Flow-Controlled Piston Valve With Pressure-Decoupled Pushbutton
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanically operated piston valves require direct user influence for transient opening and closing processes, and the force needed is dependent on fluid pressure, limiting their functionality and safety in certain applications, especially where complex operation or size is a concern.
Innovation Solution
A piston valve design with a pushbutton that controls the valve piston through fluid flow and pressure patterns without a direct mechanical connection, utilizing biasing springs and shunt passages to manage the opening and closing processes, allowing for delayed operation and additional functions like mixing or branching without influencing the main valve function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a direct mechanical connection is used between pushbutton and valve piston, then the operation is simple and direct, but the user directly influences the transient processes and the force required depends on fluid pressure
Solution Approach 1:
A control piston is introduced as an intermediary element between the pushbutton and the valve piston. The control piston responds to pushbutton actuation by controlling fluid flow that acts on the valve piston, thereby mediating the transmission of force and decoupling the direct mechanical connection. This allows indirect control while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct mechanical connection between pushbutton and valve piston is replaced with a fluid-based control system. The pushbutton controls fluid pressure, which in turn acts on the control piston and subsequently on the valve piston through fluid pressure patterns, substituting direct mechanical force transmission with hydraulic control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the force required for operation is dependent on fluid pressure, then the valve can be controlled by pressure, but the operation becomes complex and unsafe in slippery areas
Solution Approach 1:
The control piston serves as a mediator that translates simple pushbutton pressure into controlled fluid pressure patterns acting on the valve piston. This intermediary mechanism allows pressure-based control to be achieved through a simple pushing motion rather than requiring direct manipulation under pressure, improving safety in slippery conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the fluid pressure itself to control the valve operation. The pushbutton actuation creates pressure patterns in the fluid that automatically control the valve piston movement, allowing the fluid pressure to serve the dual purpose of both the control medium and the actuating force, simplifying the user's task to a simple push motion.
3Device complexity
If a single pushbutton function is used, then the device is simple, but it cannot perform additional functions like mixing or branching
Solution Approach 1:
The pushbutton is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating additional structural elements that enable it to perform not only valve opening/closing but also mixing and branching functions. The pushbutton structure includes features that can direct fluid flow to different outlets or mix fluids, allowing a single component to serve multiple functions without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
4Speed
If immediate valve response is used, then the response is fast, but delayed flow initiation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic control over the valve response timing through the fluid pressure patterns generated by the control piston. By adjusting the fluid flow paths and pressure distribution, the system can be configured for either immediate response or delayed flow initiation, allowing the response characteristics to be dynamically adapted to different operational requirements.
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, reduces user influence on transient operations, and allows for delayed flow initiation, enhancing safety and usability in various applications by decoupling pushbutton operation from valve piston movement.
Implementation Method 1
a shunt flow passage is provided between the two end faces of the valve piston providing a small fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
a spring is arranged in the upper space that presses the control valve to its closing direction
Implementation Method 3
in the interior of the housing between the valve piston and the control valve an intermediate space is formed and the size of the intermediate space depends on the momentary position of the valve piston
Data Source
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 (10), and a pushbutton (27) that can be moved in and out direction of the housing. A control valve (30) is also arranged in the inner cavity of the housing (13) spaced axially from the valve seat (14), and the opening and closing of the control valve (30) is controlled by the position of the pushbutton.