element and operates independently, allowing the automatic valve to maintain simplicity while the manual valve provides reliable waterproofing during manual actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydrophobic membrane is introduced as an intermediary element between the manual valve and the external environment. This membrane allows air to pass through while blocking water penetration, enabling the manual valve to exhaust air without compromising waterproofness.
2Productivity
If the manual control component separates the sealing seat from the elastomeric seal, then the valve opens completely for rapid exhaust, but water can enter the suit during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophobic membrane acts as a mediator that permits rapid air exhaust through the manual valve while simultaneously preventing water from penetrating into the suit during the valve opening operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible hydrophobic membrane is used instead of a rigid seal. This thin film allows air molecules to pass through rapidly while its hydrophobic properties prevent water penetration, enabling both fast exhaust and waterproofing during manual actuation.
3Reliability
If a second unidirectional internal valve is added to prevent water entry, then waterproofness is improved, but air outflow is significantly restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophobic membrane is a thin flexible film that offers minimal resistance to air flow while effectively blocking water. This allows rapid air exhaust without the significant flow restriction that would result from a traditional mechanical valve design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic membrane creates a water-repellent environment at the valve outlet, allowing air to escape freely while preventing water from entering. This inert-like barrier to water penetration does not impede air flow as traditional valves would.
4Ease of operation
If a lateral sliding element and inclined plane are used for manual opening, then the closure element is removed from the seat, but the operation is complex and water penetration risk remains
Solution Approach 1:
The complex lateral sliding element and inclined plane mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler direct axial push operation. The manual control member simply pushes the load transfer member axially to detach the closing member from the sealing surface, eliminating unnecessary mechanical complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a lateral sliding motion to open the valve, the invention inverts the approach by using a direct axial push that immediately detaches the closing member. This inverted mechanism achieves the same opening function with simpler, more intuitive motion that is easier to operate instinctively during emergency situations.
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 ensures quick, instinctive, and safe manual operation, prevents water penetration, and enhances air outflow without requiring additional valves, while being simple and cost-effective to manufacture and assemble.
Implementation Method 1
an autonomous closing member positioned between a sealing surface and a load transfer member subjected to the load of a setting spring
Implementation Method 2
a manual control member, axially movable perpendicularly to said opening and interacting with said load transfer member during the manual exhaust phase achieved by the axial movement, towards the dry-suit, of said control member so as to cause the detachment of the load transfer member from the closing member
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic adjustable overpressure and manual exhaust valve for diving dry-suits, the valve having a base member with an opening, connected to the dry-suit inner volume, surrounded by an annular sealing surface, an autonomous closing member positioned between the sealing surface and a load transfer member subjected to the load of a pressure setting spring. The valve has a manual control member, axially movable perpendicularly to the opening and interacting with the load transfer member during the manual exhaust phase achieved by the axial movement, towards the dry-suit, of the control member so as to cause the detachment of the load transfer member from the closing member and therefore the removal of the load of the setting spring from the same closing member.