Phosphorescent Valve Actuator for Concealed Cisterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Actuating devices for valves in sanitary installations often require a power supply or batteries, which can be inconvenient due to the lack of power sources nearby, necessitating frequent battery replacements and additional installation effort.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating afterglow pigments that glow temporarily in the dark, eliminating the need for a power connection or battery, allowing the actuating device to be easily recognized and installed without additional effort, with phosphorescent pigments providing visibility for at least 2 hours after stimulation by artificial or daylight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a power supply or battery is used to illuminate the actuating device, then the actuating device can be recognized in the dark, but the device complexity increases and maintenance effort increases due to battery replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lighting function from the actuating device by using a separate luminescent element (phosphorescent strip, fluorescent paint, or LED module) that can be applied to or integrated into the actuating device. This separation allows the actuating device to gain illumination capability without requiring an internal power supply, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining visibility in dark conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary luminescent material or module that mediates between the need for illumination and the absence of power supply. These luminescent elements (phosphorescent strips, fluorescent paints, or LED modules with external power) act as intermediaries that provide light without requiring the actuating device itself to have a power supply, thus resolving the contradiction between visibility and device complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If a battery is used to power the light source, then the actuating device can be illuminated, but the loss of time increases due to periodic battery replacement and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the power supply requirement from the actuating device and using separate luminescent elements that can be powered externally or store light energy, the patent eliminates the need for periodic battery replacement. This reduces maintenance time to zero for the actuating device itself, while still providing illumination capability through the separated lighting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs phosphorescent materials or fluorescent paints that have long operational lifetimes without requiring replacement, effectively replacing the short-living battery concept with long-living passive luminescent materials. This eliminates the recurring maintenance time associated with battery replacement while maintaining illumination functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If no power supply is available in the vicinity of the actuating plate, then the installation is simpler, but the illumination in the dark is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lighting function from the actuating device's power system by using separate luminescent elements that can be applied to the actuating device without requiring electrical connections to the device itself. This allows installation in locations without nearby power supplies, maintaining installation simplicity while achieving dark visibility through the separated luminescent component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces luminescent materials (phosphorescent strips, fluorescent paints) or externally powered LED modules as intermediaries that provide illumination without requiring the actuating device to be connected to a power supply. These intermediaries bridge the gap between the need for dark visibility and the absence of nearby power sources, allowing simple installation while achieving illumination.
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
Enables easy recognition of the actuating device in the dark without additional lighting, reduces power consumption, and enhances functional reliability by eliminating the need for batteries or power connections, allowing for easy retrofitting and reduced maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the actuating device is provided with afterglow pigments which, after being stimulated by artificial light or daylight, glow temporarily in the dark
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuating device (2) for at least one valve of a sanitary installation, in particular for a concealed cistern, with at least one operating element (4.1, 4.2) for triggering a valve function, in particular a flushing process. To ensure that such an actuating device is easily visible in the dark and can be installed without additional effort, the invention proposes to provide the actuating device (2) with phosphorescent pigments (6) which, after excitation by artificial or daylight, temporarily glow in darkness, wherein the afterglow duration is at least 1 hour, preferably at least 2 hours, depending on the excitation duration by artificial or daylight.