Specimen Collection Valve Sealing for Low-Force Flow Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control valves in specimen collection systems experience leakage during flow path switching due to high frictional resistance and differential pressure, compromising operational convenience and safety.

Innovation Solution

A control valve design featuring a sub-seal and balance member to maintain the valve spool coaxial with the main seal, reducing frictional resistance and enhancing sealing performance, while allowing low driving force operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a control valve is used to switch specimen flow paths between the specimen bottle and the waste bottle, then the specimen collection effectiveness is improved, but leakage occurs during flow path switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecimen collection effectivenessVSAvoidleakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is segmented into a main seal and a sub-seal. The main seal provides primary sealing between the valve spool and the valve body, while the sub-seal provides secondary sealing at the communication passage interface. This segmentation allows each seal to focus on specific sealing tasks, improving overall sealing reliability and preventing leakage during flow path switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balance member is positioned to abut against the valve spool before the sub-seal makes contact, providing a cushioning effect. This balance member acts as a preliminary protective element that maintains the valve spool in a coaxial position and reduces the impact forces during sealing engagement, preventing leakage by ensuring proper alignment before the sealing surfaces contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If the valve spool rotates to switch flow paths, then the specimen direction control is improved, but high frictional resistance increases the driving force required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow path switching controlVSAvoiddriving force

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The balance member acts as a counterweight mechanism that offsets the frictional resistance forces during valve spool rotation. By positioning the balance member to abut against the valve spool, it creates a balancing force that compensates for the high frictional resistance between the valve spool and the sealing surfaces, thereby reducing the net driving force required to switch flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The sub-seal acts as an intermediary element between the valve spool and the main seal. It provides a controlled interface that reduces the direct frictional contact between the valve spool and the valve body, thereby reducing the overall frictional resistance and the driving force required for rotation while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the sub-seal is added to improve sealing, then the sealing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidvalve structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sub-seal is nested within the main seal structure, positioned at the communication passage interface. This nested arrangement allows the sub-seal to provide additional sealing functionality without significantly increasing the overall valve structure complexity. The sub-seal fits within the existing valve body contours, minimizing the addition of external components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the balance member is added to maintain coaxiality, then the sealing stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve spool coaxialityVSAvoidvalve structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balance member is designed to automatically maintain the valve spool in a coaxial position through its own weight and positioning. The balance member self-adjusts to provide the necessary balancing force during rotation, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms or complex adjustment systems. This self-service approach improves coaxiality stability without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260108137A1Control valve for specimen collection container, specimen collection container, and endoscope

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 HUNAN VATHIN MEDICAL INSTR CO LTD

AI summary

A control valve for a specimen collection container, a specimen collection container, and an endoscope are provided. The control valve includes: a valve body, a main seal, a valve spool, and a balance member, where the valve body is provided with an input passage and an output passage; the valve body is internally provided with a mounting cavity; the input passage and the output passage communicate with the mounting cavity separately; the main seal is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the mounting cavity; the valve spool is at least partially provided inside the main seal; and a side wall of the main seal adjacent to the valve spool is provided with an annular sub-seal. The sub-seal improves the sealing performance. The balance member provided on the valve body cooperates with the sub-seal to maintain the valve spool coaxial with the main seal during the rotational stroke.