Float Hydraulic Valve With Radial Notches to Prevent Air Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic valves fail to prevent the suction of air along with liquid during the final stages of emptying a tank, leading to the formation of bubbles and potential chlorine concentration spikes in swimming pool water, which can cause irritation.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic valve with a cage element and a shutter mechanism that includes radial notches to allow gradual closure and prevent air suction, using a float-operated shutter that automatically adjusts based on liquid levels without requiring power, ensuring efficient liquid aspiration and preventing air mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional float valve is used to empty the tank, then the liquid can be discharged efficiently, but air is suctioned together with the liquid in the final stage of emptying, causing bubble formation
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge opening is segmented into multiple radial notches instead of a single opening. This segmentation allows the liquid to discharge through multiple paths while the float progressively blocks each path, preventing air suction in the final stage by maintaining liquid seal through the notches
Solution Approach 2:
The float is designed to preliminarily block the discharge opening before complete emptying occurs. As the liquid level decreases, the float rises and progressively covers the radial notches, preliminarily preventing air from entering the discharge path before the tank is fully emptied
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the valve closes completely to prevent air suction, then bubble formation is avoided, but the tank cannot be completely emptied
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge opening is divided into multiple radial notches that allow progressive closure. The float moves upward to block each notch sequentially, maintaining liquid flow paths until the very end, ensuring complete emptying while preventing air suction through the segmented structure
Solution Approach 2:
The valve closure is dynamic rather than abrupt. The float progressively moves upward as liquid level decreases, dynamically adjusting the closure degree to maintain liquid discharge through the radial notches until complete emptying, then fully blocking air entry
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 hydraulic valve effectively prevents air suction, ensuring consistent chlorine concentration in swimming pool water by maintaining efficient liquid aspiration and avoiding bubble formation, even after repeated cycles, with a simple structure and minimal components.
Implementation Method 1
a float selectively movable inside the valve between an opening position, in which it is moved away from an inlet of the discharge pipe, freeing it and allowing the liquid to escape through the valve and a closed position in which the valve intercepts an inlet of the discharge pipe, occluding it
Implementation Method 2
a shutter housed movable inside the cage element, in an interposed position between the cage element and the bottom wall, in which the hydraulic valve comprises a hollow connection element which engages the through opening is sealed by delimiting a passage which passes through the hydraulic valve
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic valve engages a through opening delimited through a bottom wall of a tank for a liquid and comprises a cage element connected inside the bottom wall, a shutter movably housed in the cage element, a hollow connection element which hermetically engages the through opening delimiting a passage that passes through the hydraulic valve, wherein the hollow connecting element comprises an engagement portion which extends into the through opening and defines a passage opening selectively occludable by means of a shutter as a function of the quantity of liquid in the tank, wherein the hollow connecting element comprises radial notches which define respective passages for a liquid sucked out of the tank through which the formation of a vortex is prevented and the sucking in air.