Float Valve Support Structure for Stable Seat Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The stability of seating a float on a valve seat in existing valve devices is compromised due to decreased position accuracy of the float seat, leading to instability in valve operation.

Innovation Solution

A valve device design that includes a support system with a base having a frame shape and two float seats, which provides three-point support to the float when it is seated on the valve seat, enhancing stability and maintaining high position accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a single float seat is used to support the float on the valve seat, then the structure is simple, but the position accuracy and stability of the float decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracy of float seatVSAvoidstructure complexity of support system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single float seat is divided into two separate float seats (first float seat and second float seat) that are positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the float to be supported at multiple points, improving position accuracy and stability without requiring a single complex support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support system transitions from a single-point support to a multi-point support distributed in different spatial dimensions. The two float seats are arranged at different positions (one at the front end and one at the rear end of the base), creating a three-point support system that enhances positional stability through spatial distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a single float seat is used, then the device structure is simple, but the stability of seating the float on the valve seat decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of float seatingVSAvoidstructure complexity of support system
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is segmented into multiple float seats instead of using a single float seat. This allows the float to be stably supported at multiple contact points on the valve seat, preventing instability and ensuring reliable seating even under external shocks or varying fluid conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the support system (first float seat and second float seat) are positioned at different locations to provide localized support where needed. The front float seat and rear float seat each contribute to stability at their respective positions, creating overall system stability through distributed local support points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enhanced support system significantly improves the stability of the float's seating on the valve seat, maintaining accurate positioning and ensuring reliable valve operation even under external shocks or varying fluid conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a float (3) disposed in the valve chamber (14) and movable in accordance with an amount of drain in the valve chamber (14) to thereby open and close the valve hole (21)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP4269851B1Valve device
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 TLV CO LTD
  • EP4269851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4269851B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4269851B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A valve device 100 includes: a casing 1 including a valve chamber 14; a valve seat 2 disposed in the valve chamber 14 and including a valve hole 21; a float 3 disposed in the valve chamber 14 and movable in accordance with the amount of drain in the valve chamber 14 to thereby open and close the valve hole 21; and a support 4 supporting the float 3 in the state of being seated on the valve seat 2 and closing the valve hole 21. The support 4 includes a base 41 including an opening 43 and having a frame shape, and two float seats 42 disposed in the base 41, and the float 3 in the state of being seated on the valve seat 2 and closing the valve hole 21 is seated on the two float seats 42.