Self-Cleaning Ceramic Valve Element Assembly for Impurity Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing faucet systems with ceramic valve cores and solenoid valves suffer from complex piping, water leakage, and impurity accumulation leading to solenoid valve failure, with impurities often trapped in the hot and cold water mixing cavity and difficult to remove.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning ceramic valve core assembly featuring a movable and fixed valve plate design with integrated filter, sealing seat, and solenoid valve, which automatically removes impurities by rotating the movable valve plate to establish a passage for flushing out accumulated debris, utilizing pressure relief channels and a flexible blocking body to manage water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is placed at the water inlet of an existing solenoid valve core, then impurities are trapped in the hot and cold water mixing cavity, but the impurities are hard to be removed and cause solenoid valve failure
Solution Approach 1:
The valve core assembly employs a movable valve plate that can rotate between different positions. In the first position, normal water flow is controlled; in the second position, a self-cleaning function is activated where water flows through a specific path to flush impurities from the mixing cavity through the filter mounting cavity, enabling dynamic switching between operation and cleaning modes
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-cleaning by utilizing its own water flow to flush out impurities from the mixing cavity through the pressure relief channel and filter mounting cavity. The movable valve plate rotation enables the system to automatically redirect water flow for cleaning purposes without external intervention, making the system self-maintaining
2Ease of operation
If a solenoid valve is used to control water flow, then water flow control is achieved, but the overall piping becomes complex and prone to failure and water leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the solenoid valve, filter, valve plate assembly, and water flow control mechanisms into a single unified valve core assembly. This merging of components simplifies the overall piping structure by eliminating separate filtration systems and multiple connection points, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining automated water flow control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The valve core assembly performs multiple functions within a single structure: it controls water flow on/off, regulates water temperature mixing, filters impurities, and enables self-cleaning. The movable valve plate and solenoid valve work together to achieve these diverse functions without requiring separate dedicated components for each function
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 design reduces solenoid valve failure rates by effectively removing impurities, ensuring a simple and reliable operation with reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
The movable valve plate is rotatable and is slidably attached on the fixed valve plate. By rotating the movable valve plate, the first cold water inlet, the first hot water inlet, or both the first cold water inlet and the first hot water inlet establish communication with the water mixing cavity.
Implementation Method 2
The solenoid valve controls the opening and closing of the pressure relief channel.
Implementation Method 3
The flexible blocking body is configured to connect or disconnect a water flow passage from the first water inlet to the second water outlet
Implementation Method 4
the filter member is mounted in the filter mounting cavity
Data Source
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AI summary
A ceramic valve core assembly includes a fixed valve plate and a movable valve plate. The movable valve plate is rotatable and is slidably attached on the fixed valve plate. The fixed valve plate has a first cold water inlet, a first hot water inlet, and a first water outlet. The movable valve plate has a first water inlet and a second water outlet. The first water outlet communicates with the second water outlet to form a water outlet channel. The first water inlet includes a filter mounting cavity and a water mixing cavity in communication with each another and are arranged sequentially from top to bottom. By rotating the movable valve plate, the first cold water inlet, the first hot water inlet, or both the first cold water inlet and the first hot water inlet establish communication with the water mixing cavity. A lower edge of the second water outlet contacts an upper edge of the first water outlet. Thus, by moving the movable valve plate away from a water inlet side of the fixed valve plate, a water passage formed by the first cold water inlet, the first hot water inlet, the water mixing cavity and the first water outlet is established. Compared with the prior art, the specially designed movable valve plate and fixed valve plate can automatically remove the impurities accumulated at the bottom of the filter member by operating the handle, thereby reducing the failure rate of the solenoid valve.