On-Off Valve Using Negative Pressure to Prevent Water Hammer Dripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage machines experience undesired liquid flow and dripping at outlets due to water hammer effects caused by pressure variations in the water supply system, affecting user experience and machine performance.
Innovation Solution
An on-off valve with a valve housing, sealing member, and buffer member that uses negative pressure to control fluid communication between inlet and outlet passages, preventing undesired liquid discharge by blocking or allowing flow based on the presence of pressure changes, without additional circuit control, and is applicable in the beverage machines, such as water dispensers, coffee machines, and tea machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pump is provided downstream of the pressurized liquid source to ensure liquid output to specific lines, then liquid delivery capability is improved, but water hammer effects occur causing undesired liquid flow and dripping at outlets
Solution Approach 1:
An on-off valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the pump and the liquid outlet. The valve includes a valve body with an inlet passage connected to the pump outlet and an outlet passage connected to the liquid outlet. When the pump stops, the valve automatically closes to block the liquid passage, preventing water hammer effects and undesired liquid flow while maintaining the pump's liquid delivery capability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The on-off valve is designed to close automatically in advance when the pump stops operating, before water hammer effects can propagate through the system. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effects of pressure surges and liquid hammer by establishing a closed barrier in the liquid passage prior to the arrival of pressure waves.
2Reliability
If additional control circuits are added to prevent water hammer effects and undesired liquid flow, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The on-off valve is designed as a self-actuating device that automatically opens when the pump operates and closes when the pump stops, without requiring any external control circuits or additional control systems. The valve's internal mechanism responds directly to the pump's operational state, achieving reliable prevention of undesired liquid flow while maintaining simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex electrical or electronic control systems with a purely mechanical or fluid-mechanical actuation mechanism. The valve uses the pump's own operating conditions (pressure differential, flow direction) to automatically control valve opening and closing, eliminating the need for sensors, controllers, and wiring while maintaining high reliability.
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 on-off valve effectively prevents undesired liquid discharge, reduces cleaning burden, and maintains user experience by minimizing the impact of water hammer effects, ensuring reliable operation and reducing system complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
the pump is configured to generate a negative pressure in the buffer chamber when activated, thereby forming the gap between the sealing member and the buffer member
Implementation Method 2
when deactivated, the buffer member abuts against the sealing member to block fluid communication between the liquid supply line and the second output line
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides an on-off valve and a liquid supply path system. The on-off valve includes: a valve housing defining a receiving cavity, the valve housing having a liquid inlet passage and a liquid outlet passage, wherein both the liquid inlet passage and the liquid outlet passage communicate with the receiving cavity; a sealing member provided in the receiving cavity, wherein a buffer chamber is formed between the sealing member and the liquid outlet passage; a buffer member provided between the liquid inlet passage and the sealing member; wherein in an initial state, the buffer member abuts against the sealing member to block communication between the liquid inlet passage and the liquid outlet passage; under action of negative pressure in the buffer chamber, a gap is formed between the sealing member and the buffer member, and the liquid inlet passage and the liquid outlet passage communicate through the gap.