Spring-Braced Gas Valve Fixation for Faster Leak-Safe Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of gas valve assemblies in kitchen appliances is complex, time-consuming, and prone to errors, leading to potential gas leakage and safety risks due to imprecise screw-based fixation methods, which also result in aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
A gas circuit with a gas valve assembly that uses a first spring member looping around the gas rail and valve body for resilient bracing, eliminating the need for screws and allowing for easier, faster assembly with reduced complexity, and enabling precise positioning without screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw-based fixation is used to connect the gas valve body to the gas rail, then the connection is secure, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation means is divided into multiple functional elements: a clamping element with first and second clamping arms, a mounting element, and a resilient element. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining secure connection through the coordinated action of these segmented parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation means incorporates a resilient element (spring) that provides dynamic adjustment capability. The resilient element allows the clamping arms to flex during assembly and maintains constant contact pressure on the gas valve body and gas rail, ensuring secure connection without requiring precise pre-tightening of multiple screws.
2Reliability
If screw-based fixation is used to connect the gas valve body to the gas rail, then the connection is stable, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping arms are pre-configured in the clamping element with the resilient element already in place. During assembly, the clamping element is simply positioned around the gas valve body and gas rail, and the resilient element automatically engages to provide stable connection. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for step-by-step screw tightening, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining connection stability.
3Reliability
If screw-based fixation is used, then the gas valve can be securely attached, but precise positioning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient element changes the mechanical parameter of connection force from a static screw-tightening force to a dynamic spring force. This allows the fixation means to accommodate minor position variations while maintaining secure attachment, as the resilient element continuously adjusts to optimize contact between the clamping arms and the gas valve body and gas rail surfaces.
4Reliability
If multiple screw components are used for fixation, then the connection is robust, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fixation functions are merged into a single integrated fixation means assembly. The clamping element with its two clamping arms, the mounting element, and the resilient element work together as one unit to provide robust connection. This merging reduces the number of separate parts from multiple screws and washers to a single fixation means component, simplifying assembly while maintaining connection robustness.
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 solution significantly reduces assembly time and labor costs, enhances precision, and prevents gas leakage by providing a screw-free assembly that is faster and more secure, while allowing for easy replacement of components without disassembling the entire assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring member looping around said gas rail and said valve body, thereby resiliently bracing said gas valve and said gas rail
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
Gas circuit (1) for a kitchen appliance (2) comprising a gas rail (3) with a gas inlet (4) for connecting said gas rail (3) to a gas source (5) and with at least one gas outlet (6), said gas circuit (1) further comprising a gas tube (7) for providing gas from said gas outlet (6) to a gas hob (8), and said gas circuit (1) further comprising a gas valve assembly (9) connecting said gas tube (7) to said gas outlet (6) of said gas rail (3) in a flow conducting manner, said gas valve assembly (9) comprising a gas valve (10) with a valve body (11) and fixation means (12) fixing said valve body (11) to said gas rail (3) such that said gas valve (10) is supported by said gas rail (3), wherein said fixation means (12) comprise a first spring member (13a) looping around said gas rail (3) and/or said valve body (11), thereby resiliently bracing said gas valve (10) and said gas rail (3).