Pneumatic Valve Regulator Rotating Collar Ergonomics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pneumatic regulators for paintball guns are heavy, large, and lack adjustability, safety, and ease of use, particularly in handling and pressure management, which affects performance and usability, especially for smaller players and in rental equipment scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A compact, lightweight pneumatic regulator with a rotating collar and modular design, featuring a poppet valve and pneumatic valve actuator, allowing for adjustable output pressure and improved safety through a smaller, more efficient profile and easy attachment to markers, with a rotating collar for ergonomic pressure gauge positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If regulators are designed with sufficient strength to confine and regulate pressurized gas with a safety factor of at least twice the maximum anticipated pressure, then safety is improved, but the regulator becomes heavier and larger
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator is divided into two separate body portions (first body portion and second body portion) that are detachably connected. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently for strength and weight, reducing the overall regulator weight while maintaining safety through proper material selection and structural design of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the regulator body by introducing a modular two-piece design with specific connection mechanisms (threaded connections, O-rings, and sealing surfaces). This allows the regulator to achieve the required safety factor through optimized material distribution and structural geometry rather than simply increasing overall mass.
2Reliability
If regulators are designed with sufficient strength to confine and regulate pressurized gas with a safety factor of at least twice the maximum anticipated pressure, then safety is improved, but the regulator becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the regulator into two detachable body portions, the design optimizes space utilization. Each portion can be compactly shaped for its specific function, and the modular connection allows efficient packaging of internal components, reducing overall regulator volume while maintaining the required safety factor through localized structural reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows components to be nested or compactly arranged within the regulator body portions. The first and second body portions can be configured to minimize external dimensions while containing all necessary internal components, achieving a compact overall volume without compromising safety.
3Weight of moving object
If a compact, lightweight regulator design is used, then weight and size are reduced, but safety and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves weight reduction through parameter changes in the structural design, including optimized wall thicknesses, material selection, and geometric configuration of the body portions. These parameter optimizations maintain the required safety factor by concentrating material where structurally critical while minimizing mass in non-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable connection mechanism between body portions introduces dynamic adaptability, allowing the regulator to be assembled and disassembled for maintenance or replacement of components. This modular approach enables safety-critical components to be independently verified and replaced without affecting the entire regulator structure.
4Ease of manufacture
If a fixed regulator design is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different markers and user preferences is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented modular design with detachable body portions actually simplifies manufacturing compared to a fixed design, as each portion can be manufactured independently using standardized processes and then assembled. This segmentation enables mass production of individual components while maintaining adaptability through the modular connection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable connection mechanism provides dynamic adaptability, allowing the regulator to be configured for different applications and users. The body portions can be detached and reconfigured or replaced to accommodate different markers or user preferences, while the basic manufacturing processes remain standardized and simple.
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 safer, more compact, and adjustable regulator that extends playtime, reduces weight and size, and enhances usability by allowing for quick adjustments and improved ergonomics, addressing the limitations of existing regulators.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic valve actuator positioned within the cavity of the body and supportively coupled to the poppet valve
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic regulator assembly for a paintball marker includes a first body portion with a connector at one end for attachment to a paintball marker, a second body portion with a connector at one end for attachment to a compressed air canister, and a collar coupled between the two body portions at ends opposite the connectors for each. The collar allows the second body to rotate relative to the first body portion.