Fence Valve with Adjustable Magnetic Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fence valves lack adjustable sensitivity for indicating when undesirable materials are captured, leading to potential nuisance alerts and dependency on mechanical resistance provided by springs.
Innovation Solution
A fence valve design with a movable catch plate and magnetic system allows for adjustable sensitivity, using a magnetic body and cap to alter the interaction between the catch plate and hook, enabling user-defined sensitivity for capturing material, and includes a sensor for detecting position changes to indicate material capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spring-based mechanical resistance system is used to indicate material capture, then the indicator mechanism is simple and reliable, but the sensitivity cannot be adjusted leading to nuisance alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the spring-based mechanical resistance system with a magnetic field-based system. A magnetic body interacts with a magnetic region on the catch plate through a non-magnetic barrier, creating a holding force that can be adjusted by changing the distance between magnetic components. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical springs while enabling adjustable sensitivity through positional adjustment of the magnetic body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of magnetic field strength interaction by adjusting the distance between the magnetic body and the magnetic region on the catch plate. By varying this distance, the holding force can be precisely controlled, allowing the indicator to trigger at different thresholds of material weight. This parameter adjustment provides the desired sensitivity control without complex mechanical systems.
2Measurement precision
If the indicator triggers at low sensitivity to detect all material capture, then detection precision is high, but false alerts increase reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the indicator system by allowing the magnetic body position to be varied. This enables the detection threshold to be dynamically adjusted based on operational requirements. Users can set the magnetic body at different distances from the catch plate to establish appropriate thresholds that balance detection sensitivity with false alert reduction, making the system adaptable to different material types and operational contexts.
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
Enables precise control over when the valve indicates material capture, reducing false triggers and allowing for multiple uses by adjusting sensitivity based on material type and amount, enhancing user awareness and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The catch plate is configured to be detachably held in the first position via an interaction between the magnetic region and the magnetic body
Data Source
AI summary
A fence valve to catch material introduced into a pipe includes a housing defining a chamber and a catch plate disposed within the chamber that is movable with respect to the housing. The catch plate includes at least one magnetic region. The valve further includes a magnetic body in communication with at least a portion of the chamber, an indicator in communication with the catch plate, and a cable having a first end secured to the catch plate and a second end secured to a hook. The catch plate is transitionable from a first position in which the catch plate is disposed at a first location within the chamber, to a second position in which the catch plate is displaced from the first location. The catch plate is detachably held in the first position by interaction between the at least one magnetic region and the magnetic body.