Integrated Suck-Back Valve with Two-Step Piston Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suck-back valves require separate open/close and suck-back valves, leading to increased installation space and synchronization issues, and are prone to malfunction due to fluid adhesion.
Innovation Solution
A suck-back valve integrates the open/close valve with a suck-back function, using a piston and valve body linked via a shaft portion with a diaphragm, allowing for a two-step operation to prevent leakage, where the piston-side shaft portion moves independently to increase the suck-back chamber volume, and is loosely fitted to prevent fluid contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate open/close valve and suck-back valve are used, then suck-back function is achieved, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the open/close valve and suck-back valve into a single integrated valve body, where the suck-back chamber is formed within the same valve structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate valves while maintaining both functions, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving suck-back reliability and minimizing installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated valve performs multiple functions: it acts as both an open/close valve for controlling fluid flow and as a suck-back valve for preventing leakage during closing operation. The single valve body with integrated suck-back chamber achieves multi-functionality, reducing the number of components and installation space while maintaining reliable operation.
2Ease of operation
If separate actuators are used for open/close valve and suck-back valve, then both functions are operated, but synchronization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single actuator to operate both the open/close function and the suck-back function through shared mechanical components. The shaft portion that transmits actuator motion is used by both the valve body for opening/closing and the piston for suck-back operation, eliminating synchronization issues between separate actuators while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft portion acts as an intermediary mechanism that transmits motion from the single actuator to both the valve body and piston. This intermediary structure enables coordinated operation of both functions through one actuator, simplifying control while ensuring proper timing between opening/closing and suck-back operations.
3Ease of operation
If operating portion is exposed to fluid, then suck-back operation is achieved, but fluid adhesion causes malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the operating portion (piston and shaft) from direct contact with the processed fluid by creating a separate fluid-tight chamber. The piston operates within the suck-back chamber that is isolated from the main fluid passage, allowing suck-back operation to function reliably without fluid adhesion causing malfunction.
Solution Approach 2:
The diaphragm acts as an intermediary that transmits the suck-back pressure from the piston to the outlet side while preventing direct contact between the fluid and the piston operating portion. This intermediary structure enables the piston to perform suck-back operation without being contaminated by the processed fluid, maintaining reliability.
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
This integration reduces installation space, synchronizes actuator operation, and prevents fluid adhesion-related malfunctions, enhancing the reliability of the suck-back function.
Implementation Method 1
a suck-back chamber formed in a valve internal channel of the open/close valve and an open/close operation portion that operates the piston are separated by a diaphragm that is linked to and integrally operates with the shaft portion
Implementation Method 2
a piston and a valve body that receive fluid pressure for the open/close operation are linked via a shaft portion
Implementation Method 3
the piston-side shaft portion moves with the piston and the diaphragm to increase the volume of the suck-back chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A suck-back valve includes a piston and a valve body linked via a shaft portion. An open/close valve, operated by fluid pressure, is provided with a suck-back function. A suck-back chamber formed in an internal channel of the open/close valve and an actuator that operates the piston are separated by a diaphragm linked to and operating with the shaft portion. The shaft portion includes a valve-body-side shaft portion and a piston-side shaft portion. The piston-side shaft portion is loosely fitted to the valve-body-side shaft portion, allowing for independent movement in an axial direction. The closing operation of the valve body involves a two-step operation where, first, the shaft portion, along with the piston and the diaphragm, moves to the fully closed position of the valve body and where, second, the piston-side shaft portion moves with the piston and the diaphragm to increase the volume of the suck-back chamber.