Suction Cup Vent Valve Structure for Quick Release and Secure Hold
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction apparatus with anchor members, such as suction cups and suction seal stabilizers, face challenges in efficient attachment and detachment due to design complexity, inadvertent dislodgement, and inability to vent completely, leading to insufficient suction forces or excessive force requirements for removal.
Innovation Solution
A valve-actuated suction apparatus with a non-porous resilient anchor member and a plunger valve system that selectively seals and unseals a vent port, allowing for controlled pressure differentials and quick-release functionality, enabling secure attachment and easy detachment from surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a plunger valve system is added to enable quick-release functionality, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger valve is nested within the anchor member stem, with the plunger valve stem slidably disposed in the vent port. The vent port stopper is integrated into the plunger valve stem structure, creating a compact nested arrangement that enables quick-release functionality while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent port functionality is extracted as a separate controllable element from the base seal member. By providing a dedicated plunger valve that can be independently actuated, the venting function is separated from the sealing function, allowing quick-release operation without compromising the integrity of the base seal member design.
2Ease of operation
If the base seal member is made highly flexible to enable self-sealing, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inadvertent dislodgement
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the anchor member have different flexibility characteristics. The base seal member is made highly flexible for self-sealing, while the anchor member stem is made relatively rigid to provide structural stability and resist inadvertent dislodgement. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The base seal member is pre-configured with high flexibility and resilience to automatically seal itself when placed on a reference surface without requiring user action. This preliminary design ensures reliable self-sealing while the separate plunger valve provides controlled venting to prevent inadvertent dislodgement.
3Ease of operation
If the vent port is completely open to enable complete venting, then ease of operation is improved for detachment, but suction force is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger valve provides dynamic control of the vent port opening. When the plunger valve stem is in the retracted position, the vent port is completely open for easy detachment. When the plunger valve stem is in the extended position, the vent port stopper seals the vent port to maintain full suction force. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between detachment ease and suction force maintenance.
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 provides a quick-release and attachment capability, ensuring secure anchoring with adjustable suction force and easy detachment, reducing design complexity and inadvertent dislodgement, while maintaining effective surface adhesion and release.
Implementation Method 1
A suction cup typically includes a flexible base seal member configured as an elastomeric dome-shaped structure... A pressure differential is generated in which the pressure within the volumetric cavity is lower than the ambient air pressure outside the cavity, thereby resulting in a partial vacuum.
Implementation Method 2
As this rebounding occurs, the volumetric cavity that lies inside the peripheral rim between the base seal member's lower side and the reference surface begins to enlarge. This in turn causes the air pressure in the volumetric cavity to proportionally decrease in accordance with Boyle's Law.
Implementation Method 3
When the pressing force is released, the base seal member has a natural tendency to return to its initial dome shape. As this rebounding occurs, the volumetric cavity that lies inside the peripheral rim between the base seal member's lower side and the reference surface begins to enlarge.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve-actuated suction apparatus includes an anchor member having a base seal member and a stem formed with a vent port. A plunger valve is slidably disposed in the vent port and is slidable between closed and open positions. The plunger valve has a plunger head and first and second valve stem sections respectively disposed in first and second vent port sections when the plunger valve is closed. The first valve stem section includes a valve stem stabilizer and an air bypass neck. The valve stem stabilizer controls and limits plunger valve movement within the first vent port section and the valve stem air bypass neck channels air through the second vent port section. The second valve stem section includes a vent port stopper that may be configured in various ways to plug the second vent port section when the plunger valve is closed.