Endoscope Valve Piston Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope valves struggle to efficiently manage the connection states of conduits within ultrasound endoscopes, leading to issues with air and water supply, which affects the sealing and operation of the device.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope valve with a piston portion and attachment member, featuring a seal portion in a hollow disk shape, and specific inner and outer peripheral surfaces that switch conduit connections upon operation, ensuring airtight or watertight sealing and efficient fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal member protrudes orthogonally to seal a portion between cylinder and seal member, then airtight or watertight sealing is achieved, but the operating force change when switching conduit paths is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the sealing surface from a simple orthogonal protrusion to a multi-dimensional configuration with inclined surfaces. The seal portion includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface that create a wedge-shaped sealing mechanism, transforming the sealing action from a single-direction press to a multi-directional force distribution that improves both sealing reliability and operating force characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal portion is designed with curved inclined surfaces rather than flat planes. The first inclined surface and second inclined surface create a curved sealing path that distributes contact pressure more effectively, improving sealing performance while reducing the abruptness of force changes during operation.
2Productivity
If the seal member comes into pressure contact with the cylinder wall surface, then a flow path is formed, but the change in operating force when switching conduit paths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal portion is designed to dynamically adapt its contact pressure distribution during operation. The inclined surfaces allow the seal portion to progressively engage with the cylinder wall as the piston moves, creating a dynamic sealing action that maintains flow path efficiency while providing progressive resistance that enhances operating force feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing action is segmented into multiple stages through the first inclined surface and second inclined surface. The sealing contact occurs progressively along the inclined surfaces rather than all at once, which maintains effective flow path sealing while distributing the operating force change across multiple contact points.
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 enhances the change in operating force when switching conduit paths while maintaining air and water tightness, improving the operational efficiency and reliability of the endoscope system.
Implementation Method 1
the seal member comes into pressure contact with a wall surface of the cylinder to airtightly or watertightly seal a space in the endoscope
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope valve for controlling connection states of a plurality of conduits formed in an endoscope includes: a piston portion; and an attachment member. The piston portion includes a seal portion. A surface of the attachment member facing the seal portion includes a first inner peripheral surface which is axially symmetrical to a central axis of the attachment member and has a diameter smaller than a diameter of an outer periphery of the seal portion, a second inner peripheral surface which is axially symmetrical to the central axis of the attachment member and has a diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the outer periphery of the seal portion, and a connection surface which is axially symmetrical to the central axis of the attachment member and connects the first inner peripheral surface and the second inner peripheral surface to each other.