Inflatable Air Valve Retaining Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air valve devices for inflatable articles require users to manually hold the plunger in a depressed state during inflation and deflation, making the deflation process inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
An air valve device with a valve seat that divides the accommodation space into an inflating port and a conduit, featuring a movable valve disc and plunger mechanism with a releasable retaining mechanism to arrest axial movement, allowing the valve disc to be held in the open position against the biasing action, facilitating easy deflation and inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve disc is moved to the open position against the biasing action of the biasing member, then air can flow through the communicating holes for inflation and deflation, but the plunger has to be held in a depressed state during deflation which is inconvenient to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device automatically maintains the valve disc in the open position during deflation through the retaining mechanism, eliminating the need for continuous manual effort to hold the plunger depressed. The system serves itself by mechanically maintaining the operational state without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining mechanism dynamically adapts to the operational state by engaging to hold the plunger in the depressed position when the valve disc is open, and disengaging when the valve disc closes. This dynamic behavior allows the device to automatically maintain the required state without continuous user input.
2Productivity
If the valve disc is moved to the open position against the biasing action, then air flow is permitted for inflation and deflation, but user effort is required to maintain this position
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism automatically maintains the valve disc in the open position during deflation, eliminating the need for continuous manual force application. The system self-maintains the operational state, allowing rapid deflation without sustained user effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the valve disc moves to the open position, preliminarily securing the plunger in the depressed state before deflation begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for continuous user force during the deflation process.
3Ease of operation
If a retaining mechanism is added to hold the valve disc in the open position, then deflation convenience is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is nested within the existing valve structure, utilizing the hollow plunger and the space within the valve body. The retaining groove and retaining ball are integrated into the existing components rather than adding separate external mechanisms, minimizing structural complexity while providing the required functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger serves multiple functions: it acts as both the actuating mechanism for opening the valve and as part of the retaining mechanism through its hollow structure containing the retaining groove. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
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 solution simplifies the inflation and deflation process by allowing the valve disc to be easily moved to the open position, reducing user effort and enhancing convenience during the deflation of inflatable articles.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing member is disposed to bias the head end to move away from the seat body so as to permit the valve disc to be held in the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
An air valve device is adapted to be fitted into an opening of an inflatable article, and includes a valve seat formed with a valve body that is disposed between an inflating port and a conduit, an axially movable member having a valve disc which is disposed in the conduit to be moved between open and closed positions, and a plunger which is connected to the valve disc and which has a head end disposed in the inflating port, a biasing member disposed to bias the valve disc to the closed position, and a releasably retaining mechanism disposed between the valve seat and the plunger to arrest axial movement of the movable member against the biasing action of the biasing member when the valve disc is in the open position, thereby facilitating inflation and deflation of the inflatable article.