Plastic Valve Assembly for Beverage Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve assemblies for beverage containers are complex, difficult to clean, require multiple components, and often have suboptimal hydraulic seals, leading to issues with gas discharge and mold formation, which complicates recycling and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A simplified valve assembly composed of a valve body and a spring device, made entirely of plastic with a minimal number of components, featuring a mobile sealing unit and gaskets for a uniform seal, allowing easy sanitization and recycling, and ensuring complete expulsion of excess gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known valve assemblies are used, then fluid flow control is achieved, but the device complexity increases and recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve components into a single integrated valve body made of plastic material. The valve body incorporates the seat, sealing elements, and flow control features in one piece, eliminating the need for separate metal components and reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining reliable fluid flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the structural housing, provides sealing surfaces, controls fluid flow, and enables recycling. The single plastic component replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized parts, achieving multi-functionality that simplifies both operation and disposal.
2Reliability
If known valve assemblies are used, then flow control is achieved, but cleaning and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is designed with open structures and accessible internal passages that allow cleaning solutions to reach all surfaces. The simplified plastic construction eliminates hidden crevices between metal components, making thorough cleaning and sanitation straightforward while maintaining flow control functionality.
3Reliability
If known valve assemblies are used, then flow control is achieved, but production and recycling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from metal-based valve components to plastic material construction. This material parameter change enables more cost-effective manufacturing through injection molding, reduces energy consumption during production, and facilitates cheaper recycling processes while maintaining the required flow control reliability.
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
The solution provides a hermetic seal, reduces production and recycling costs, facilitates easy maintenance, and ensures constant and uniform beverage flow, while eliminating mold risks and simplifying the recycling process.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device (42) and, in the example, a support element (43), wherein the spring device (42) comprises a lower distribution ring (59a) and an upper distribution ring (59b), and the valve body (41) comprises an upper annular portion (35), an intermediate wall (36), or plate, and a lower extension (37)
Implementation Method 2
Another purpose is to provide a valve assembly which is simple and has a reduced number of components with respect to known valve assemblies, so as to reduce production costs, the energy consumed to produce them, the spaces required to store them, assembly times, and the recycling times and costs
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve assembly for a beverages container (10) with two components, of which one external container (11) and one internal container (12), closed at the upper part by a closing device (14), comprises a valve body (41) made in a single body and a spring device (42), wherein a mobile sealing unit (50) is present between the valve body (41) and the spring device (42), configured to selectively open and close a passage aperture (34) of the valve assembly (40).