Quick-Connect Pressurized Fluid Valve Control for Battery Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular fluid supply devices for pressurized fluids, such as portable gas taps, face challenges in optimizing energy consumption to extend battery life and minimize maintenance, while also needing to diagnose and report anomalies or breakdowns, and ensure energy independence.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates position sensors for the connection and control members connected to a controller, which switches electrical components between active and standby states based on sensor measurements, manages wireless data transmission, and includes a pressure sensor and NFC reader to control operations and generate alerts, ensuring efficient energy use and anomaly detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical members (wireless communication, NFC, pressure sensing) are continuously active to enable anomaly detection and data transmission, then diagnostic capability and data reporting are improved, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical members are activated periodically based on the operational state of the device. The wireless communication module transmits data only when the control member is in the active position or when anomalies are detected, rather than continuously. The NFC reader is activated only when the connection part is in the second position (connected state). This periodic activation based on operational states significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining diagnostic capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The position sensors provide feedback to the controller about the operational state (connection part position and control member position). The controller uses this feedback to intelligently control the activation of electrical members, activating them only when necessary based on the current operational state. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy-consuming components are activated only when needed for diagnostic or communication functions.
2Ease of operation
If position sensors and electronic controllers are added to enable intelligent control and anomaly detection, then operational control and diagnostic capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it processes signals from position sensors, controls the activation of electrical members, manages wireless communication, operates the NFC reader, and monitors pressure sensor data. By making the controller multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving intelligent control and comprehensive diagnostic capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the control functions and sensing functions into an integrated electronic system. The position sensors, pressure sensor, controller, wireless communication module, and NFC reader are merged into a coordinated system where the controller centrally manages all operations. This merging reduces the overall system complexity compared to having separate independent systems for each function.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the device operates in sleep mode to conserve energy, then battery life is extended, but responsiveness and operational readiness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device prepares for operation by having position sensors continuously monitor the operational state even in low-power mode. When the connection part is detected to be in the second position (connected state), the system proactively activates the NFC reader and wireless communication module before full operation begins. This preliminary activation based on pre-detection of connection state ensures rapid operational responsiveness while maintaining energy efficiency during non-operational periods.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A pressurized fluid supply device comprising a first valve (3) and a second valve (5) housing internal circuits, the first (3) valve and the second (5) valve comprising respective latching members (6, 7) forming a removable quick-connect system of the second valve (5) to the first (3) valve, the internal circuits (13, 15) comprising a set of valve(s) (4, 9), the device (1) comprising at least one manually actuable movable control member (11) for controlling the set of valve(s), between a first rest position in which fluid circulation to the outlet (25) is prevented and a second active position in which fluid circulation to the outlet (25) is permitted,the quick-connect system comprising a connecting part (14) of the second tap (5) on the first tap (3) between a first position when the quick connection is not established between the second tap (5) and the first tap (3) and a second position when the quick connection is established, the second tap comprising at least one electrical element (16, 17) and a position sensor (18) of the connecting part (14) and a position sensor (19) of the control element (11), said sensors (18, 19) being connected to the controller (20), the at least one electrical element (16, 17) being switchable between two distinct predetermined operating states, the controller (20) being configured to switch the at least one electrical element (16, 17) between the two operating states according to the combination of the measurements of the position sensor (18) of the connecting part (14) and the position sensor (19) of the control element (11).