Foot-Pedal Watering Valve Without Springs for Simple Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foot valve systems are complex, prone to breakdowns, and require elastic members like coil springs for operation, making them costly and difficult to maintain, with limited installation options and modes of operation.
Innovation Solution
A simplified watering device with a rocker arm-shaped controller having two portions, one for activation and one for deactivation, eliminating the need for elastic members and allowing easy assembly and various installation configurations, including horizontal and vertical orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional foot valve systems use elastic members like coil springs for operation, then the valve can be reset automatically, but the device becomes complex and prone to breakdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the elastic member (coil spring) from the foot valve system entirely. The valve reset function is achieved through the foot pedal's mechanical linkage directly connected to the valve assembly, eliminating the need for springs and reducing component count, thereby improving reliability while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot pedal assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the actuating mechanism for opening the valve and the resetting mechanism for closing it. The pedal's movement directly controls the valve assembly without requiring separate elastic components, making the system simpler and more reliable.
2Ease of operation
If conventional foot valve systems include multiple components for operation, then the valve can be controlled effectively, but the cost and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the foot pedal, linkage mechanism, and valve assembly into an integrated unit. This merging of components reduces the total number of parts that need maintenance while maintaining effective valve control through the simplified mechanical connection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional foot valve systems use complex mechanisms to convert operating force to rotational force, then the valve can be operated, but the design and assembly become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of converting foot pedal linear motion into rotational motion through complex mechanisms, the patent inverts the approach by using the foot pedal's linear movement to directly actuate the valve assembly in a linear fashion, eliminating the need for rotational conversion mechanisms and simplifying manufacturing.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A watering device (100) includes a watering controller (104) having a controller inlet (106) and a controller outlet (108). The watering controller (104) includes a first portion (112) and a second portion (114) to activate and deactivate to the watering controller (104). The second portion (114) acts on the first portion (112). The first portion (112) is a foot pedal; The watering device (100) also includes a housing (144) having a housing inlet (146) and one or more housing outlets (148). The watering device (100) is characterized in that the second portion (114) is a foot pedal. The controller outlet (108) defines an opening (110). The water channel (150) defines a nose portion (152). A first user action (116) with the watering controller (104) at least partially disengages the opening (110) of the watering controller (104) from the nose portion (152) of the housing (144).