Flexible Nozzle With Integrated Valve Sheet For Fast Inflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzles for air inflation and deflation products face issues such as air leakage due to inadequate sealing, complex manufacturing processes, and the need for high-pressure air pumps, limiting their usability and production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design featuring a flexible plastic body with an integrated valve sheet and air tube, where the valve sheet forms an air channel with the air tube for inflation/deflation, and a sealing plug covers the outer port to prevent air leakage, with the valve sheet having an arc shape and connection parts for efficient sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing plug quickly plugs the air tube after inflation, then air leakage is prevented, but the structure becomes complex requiring precise coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing plug and air tube into an integrated structure where the sealing plug is formed as one piece with the air tube. This merging eliminates the need for separate sealing mechanisms while maintaining effective sealing performance, thus reducing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sealing plug structure automatically seals the air tube through its own deformation when the flexible body is compressed. The sealing action is achieved through the self-deformation of the sealing plug itself without requiring additional sealing components or complex coordination mechanisms.
2Productivity
If the air tube is tightly pressed by hands to release the notch, then air inflation/deflation is assured, but the hands become tired easily
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle structure performs the sealing and opening actions automatically through the deformation of the flexible body itself. When the flexible body is compressed, the air tube and sealing plug automatically open to allow air flow, and when released, they automatically seal. This eliminates the need for continuous manual pressing, reducing operator fatigue while maintaining inflation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic sealing mechanism where the sealing plug and air tube can automatically transition between open and closed states based on the deformation of the flexible body. This dynamic behavior allows the nozzle to adapt to the inflation/deflation cycle automatically without requiring sustained manual force.
3Productivity
If the unidirectional valve requires high pressure air stream, then inflation is achieved, but high quality air pump is needed limiting flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic air channel that opens and closes with the deformation of the flexible body, allowing air to flow freely during inflation and sealing automatically during deflation. This dynamic mechanism enables effective inflation with lower pressure requirements compared to traditional unidirectional valves, thus allowing the use of simpler, more flexible air sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by creating an air channel within the flexible body itself, where air pressure from any source can directly inflate the product through the flexible body's deformation. This eliminates the need for complex high-pressure valve mechanisms and enables compatibility with various air sources including simple pumps, breaths, or compressed air tanks.
Data Source
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AI summary
A nozzle for fast inflation and deflation includes a flexible plastic body, an air tube, and a sealing plug. The flexible plastic body is connected to a bottom of the air tube, and the sealing plug is flexibly connected to an outer port of the air tube. A valve sheet is in the flexible plastic body. For air inflation or deflation, a gap as an air channel is formed between the valve sheet and the air tube for inflation or deflation without pressing the flexible plastic body. To store air, the air tube is bent downward until the flexible plastic body is deformed to cause the valve sheet to contact the inner port of the air tube so as to avoid air leakage. Then, the air tube is allowed to be slowly plugged by the sealing plug. The problem of internal air leaking out is thus fully solved.