Flow-Controlled Piston Valve With Hydraulic Pushbutton Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing piston valves require direct mechanical connection between the pushbutton and valve piston, influencing transient processes and forcing users to perform opening and closing operations with the same handling mechanism, which can be complex and unsafe, especially in applications requiring fluid control with specific parameters like mixing hot and cold water or branching flows.

Innovation Solution

A piston valve design with a hollow housing, a pushbutton that controls a valve piston without direct mechanical connection, utilizing fluid pressure and biasing springs to manage opening and closing, and featuring shunt passages for adjustable flow rates and delayed operation, allowing the pushbutton to control the valve piston through fluid flow patterns without mechanical interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a direct mechanical connection is made between the pushbutton and valve piston, then the valve operation is simple and reliable, but the user cannot independently control opening and closing processes and the transient processes are influenced by handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve operation simplicityVSAvoidindependent control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces fluid pressure as an intermediary between the pushbutton and valve piston. When the pushbutton is pressed, it controls a control valve that regulates fluid flow, which in turn actuates the valve piston through pressure differential. This indirect control mechanism allows independent adjustment of opening and closing transient processes while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the pushbutton directly operates the valve piston, then the response time is fast, but the opening and closing transient processes cannot be independently controlled and adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs hydraulic control where fluid pressure generated by the control valve acts on the valve piston to produce motion. This allows the fast response characteristic of direct mechanical actuation to be maintained while enabling independent control of opening and closing transient processes through fluid flow regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If a single handling mechanism is used for opening and closing, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot perform additional functions like mixing water temperatures or branching flows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling mechanism structureVSAvoidmulti-function capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the control valve with multiple functional capabilities. The same control valve mechanism that regulates fluid flow to the valve piston can also control additional functions such as mixing water temperatures or branching flows, allowing a single handling mechanism to perform multiple functions without increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 independent control of opening and closing processes, allowing for delayed valve operation and additional functions like mixing water temperatures without influencing the main valve function, providing a safer and more versatile fluid control mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

a spring is arranged in the upper space that presses the control valve to its closing direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

in the intermediate space a further spring is arranged that presses the valve piston to take a closed position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 3

The pressure differential between the two end faces of the valve piston moves the valve piston in opening direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

a shunt flow passage is provided between the two end faces of the valve piston providing a small fluid flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3928013B1Flow controlled piston valve
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 KEROX IPARI & KERESKEDELMI
  • EP3928013B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3928013B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3928013B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Piston valve (10) with a hollow housing (13), an inlet (11) and an outlet (12) communicating with the inlet only through the piston valve, and a pushbutton (27) that can be moved in and out direction of the housing, wherein the two positions of the pushbutton set the closed respectively open states of the piston valve that comprises furthermore a valve piston (17) arranged in the interior of the housing and guided for axial displacement, a valve seat (14) provided on a transversely arranged element, wherein when the valve piston is pressed to the valve seat the piston valve is in closed state, and the inlet is led through a passage (16) into the inner cavity of the housing so that in the closed state of the valve piston a lower portion of the valve piston closes the passage. A control valve (30) is also arranged in the inner cavity of the housing spaced axially from the valve seat, and the opening and closing of the control valve is controlled by the position of the pushbutton, and in the interior of the housing between the valve piston and the control valve an intermediate space (34) is formed and the size of the intermediate space depends on the momentary position of the valve piston, and a shunt flow passage is provided between the two end faces of the valve piston providing a small fluid flow.