Gas Cartridge Valve Flapper for Gradual Flow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas appliance connection devices and cartridges face challenges in facilitating smooth mechanical and fluid disconnection, preventing residual gas presence, improving gas flow control, and ensuring secure connection and disconnection processes.
Innovation Solution
A gas cartridge with a valve featuring a flapper that moves between closed and fully open positions through intermediate stages, and a connecting portion that progressively adjusts the gas passage cross-section, allowing for smooth and secure mechanical and fluid connections/disconnections, with a gas appliance connection device that includes a push valve and control members for precise gas flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push-valve mechanism opens the valve instantly between closed and fully open positions, then the valve operation is simple and reliable, but the gas flow control cannot be made more gradual
Solution Approach 1:
The valve opening process is segmented into multiple intermediate positions between fully closed and fully open states. The flapper can stop at various intermediate positions during its movement, allowing gradual gas flow control while maintaining simple push-valve operation. This segmentation enables the valve to provide multiple flow rates without complicating the user interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve moves between closed and fully open positions through intermediate positions, then gas flow control becomes gradual and versatile, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single flapper component performs multiple functions: it seals the valve when closed, controls gradual flow at intermediate positions, and enables full flow when open. The connecting portion shape provides both sealing and flow control capabilities. This multi-functionality achieves gradual gas flow control without adding separate control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Productivity
If mechanical connection and locking are performed simultaneously, then the connection process is fast, but residual gas may remain in the connection device during disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid connection is established before mechanical locking is completed. The push-valve mechanism opens the valve and establishes fluid flow path prior to final mechanical engagement. This preliminary fluid connection ensures that any residual gas is evacuated through the open valve before the mechanical lock secures the connection, preventing harmful residual gas presence while maintaining fast connection speed.
4Manufacturing precision
If the gas passage cross-section increases progressively with flapper movement, then gas flow control is smooth and precise, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion of the flapper has a specifically shaped cross-section that varies locally along its length. This local geometric variation creates the progressive gas passage cross-section as the flapper moves, enabling smooth and precise gas flow control. The local quality design allows for controlled flow characteristics without requiring extremely high manufacturing precision across the entire valve assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present application relates to a gas cartridge (310) having a valve (314) comprising a seal (320) and a flapper (318) configured to be moved between a closed position and a maximum open position, wherein the flapper (318) comprises: a first contact portion arranged to be in contact with the seal (320) when the flapper (318) is in the closed position; a second contact portion arranged to be in contact with a push valve of a gas appliance connection device when the flapper (318) is moved between the closed position and the maximum open position; and a connecting portion linking the first contact portion and the second contact portion shaped such that a gas passage cross-section between the seal (320) and the connecting portion increases when the flapper (318) is moved between the closed position and the maximum open position.