Flow Rate Adjusting Device Lock Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing flow rate adjusting devices with slow-leaking mechanisms face challenges in maintaining a subtle adjusting position due to unintentional shifts caused by worker interaction or vibration, leading to inaccuracies in flow rate adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A flow rate adjusting device is designed with a lock member that includes a first insertion hole for the stroke adjusting mechanism, a second insertion hole for a protruding rod, and an arm connecting both, preventing unintentional shifts through engagement, and is made of resin with slits for elastic contact, ensuring the adjusting operation part is fully covered and secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stroke adjusting mechanism and stopper mechanism are made easily operable for adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adjusting position becomes susceptible to unintentional shifts due to worker interaction or vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into functional segments: the stroke adjusting mechanism for deliberate adjustment, the stopper mechanism for fixation, and the lock member for protection. This segmentation allows each component to have a specialized function - adjustment, fixation, and protection - resolving the contradiction by separating the adjustment function from the protection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member acts as an intermediary between the adjusting mechanism and the external environment. It provides a controlled interface that allows intentional adjustment while blocking unintentional interference from workers or vibrations, thus protecting the adjusting position without preventing necessary adjustments.
2Reliability
If the lock member fully covers the adjusting operation part, then the protection against unintentional shifts is improved, but the ease of operation for adjustment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock member transitions from a static protective cover to a dynamic component that can be deliberately opened and closed. The operation hole provides a controlled dynamic interface that remains closed for protection but can be opened when adjustment is needed, resolving the contradiction between full coverage and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting function is extracted and made accessible through the operation hole, while the majority of the adjusting operation part remains covered and protected. This allows the essential adjustment function to be accessed without exposing the entire mechanism to potential interference.
3Reliability
If the arm part connects the insertion holes rigidly, then the prevention of motion is improved, but the ease of manufacture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The arm part is made from resin material that provides flexible yet sufficient constraint. The resin construction offers adequate rigidity to prevent unwanted motion of the adjusting mechanisms while being much easier to manufacture than rigid metal connections, resolving the contradiction between motion prevention and manufacturing ease.
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 device effectively prevents unintentional shifts in the adjusting position, maintaining accurate flow rate control by locking the stroke and stopper mechanisms, reducing errors from worker interaction or vibration.
Implementation Method 1
a lock member which prevents motion of the stroke adjusting mechanism and the stopper mechanism. The lock member includes: a first insertion hole into which a substantially cylindrical adjusting operation part of the stroke adjusting mechanism is inserted; a second insertion hole into which a rod protruding upward from the housing is inserted; and an arm part which connects the first and second insertion holes
Implementation Method 2
the lock member is made of resin and includes one or more slits which divide a wall surface of the annular part in a circumferential direction, and thereby the elastically deformed annular part can be brought into close contact with an outer circumferential surface of the adjusting operation part
Data Source
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AI summary
The flow rate adjusting device includes: a valve body disposed so as to open and close the fluid passage; a dial operation part 55 which adjusts minute opening of the valve body in the slow-leaking mechanism; a lock nut part 56 which fixes the adjusting position of the minute opening; and a lock cap 60 which prevents motion of the dial operation part 55 and the lock nut part 56. The lock cap 60 includes: a first insertion hole 61 into which the substantially cylindrical dial operation part 55 is inserted; a second insertion hole 62 into which a rod 17 protruding upward from the housing 10 is inserted; and an arm part 63 which connects the first insertion hole 61 and the second insertion hole 62.