Retractable Needle Valve Tip for Droplet Head Impact Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The tip end of a needle valve in droplet discharge heads is exposed during assembly, transportation, and explosion-proof authentication tests, leading to potential damage from impacts and foreign matter adherence.
Innovation Solution
The needle valve tip end is housed retractably within the droplet discharge head, using piezoelectric elements and adjustable holders to prevent exposure and protect the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tip end of the needle valve is exposed to the outside for assembly and testing, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential damage from impact and foreign matter
Solution Approach 1:
The needle valve tip end is designed to be movable between an exposed state (for assembly and testing) and a retracted state (for protection). The holder can be adjusted to change the protrusion length, and the tip end can be pulled back into the housing to prevent impact damage and foreign matter adherence while maintaining ease of operation during critical phases.
2Ease of operation
If the tip end of the needle valve is exposed during transportation, then ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to impact and foreign matter
Solution Approach 1:
The needle valve tip end can be dynamically retracted into the housing during transportation to eliminate exposure to harmful factors such as impact and foreign matter, while remaining accessible during assembly and testing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip end can be retracted into the housing in advance before transportation or storage to prevent potential damage from impact and foreign matter adherence, addressing the harmful factors before they can affect the needle valve.
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
Prevents damage to the needle valve and reduces foreign matter adherence, ensuring reliable operation and longevity of the droplet discharge head.
Implementation Method 1
a driver, i.e., an actuator, such as a piezoelectric element that extends and contracts. The driver extends and contracts to vibrate in a longitudinal direction of the needle valve
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A droplet discharge head (1) includes a lower housing (10b), an upper housing (10a), a nozzle plate (101), a shaft-shaped member (113), and a driver (114). The lower housing (10b) includes a flow channel (112). The upper housing is on the lower housing and detachable from the lower housing. The nozzle plate is on a lower surface of the lower housing. The shaft-shaped member includes a valve element (113a) at a tip end of the shaft-shaped member to open and close a nozzle orifice (111) of the head. The shaft-shaped member is reciprocatable in the upper housing. The driver is in the upper housing and reciprocates the shaft-shaped member in an axial direction of the shaft-shaped member. The shaft-shaped member is movable in the axial direction such that a length of the tip end of the shaft-shaped member protruding from the lower surface of the upper housing is shortened.