Urostomy Valve With Biasing Cover And Locking Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urostomy appliance valves lack efficient mechanisms for controlling liquid flow, leading to difficulties in managing waste collection and drainage, particularly in ensuring the valve remains closed when not in use to prevent leaks.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a body with an inlet and outlet connected by a flow path, a blocking member that moves between closed and open positions, and a cover member biased towards an open position with a holding formation to ensure the valve is securely closed, allowing for controlled liquid flow and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blocking member is used to close the inlet, then liquid flow is effectively blocked, but the valve may accidentally open or fail to remain closed
Solution Approach 1:
A cover member is introduced as an intermediary component between the user and the blocking member. The cover member can be moved to engage with the blocking member to hold it in the closed position, providing an additional layer of control and reliability without complicating the basic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is biased towards the open position by a biasing member, but can be preliminarily positioned to engage with the blocking member and hold it closed. This preliminary engagement ensures the valve remains reliably closed during storage or transport, while allowing easy opening when needed.
2Reliability
If the valve is designed to remain closed to prevent leaks, then leakage is reduced, but drainage operation becomes less convenient
Solution Approach 1:
The valve design incorporates dynamic elements where the cover member can be easily moved between engaged and disengaged positions. The biasing member provides a spring-like action that assists in opening the valve for drainage while maintaining reliable closure otherwise, making the transition between states convenient and quick.
3Ease of operation
If a cover member is added to control outlet flow, then liquid flow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member and blocking member are designed to work together as an integrated system. The cover member engages with the blocking member to provide flow control, combining two functions into a coordinated mechanism that doesn't significantly increase overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member automatically provides the force needed to move the cover member between positions, eliminating the need for additional actuators or complex control mechanisms. The system serves itself by using elastic potential energy stored in the biasing member to assist operation.
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 valve effectively manages liquid flow by allowing controlled drainage while preventing leaks when closed, enhancing user convenience and reducing the risk of spills or incomplete drainage.
Implementation Method 1
wherein the cover member is biased towards its open position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
(With reference to figure 3) A valve for a urostomy appliance including: a body for connection to the urostomy appliance, an inlet and an outlet, connected by a flow path, and a blocking member supported by the body and generally linearly moveable between a closed position, in which the blocking member blocks the inlet, such that liquid cannot flow through the flow path to the outlet, and an open position in which the inlet is open, such that liquid is permitted to flow through the flow path to the outlet, and a cover member which is moveable between an open position, in which liquid is permitted to flow through the outlet, and a closed position, in which liquid is prevented or inhibited from flowing through the outlet, and wherein the cover member is biased towards its open position, and wherein the cover member includes a holding formation and the blocking member includes a corresponding formation, such that when the holding formation engages the corresponding formation the cover member is held in its closed position.