Pneumatic Valve for Tire Changer Pedals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic valve units for tire changers are not compact enough, requiring excessive space due to their design with additional lateral components and complex movement paths, which limits their applicability in space-constrained environments.
Innovation Solution
A compact pneumatic valve unit design featuring a selection mechanism with a cam body, spacer body, and biasing means that allows the plunger to move axially and rotationally, eliminating the need for additional lateral components and reducing the overall size by utilizing a single translational and rotational degree of freedom, while maintaining multiple axial positions for pressure source connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional lateral components and complex movement paths are used in pneumatic valve units, then the ability to connect multiple operating members to pressure source is improved, but the height and width of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from lateral component arrangement to axial arrangement, utilizing the axial dimension for plunger movement and component positioning. The cam mechanism converts axial plunger movement into rotational movement of the spool, enabling multiple connection configurations along the axial direction rather than requiring lateral space.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is positioned within the valve housing, and the spool is received within the valve chamber. The plunger moves axially within the valve housing to actuate the spool. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, reducing the overall external dimensions of the pneumatic valve unit.
2Device complexity
If a linear pneumatic valve with axially moveable plunger is used, then the structure is simplified, but the height of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the axial linear movement of the plunger into rotational movement of the spool through the cam mechanism. This dimensional transformation allows the valve to achieve multiple axial positions (corresponding to different operating member connections) without requiring proportional increases in axial length, as the spool rotation occurs within the radial dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism allows the spool to be positioned at multiple predetermined axial positions corresponding to different rotational positions. By changing the operational parameter from continuous axial movement to discrete axial positions coupled with rotational positions, the valve achieves functional complexity without proportional increases in physical dimensions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If spool valve extending horizontally with lateral components is used, then multiple operating members can be connected, but the width of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric cam profile that converts axial plunger movement into rotational movement of the spool. This asymmetric mechanism allows the spool to be positioned at multiple predetermined axial positions, each corresponding to a different rotational position for connecting to different operating members, without requiring symmetric lateral arrangement of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from lateral arrangement of components to axial arrangement combined with rotational movement. The spool rotates within the valve chamber, allowing different outlets to be connected to different operating members through rotational positioning rather than lateral displacement, thereby reducing the width requirement.
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 compact design reduces the height and width of the pneumatic valve unit, making it more suitable for space-constrained applications without compromising the ability to connect multiple operating members to a pressure source, enhancing operational efficiency and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing means, in this case a spring, for biasing the spacer body towards the cam body
Implementation Method 2
the cam surfaces of the cam body and the spacer surfaces of the spacer body are adapted to interact with each other upon actuation of the plunger so as to cause the spacer body to unidirectionally rotate
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic valve unit for use in a tire changer for selectively connecting at least one pressure source of the tire changer to at least one operating member of the tire changer upon successive operation of at least one pedal of the tire changer, the pneumatic valve unit comprising a pneumatic valve with a valve housing and a plunger axially slidably received in the valve housing, the plunger being operatively coupled to the pedal and movable between at least two predetermined axial positions upon successive operation of the pedal, and a selection mechanism for selectively connecting the pressure source to the operating member upon successive operation of the pedal, wherein the selection mechanism comprises a selector housing for axially slidably receiving the plunger therein, a cam body comprising a plurality of cam surfaces, a spacer body comprising a plurality of spacer surfaces for acting together with the cam surfaces, and a biasing means for biasing the spacer body towards the cam body.