Flow Control Valve Limits Water Flow Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure cleaning technologies result in excessive water consumption and waste water treatment costs due to high water flow rates, which are often used to expedite the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
A pressure cleaning apparatus with a flow control valve that limits the water flow rate to a maximum of 15-60 liters per minute, incorporating a movable body and spring mechanism to maintain efficient cleaning while reducing water consumption, and a mixing arrangement for combining water with additives like detergents and disinfectants to enhance cleaning efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a higher rate of flow of water is used to finish pressure cleaning faster, then productivity is improved, but water consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the water flow rate parameter by introducing a flow control valve that limits the maximum flow rate to 15-60 liters per minute. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing water consumption from excessive levels to an optimized range.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control valve provides feedback control on the water flow rate, automatically limiting it to the prescribed maximum range. This feedback mechanism prevents operators from inadvertently using excessive water flow, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning speed and water consumption.
2Loss of substance
If the flow control valve closes off completely to limit flow rate, then water consumption is reduced, but water hammer effect occurs and re-opening becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The leak opening acts as an intermediary element that provides a small fluid connection between the inlet and outlet of the flow control valve. This intermediary pathway prevents complete closure, avoiding water hammer effect while maintaining flow rate limitation, thus resolving the reliability issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The leak opening provides beforehand cushioning by preventing complete closure of the flow control valve. This design feature anticipates and prevents the water hammer effect and re-opening difficulties that would occur with complete closure, ensuring smooth operation.
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
Reduces water consumption and treatment costs by limiting flow rates and utilizing additives for effective surface cleaning, ensuring thorough cleanliness of food processing equipment.
Implementation Method 1
the flow control valve comprises a movable body, a counter part and a spring, wherein the spring is arranged to bias the movable body against a direction of flow to an open position of the flow control valve
Implementation Method 2
the movable body and the counter part being arranged so that a flow of water in the direction of flow will provide a force on the movable body towards the counter part, which force may move the movable body to limit the flow rate through the flow control valve
Implementation Method 3
the open fluid connection will ensure that the pressure on the two sides of the movable body will equalize and the spring will move the movable body away from the counter part to open the flow control valve
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A pressure cleaning apparatus (1) is disclosed including a mixing arrangement (2) comprising a water inlet (3) for receiving an inflow of pressurized water, a first additive inlet (4), a second additive inlet (5), and a water outlet (6), the apparatus further comprising a hose (7) connectable to the water outlet (6), and a handle part (10) comprising an outlet nozzle (12) and an opening mechanism for the flow out through the nozzle (12), the mixing arrangement (2) being adapted to selectively provide to the hose (7) a flow of water from the water inlet (3), a flow of water admixed with an additive from the first additive inlet (4) or a flow of water admixed with an additive from the second additive inlet (5), wherein a flow control valve (14) is provided comprising a movable body (15), a counter part (16) and a spring (17), wherein the spring (17) is arranged to bias the movable body (15) against a direction of flow through the flow control valve (14) to an open position of the flow control valve (14), and wherein the movable body (15) and the counter part (16) being arranged so that a flow of water in the direction of flow will provide a force on the movable body (15) towards the counter part (16), which force may move the movable body (15) to limit the flow rate through the flow control valve (14).