Endoscope Vent Valve Cam Mechanism for Sterilization Watertightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope vent control systems face challenges in maintaining watertightness during autoclave sterilization, particularly in preventing foreign matter entry and ensuring reliable communication between internal and external spaces, which can lead to issues with sterilization efficiency and equipment durability.
Innovation Solution
A vent control valve system comprising a shaft body, tubular member, rotational member, and housing member, with a cam pin mechanism that allows for controlled communication between the internal and external spaces through vent openings, ensuring watertightness and preventing foreign matter entry, while allowing for sterilization steam access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vent control valve is designed to allow communication between internal and external spaces during autoclave sterilization, then sterilization efficiency is improved, but watertightness and protection from foreign matter entry deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The vent control valve employs a rotatable valve body with angularly positioned vent holes that can be oriented in different directions. By rotating the valve body to specific angles, the system dynamically controls whether vent holes align with communication passages (allowing steam access during sterilization) or face away (maintaining watertightness during normal operation), thus resolving the contradiction between sterilization efficiency and watertightness
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body acts as an intermediary component between the internal space and external environment. It contains vent holes that can selectively connect to either the internal space (via communication passages when aligned) or remain sealed (when misaligned), mediating the flow of steam and preventing foreign matter entry based on operational requirements
2Reliability
If vent holes are provided in the valve body to enable steam access, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but risk of foreign matter entry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body features vent holes with non-uniform angular distribution around its circumference. At specific angular positions, vent holes align with communication passages to allow steam access for effective sterilization. At other angular positions, vent holes face away from potential foreign matter sources. This local variation in vent hole orientation enables the system to achieve sterilization effectiveness while minimizing foreign matter entry risk
3Manufacturing precision
If a cam pin mechanism with cam groove is used to control valve rotation, then precision of vent control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam groove is designed with periodic variations in depth or width at specific intervals along the rotational path. As the cam pin traverses this periodic cam groove during valve rotation, it experiences periodic forces that precisely position the valve body at predetermined angular orientations. This periodic mechanism achieves precise vent control without requiring complex electronic sensors or actuators
Solution Approach 2:
The cam pin-cam groove mechanism is a passive, self-regulating system. The geometric shape of the cam groove automatically guides the cam pin to specific positions during rotation, providing precise control of vent hole alignment without requiring external control systems, motors, or electronic components. The mechanism serves itself through its own geometric constraints
Data Source
AI summary
A vent control valve for an endoscope includes a shaft body including a pin fixing portion, and a vent hole including a long hole with an opening provided in one end surface, and a long hole communication hole configured to cause an outside and an inside of the long hole to communicate with each other, a tubular member including a shaft body hole configured to house the shaft body, and a cam groove in which the cam pin is disposed, a rotational member including a tubular member hole where the tubular member is disposed, a cam pin groove where the cam pin is disposed, and a plurality of engaging holes, and a cylindrical housing member including an attaching portion fixedly provided in a casing through-hole, and a housing hole communicating with the internal space.