Multi-way Valve Segmented Joint for Viscous Media Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-way stopcocks in medical applications face issues with leak tightness and user-friendliness, particularly when handling media of different viscosities, leading to potential leaks and displacement of the actuator.
Innovation Solution
The multi-way tap design features a base housing with a rotating actuator and concentrically arranged pin, along with formations and recesses that form joints between the actuator and receptacle, enhancing pull-off strength and sealing, and using materials with antimicrobial properties to prevent leakage and ensure mechanical fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional multi-way tap design is used, then the structure is simple, but the actuator can be displaced by viscous media leading to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The joint structure is segmented into multiple independent joints (at least two joints) between the actuator and actuator receptacle. Each joint includes formations and recesses that work together to provide both mechanical fixation and sealing, distributing the functional requirements across multiple discrete elements rather than a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is nested within the actuator receptacle, with the cylindrical section of the actuator fitting inside the receptacle. The formations and recesses are nested within each other to create the joint connections, with at least one formation on one component fitting into a corresponding recess on the other component.
2Ease of operation
If the actuator is made loose-fitting for easy assembly, then assembly is simple, but the actuator can rotate or displace under medium pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation mechanism is divided into multiple segmented joints rather than a single tight fit. These multiple joints collectively provide sufficient mechanical restraint to prevent rotation and displacement while allowing for easier assembly compared to a single tight-fitting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The formations and recesses are strategically positioned at specific locations on the actuator and actuator receptacle to provide localized fixation points. This distributed approach to fixation allows the overall structure to remain easier to assemble while achieving stable positioning through the combined effect of multiple localized joints.
3Reliability
If sealing surfaces are increased to improve tightness, then leak prevention improves, but the complexity of maintaining sealing surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into multiple separate sealing surfaces at different joints rather than one large complex sealing surface. Each joint has its own sealing surfaces formed by the interaction of formations and recesses, making each sealing area simpler to manufacture and maintain individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The formations and recesses are designed to work together to automatically provide both mechanical fixation and sealing functions. The geometric interlocking of these features creates sealing action through the joint configuration itself, eliminating the need for separate complex sealing mechanisms or surfaces.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the actuator is designed to handle high viscosity media, then viscosity adaptability improves, but the risk of actuator displacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is supported by multiple segmented joints distributed around its circumference rather than a single fixation point. This segmentation allows the actuator to handle varying viscosity media pressures from different directions while maintaining positional stability through the combined restraint of multiple joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The formations and recesses can be designed with asymmetric geometries optimized for specific viscosity ranges. The asymmetric joint configurations provide tailored mechanical advantage and sealing characteristics for different media viscosities while maintaining actuator stability through the distributed joint structure.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-way valve for use in medicine or medical technology, comprising at least one main housing (8) through parts of which a medium can flow, further comprising an actuator (60) which is accommodated in said main housing in such a way as to be rotatable about a central axis (6); the main housing (8) has at least two connection points (1, 2, 3) for admitting and discharging the medium and forms an actuator receptacle (7) which has a peg (4) that is concentric to the central axis (6); the actuator (60) includes a control element (61) and a substantially cylindrical section (62) which accommodates at least a portion of the peg (4) of the actuator receptacle (7) and which has at least one through-hole (63) for fluidically connecting at least two connection points (1, 2, 3); the peg (4) of the actuator receptacle (7) has at least one abutment for the actuator (60) such that a sealing surface is formed in the region of at least one connection point (1, 2, 3). The invention is characterized in that the multi-way valve has protrusions (69) and recesses (9) which are arranged so as to correspond to each other and which jointly form a joint between the actuator (60) and the actuator receptacle (7), and in that at least two joints are provided, at least one protrusion (69) and/or recess (9) being disposed so as to extend radially about the inner face of the main housing (8) of the actuator (60) and/or radially about the outer face of the cylindrical section (62) of the actuator receptacle (7).