Spray Gun Sealing and Handle Locking for Safer Car Washers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing spray guns in car washers suffer from low safety performance due to a lack of effective sealing between gas outlet and inlet pipes and an insecure handle mechanism, leading to potential misoperation and safety hazards, especially for unfamiliar users.

Innovation Solution

A spray gun design featuring a movable sealing assembly with a partition flange and elastic member for enhanced sealing, combined with a locking switch and connecting rod mechanism to securely lock the operating handle, preventing accidental activation and ensuring safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a simple handle mechanism is used in the spray gun, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the safety performance deteriorates due to lack of locking mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsafety performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking switch is pre-positioned to engage with the operating handle in its default state, preventing accidental activation before the user intentionally pulls the handle. This preliminary locking action ensures safety is established before operation begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic unlocked state when the operating handle is intentionally pulled, allowing fluid flow. This dynamic switching capability maintains both safety during storage and operational functionality when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If no sealing assembly is provided in the spray gun, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing effect between gas outlet pipe and gas inlet pipe deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsealing effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a partition flange that physically separates the gas outlet and inlet passages, and an elastic member that provides sealing pressure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition flange acts as an intermediary element between the gas outlet pipe and gas inlet pipe, physically blocking the fluid passage between them. The elastic member serves as a mediator to maintain continuous sealing contact despite pressure variations or minor misalignments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the operating handle is not locked in non-operating state, then the ease of operation is improved for familiar users, but misoperation occurs for unfamiliar users affecting safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmisoperation danger
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The locking switch provides preliminary anti-action by preventing unintended activation of the operating handle through accidental contact or improper handling. This protective measure counteracts potential harmful actions before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism provides tactile feedback to the user through the locked and unlocked states, clearly indicating whether the spray gun is safe or ready for operation. This feedback mechanism helps unfamiliar users understand the device state without requiring extensive training.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 enhanced sealing and locking mechanisms improve the safety and operational reliability of the spray gun by ensuring proper fluid control and preventing unintended activation, thus addressing the issues of low safety performance and misoperation.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member connected with the partition flange; and the elastic member is provided in a retractable way to press the partition flange to a position for that cuts off the fluid passage of the spray gun main body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3733463B1Spray gun and car washing machine provided with same
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 ZHUHAI GREE INTELLIGENT EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3733463B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3733463B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3733463B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a spray gun and a car washer with the spray gun. The spray gun includes a spray gun housing (10) and an operating handle (20), wherein the operating handle (20) is provided on the spray gun housing (10). The spray gun further includes: a spray gun main body (40); a sealing assembly (50), at least a part of the sealing assembly (50) being movably provided in the spray gun main body (40) of the spray gun, and the operating handle (20) being connected with the sealing assembly (50), so as to drive the sealing assembly (50) to move by pulling the operating handle (20), so that the connection and disconnection of the fluid in the spray gun main body is controlled; and a locking switch (30), mounted on the spray gun housing (10) in a position-adjustable manner, the locking switch (30) being located on one side of the operating handle (20) and cooperating with the operating handle (20) in a limiting manner. The sealing assembly (50) includes a partition flange (141) used for cutting off a fluid passage in the spray gun main body (40) and an elastic member (150) connected with the partition flange (141). The elastic member (150) is provided in a retractable way to press the partition flange (141) to a position that cuts off the fluid passage of the spray gun main body (40).