Multiway Valve Diffuser Selective Product Withdrawal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diffusers for multiway valves do not allow for the selective withdrawal of individual products or simultaneous withdrawal of all products, as they typically require a single pressure action to extract all products simultaneously, without the option to isolate and extract one product at a time.
Innovation Solution
The diffuser design includes a cylindrical tip with transfer channels that can be sealed to individual pathways and a pivotable cap with aligned outlet channels, allowing for the selective alignment of transfer channels to enable the withdrawal of one or all products by rotating the cap, with additional transfer channels arranged vertically for simultaneous extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional diffuser design is used, then all products can be withdrawn simultaneously with a single pressure action, but it is not possible to withdraw only one product at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is made rotatable relative to the tip, allowing the outlet channels in the cap to be dynamically aligned with different transfer channels in the tip. This rotational degree of freedom enables selective connection between pathways, allowing the user to choose which product to withdraw by rotating the cap to align the desired outlet channel with the corresponding transfer channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser is divided into two separate functional components: the tip containing the transfer channels that connect to valve pathways, and the cap containing the outlet channels that lead to the exterior. This segmentation allows independent positioning of each component, enabling selective alignment between transfer channels and outlet channels through rotation, thus achieving both simultaneous and selective product withdrawal.
2Adaptability or versatility
If outlet channels are arranged in different angular sectors, then single product withdrawal is enabled, but simultaneous withdrawal of all products becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational capability of the cap provides dynamic reconfiguration of channel alignments. When the cap is rotated to specific angular positions, different sets of outlet channels align with transfer channels. One position enables alignment of a single outlet channel with its corresponding transfer channel for selective withdrawal, while another position enables alignment of multiple outlet channels simultaneously for simultaneous withdrawal of all products.
Solution Approach 2:
The problem is solved by introducing rotational dimensionality. Instead of fixed spatial arrangements that can only provide one mode of operation, the rotatable cap adds a rotational degree of freedom, allowing the system to switch between different operational modes (single product vs. multiple products) by changing the angular position, thus resolving the contradiction between selective and simultaneous withdrawal capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transfer channels are provided in different angular sectors, then selective product withdrawal is possible, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser is segmented into two modular components (tip and cap) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The tip contains all transfer channels in fixed angular sectors, while the cap contains outlet channels that can be rotated into position. This modular segmentation reduces overall complexity by allowing standardized manufacturing of each component and simplifying the sealing requirements, as seals are only needed at the interface between the tip and cap rather than throughout the entire structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A diffuser for a multiway valve, in particular for a two-way valve, includes a tip (2) to be secured to the portion of the valve stem that projects above the cup. To withdraw a single product, the tip includes a cylindrical portion having a circular cross-section with as many transfer channels (22a, 22b) are there are pathways in the multiway valve, for sealingly connecting each transfer channel to the outlet of the corresponding pathway of the valve, each transfer channel opening outside the cylindrical portion of the tip in a different radial plane and in a different angular sector of the cylindrical portion. The diffuser is also provided with a pivotable cap (3) with a blind hole (31) having a shape complementary to the cylindrical portion of the tip, the pivotable cap having as many outlet channels (32a, 32b) as there are pathways in the multiway valve.