Multi-Directional Touch Valve for Flexible Faucet Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional faucets require users to move their wet hands to operate the control, leading to countertop wetting, and existing directional valves limit operation to upward or sideward pressing.
Innovation Solution
A multi-directional touch valve allowing operation from multiple directions, including axial, transverse, and oblique angles, through a valve body with support and suspension portions and a pressing member that drives a switching mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional separate controls are positioned near the sink edge, then the faucet can be operated, but the countertop gets wet from water dripping from users' hands
Solution Approach 1:
A valve body is introduced as an intermediary component mounted at the water outlet of the faucet. This valve body includes a pressing member with a push-abutment portion that can be actuated by users to control water flow. The valve body serves as a mediator between the user's hand and the water control mechanism, allowing operation without direct contact with traditional controls near the sink edge, thereby preventing countertop wetting while maintaining ease of operation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional valve is mounted at the water outlet, then countertop wetting is prevented, but the valve can only be operated by upward or sideward pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is designed with a water passage portion and suspension portion that allows movement in multiple dimensions. The suspension portion connects the pressing member to the valve body in a manner that permits axial, transverse, and oblique movements. This multi-dimensional movement capability enables users to operate the valve from various directions (upward, sideward, oblique angles), significantly enhancing operation flexibility while maintaining the benefit of preventing countertop wetting
3Device complexity
If the pressing member is constrained to move only in axial direction, then the valve structure is simple, but the valve can only be operated by upward pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension portion is designed as a dynamic connection that allows the pressing member to move freely in multiple directions (axial, transverse, and oblique) while remaining connected to the valve body. This dynamic structure provides operational flexibility without requiring complex mechanical constraints or guides, achieving multi-directional operation with relatively simple construction
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-directional touch valve, comprising a valve body (10) and a pressing member (20). The valve body (10) comprises a housing (11), a primary flow channel and a switching mechanism (12). The housing (11) is provided with at least one support portion (111), and the support portion (111) is formed at a water outlet end of the housing (11) and protrudes outwardly. The switching mechanism (12) is located inside the housing (11) and selectively blocks the primary flow channel. The pressing member (20) is connected to the valve body (10), and has a water passage portion (21), at least one suspension portion (22) and a push-abutment portion (23). The suspension portion (22) is movably connected to the at least one support portion (111), and the push-abutment portion (23) can drive the switching mechanism (12) to block the primary flow channel. As a motion space is formed on the inner side of the suspension portion (22) and on the side thereof facing a pipe connecting end of the housing (11), the switching mechanism (12) can be driven to operate by the user pushing the pressing member (20) in directions such as an axial direction, a transverse direction and an oblique direction, so as to switch the arbitrary directional touch switch between a closed state and an open state.