Flush-Mounted Valve Knob Coupling for Fixed Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valves for concealed sanitary fitting installation bodies face issues with the actuating knob becoming detached and requiring additional non-rotatable components to maintain a horizontal orientation, leading to increased installation space and design restrictions.

Innovation Solution

A valve design featuring a rotatable quantity control part connected to a rotary knob, with a snap connection or threaded shaft for non-rotatable attachment to the valve housing, preventing unintentional loosening and eliminating the need for additional components, ensuring the actuating knob remains horizontal and secure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If additional components are added to prevent knob rotation and maintain horizontal orientation, then the actuating button remains legible and properly oriented, but the installation space requirement increases and design options are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelegibility of actuating buttonVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the anti-rotation function with the existing rotary knob structure by integrating a non-rotatable attachment mechanism directly into the knob assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate additional components while maintaining the horizontal orientation and legibility of the actuating button, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational ease and installation space requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If the actuating button is made rotatable with the valve knob, then the valve operation is simplified, but the actuating button becomes illegible and cannot maintain horizontal orientation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve operation mechanismVSAvoidlegibility of actuating button
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the valve knob assembly into rotatable and non-rotatable parts. The valve knob itself rotates to control flow, while the actuating button with its labeling is decoupled from rotation through the non-rotatable attachment mechanism. This segmentation allows the valve operation to remain simple while preserving the legibility and horizontal orientation of the actuating button

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the actuating button is securely attached to prevent detachment, then reliability is improved, but the knob cannot rotate freely for flow adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidflow adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic attachment system where the actuating button is securely connected to the valve knob through a non-rotatable attachment mechanism that allows axial movement and pressing actions while preventing rotation. This dynamic design enables the button to remain securely attached for reliability while still allowing the valve knob to rotate freely for flow adjustment through the connected flow control element

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3568622B1Valve for a flush-mounted body of a sanitary fitting, having a control knob rotatably fastened to a valve knob
Publication Date: 2022.12.21 GROHE AG
  • EP3568622B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3568622B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3568622B1 patent drawingFigure 3~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a valve (1) for a flush-mounted body of a sanitary fitting, at least having a valve housing (2) with a longitudinal axis (3), a rotatable flow control element (4) for adjusting a flow volume of a liquid flowing through the valve (1), and a valve knob (5) for opening and closing the valve (1). The valve knob (5) can be adjusted by means of the flow control element (4), rotationally and parallel to the longitudinal axis (3), by means of a control knob (6) for the valve (1), and the control knob (6) is fastened to the valve knob (5) by means of a rotary coupling (7) so that the control knob (6) can be non-rotatably fastened relative to the valve housing (2).