Single Lever Mixer Tap for Thermal Wave Massage Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for thermal wave massage procedures can control the temperature difference between hot and cold water at the outlet but fail to control the average temperature of mixed water, limiting their functionality.
Innovation Solution
A single handle faucet with an operating lever providing two degrees of freedom, one for controlling the average temperature and the other for controlling the temperature difference between hot and cold water, using a contact pair with slots to manage the cross-sections of water passages for warm and tepid water streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a single handle faucet with ball valve or ceramic valve is used to control temperature and flow discharge, then the average temperature of mixed water can be controlled, but the difference between the temperatures of outlet hot water and outlet cold water cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The water flow control is segmented into two independent controllable streams: warm water flow and tepid water flow. The movable part includes separate passages and slots for each stream, allowing independent adjustment of their proportions through the two degrees of freedom of the lever, thereby enabling separate control of average temperature and temperature difference
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from one-dimensional (single temperature control) to two-dimensional control by introducing a second degree of freedom in the lever movement. This allows simultaneous independent control of two temperature parameters (average temperature and temperature difference) that were previously coupled in conventional single-handle faucets
2Temperature
If a mixer-controller controls the temperature difference between hot and cold water, then the contrast between warm and tepid water can be adjusted, but the average temperature of mixed water cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The movable part is designed with two degrees of freedom that allow dynamic adjustment of the relative positions between movable and immovable parts. This dynamic positioning enables real-time independent control of both the temperature difference (through one degree of freedom) and the average temperature (through the other degree of freedom) of the mixed water
3Ease of operation
If conventional single handle faucets are used, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the functionality is limited to controlling only one temperature parameter
Solution Approach 1:
The single handle lever is designed to perform multiple control functions simultaneously. By providing two degrees of freedom in the lever movement, it can independently control both the average temperature and the temperature difference of the mixed water, making one control element serve multiple temperature regulation purposes that would otherwise require separate controls
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a mixer tap for a thermal wave massage device which is designed in the form of a single lever mixer and makes it possible to control main parameters of the thermal wave massage procedure, i.e., an average temperature, contrast, the direction and speed of a thermal wave, with the aid of a single handle due to a special design that allows operating the mixer tap with two or three degrees of freedom. Moreover, the inventive mixer tap can be used as a diverter and substantially improves the operational safety of the thermal wave massage device. The use of the invention makes it possible to improve the ergonomic characteristics of the thermal wave massage devices, to make them more consumer attractive and to contribute to the wide distribution of the device as an effective conditioning and relaxation means.