Multifunctional Restrictive Valve with Temperature Override
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Solution Overview
Problem
Significant amounts of water and energy are wasted due to the delay in receiving water at the correct temperature, as individuals often wait for hot water to reach the desired temperature without monitoring, leading to prolonged usage and subsequent waste.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-controlled valve with a piston and paraffin wax sensor that restricts fluid flow based on temperature, featuring a manual override mechanism and automatic reset, allowing users to pause water flow when it reaches the desired temperature and resume it manually, conserving water and energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the valve continuously monitors water temperature to ensure it reaches the desired temperature, then the user can receive water at the correct temperature, but significant amounts of water and energy are wasted during the extended waiting period
Solution Approach 1:
The valve uses periodic temperature monitoring instead of continuous monitoring. The temperature sensor periodically checks the water temperature and automatically adjusts the valve when the desired temperature is reached, eliminating the need for continuous user monitoring and reducing water waste during the warm-up period.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system performs self-service by automatically detecting when the water reaches the desired temperature and autonomously adjusting the flow. This eliminates the need for user intervention and continuous monitoring, allowing the system to manage itself and prevent water waste automatically.
2Loss of energy
If the valve automatically restricts flow when temperature is reached to conserve water, then water and energy waste is reduced, but the user loses control over when to resume flow
Solution Approach 1:
The valve introduces an intermediary manual override mechanism that mediates between the automatic temperature control system and the user's needs. This allows the automatic system to conserve water while providing users with a simple way to override and resume flow when needed, maintaining both automation benefits and user control.
3Device complexity
If the valve uses a simple temperature sensor to control flow, then the device remains simple and cost-effective, but it cannot provide manual override capability
Solution Approach 1:
The valve achieves multi-functionality by integrating both automatic temperature-controlled flow restriction and manual override capabilities into a single device. This allows the simple temperature sensor system to also provide flexible flow control options, making the valve adaptable to different user needs without significantly increasing complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the valve requires manual intervention to resume flow after temperature is reached, then user control is maintained, but the user must continuously monitor and actively manage the water
Solution Approach 1:
The valve performs self-service by automatically monitoring temperature and managing flow control without requiring continuous user attention. The system autonomously restricts flow when temperature is reached and can be easily overridden when needed, freeing the user from continuous monitoring while maintaining control capability.
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 valve effectively reduces water and energy waste by pausing hot water flow once it reaches a suitable temperature, allowing users to resume it when ready, thus conserving resources during the warm-up period and allowing temperature adjustment post-pause.
Implementation Method 1
A piston is adapted to restrict fluid flow through a channel as a function of fluid temperature. A paraffin wax sensor permits unimpeded fluid flow through the channel when the fluid temperature is below a first temperature, reduces fluid flow through the channel at a second fluid temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunctional restrictive valve for controlling the flow of water therethrough. The valve has a main body with a flow channel through the main body. The main body receives water upstream thereof through an inlet port and passes it out through an outlet port at the downstream end of the body. A flow control assembly is located in the flow channel and includes a temperature sensor/actuator acting on a piston to move, when the temperature sensor heats up the piston, to block water flow control ports. The flow control assembly also includes an override feature wherein the piston is located within a slide and the flow control ports are located in the slide. By moving the slide away from the piston when the piston is blocking the flow control ports, the temperature sensor and piston may be overridden and flow may resume through the main body.