Integrated Water Mixing Valve Assembly for Compact Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water flow control systems for faucets are bulky and require significant space and time for assembly and maintenance, posing challenges in applications like aircraft lavatories where space is limited and downtime must be minimized.
Innovation Solution
A compact water delivery valve assembly with a mixer valve and flow control valve sharing a common housing, featuring integrated drive means for temperature mixing and flow control, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and utilizing a single unit design with readily available components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If distributed valve system parts (mixer valve and flow control valve in separate housings) are used, then each valve can be independently controlled and maintained, but the system requires significant space and time for assembly and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mixer valve assembly and flow control valve assembly into a single integrated valve assembly with a common housing. The mixer valve and flow control valve share the same housing and are positioned adjacent to each other, eliminating the need for separate housings and reducing the overall space required for the valve system.
2Ease of operation
If distributed valve system parts are used, then each valve can be independently controlled, but more time and expertise are required for assembly, maintenance, and dismantling
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple valve functions into a single assembly, the patent reduces the number of separate components that need to be assembled and maintained. The common housing and shared control systems minimize assembly steps and reduce the time and expertise required for maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated valve assembly performs multiple functions (mixing hot and cold water, controlling flow rate, regulating temperature) within a single unit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control systems for each valve, reducing the overall complexity and time required for assembly and maintenance.
3Temperature
If electrically driven mixing valves with solenoid flow control valves are used, then temperature control is achieved, but power consumption and RF compatibility concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrically driven solenoid valves with a mechanically operated mixing valve that uses a ceramic disc mechanism for flow control. This mechanical system eliminates the need for electrical power to control water flow and temperature mixing, thereby reducing power consumption and eliminating RF compatibility concerns while maintaining precise temperature control capability.
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 compact assembly enables efficient temperature and flow control in a reduced space, simplifying installation and maintenance, while minimizing downtime and power consumption, and ensuring RF compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
mix the hot and cold water in a mixing chamber
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A water delivery valve assembly comprising a cold water inlet (1) and a hot water inlet (2) and a mixed water outlet (3), the assembly further comprising a mixer valve assembly (10) configured to receive water from the hot and cold water inlets in a ratio determined by a desired temperature input and to mix the hot and cold water in a mixing chamber (11), and further comprising a flow control valve assembly (20) sharing a common housing (30) with the mixer valve assembly and arranged to receive water from the mixing chamber and provide water at the desired temperature to the mixed water outlet at desired time period, and wherein the mixer valve assembly includes drive means to control the ratio, and the flow control valve includes drive means to control the flow toggle on or off, and wherein the drive means of the mixer valve assembly and of the flow control valve assembly are also provided in the common housing.