Faucet Valve Cylinder Control for Compact Temperature and Flow Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current faucet valve apparatuses lack the capability to simultaneously achieve electrification of both temperature regulation and flow rate regulation, requiring complex control of multiple valves to adjust temperature or flow rate independently.
Innovation Solution
A faucet valve apparatus with a cylinder body having cold and hot water inlet holes and a mixed water outlet hole, where the cylinder body's axial and rotational positions are manipulated by separate operation parts to control the communication amounts between the inlet and outlet channels, allowing for simultaneous temperature and flow rate regulation through a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate flow rate regulation valves (for cold water and hot water) are controlled independently to achieve temperature regulation, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cold water and hot water regulation functions into a single valve body with a unified control mechanism. The valve body integrates multiple communication channels (cold water supply channel, hot water supply channel, mixed water outlet channel) that are controlled by a single operation part, eliminating the need for two independently controlled valves and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining temperature regulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve body serves multiple functions: it regulates both cold water and hot water flow rates, controls mixed water temperature, and manages overall flow rate. The operation part can independently control the communication amounts of different channels, providing universal control capability for both temperature and flow rate regulation through one device
2Volume of moving object
If a compact faucet valve apparatus is designed with integrated temperature and flow rate regulation, then device size is reduced, but ease of operation may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into distinct functional channels (cold water supply channel, hot water supply channel, mixed water outlet channel) with separate communication paths. The operation part is divided into multiple operation parts that can independently control different channels. This segmentation allows compact integration while maintaining independent control capability for each function, preventing operational interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the axial position and rotational position of the cylinder body independently through different operation parts. By utilizing both axial and rotational dimensions for control, the design achieves compact integration of multiple functions while providing distinct operational inputs for temperature and flow rate regulation, preventing operational confusion
3Extent of automation
If electrification is implemented in flow rate regulation valve, then automation capability is improved, but adaptability for temperature regulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body and operation parts are designed with universal control capability that can regulate both temperature and flow rate through the same mechanical structure. When electrification is applied to the operation part, the automated control system inherits this universality, enabling a single automated mechanism to perform both temperature regulation (by controlling cold and hot water mix ratio) and flow rate regulation (by controlling total water flow), rather than requiring separate specialized mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
The cylinder body is affected by a rotational operation of the first operation part in such a manner that a rotational position of the cylinder body is changed while an axial position of the cylinder body is not changed, and is affected by a rotational operation of the second operation part in such a manner that the axial position of the cylinder body is changed while the rotational position of the cylinder body is not changed. A communication amount between the cold water supply channel and the cold water inlet hole, a communication amount between the hot water supply channel and the hot water inlet hole, and/or a communication amount between the mixed water outlet hole and the mixed water outlet channel are/is changed depending on the axial position and the rotational position of the cylinder body in order to achieve both a temperature regulation and a flow rate regulation.