Mixer Tap Lever With Segmented Click Mechanisms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixer taps lack a convenient mechanism to provide distinct click feelings for adjusting water temperature and flow, leading to potential energy wastage and user confusion regarding water composition.
Innovation Solution
A mixer tap design incorporating a back-and-forth click mechanism and a side-to-side click mechanism, utilizing relative displacement and rotation between movable and fixed components to create adjustable click feelings, allowing for precise control of water temperature and flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single lever mechanism is used for controlling both temperature and flow, then device complexity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to provide distinct click feelings for different adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The single lever is segmented into two functional parts: a first lever part for side-to-side rotation controlling temperature, and a second lever part for back-and-forth rotation controlling flow. This segmentation allows each part to have its own click mechanism, providing distinct click feelings while maintaining a unified lever structure that reduces overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different click mechanisms are applied to different parts of the lever: a first click mechanism with first click stops for the first lever part, and a second click mechanism with second click stops for the second lever part. This local differentiation provides distinct tactile feedback for temperature and flow adjustments while keeping the overall device structure integrated.
2Ease of operation
If click mechanisms are added to provide distinct feedback, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second click mechanisms are merged into a single integrated click mechanism structure. The first lever part and second lever part share common components including the elastic member, the first click stops and second click stops are both formed on the same plate spring, reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying the overall mechanism while still providing distinct click feelings.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated click mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides click feedback for both temperature adjustment (via first click stops) and flow adjustment (via second click stops), while using shared components like the elastic member and plate spring structure, thereby reducing complexity rather than increasing it.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lever position is not clearly indicated, then ease of manufacture is improved, but loss of information about water composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is provided with indicator markings that change position based on lever orientation: a first indicator shows temperature status when the lever is in side-to-side rotation position, and a second indicator shows flow status when the lever is in back-and-forth rotation position. These visual indicators provide clear information about water composition and discharge state without complicating the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
Indicator markings serve as intermediary elements between the lever mechanism and the user, translating the mechanical position of the lever into clear visual information about water composition and discharge state, thereby reducing information loss while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 enhances user convenience by providing distinct click feelings for temperature and flow adjustments, reducing energy wastage by preventing unintentional mixing of heated water and improving user awareness of water composition.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member; a contact member... the contact member is moved with respect to the contact surface in association with the movement of the movable valve body, engagement is made and engagement is released between the recess or the projection and the contact member in the movement, and the engagement or the releasing of engagement between the recess or the projection and the contact member causes the back-and-forth click feeling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
[Object] A highly convenient mixer tap is provided. [Solving Means] A mixer tap (10) includes: a lever (46); a temperature adjusting mechanism that enables adjusting a discharge water temperature by rotating the lever (46) from side to side; a discharge amount adjustment mechanism that enables adjusting the discharge amount by rotating the lever (46) back and forth; a side-to-side click mechanism that effects a side-to-side click feeling in association with rotation of the lever (46) from side to side; and a back-and-forth click mechanism that effects a back-and-forth click feeling in association with rotation of the lever (46) back and forth. In the mixer tap (10), a click feeling is varied depending on a lever back-and-forth position and/or a lever side-to-side position. The difference in the click feeling can provide a user with various items of information. This information allows the improvement of the convenience of the mixer tap (10).