Suction Device Valve with Flexible Partition and Throttle Passage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suction device valves with automatic closing mechanisms are prone to failure due to flow surges and require complex designs with increased space requirements, lacking reproducible and reliable switching behavior.

Innovation Solution

A suction device with a valve housing featuring a flexible partition wall and a throttle passage that creates a pressure difference to deform the partition, causing a sealing projection to close the valve when suction is free, ensuring a compact and simple structural design with reproducible switching behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flow impulse is used to trigger valve closure, then valve can close automatically, but valve is prone to failure due to flow surges and closes undesirably at start of intake

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve switching reliabilityVSAvoidvalve structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical flow impulse triggering system with a pneumatic pressure difference system. Instead of using flow momentum to move a spherical valve body, the invention uses pressure differences created by flow resistance to deform a flexible membrane, which in turn moves a sealing element. This substitution eliminates the reliability issues associated with flow surge sensitivity while maintaining automatic closure functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the triggering parameter from flow impulse (mechanical momentum) to pressure difference (pneumatic parameter). By using a throttle passage to create flow resistance, the system generates a pressure difference that varies with flow rate, providing a more stable and predictable triggering mechanism that is not susceptible to flow surges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If two pressure chambers are used to achieve automatic closing, then valve closes reliably, but design effort and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve closure reliabilityVSAvoidvalve housing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the two separate pressure chambers into a single integrated structure. The flexible membrane divides the valve interior into a control space and a suction side space, eliminating the need for separate chamber housings. This integration reduces the overall valve volume and simplifies the design while maintaining the pressure difference mechanism for reliable closure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested arrangement where the control space is positioned within the valve housing and the suction side space is nested adjacent to it, separated by the flexible membrane. This nested configuration optimizes space utilization and reduces the overall envelope volume of the valve assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Extent of automation

If spherical valve body is carried along by flow impulse, then valve closes automatically, but valve is sensitive to flow surges and closes undesirably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic valve closureVSAvoidvalve switching stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical flow impulse carrying system with a pneumatic pressure difference system. Instead of a spherical valve body being carried by flow momentum, the invention uses a flexible membrane that responds to pressure differences. This substitution provides automatic closure while eliminating sensitivity to flow surges, as pressure differences are more stable than flow impulses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a flexible membrane as an intermediary element between the flow and the sealing mechanism. The membrane converts pressure differences into mechanical displacement of the sealing element, providing a buffered response that filters out flow surge effects while maintaining automatic closure capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively avoids energy waste by automatically closing the valve during free suction, maintaining a reliable and reproducible switching behavior without the need for multiple pressure chambers, thus enhancing the durability and efficiency of the suction device.

Implementation Method 1

The throttle passage is designed in such a way that a flow resistance is defined for flows through the throttle passage from the suction side into the control chamber in such a way that a negative pressure occurs in the control chamber compared to the suction side when suction is free due to the flow resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow resistance: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

The flexible partition wall is designed in such a way that it deforms due to the negative pressure that occurs in the control chamber when the intake is free, in such a way that the volume of the control chamber decreases under the influence of the negative pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3562769B1Suction device
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 J SCHMALZ GMBH
  • EP3562769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3562769B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3562769B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a suction device (12) comprising a valve housing (18), a flexible partition wall (28) which runs in such a way that a control space (30) extends on one side and an intake side (21) lies on the other side, wherein the control space (30) is connected to the intake side (21) via a throttle passage (38), wherein the throttle passage (38) is formed in such a way that a flow resistance for flows is defined by the throttle passage (38) in such a way that, in the case of free suction, a negative pressure in relation to the intake side occurs in the control space (30) on account of the flow resistance. A sealing protrusion (44) protruding into the interior of the control space (30) and an associated seal seat (50) within the control space (30) are thus provided, wherein the sealing protrusion (44) and seal seat (50) are formed in such a way that, when the sealing protrusion (44) is placed against the seal seat (50), the flow path (40) through the throttle passage (38) into the control space (30) is interrupted within the control space (30).