Inhaler Valve Structure With Inversion Protection at Low Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalation device valves face limitations in design freedom due to the need for reliable operation and prevention of inversion, which restricts the selection of geometries and materials.
Innovation Solution
A valve design with a permanent opening and a valve function area that is almost closed below an opening pressure difference and opens above it, incorporating reinforcement areas to prevent inversion, allowing for a wide range of geometries and materials while ensuring reliable fluid flow and prevention of backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve wall is made flexible to enable opening and closing, then the valve can assume open and closed states, but the valve may invert or deform excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The valve structure employs different mechanical properties in different regions: the valve function area is made flexible to enable opening and closing, while reinforcement areas are strategically positioned to provide structural support and prevent inversion. This local differentiation of material properties allows the valve to simultaneously achieve operational flexibility and structural stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If reinforcement areas are added to prevent inversion, then valve stability improves, but design freedom and material selection are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into distinct functional segments: a flexible valve function area for opening and closing, and separate reinforcement areas for structural support. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's geometry and material properties, maintaining design freedom while achieving both flexibility and stability requirements.
3Productivity
If the valve function area is made to form an opening by moving wall areas apart, then fluid flow is enabled, but the valve may deform excessively under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The valve structure combines materials or regions with different mechanical properties: the valve function area uses flexible materials to enable opening and fluid flow, while reinforcement areas use stiffer materials to resist excessive deformation and maintain structural integrity under pressure differentials.
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 provides a valve that maintains reliable operation and prevents inversion, allowing for greater design flexibility and effective fluid management, even at low pressure differences, while ensuring the valve opens and closes without hindrance from reinforcement areas.
Implementation Method 1
the valve function area being set up to be at least almost closed below an opening pressure difference and to be opened above an opening pressure difference
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Valve (1, 11, 19) for an inhalation device with an internal volume that is at least partially bounded by a valve wall (4, 17, 21), a permanent opening (29) and a valve functional area (6), wherein the valve functional area (6) is configured to be at least nearly closed below an opening pressure differential and to be open above an opening pressure differential, so that above the opening pressure differential a fluid can flow through the permanent opening (29) into the internal volume and out of the valve functional area (6), wherein the valve has an inversion protection which is configured to make it difficult or impossible to invert the valve wall (4, 17, 21).