Parallel Needle Valve for Spray Atomizer Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paint spraying installations are bulky and complex due to multiple valves, leading to increased size, solvent consumption, and paint wastage, as well as reduced accessibility for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A compact valve design featuring two needles that move in parallel directions, with one needle recessed within the other, allowing for efficient control of fluid flow between paint and solvent circuits, minimizing waste and solvent consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple distinct valves are mounted in the atomizer to control paint and solvent flow, then the fluid flow control function is improved, but the overall size and structural complexity of the atomizer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve functions into a single integrated valve body that houses both the first needle valve for paint flow control and the second needle valve for solvent flow control. This merging of previously separate components into one unified structure reduces the overall number of parts, simplifies the atomizer structure, and decreases maintenance complexity while maintaining the ability to independently control both paint and solvent flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve body serves multiple functions by incorporating both the first needle valve and second needle valve within it. This multi-functional design allows one component to perform the roles of what would traditionally require separate valves, thereby reducing structural complexity while preserving comprehensive fluid flow control capabilities for both paint and solvent circuits.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple distinct valves are mounted in the atomizer, then the fluid flow control is improved, but the accessibility for maintenance operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the first needle valve and second needle valve into a single integrated valve assembly, the patent reduces the number of separate components that need to be accessed during maintenance. This consolidation improves maintenance accessibility as technicians need to access fewer distinct locations, while the integrated design maintains full control over both paint and solvent flow paths.
3Adaptability or versatility
If common channels interconnect the valves for rinsing, then the cleaning function is improved, but the paint wastage and solvent consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the common channels that previously interconnected the valves. By removing these shared passages, the design prevents the mixing of paint and solvent in common pathways, thereby reducing paint wastage during solvent rinsing operations and lowering overall solvent consumption while maintaining effective cleaning capability through dedicated rinsing paths.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the common channels are filled with paint and solvent sequentially, then the valve rinsing is improved, but the solvent consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting and removing the common channels that required sequential filling with paint and solvent, the patent eliminates the source of excessive solvent consumption. The redesigned system provides dedicated rinsing pathways that achieve effective valve cleaning without requiring large volumes of solvent to flush through shared passages, thereby reducing solvent consumption while maintaining rinsing effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
This valve (100) comprises: a body (101); a first channel (111) for channelling the flow of a fluid; a second channel (112) for channelling the flow of a fluid; a first valving element (130) which is movable translationally in a first direction (X112), between an open position and closed position of the or each first channel (111), the body (101) forming a first seat (123) for the first valving element (130); and a second valving element (130) which is movable translationally in a second direction (X112), between an open position and a closed position of the or each second channel (112); the first direction (X112) and the second direction (X112) being parallel or coinciding with each other. The first valving element (130) defines a housing (140) for the second valving element (130). The first valving element (130) forms a second seat (136) for the second valving element (130).