Flexible Diaphragm Valve for Easy Cleaning in Mixing Bowls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bowls for receiving and mixing fluids, such as those used for hair tinting, are difficult to clean due to their design, which often includes fixed components that create cavities, sharp edges, or undercuts, making it challenging to facilitate easy cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A bowl design featuring a vessel with a flexible diaphragm that covers a vent connected to a stand, forming an unidirectional valve, allowing for easy disassembly and separate cleaning of components, preventing cavities and sharp edges, and ensuring a smooth surface for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bowl uses a fixed non-detachable snap-on connection between vessel and stand, then the structure is stable and simple, but the cleaning becomes difficult due to cavities, sharp edges, and undercuts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the bowl into separable components: the vessel and the stand can be detached from each other. The unidirectional valve is further segmented into a diaphragm part (attached to vessel) and a vent part (attached to stand). This segmentation allows each component to be cleaned separately, eliminating the cleaning difficulties caused by fixed connections while maintaining structural integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the valve mechanism from the fixed structure by making the diaphragm and vent separable. The diaphragm is connected to the vessel body at a position spaced from the vent, allowing the valve components to be removed and cleaned independently. This extraction eliminates the cavities and undercuts that would otherwise be created by integrated fixed connections.
2Reliability
If the bowl uses a unidirectional valve with diaphragm covering the vent, then fluid injection is controlled, but the valve components create difficult-to-clean areas when fixed together
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is segmented into two detachable parts: the diaphragm (with closing area) attached to the vessel body, and the vent (with discharge opening) attached to the stand. This segmentation maintains the unidirectional valve function for controlled fluid injection while allowing separate cleaning of each component, eliminating the cleaning problems associated with fixed valve structures.
3Ease of operation
If the diaphragm is connected close to the vent, then the valve structure is compact, but cavities and sharp edges are created that hinder cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm is connected to the vessel body at a position spaced from the vent, creating a deliberate gap. This spacing eliminates cavities and sharp edges that would form if the diaphragm connected directly to the vent, facilitating easy cleaning. The valve remains functional despite the increased spacing because the diaphragm can still effectively cover and seal the vent opening when pressed.
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 design facilitates easy cleaning by allowing separate cleaning of the vessel and stand, reducing the risk of damage and ensuring effective sealing and fluid injection, while maintaining the functionality of the unidirectional valve.
Implementation Method 1
the vessel comprises a flexible diaphragm for covering the vent
Implementation Method 2
the diaphragm and the vent constitute an unidirectional valve, when the vessel is received by the stand in a designated use position
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
It is provided a valve comprising a vent (28) for injecting a fluid, wherein the vent comprises an inlet (32) connected to a discharge opening (34) via a discharge channel (30), and a flexible diaphragm (24) for covering the discharge opening (34) of the vent (28), wherein the diaphragm (24) is separated from the vent (28), wherein the diaphragm (24) is adapted to be connected to a first part, particularly a vessel body (22) of a bowl (10), and the vent (28) is adapted to be connected to a different second part, particularly a stand (14) of a bowl, wherein the diaphragm (24) comprises a closing area (36) for closing the discharge opening (34) and a connecting area (38) for connecting the diaphragm (24) with the first part spaced to the vent (28), wherein at least one window (42) is provided between the closing area (36) and the connecting area (38).