Liquid Storage Container Float Valve Pressure Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid storage containers for printers face challenges in maintaining appropriate valve operation due to potential damage from inflow pressure during refilling and limited material choices for float valves, which affect the reliability and durability of the float mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A liquid storage container design featuring a float member with air chambers and a thin film member that closes the air chamber opening, a valve body that can move between open and closed positions, and a biasing member to control the float's movement, ensuring the valve operates correctly even under high inflow pressures, and allowing for the use of a wider range of materials for the float member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a float valve is provided in the liquid storage container to close the liquid channel when the remaining amount of liquid is small, then the mixing of bubbles or the like can be suppressed, but the float valve may be damaged due to inflow pressure of the filled ink during refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid storage container is divided into a first liquid storage chamber (for storage) and a second liquid storage chamber (for refilling), separated by a partition wall. This segmentation prevents the refill stream from directly impacting the float valve located in the first chamber, protecting the valve from damage while maintaining its functionality for detecting low liquid levels.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication opening is provided in the partition wall between the two chambers, allowing liquid to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber. This intermediary structure enables controlled liquid transfer while isolating the float valve from the high-velocity refill stream, preventing damage to the valve mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the liquid channel is closed by buoyancy and self-weight of the float, then the closing mechanism is simple, but the range of member (material) selection is narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing member is introduced to apply a biasing force to the float member, working in conjunction with buoyancy and self-weight. This additional parameter (biasing force) expands the range of materials that can be used for the float valve, as the biasing member can compensate for variations in buoyancy characteristics of different materials, thereby maintaining valve operation reliability while increasing material versatility.
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 design prevents direct pressure impact on the float valve during refilling, maintains appropriate valve operation, and allows for the use of various materials for the float member, enhancing the container's reliability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a float member in the main liquid chamber; and a valve along the liquid channel, the valve being actuatable from within the main liquid chamber and being responsive to the float member
Implementation Method 2
The design prevents direct pressure impact on the float valve during refilling
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid storage container comprises a first liquid chamber provided with a filler port, a second liquid chamber partitioned from the first liquid chamber, and communicates with the first liquid chamber via communication opening, and a float member provided in the second liquid chamber.