Float valve motion detection device, pot cover assembly and pressure cooking appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing float valve motion detection devices in pressure cooking appliances are costly due to the need for magnetically conductive materials and complex processing procedures, which increases production costs and reduces efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The float valve motion detection device uses a valve core made of materials with permeability unequal to that of air, eliminating the need for magnetically conductive materials and simplifying the manufacturing process, while incorporating a detection circuit and prompt device to ensure safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnetically conductive materials are fixed on the valve core using grooves and tooling, then the float valve can detect pressure changes, but the production cost increases and production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure detection capabilityVSAvoidproduction cost and efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the magnetically conductive materials and grooves from the valve core design. Instead of fixing separate magnetic components onto the valve core, the invention uses the valve core itself (made of materials with permeability unequal to air) as the magnetic element that interacts with the hollow inductance coil, thereby eliminating the need for additional magnetically conductive materials and their associated processing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the magnetic detection function directly into the valve core structure by using materials with permeability unequal to air. This merges the valve core's mechanical function with its magnetic detection function, eliminating the need for separate magnetically conductive components and their assembly processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If grooves are processed on the valve core and magnetically conductive materials are pressed and fixed, then the float valve assembly can be assembled, but the number of processing procedures increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly capabilityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the grooves and magnetically conductive materials from the assembly process. The valve core is used in its original form without requiring groove processing or material pressing operations, thereby reducing the number of processing procedures and improving production efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This solution reduces production costs, improves efficiency, and enhances safety by providing accurate pressure monitoring and user alerts, thereby gaining a competitive advantage in the market.

Implementation Method 1

the detection circuit converts the change of the inductance into an electric signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a valve core made of materials having permeability unequal to that of air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic Permeability: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3581074B1Float valve motion detection device, pot cover assembly and pressure cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES MFG CO LTD
  • EP3581074B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3581074B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3581074B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a float valve motion detection device, a pot cover assembly and a pressure cooking appliance, the float valve motion detection device comprising: a float valve, a hollow inductance coil (3) and a detection circuit. A valve core (2) of the float valve is made of materials having permeability unequal to that of air. When the valve core (2) is pushed by the pressure in a pot from a first position to a second position, the volume of the valve core (2) in the hollow inductance coil (3) changes, which changes the inductance of the hollow inductance coil (3). A detection circuit determines the position of the valve core (2) by means of detecting the change in the inductance of the hollow inductance coil (3) so as to determine whether it is safe to uncover at the current time. Changing the structure of the valve core (2) of the float valve and fabricating the valve core (2) using materials having permeability unequal to that of air removes the magnetically conductive materials in an old solution from the valve core, which not only saves on production materials, but also omits the processing procedures for the magnetically conductive materials and the magnetically conductive material mounting part on the valve core (2) as well as the assembling procedures for the magnetically conductive materials and the valve core (2), thereby reducing production costs and improving production efficiency.