PICV Bayonet Cap Locking for Fixed Orientation and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plumbing fittings face issues with contamination, difficulty in maintenance, and orientation variability due to removable mechanisms, leading to increased waste and risk of lost components.
Innovation Solution
A pressure independent control valve (PICV) with bayonet fixings that secure the cap, allowing for easier alignment and single-handed manipulation, reducing the risk of misplacement and loss, and providing a mechanism for fixed orientation and improved sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective cap is placed over the opening to protect the plumbing fitting during shipping, then the plumbing fitting is protected from contamination, but the protective cap is discarded on installation increasing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by making the protective cap a disposable component that is intentionally designed to be discarded after installation. The cap is made from inexpensive materials and is removed during installation, with the understanding that it serves its protective purpose temporarily and then is discarded, eliminating the need for complex retrieval or reuse mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If bolts are used to secure the mechanism within the fitting, then the mechanism is fixed in place, but removing these fixings in confined spaces is difficult and there is a risk they may become lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by extracting the fixing mechanism from the traditional bolt-and-nut system and replacing it with an integrated bayonet-style locking mechanism. The fixing features are taken out as separate removable components and replaced with a unified locking system that is inherently harder to lose and easier to manipulate in confined spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by introducing bayonet fixing features as an intermediary mechanism between the cap and body. These fixing features serve as a mediator that provides secure attachment during operation but can be easily disengaged by a simple rotational motion, bridging the need for both strong fixation and easy removal.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mechanism is secured within the body by means of corresponding threaded portions, then the mechanism is fixed, but there is variation in the orientation of the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using asymmetric bayonet fixing features with specific engagement geometries that enforce a unique, repeatable orientation. The asymmetric design of the locking lugs and recesses ensures that the cap can only be installed in the correct rotational position, eliminating orientation variation while maintaining secure attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure independent control valve (PICV) is disclosed. The PICV has a body having a flow path extending therethrough and a cavity within the flow path to releasably receive a mechanism via an aperture. The PICV also has a cap comprising the mechanism. The cap is configured to move between a locked position where the cap is retained on the body and an unlocked position where the cap is releasable from the body. The cap is retained in the locked position by one or more bayonet fixings.