Rotary Valve Switching for Fast High-Pressure Tool Changes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switching devices for high-pressure tools used in cleaning applications have complex designs requiring separate valve devices for each tool, leading to increased manufacturing costs, assembly complexity, and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a valve device on the rotary body within the switching device, which controls the supply of cleaning liquid and rotation of high-pressure tools, eliminates the need for separate valve devices, resulting in a compact and structurally simple design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate valve devices are provided for each high-pressure tool, then each tool can be independently controlled, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single valve device is designed to control multiple high-pressure tools through a common supply channel system. The valve device serves multiple functions by enabling selective fluid supply to different tools, eliminating the need for separate valve devices for each tool while maintaining independent control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple valve functions are merged into one integrated valve device. The patent combines the control of multiple tools through a unified valve mechanism that can direct pressurized cleaning fluid to different tools as needed, reducing the overall number of components and simplifying the system structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate valve devices are provided for each high-pressure tool, then tool switching is possible, but assembly complexity and maintenance challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single valve device is designed with multi-functionality to handle tool switching operations. It can selectively connect the pressurized cleaning fluid supply to different high-pressure tools through a unified mechanism, providing adaptability for tool switching without requiring separate valve devices for each tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve device incorporates movable components such as a piston that can be positioned in different locations to direct fluid flow to different tools. This segmentation of the control function within a single device enables tool switching capability while maintaining a simplified assembly structure.
3Device complexity
If a compact design is achieved by integrating components, then manufacturing costs and assembly are simplified, but sealing reliability under high pressure may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The piston-based valve mechanism utilizes the pressure of the cleaning fluid itself to achieve sealing. The high-pressure fluid creates a force that pushes the piston against the sealing surface, ensuring reliable sealing without requiring additional external sealing mechanisms. The system uses its own operating pressure to maintain the seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles where the pressurized cleaning fluid generates force on the piston to control valve operation and maintain sealing. The high-pressure fluid flow itself contributes to the sealing mechanism, ensuring reliability under operating conditions without compromising the compact design.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a switching device for high-pressure tools, comprising a retaining apparatus (32) and two or more high-pressure tools (36) for cleaning purposes, a drive apparatus (88), a rotary body (90), which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (94) relative to the retaining apparatus (32) by means of the drive apparatus, comprising an adjusting apparatus (34), by means of which selectively one of the high-pressure tools (36) can be transferred from a non-operating position into an operating position, in which operating position the high-pressure tool (36) is coupled to the rotary body (90) for conjoint rotation and can be rotationally driven about a tool axis (70) by means of the rotary body, wherein: - the switching device (14; 190) comprises or forms a supply channel (124) for pressurized cleaning liquid and each high-pressure tool (36) comprises or forms a tool channel (68) for cleaning liquid, which tool channel, in operation, is in or can be brought into fluidic connection with the supply channel (124); - the switching device (14; 190) also comprises a valve apparatus (152), by means of which the supply channel (124) can be selectively opened and closed; - at least some portions of the supply channel (124) are formed in the rotary body (90) and the valve apparatus (152) is arranged on the rotary body (90).