Plug Valve Toggle Lever Cushioning for Solenoid Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug valve assemblies in gas devices, such as gas stoves and water heaters, are prone to damage due to excessive force or impact on the solenoid valve, which can lead to unintended interruption of gas delivery.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a toggle lever with a second push arm that has a higher elastic coefficient than the return spring of the solenoid valve, allowing the second push arm to effectively drive the solenoid valve into an attraction state while absorbing excessive forces to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the toggle lever is made rigid to ensure reliable actuation of the solenoid valve, then the actuation reliability is improved, but the solenoid valve becomes vulnerable to damage from excessive force or impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cushioning structure in the form of a resilient element (such as a rubber buffer or elastic component) positioned between the toggle lever and the solenoid valve. This cushioning element is pre-installed to absorb excessive force or impact before it reaches the solenoid valve, thereby protecting the valve from damage while maintaining reliable actuation during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an intermediary component (the resilient element or buffer) that mediates the force transmission between the toggle lever and the solenoid valve. This intermediary absorbs and dampens harmful forces while allowing sufficient force transmission for normal actuation, thus protecting the solenoid valve without compromising its functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the toggle lever is designed with high elasticity to absorb excessive force, then the protection against damage is improved, but the actuation reliability of the solenoid valve deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the specific cushioning portion of the toggle lever resilient, while keeping the rest of the lever structure rigid. The resilient element is strategically positioned only at the contact point with the solenoid valve, providing localized elasticity for force absorption without compromising the overall structural rigidity needed for reliable actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a dynamic cushioning mechanism that adapts its stiffness based on the applied force. During normal operation, the resilient element remains relatively rigid to ensure reliable actuation. When excessive force or impact occurs, the resilient element dynamically softens or deforms to absorb the harmful forces, thus maintaining actuation reliability under normal conditions while providing protection under abnormal conditions.
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
This solution effectively prevents damage to the solenoid valve by absorbing excessive forces and maintaining stable gas delivery, thereby extending the service life of the valve.
Implementation Method 1
The second push arm is adapted to, in response to the rotation of the toggle lever, push the solenoid valve and deform a return spring of the solenoid valve
Implementation Method 2
the second push arm can be effectively deformed when an excessive force is exerted on the first push arm, to prevent the force from being transmitted to the solenoid valve
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a plug valve assembly and a gas device. The plug valve assembly includes a solenoid valve and a toggle lever. The toggle lever includes a first push arm and a second push arm. The toggle lever is adapted to rotate in response to the first push arm being pushed. The second push arm is adapted to, in response to the rotation of the toggle lever, push the solenoid valve and deform a return spring of the solenoid valve. The return spring has an elastic coefficient smaller than an elastic coefficient of the second push arm. By designing the elastic coefficient of the second push arm to be greater than the elastic coefficient of the return spring of the solenoid valve, the second push arm can effectively drive the solenoid valve to implement attraction in response to the first push arm being pushed, and the second push arm can effectively implement deformation while being subjected to an excessive force to prevent the force from being transmitted to the solenoid valve, thereby avoiding damage to the solenoid valve.