Single-Control Mixer Valve Flow Limiting Through Disk-Holder Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mixer valves struggle to reduce water consumption effectively due to ease of removal or deactivation of existing water-saving mechanisms, limited durability, and performance decline from debris, while also posing challenges in production and interchangeability.
Innovation Solution
A single control mixer valve structure featuring a modified mobile-disk holder with cavities that reduce the passage area, allowing adjustable water flow limitation without allowing removal of the limiter, maintaining interchangeability and using standard manufacturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional water-saving mechanisms (aerators, flow-reduction valves) are installed, then water consumption is reduced, but they can be easily removed or deactivated by users
Solution Approach 1:
The flow limitation function is merged directly into the cartridge structure itself, specifically into the mobile-disk holder body. The cavities are formed as integral parts of the holder, making the water-saving mechanism inseparable from the cartridge. This eliminates the possibility of users removing or deactivating the water-saving feature while maintaining the ability to replace the entire cartridge if needed.
2Loss of substance
If a new mixer valve structure is created to reduce flow rate, then water consumption is reduced, but production costs increase and interchangeability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of redesigning the entire mixer valve structure, the invention applies a localized modification to the mobile-disk holder by adding cavities to its body. This local quality change reduces the flow passage area specifically where needed, while the rest of the cartridge structure remains unchanged and compatible with existing manufacturing processes and interchangeability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the mobile-disk holder by introducing cavities that reduce the cross-sectional area of the flow passage. This parameter modification directly controls the flow rate without requiring a complete redesign of the valve structure, maintaining compatibility with existing production methods.
3Loss of substance
If flow-reduction valves or aerators are added to existing cartridges, then water consumption is reduced, but performance declines due to debris clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flow limitation function from separate components like aerators and valves, and instead integrates it directly into the cartridge structure through cavities in the mobile-disk holder. This eliminates the harmful effect of debris clogging external flow-control components while maintaining effective water consumption reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
A single control mixer valve structure for taps and fittings comprising a fixed disk provided with an outlet port and two ports, respectively, one for the hot water and the other for the cold water that come from two inlet openings, formed in a base, mounted in which is the fixed disk on which a mobile disk mounted in a mobile-disk holder is able to slide; the mobile-disk holder and the mobile disk define a mixing opening, which is adapted to connect the inlet openings with an outlet opening, formed in the base, in a position corresponding to the outlet hole on the fixed disk, from which the mixed water flows out; sliding of the mobile disk on the fixed disk causes partial opening or complete closing of one or both of the ports of the fixed disk, thus adjusting the amount of hot water and cold water that passes from the inlet openings to the outlet opening for the mixed water; the mixer valve structure is characterised in that the mobile-disk holder has, on the side facing the fixed disk, a body that is closed or is provided with one or more cavities and is configured so as to reduce the useful area of passage of the mixing opening.