Tap Handle Locking Pin Mechanism for Accidental Operation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic water taps pose a safety risk to children and the elderly due to accidental scalding, flooding, and water wastage, as they may unintentionally operate hot water taps, leading to potential drowning and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A tap handle assembly with a biased pin mechanism that restricts spindle movement and water flow, utilizing a spring-loaded pin to prevent accidental operation by engaging with the tap body, requiring sufficient biasing force to prevent children and the elderly from turning on the tap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard tap handle assembly is used, then the tap is easy to operate, but children and the elderly can accidentally turn it on causing scalding or flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin is pre-positioned within the body aperture to engage with the spindle, preventing rotation before the tap can be operated. The biasing means pre-loads the pin into the locking position, so the tap is locked by default and requires active intervention to unlock.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking pin acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the handle body and the spindle. It physically blocks the spindle's rotation path, serving as a mediator that prevents the transmission of rotational force from the handle to the valve mechanism.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental operation, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin, biasing means, and engagement means are integrated within the existing handle body aperture. The locking mechanism shares the same spatial envelope as the standard handle assembly, merging multiple functions (locking, biasing, engagement) into a unified structure that adds minimal external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle body aperture serves dual purposes: it accommodates the locking pin mechanism and also serves as the engagement interface for the spindle. The biasing means provides both the locking force and the release mechanism function, making the system multi-functional with fewer components.
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 prevents accidental scalding, flooding, and water wastage by ensuring the tap cannot be turned on without intentional effort, providing safety for children and the elderly and reducing water usage.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing means to bias the position of the pin within the body aperture
Implementation Method 2
The biasing means is preferably a spring. More preferably the biasing means is a helical spring.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a tap handle assembly for positioning about an installed tap body that includes an outwardly extending spindle. The tap handle assembly has a handle body means that has a body aperture and engagement means for engaging an outer end of the spindle, a pin positionable and moveable within the body aperture, and a biasing means to bias the position of the pin within the body aperture. When the tap handle assembly is assembled with the tap body, the pin is biased to the tap body to substantially prevent the movement of the spindle and to restrict the flow from the tap.