Pneumatic Valve Needle Drive for Coating Sprayers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coating product supply devices for projectors, especially in multi-axis robot environments, face reliability issues due to external interference with pneumatic valve systems, leading to malfunctions when the supply pipe is blocked.
Innovation Solution
A valve design with a mobile needle and pneumatic drive means comprising a single piston integral with the needle, allowing independent operation within a guide body, eliminating the need for a rigid connection to an external air supply pipe, and featuring a sealed tip penetrating a transfer chamber for fluid communication with a variable volume chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve uses a rigid connection to an external air supply pipe, then the pneumatic drive is simple to implement, but the valve becomes susceptible to external interference and blockages in confined environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air supply connection from the external environment and integrates it into the valve body itself. The piston is no longer connected to an external flexible pipe but receives air supply directly through integrated passages within the valve body, eliminating the vulnerable external connection point while maintaining pneumatic drive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply passages are nested within the valve body structure. The piston moves within the valve body, and the air supply channels are incorporated into the same structural envelope, creating a compact integrated design where the pneumatic drive components are housed within the valve assembly itself rather than requiring separate external piping
2Volume of moving object
If the valve is installed in a confined environment like a robot arm, then the installation space is optimized, but the risk of external blockage and malfunction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vulnerable external flexible air supply pipe is extracted and removed from the design. The valve operates with an integrated pneumatic system where air passages are built into the valve body, eliminating the external connection that could be blocked by debris or damaged in confined robot arm environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for flexible piping by using rigid integrated passages within the valve body. This replaces the flexible external pipe with a rigid internal structure that is immune to external blockages while maintaining the compact form factor needed for robot arm installation
3Ease of operation
If the piston is rigidly connected to an external air supply pipe, then the pneumatic control is straightforward, but the piston movements are hampered when the supply pipe is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The external air supply pipe connection is extracted and replaced with integrated air passages within the valve body. The piston remains connected to the air supply source but through internal rigid passages rather than external flexible piping, eliminating the blockage vulnerability while maintaining straightforward pneumatic control
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body itself acts as an intermediary structure that houses both the piston and the air supply passages. This intermediate structure provides a protected pathway for pneumatic control, shielding the piston from external interference while maintaining the simplicity of pneumatic operation
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
Enhances the reliability of the valve operation by preventing interference from the environment, ensuring consistent coating product flow and reducing the risk of malfunctions, even in confined spaces like multi-axis robot arms.
Implementation Method 1
pneumatic means for driving the needle in translation along an axis moving away from/coming closer to the seat, while the pneumatic drive means comprise a single piston integral in translation with the needle
Implementation Method 2
a tip penetrating, in a sealed manner, into a transfer chamber formed in the piston
Implementation Method 3
a spring arranged in the guide body and pushing the needle towards the seat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A device for supplying at least one sprayer with a liquid coating product comprises at least one valve (100) for controlling the flow of the coating product to the sprayer. Said valve comprises a moveable needle (132), a valve body (102) which defines a circulation volume (104A, 106A) of the coating product and a seat (114) for supporting the needle in the closed configuration of the valve. Pneumatic means (128, 140) drive the pointer in translation along an axis (X120) away from or towards the seat. Said pneumatic drive means comprise a piston (140) constrained to move in translation with the needle (132) and mounted slidably in a guide body (122). The pneumatic drive means also comprise an end-piece (176) penetrating into a transfer chamber (178). The communication means (184) link the end-piece (176) or the transfer chamber (178) with a variable-volume chamber (165) defined by the guide body (122) and a first face (142) of the piston.