Gas Tool Isolating Valve Latch for Safe Tip Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas powered tools pose a safety risk due to the potential for inadvertent ignition of fuel gas when the working tool element is decoupled, as the isolating valve may inadvertently switch to the open state, leading to uncontrolled fuel gas release and ignition.
Innovation Solution
A gas powered tool with a latching element that retains the isolating valve in the isolating state when the working tool element is decoupled, preventing fuel gas release and ensuring safety by requiring the operating element to be in a specific state before decoupling is allowed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the isolating valve is made operable by the operating element, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential inadvertent switching to open state when working tool element is decoupled
Solution Approach 1:
The latching element is configured to automatically engage and latch the isolating valve in the isolating state when the working tool element is decoupled from the housing. This preliminary action occurs before any potential inadvertent operation of the isolating valve, ensuring that the valve is already secured in the safe isolating state when fuel gas release could occur
Solution Approach 2:
The latching element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the working tool element coupling state and the isolating valve position. It translates the decoupling of the working tool element into automatic engagement that secures the isolating valve, providing a mediating safety function that connects mechanical coupling status to valve positioning
2Reliability
If the latching element is added to retain the isolating valve, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching element is integrated with the existing operating element and isolating valve mechanism, combining multiple functions into a unified assembly. The latching element works in conjunction with the operating element to control the isolating valve, merging the safety latching function with the existing operational mechanism rather than adding a completely separate system
Solution Approach 2:
The latching element is configured to automatically engage and disengage based on the coupling and decoupling of the working tool element, without requiring separate manual operation. The system serves itself by using the mechanical state of tool element coupling to automatically control the latching of the isolating valve, eliminating the need for additional control inputs
Data Source
AI summary
A gas powered tool (70) comprising a housing (73) and a soldering tool element (72) releasably coupled to the housing (73). A latching element (105) pivotally mounted on a pivot pin (106) in the housing (73) is retained in a non-latching state (FIG. 26) by an abutment element (102) which is urgeable into the housing (73) by the soldering tool element (72) when the soldering tool element (72) is coupled to the housing (73). The latching element (105) is spring biased in the direction of the arrow E from the non-latching state to a latching state (FIG. 27) for latching a switching element (89) in a first state to in turn retain an isolating valve (86), which supplies fuel gas from a reservoir (78) in the housing (73) to the soldering tool element (72), in the isolating state. On decoupling of the soldering tool element (72) from the housing (73), the abutment element (102) is spring urged outwardly and disengages the latching element (105). The latching element (105) pivots about the pivot pin from the non-latching state to the latching state engaging the switching element (89) in the first state, thereby retaining the isolating valve (86) in the isolating state isolating the soldering tool element (72) from the fuel gas in the fuel gas reservoir (78) in the housing (73).