Telescopic Valve Actuator for Wall Thickness Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fluid control valve devices face challenges in being reliably and functionally advantageous for use in installation situations with varying axial installation space, requiring minimal assembly effort.

Innovation Solution

The fluid control valve device features an extension mechanism allowing the user-operated control element to be axially height-adjustable, with an adjusting force greater than the actuation force, enabling easy adjustment and assembly without tools, and incorporating a telescopic mechanism for precise extension and retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the control element is made fixed relative to the valve body, then the assembly structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying axial installation space requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to varying axial installation spaceVSAvoidassembly structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the control element axially height-adjustable relative to the valve body through a telescopic extension mechanism. This allows the control element to dynamically change its position along the axial direction, enabling adaptation to different installation spaces while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The extension mechanism includes nested telescopic parts that can extend and retract, providing the necessary adjustability without significantly complicating the assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the control element is made axially height-adjustable, then adaptability to installation space is improved, but the assembly effort and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to installation spaceVSAvoidassembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic extension mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the control element's axial height, allowing it to adapt to various installation spaces. The mechanism consists of nested telescopic parts that can extend and retract smoothly, providing the necessary adjustability while keeping the assembly process relatively simple and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the extension mechanism requires tool-based adjustment, then positioning precision is improved, but the ease of operation and assembly speed decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidease of adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The extension mechanism is designed to be manually adjustable without requiring additional tools. The telescopic parts can be extended and retracted by hand, allowing installers to easily adjust the control element's height to the desired position. This self-service design improves ease of operation and assembly speed while maintaining sufficient positioning precision for various installation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4421251A1Fluid control valve device and function block for installation box
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4421251A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4421251A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4421251A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a fluid control valve device comprising a fluid control valve (1) with a translationally movable actuating element (2) and an actuating device (3) with a user-operated control element (4) coupled to the actuating element (2) for actuating the fluid control valve (1), as well as to a functional block equipped therewith for installation in a wall-mounted installation connection box. In the fluid control valve device according to the invention, the actuating device (3) has an extension mechanism (5) with which the control element (4) is axially height-adjustable relative to the fluid control valve (1). Furthermore, the adjustment force for the extension mechanism (5) is greater than the actuating force for the actuating element (2). Applications include, for example, sanitary functional blocks for installation in wall-mounted sanitary installation connection boxes with wall thickness compensation functionality.