Push-Button Valve Actuator With Over-Travel Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablutionary fitting controllers face challenges in accommodating variations in water pressure and valve positioning due to the need for a rigid connection mechanism, which limits design freedom and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The use of a biased over-travel member with automatic length adjustment and a suitable first biasing member allows for tolerance in the relative position of the valve and button, enabling a more flexible positioning of the push-button actuator and reducing the required over-travel distance for latching and unlatching, while utilizing inclined surfaces and coaxial springs to optimize the mechanism for efficient water flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid connection mechanism is used to transmit force from the button to the valve, then the force transmission is reliable, but the design freedom and positioning flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane instead of a rigid connection to transmit force from the button to the valve. This membrane can accommodate variations in relative positioning between components while maintaining effective force transmission, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic flexible membrane connection that can adapt its shape and position. This allows the membrane to compensate for positioning variations while maintaining functional reliability in force transmission.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the button is positioned far from the valve to accommodate installation tolerances, then the adaptability is improved, but the required over-travel distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane allows the button to be positioned at an optimal distance from the valve while accommodating installation tolerances. The membrane's flexibility enables it to bridge the gap without requiring excessive button over-travel, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and movement length.
3Reliability
If a long over-travel distance is provided for latching and unlatching, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and compactness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane enables reliable latching and unlatching operations with reduced button over-travel distance. By distributing the force transmission across the flexible surface, the system achieves reliable engagement without requiring the button to travel a long distance, thus resolving the contradiction between latching reliability and device compactness.
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 enhances user experience by minimizing button travel, allowing for a more compact design and efficient water flow control, accommodating various water pressures and valve positions without requiring user intervention, and providing greater flexibility in positioning the push-button actuator relative to the valve.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing member arranged to bias the over-travel member in a first direction towards the valve connection member
Implementation Method 2
a second biasing member arranged to bias the button in a second direction away from the valve connection member
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
An ablutionary fitting controller (300) comprising a push-button actuator (200) arranged to control a flow of water to an outlet. The push-button actuator comprises a button (202) arranged to be moved in a longitudinal direction by a force applied to its contact surface (202a) ; a button housing (204) at least partially surrounding the button; and an actuator member (203) mounted on one or both of the button and the button housing. At least one of the button and the button housing comprises one or more inclined surfaces (403, s1, s2) arranged to interact with the actuator member so as to cause at least a part of the actuator member to move circumferentially. When the applied force is removed, the actuator member is held in either a first position in which the valve is open or a second position in which the valve is closed, depending on the angle of rotation. The push-button actuator further comprises an over-travel member (205) arranged to push a valve connection member in response to the applied force so as to actuate the valve; and a first biasing member (207) arranged to bias the over-travel member away from the contact surface of the button.