Switching Valve Slider Assembly for One-Touch Outlet Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water dispensing devices lack efficient mechanisms for switching between multiple water discharge modes with a single operation, requiring complex valve systems and multiple steps to select desired outlets.

Innovation Solution

A switching valve design featuring a base, body, and driven sliders with movable driving rods that allow for one-touch operation to selectively open and close through holes, thereby switching between independent discharge pipelines and outlets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex valve system with multiple unsealing parts is used to switch between multiple water discharge modes, then the versatility of water discharge functions is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater discharge modesVSAvoidvalve system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple unsealing parts and their corresponding driving mechanisms into a single integrated valve core structure. The valve core includes multiple unsealing parts that can independently control different water outlets, while being driven by a unified driving assembly. This merging approach maintains the ability to switch between multiple water discharge modes while reducing the overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate valve bodies and driving mechanisms for each outlet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If multiple unsealing parts are independently controlled to select different outlets, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutlet selectionVSAvoiddriving assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving assembly is designed as a universal mechanism that can control multiple unsealing parts simultaneously or independently. The driving rod connects to multiple driving blocks, each associated with a different unsealing part, allowing a single driving action to selectively position any combination of unsealing parts. This multi-functional driving assembly simplifies operation while maintaining the capability to independently control each outlet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If a switching valve mechanism is added to enable mode switching, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode switchingVSAvoidvalve structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve core is nested within the valve body, and the driving assembly is nested within the valve core structure. The unsealing parts are integrated into the valve core, which itself is positioned within the valve body cavity. This nested arrangement allows the switching mechanism to be compact and integrated, improving ease of operation while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by utilizing existing structural spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4098915B1Switching valve
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 NANCHANG KOHLER
  • EP4098915B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4098915B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4098915B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A switching valve includes a base (8) having a bottom wall. The switching valve includes a body (4) that couples to the base to define a cavity between the body and the bottom wall. The body includes through holes that are each fluidly coupled to the cavity. The switching valve includes a driven slider set (7) disposed within the cavity and having sub-sliders evenly distributed about the base. The switching valve includes driving rods (5) each movably coupled to one of the through holes of the body. Each driving rod moves in a linear direction relative to the through holes to block or unblock each through hole. Each sub-slider slides in a linear direction responsive to movement of the driving rods. Only one through hole is unblocked at one time.