Oval Anti-Overflow Pipe With V-Shaped Valve for One-Way Fluid Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional straws lack structures to control fluid flow, leading to overflow and potential scalding issues due to thermal expansion and contraction, resulting in resource waste and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
An anti-overflow pipe with an elliptical inner wall and V-shaped valve structure, featuring a slit for unidirectional fluid flow, which deforms to open and close with suction, preventing overflow and providing a buffering effect to regulate fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional straws without flow control structures are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but fluid overflow occurs due to thermal expansion and contraction, causing resource waste and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The valve structure is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The V-shaped valve body can deform elastically under pressure differential, automatically opening to allow fluid flow when suction is applied and closing when pressure equalizes, providing adaptive flow control without complex mechanical actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The valve utilizes the flexibility of the straw wall material to create a thin-film-based flow control mechanism. The elastic deformation of the flexible straw wall under pressure differential enables the valve to open and close, leveraging the material's inherent flexibility rather than requiring rigid mechanical components
2Object-affected harmful factors
If no flow control structure is provided, then manufacturing is simple, but fluid flows too quickly causing scalding hazards and resource waste
Solution Approach 1:
The valve structure is integrated directly into the straw body, merging the flow control function with the existing structural components. The V-shaped valve body is formed as part of the straw wall itself, eliminating the need for separate valve components and simplifying manufacturing while providing effective flow regulation to prevent scalding
3Loss of substance
If the valve structure is added to control fluid flow, then overflow is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve operates autonomously based on pressure differential without requiring external control mechanisms. When suction is applied, the pressure difference automatically causes the valve to open; when suction stops, the valve closes on its own, providing self-regulating flow control that prevents fluid waste without adding complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The valve exploits changes in pressure parameters to control fluid flow. The pressure differential between the inside and outside of the straw serves as the control parameter that automatically triggers valve opening and closing, converting pressure changes into flow control action without requiring additional control elements
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 anti-overflow pipe effectively prevents fluid overflow and scalding by controlling fluid flow direction, ensuring user safety and reducing resource waste while enhancing the sealing and fatigue life of the valve.
Implementation Method 1
when the anti-overflow pipe is not subjected to suction force, the slit is closed; when the anti-overflow pipe is subjected to suction force, the pipe wall deforms, which in turn drives the valve to deform, and the two side walls of V-shape bend downwards, and the slit is bent and deformed to be opened
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-overflow pipe, comprising a pipe wall and a valve; on a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the pipe wall, the cross-section of the inner side wall of the pipe wall is oval, and the cross-section of the outer side wall of the pipe wall has a closed ring shape; in a plane where the major axis of the elliptical shape of the inner side wall and the lengthwise direction of the pipe wall are located, the cross-section of the valve is in a V-shaped structure and the valve is connected with the inner side wall, and the valve is provided with a slit for unidirectionally conducting fluid. The valve with a V-shaped structure is provided on the pipe wall having an oval cross-section, so that the fluid is sucked out under the action of suction, preventing waste of fluid, and scalding and wetting of a user, ensuring personal safety of a user.