Manual Valve Tubular Sealing Piston One-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual valves used in the food sector for cleaning applications often lack ergonomic design for one-handed operation at low pressures, resulting in high pressure loss and safety risks due to non-automatic shut-off, making them inefficient for compact and comfortable use.
Innovation Solution
A manual valve with a tubular sealing piston and actuator design that allows for one-handed operation, featuring a pivotable actuating element with sliding rollers for low friction and symmetrical force introduction, along with a damper for controlled closure and a restoring element for automatic shut-off, minimizing pressure loss and ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional ball valves or shut-off fittings are used to enable one-handed operation, then automatic shut-off function is achieved, but real one-handed operation is not possible and the device becomes too complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into a first housing and a second housing that can be separated from each other. The sealing piston assembly is contained within the first housing, while the outlet connection is provided by the second housing. This segmentation allows for easier assembly, disassembly, and cleaning, while maintaining the automatic shut-off function that enables true one-handed operation.
2Productivity
If the valve is designed for high flow rates at low pressures, then productivity is improved, but pressure loss increases and the valve size must be larger
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing piston is designed to be movable along the longitudinal direction, transitioning between a closed position (sealing against the valve seat) and an open position. This dynamic design allows the valve to maintain a large open cross-section for high flow rates when open, while providing effective sealing when closed. The tubular design of the sealing piston further optimizes the flow path to minimize pressure loss.
3Volume of moving object
If the valve size is reduced for compact design, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to maintain high flow rates at low pressures is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing piston is designed with a tubular structure that allows fluid to flow through its interior. This three-dimensional flow path arrangement enables the valve to maintain a large effective flow area without increasing the overall external dimensions of the valve body. The fluid flows axially through the tubular sealing piston, maximizing the use of the available space for flow while keeping the valve compact.
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 enables efficient, low-pressure, high-flow operation with automatic shut-off, enhancing ergonomic handling and safety by reducing transverse forces and pressure surges, allowing for compact and reliable manual valve design.
Implementation Method 1
a restoring element, in particular a spring, for closing the manual valve
Implementation Method 2
featuring a pivotable actuating element with sliding rollers for low friction
Implementation Method 3
along with a damper for controlled closure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A manual valve (1) and the use of a cleaning device with such a manual valve (1), particularly for cleaning surfaces and containers in the food industry, are proposed. The manual valve (1) has a sealing piston (4) through which the fluid to be dispensed can flow when in the open position.